Jury duty

Last time I was called in Texas, it was $5 a day and we were asked to donate it to one of several charities. When I served in WA state, I think it was around $40 and my employer made up the difference.

Serving is important, and everyone should experience it, but so many get out for various and unknown reasons that those who do serve are unfairly burdened.

As an example, in my last county, the legal hispanic population was about 25%, but during my last summons, with over 300 jurors called, there were less than 20 hispanic surnames in the pool, and even fewer with obvious hispanic features. Several of them were excused after talking to the judge. Why not at least 75 in the pool? Other minorities were fairly represented, so I can only assume it was a language issue, but since speaking English is a citizenship requirement, something isn't right. The situation was not fair to non-hispanics who have to fill the juries, and it certainly was not fair to hispanics on trial.

As I said earlier, our judicial system is still the best in the world, but it needs improvement.