Well, believe it or not , I received a letter in the mail this week stating that I had been selected for Jury Duty and was legally required to be in court Wednesday May 13th at 9am.
What?!?! You've got to be kidding me!!!! Of all the times to be called for Jury Duty, it's now when I'm 32 weeks pregnant!!
For those who don't know what this means, I have been randomly selected out of all the residents in Brampton to serve on trial as a juror in a legal case.
The details of the case were not disclosed in the letter (seeing that the case is confidential and can only be disclosed when sworn in by a court of law) however, what was stated in the letter was that the case would be roughly 4-5 weeks and that every juror selected would receive $100 per day for serving on trial.
In bold at the top of the letter read that it was an illegal offense to not show up and that there would be legal actions taken.
Now from the many I have spoken to who have once served trial as a juror, I was informed by all that most trials only last a few days. Seeing that the trial I was selected for is for 4-5 weeks, we're not talking some rinky-dink case of break and entry or a drug bust, we are talking murder, rape, etc.
This situation couldn't get any worse!!! 32 weeks pregnant, being required to stand trial as a juror everyday for 5 days for 4-5 weeks, no alternative care for my 2 year old as I stand trial for those weeks, a case that could very well be for murder or rape, just weeks away from having my baby...
Come on!!!
I immediately called the court house to explain my circumstance. I was told to get a letter of proof from my doctor that I am indeed pregnant and to write in a letter as to why I didn't think I was fit to stand trial.
The next day I called my Dr and requested a doctors note asap. My doctor refused to state anything in her letter regarding my prior hospitalization this pregnancy or the fact that I was recommended to be on bed rest. She said that she would only confirm in her letter that I was pregnant and my expected date of delivery.
I was not happy about this. If anyone should have my best interest and my child's at heart medically, shouldn't it be my doctor?!? I am by no means fit to stand trial this far along in my pregnancy; especially after my hospital scare with early contractions! Why she wouldn't want to explain my situation and try to help me get out of jury duty fathoms me.
That's a whole different blog post in itself!!! Ha ha And another reason why I'm switching doctors once Sweet Pea is born. I haven't been happy with my current family doctor for the last year or two and have found myself a new family doctor for myself and my two girls once the baby is born.
In any case, the receptionist at my doctors office was telling me how she once served on trial and how she served alongside a woman who was expected to give birth two weeks after serving on jury duty. The court refused to dismiss her from jury duty just because she was pregnant and made her stand trail anyway.
Why a judge would want a hormonal, frequent washroom user and snacker on trial is nuts! Lol Especially knowing that person could go into labour at anytime?!
If I wasn't already concerned about having to stand trial, hearing this just set me over the top! Lol
I went home and prayed that God would work some form of miracle on my behalf.
I wrote my letter to the judge explaining my circumstances and faxed it off with a glimmer of hope that my letter would somehow find its way into the hands of an understanding, compassionate judge and be excused.
The thought of spending my last few weeks of pregnancy in a court room, in a case that would probably have me emotionally ripped apart and stressed to the max, having to find care for Nya for so many weeks, not to mention the fear of going into labour in court!!! has had me a little on edge.
However, I knew in the depth of my heart God would make a way. He always looks out for His children and has never failed me when I needed Him the most.
With that being said, I got a call today from the courthouse to say that the judge received and reviewed my letter and has decided to excuse me from Jury Duty. Gloryyyyyyy to God!!!!
What a victory report!! And what a story to share with Sweet Pea one day. Lol
How many mothers can sit down and say to their child 'darling, when I was just 7 weeks away from having you, mommy got a letter in the mail saying that she had to go to court and stand trial for 5 weeks for a murder case!'.... lol
If in fact it was a murder case; that I will never ever know for sure. But for the sake of the story, it sounds a lot more interesting! Ha ha ha ha ha
No comments:
Post a Comment