After eleven years of litigation and three more in politics, and being called for jury duty four times, I was finally seated on a jury. It was a fascinating and exhilarating exercise in direct democracy - so much so that despite the typical somber atmosphere of the courtroom and years of practiced courtroom demeanor, I had difficulty suppressing a grin for much of the trial. (Who knows how counsel read that expression!)
Jury duty is one of the ultimate expressions of direct democracy - all the more so today as individual voices are submerged beneath SuperPACs, personal wealth of elected officials, and disenfranchisement and the apathy which results (infographic here).
Jury duty is one of the ultimate expressions of direct democracy - all the more so today as individual voices are submerged beneath SuperPACs, personal wealth of elected officials, and disenfranchisement and the apathy which results (infographic here).