Jury Duty at Van Nuys

Re “Fear and Loathing at the Van Nuys Courthouse,” Jan. 7.

Jury duty today is much easier than it was in the not too distant past. Now, one is required to report only one day, if you aren’t placed on a panel. So what if you have to sit in the jury room for a whole day?

. . . Is that really a massive intrusion on a person’s time?

[Jack] Solomon is a very entertaining writer, and his article was enjoyable reading. It seemed to me, though, that he was dwelling quite a bit on the “plight” of the middle class, more than the advantages or disadvantages of the jury system. Middle class we might be, but we are all protected by the United States Constitution, which provides for any individual to be judged by a jury of his peers. Laugh, sneer or complain about that all you want, but that’s the real reason we are required to show up for jury duty.

It’s over 50 years since my first jury service, and it was almost four months long. I’ve served many times since, and formerly one had to report for 30 days whether or not you were impaneled. So thank your lucky stars that it’s only one day out of your life.

LORRAINE DAVIS

North Hollywood