Jury service is one of the few obligations of American citizenship. It's usually not a heavy burden. In Cook County, the Office of Jury Administration takes precautions to ensure that citizens are not called more than once every twelve months. When Cook County residents are called, it is on a 'one day or one trial' basis.
I can't speak to how things are done in DuPage County. I can't believe it is significantly more onerous -- but, according to Jason Meisner's "Blotter" story this evening on the Tribune website, Addison resident Toby Owhoka was allegedly so distraught at the prospect of jury service that she called the DuPage County Jury Commission Tuesday afternoon and "made numerous threats, including one to blow up the courthouse." The courthouse was searched, but no bomb materials were found.
Owhoka was charged with felony disorderly conduct and is being held in the DuPage County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
I wonder if she'll demand a jury trial on this charge.
Geez, you'd think she'd have been thrilled about the chance to get one of those twelve-dollar checks!
ReplyDelete$17.20 a day, actually.
ReplyDeleteI have no real problem with jury duty other than having to travel to Chicago to do so. I live in the suburbs closer to Kane and Dupage counties, I travel to Chicago once a year at the most. Why can I not serve at the Rolling Meadows court instead? I would be happier and more willing participant. Right now it's just another reason to hope they form Lincoln county.
ReplyDelete