In addition to all the other perks you get for voting (helping to choose the leadership of this great Republic, taking an active role in shaping policy through ballot initiatives, seeing your friends and neighbors out at the polls...) there's an additional perk.  Being a registered voter puts you in the hat for one of the great free amusements of modern life: Jury Duty!

I love Jury Duty.  As a fan, and an avid observer of humanity, there is no better observation post.   The first, best show is the dance of the loud shirker as he (it is almost always a he) tries to impress on the officials of the jury pool that he is too important, too busy, and as a last resort, far too unsuitable to be seated on any jury.  I admit, I'm a terrible eavesdropper, not that this is difficult.  Loud shirker is almost always loud on his cell phone, complaining about how important he is, how busy his business is, and how he cannot be spared for such inconsequential stuff.   He will proclaim aloud how he "needs an outlet" for his electronics "for business purposes".  There are always plenty of outlets, workspace, and free wi-fi besides, all you have to do is show up a little early and claim some space.  Someone who is self employed could easily consider time in the jury pool a double payday, since you're collecting a stipend while getting work done.

Loud shirker will have loud conversations with the folks behind the desk about his work load, his importance at work, etc.  I seldom hear the other side of this conversation, it is almost always carried out at a discrete volume.  I doubt these tactics are successful since the loud shirker seldom disappears at this point.

One loud shirker I enjoyed jury selection with tried improbable answers to the lawyers questions as an exit strategy.  "No, I never believe the police's version of events."  "Yes, I always judge people based on their racial characteristics." Oddly, neither of the lawyers chose to eliminate him from the jury pool.  The one woman who did manage to get herself eliminated was just as subtle, though.  After hearing the judge instruct everyone not to discuss the case, a child molestation case, she came up to me in the hall and loudly proclaimed "I think he's guilty.  I think all child molesters should be taken out and shot."  I told her I really didn't think it was right to prejudge anyone.

One thing you should know about me.  I'm afflicted with a constipated conscience.  I can't lie.  It's downright comical when I try.  I can't cheat, either.  Bluffing makes me blush, and I feel like my hair is standing on end.  Needless to say, I am a very poor poker player.  I marched right up to someone in a uniform and asked to speak to the judge.  I told him that I had been discussing the case with another juror and then I recounted the conversation.  I explained that I hadn't meant to.  It is hard to have someone speak to you and not respond.  (Yes, I was one of those little girls who was always in trouble in kindergarten for talking in class.)  She was dismissed.  And I blame her for my being selected as an alternate.   I didn't get to do the deliberation phase.  Wah!

I love to listen to the lawyers talk about the case.  I love to listen to the testimony. Yes, I love shows like Law and Order.  No, jury duty is nothing like Law and Order.  It is a lot longer, and not nearly as interesting.  You have to pay close attention for a long, long time to notice the human drama at all.  People are embarrassed.  They don't want to bare their souls, they want to tell their story and sit down.  But I did get to see a defendant kill his own case by changing his story mid testimony, and contradicting his own lawyer.  That was the moment that I was sure he was guilty.  And I hope he really was guilty, because he really did go to jail. Again, nothing like Law and Order.

But it is important for people to show up and do the work, really listen and notice things and be the citizen jury.  When I was waiting for the bus to go in one time, I happened to be waiting with a neighbor who was a lawyer.  It was my first time, and I was nervous.  I told him I was worried about making the right decision.  He said whatever I decided would be the right decision.  Something about the way he said it, with so much confidence, not just in me, but in all the people like me, made me feel really proud to be going in.

When you go in for Jury Duty, you're a citizen.  You are representing your country, just like a soldier, or an elected official.  You are responsible for the fair application of our country's laws, in a country that really does respect the ability of the individual to do that.  When they put you in charge of the verdict, the American Justice System is showing you respect, putting you ahead of the judge, the lawyers, everybody, and trusting you to be fair.  That's pretty heady stuff.  Why would you want to duck out of that?