After getting to the top of the stairs, we proceed around the corridor and approach a couple of huge, ornate wooden doors. As we file in I see what is a huge, modern looking courtroom. Pew style benches on the left and right as we enter (later I learn this is called the gallery). As I'm ushered to the right set of benches, I see the familiar (as seen in TV) fence, separating the trial area from the gallery. A group of lawyers on the left and another group of lawyers on the right, just over the fence. At the far end of the room is a HUGE judge bench, reaching almost from the left wall to the right wall, and also containing the witness stand on the right (the judge's left) and another area, cordoned off with more legal fencing (banisters) on the left (Judge's right).
I also see the "Jury" box against the right side of the courtroom..
There, in the middle of the Judge's area is the Judge. All regal and honorable in his black robes, clearly in charge and mildly intimidating.
After a couple minutes the Judge address all 170 of us and proceeds to welcome us, explain why we were here, to be in a selection process for the upcoming civil trial and highlight the days process.
He then introduces the left side lawyers (Defendant (Mutual Pharmaceuticals) and the right right side attorneys (Plaintiff (Karen Bartlett))
He then reminds us to get our little cards ready to follow his questions as he will as us later if we have any "yes" responses.
He also lets us know that the basic process will be for him to ask questions, then each of us will be selected to determine is we need to speak to him, then we will be put into the jury box. Then the Lawyers will ask us some questions, then some will be dismissed, some will be replaced and we will end up with 18, at which point each side will be able to dismiss 4 jurors for no reason at all, leaving us with 10 for the trial.
OK, the selection process starts next....
J4
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