Think twice before asking for a jury

Anyone thinking about pleading not guilty in magistrate or circuit court in Wood County and requesting a jury trial better give it a second thought.

You see, for the next two months my friends and neighbhors (actually a lottery system) have selected me to be in the jury pool (can I wear swim trunks) for the two courts.

Being in the pool certainly does not mean I'll be selected to serve even if there is a jury trial for which I'm called to report for possible selection. In fact, my guess is with what I do for a living no one involved in the legal system will want the editor of the newspaper second-guessing them in the courtroom.

I was only called for possible jury duty once before and that was in Jefferson County, Ohio. The presiding judge, with whom I was in Steubenville Lions Club, took one look at me sitting in the jury pool room and told me to get back to my office ... I wouldn't be needed. Probably more to the point I wasn't wanted.

So, for the next two months I'll check my home telephone every evening to see if I have to report in the morning for possible use on a jury. My guess is I'll be called a couple of times, but I'll never serve.

Heck, serving on a jury might be interesting .... and certainly would give me something to write about.