That's Democracy, Babe

A friend emailed in a panic, asking my advice on how to "get out of" jury duty. Somehow, he's managed to be excused from or postpone service for years. He reminded me that, as his boss, I used to write great letters and faxes that got him out of this chore.

Now I'm no longer his boss but I'm telling him to bite the bullet and do this noble deed. Afterall, jury duty rules have been revamped. You can't wheezle out of it anymore. For those who managed to stay untraceable by not registering to vote, they're hip to you now. They use DMV records for the jury summons.

At $15./day plus mileage reimbursement, L.A. Superior Court is a hardly a reward for good citizenship. But think of the other opportunities that await you: Another former employee met his future wife in the jury assembly room. A director friend ran into an old exec during jury selection which led to a directing assignment. On the last civil case I served on, I actually made a few friends. We recently got together for coffee. In our tight, insular career circles, we would never have crossed paths at all.

Jury duty is the most unrefined, unabashed manifestation of democracy today. All races and social classes are thrown together. Nobody gets special treatment. It's equally slow and tedious, no matter what your educational level. A trial is not the Hollywood show we're used to watching. But a jury deliberation can be more absorbing than a good night of American Idol. On my last case, I was surprised by the intellect and eloquence of fellow jurors I'd written off as dense or had caught dozing off during the trial. We argued and debated passionately, even though our case was a mind-numblingly dull civil suit. The guy who led us to a verdict was not the jury foreman, but a schmoe who sat quiet as a mouse until he rose and proposed a compromise with such clarity that we all bought in.

It was like a Hollywood moment. Only this one was real.

So, go and catch this show. The worst that can happen is that your boss will miss you. Or you'll nod off in court. It's okay. Someone will wake you. You never know who. Prepare to be surprised.