I have been summoned

The Clerk of Courts has called.
I am to appear for Jury Duty on Wednesday, August 20th in St. Johns, AZ.

Groan.

That's the first reaction of course by most people including myself. Jury Duty has such a stigma as being a royal inconvenience. I mean, it is a DUTY. Duty. Duty. It is taxing.

Not only do I have to drive 140 miles away, to a different time zone, but I am "to bring a change a clothes in the event [I] might need to stay overnight." Groan.

Luckily for me, my work responsibilities - and what a responsibility it is as a Life GUARD - will not be entirely missed as my schedule is somewhat sporadic anyway. (And we all know how critical my whopping paycheck has been to the survival of our household.) So, given my situation and lack of "statutory" reasons for exemption, in addition to the drastically low pool of qualified potential jurors in this county, I must serve my duty.

This country also prides itself on holding up the law through fair trials, and although I'm not in any way excited to serve, there may be someone in Wednesday's trial that deserves a group of intelligent, fair jurors deciding his/her fate.

It will be an inconvenience, and I'm not looking forward to the drive or the potential motel stay...

...but it should be interesting. Hope for the best (quick dismissal, short case, etc.) for me.