My Florida story today

[usedtobedemgurl]

20. I was excused at one time.

I went to the courthouse fully planning to serve. (If they wanted me). We sat around and sat around some more. Finally, we were brought into the courtroom. They called up some folks and asked questions. I was called up. By then, I had a huge range of emotions.

At one point, under an old name, I posted a letter to George Will here. It was about my rape. About how I did not go to the cops. I am a huge rape survivor advocate. Even so, I did not go to the cops because of the way they treat rape survivors. I did not want my case to go to court and for me to be raped all over again with their questions.

I was asked if I could be an impartial juror. I said, “No.”. I explained my history. I brought up how one person on the Supreme Court stopped a rape trial to ask what the person was either wearing or drinking. (I was in an accident, so now my memory is not as good as it once was). I said I could not trust the cops or the court system. That I came in wanting to do this, but now my stomach was churning to a point of nausea. I was quickly dismissed.

If I had been pressed, I could produce a lot of writing about my rape, as well as advice to others who had been raped. I went in feeling proud to do my duty but realized I had a huge prejudice against our system.

I recently was sent a letter for jury duty. Because of my brain injury, from an accident, my concussion dr wrote a letter stating I am not able to do what would need to be done in a jury. If pressed, I could produce 13 professionals who work on me since my accident. I have tons of medical files and a folder 2” thick with medical bills. The only time I can halfway function and get past the unrelenting pain is when I take edibles. They don’t want high jurors, especially if I will need to grab someone’s arm just to walk to the bathroom, the jury box or wherever else I might go. Also, I have light sensitivity from my accident, so I don’t go anywhere without a hoodie pulled up and sunglasses on. I don’t feel fit to go grocery shopping, let alone serve jury duty.