by Thomas Hyde

Created on: February 07, 2009   Last Updated: February 19, 2009

"THE PREJUDICE KANGAROO", how do the judges and the courts make the selection of a jury of our peers and find the truth? Why are some of us selected to be on the jury and others are struck from the panel? The courts work endlessly putting together panels of men and women who are citizens of our community. The first thing the district court clerk does is have all of the members of the panel sworn in as petty jurors. Just as the accused and defender we are all under oath to tell the truth.

This brings us to a cold rainy winter day in January which I was called to serve. If you have ever been served you know to be excused is almost imposable. As you can imagine on top of every thing I was running late and had a hard time finding a parking place. I arrived just in time to be assigned to a panel and immediately was instructed to report to court room B.

Before the panel had a chance to get comfortable the judge reminded us that we were still under oath and without hesitation the attorney jumped right into the case which was before us.

I looked across the court room and saw the judge, the defendant who was a Catholic Priest dressed with a white collar of distinction and the plaintiff who was an Afro-American neatly dressed in a suite and he had his neck collar brace. I quickly surmised that we were standing before an accident injury case. Sure enough the attorney stated that the person injured was suing the Catholic Diocese for injury from an accident since the Church did not have auto insurance.

The attorney preceded to layout a general description of the pending trial. The court advised that during the trial there would be witnesses who would be brought in such as chiropractors who would testify on behalf of the plaintiff. At this point the suspense was rising. Who is at fault? What are the damages? What are the circumstances and will I be asked to make a decision? How long will the trial last? All of these thoughts quickly crossed my mind.

I am now in deep thought as the attorney moved to ask the panel specific questions. Oh now what is he going to ask and will I have to answer?

Right off the bat we were asked the question. "IS THERE ANY ONE IN THE PANEL WHO IS PREJUDICE?" No one responded. The attorney paused and asked the question again. "IS THERE ANY ONE IN THE PANEL WHO IS PREJUDICE?"

What a question, I am under oath and if I am Prejudice I must answer. It is time, I can no longer be quiet, I must be truthful and speak up. With some reservations, I slowly raised my hand.

The court room drew silent in anticipation and wonder, what will he say?

Immediately in a split second I noticed the judge, sit up straight in his chair and could just imagine what he was thinking, we have a member of this panel who is going to admit that he is prejudice.

With a firm voice and strong conviction I stated that I was prejudice against chiropractors.

As I watched the judge it was all he could do to keep from laughing and I suddenly realized that it was not the prejudice that was on there agenda.

I proceeded to explain that I had a back operation and preferred orthopedic surgeons licensed by the state to perform surgery over chiropractors. The other jurors immediately spoke up since several were in the medical profession and expressed similar opinions. It didn't take long before the judge had to stop the proceedings and excused the whole jury panel.

I never knew how the case turned out or if the attorney ever asked the next panel the same question. I will just have to settle on becoming the prejudice kangaroo that told the truth and was excused.

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