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Preview of another day in court

The week of Sept. 19 was my turn to perform my civic duty by serving jury duty. Clerk of Superior Court Shelia Studdard and her staff did a great job of making us jurors feel important and appreciated. She kept us laughing, also.

After orientation, 48 names were called and mine was among the first. So we lined up and marched into the courtroom of Judge Christopher Edwards. Judge Edwards read the indictment and it soon became apparent that this was the Tinseltown case.

The judge asked, “Have any of you heard anything about this case?” and about three-fourths of us raised our hands. So each prospective juror had to be questioned about their media exposure. About two hours later, we 48 were brought back into the courtroom and the first 12 were asked to introduce themselves before defense attorneys had the opportunity to ask us specific questions.

As we introduced ourselves, an interesting phenomenon unfolded. These prospective jurors had three pastors sitting in a row. Along with me was a senior adult minister from one of our local churches and a retired Christian church pastor. What are the odds of three jurors being pastors sitting side by side in the jury box?

The defense attorneys keyed in on us ministers. The first lawyer was rather cordial in his approach, but the second one asked a very pointed question with what I thought was a rather sarcastic tone. It went something like this: “When you reverends get into that jury room and begin your deliberations, are you going to using your own intelligence or will you be seeking outside counsel from an external source?”

A brief silence hung over the courtroom as the three of us were put on the spot and as we processed the question. I thought, “What?”

“Could you please repeat the question?” I asked.

The lawyer replied, “You know what I mean. When you get in that jury room, are you going to be able to make up your own mind, or are you going to seek outside guidance?”

The senior adult minister to my left very boldly replied, “Sir, I'll have you know that I will unashamedly seek the guidance of my Lord and Savior and I say that without apology.”

Then the attorney looked at me and I replied, “If you are referring to prayer, whether or not I pray in that jury room, I will certainly begin my day with prayer and ask the Lord to guide all the decisions that I face that day, including what happens in that jury room.”

The retired pastor to my right had more time to contemplate his response. He simply said, “I'll be fair and objective.” He was chosen. We were excused.

I had four strikes against me. I had followed the breaking news about the Tinseltown robbery closely. I also knew one of the officers on the scene, knew an employee in the district attorney's office, and I have a prayer life.

I never dreamed that my praying would be a detriment to serving on a jury. I did end up serving on a civil case, so I felt like I made a contribution before the week ended.

This courtroom experience reminded me of what the Bible says about that day each of us will stand before another Judge. There will be a day in which each of us will give an account.

2 Corinthians 5:10 reads, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”

Will we be ready? Our objective should be the same as Paul expressed in 2 Corinthians 5:9, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”