Authored by: Sara Shiffman
Depending on who you ask, one of the best or worst aspects of becoming an attorney is that you may never serve in a jury. For years, everyone I spoke to about law school or the legal profession cited it as a fact that anyone in the legal profession is never selected due to their proximity to the field. That ‘get out of jury duty’ card may be a perk for some, but others have a sense of disappointment that they might never get to participate in this aspect of the judicial process.
When I found myself called to the Daley Center to serve as a juror just after Labor Day, I was confident that I would never get picked for an actual jury. Instead, I brought a book and figured it would be a morning spent people watching until my dismissal. Much to my surprise, I was one of the first jurors selected. With this selection, I was able to spend a full week participating in the legal system from a different side of the courtroom than I ever expected.
First, there was a strange self-assurance when going through the selection process. There is a bit of a sense that you understand the strategy behind the questions and since you will likely never be chosen, you can just answer the attorneys’ and judge’s questions and move on with your day without much thought. However, it’s also easy to see how other people might find the method and repetitive nature of the questions tedious. I’ll admit that I had some annoyance at the inconvenience, even despite my prior knowledge walking into the courtroom. All this being said, a word of advice for those actively trying to get dismissed- you aren’t fooling anyone with your excuses, but you are frustrating your fellow potential jury pool with your answers.
Once our jury was selected and sworn in, we got some opportunities to get to know each other and talk. During the time we were locked in a room while waiting for the day to start or during breaks, my fellow jurors took the time to ask me legal questions. This was a tricky road to navigate, as obviously the law needs to come from the judge and not a random juror- regardless of their professional background. I spent a lot of time saying versions of, “I’m not sure,” or “No idea,” instead of responding. As attorneys, we like to be the smartest person in the room (ahem) and there was a bit of biting my tongue to remind myself of my role.
I think one of the most surprising aspects of the trial was that even with a grasp of the law, it was difficult to take emotion out of the experience. These emotions gave me a greater understanding of why bar exam questions always try to manufacture empathy to throw the test-taker off the right answer. Seeing a sympathetic witness or an overly aggressive attorney can cause even the most objective observer to react in a very non-objective and human way. When it came time for our jury to deliberate, some of the first commentary shared was weighed down by how a juror felt about an attitude or a witness’ way of answering questions and not an interpretation of the law as given in the instructions. This process was a good reminder that even for those of us who respect the judicial system, juries are not infallible- they are simply people trying to do their best.
Overall, even with the inconveniences and hassles, I found it rewarding to be a juror. I got to meet a group of interesting people who all got thrown together to interpret the law and then had to deliberate with real-world consequences. Even after a few heated discussions, we all walked away proud of our service. We may have also been happy that we don’t have to worry about doing it again for another year, but that’s neither here nor there.
About the Author:
Sara Shiffman is an experienced marketing and communications practitioner who executed strategic social, digital and influencer campaigns for some of the country’s biggest consumer, food, spirits and pharmaceutical brands. She graduated from Loyola University Law School Chicago in 2023 and was admitted to the Illinois Bar in May 2024.