Jury duty.

One of my workmates returned to work today after a week's absence, on Jury duty.
What happens is that you may be picked at random from the electoral roll, and summonsed to Jury duty. In his case it was for a criminal trial.

"...39.. NO Freeman shall be taken or imprisoned, or be disseised of his Freehold, or Liberties, or free Customs, or be outlawed, or exiled, or any other wise destroyed; nor will We not pass upon him, nor condemn him, but by lawful judgment of his Peers, or by the Law of the Land. We will sell to no man, we will not deny or defer to any man either Justice or Right..." [Magna Carta, c1215AD].

He observed what I see repeatedly noted. Ordinary, 'common' people summonsed to take on an often onerous, sometimes traumatic responsibility, and though they be from a wide range of ages, ethnic backgrounds, rich, poor, they invariably rise to the occasion with common sense and objectivity.

I'm a believer in the Jury System, and in the Common Man generally.

14Sept: Welcome visitors from Club Troppo!