A couple weeks ago, I won the lottery. As a result, I'll be taking some time off from work during the next few days.
Where am I headed, you ask?
Where would any level-headed lottery winner go? Las Vegas for some old fashioned debauchery? Hilton Head for some golfing? Grand Cayman for scuba diving adventures?
Maybe next time...
The lottery I won has nothing to do with life-changing cash. At least, few people I know fantasize about $30 a day and a $7 travel stipend. The lottery I won was for jury duty. That's what it said at the top of the notice, anyway.
Even if you've never been so lucky, you probably know the drill. I'm slated to report to the county courthouse Tuesday and Wednesday morning. They give you a number to call the night before, to see if you're needed, and they tell you to bring some reading material and be ready to sit around and do nothing.
I know that fulfilling a jury duty obligation is a "civic duty" -- right up there with paying taxes, voting, keeping up the yard and other obligations that come with citizenship.
But, I highly doubt anybody really looks forward to it. Many of the same people who like to spout opinions about the news of the day and second-guess decisions made by elected and appointed leaders and juries get a little queasy when asked to make decisions themselves.
Some may fantasize about being part of a high-profile trial or at least an interesting case. Others would look forward to a chance to see our judicial system in action. Well, I've watched plenty of "Law and Order" marathons and I've seen "My Cousin Vinnie" about a dozen times. Given that background, I'm sure that real life jury duty is nothing like Hollywood. I don't think I need to go there to find that out. In my mind, this exercise has all the appeal of a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
I know it's my duty. I have to go. I will go. But, I'm really not pumped about it. Does anyone have any good jury duty stories?
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
