I would serve if it is reasonably possible. I think I owe my fellow citizen a fair shake from our shared judicial system. It's what makes civilization. If the court calls me I'll be certain that they understand that I need an insulin pump, CGM receiver, meter, glucose tab access 100% of the time, a 55 pound service dog and all the attendant supplies and needs. If they can accommodate me then I'm game. No phones?
I went to observe a trial for work once. It was interesting, as I'd had the file for several years. I'd like to serve on a jury but suspect I'd probably get rejected by the attorneys as I'm a claims adjuster. I can explain that I'd be impartial but perhaps have a weird perspective on these sort of things that they may not want thinking about their cases.
That being said, the case I saw I had no problem having snacks in my pocket, BG meter, pump, etc. It was a smaller, rural venue. I'll be in Cook County next time but figure that it will probably be the same thing there.
Thank you Gary for understanding.
Lol unfortunately I am not on a pump.
If I am allowed to bring everything I need like you could, then that would make me a little less nervous. thank you!
I really do admire Judge Sotomayor. But the judge controls the courtroom. If she needs something she can call a break whenever she likes. I on the other hand will have no control whatsoever and that is what makes me nervous.
I agree that it is the loss of control that makes me anxious in situations like that as well. I also admire Justice Sotomayor, but remember that is the life she chose and worked for, not something she is being forced to do.
I love and support fostering the attitude that "Type 1 shouldn't hold us back" and "we can do anything we want to do" (there's that want to again). I had a student this semester who is also Type 1; she tried to use it as an excuse not to make it to class and I gently let her know that as another PWD I don't think of it as something that should limit us.
But sometimes that philosophy of "you can do anything" can go to far or be inappropriate. We are all different. We all have different comfort levels. The best thing we have learned to do is to take care of ourselves. And sometimes that self-care takes an emotional or personal form, not a physical one.
I got a notice for jury duty for the first time several months ago. I called the number listed on the notice because I wanted to know what the procedures were, ie, I am type 1 and what happens if I have to test my blood sugar or eat something in the middle of a trial. I figured I would have to get a dr.'s note or something like that to bring with me to allow me to eat in the court room or something along those lines. I called and as soon as I said I was type 1, I didn't even get to ask any of my questions, the guy said to write that one the form I got in the mail and to send it in. A week or so later I got a letter saying that I was excused from jury duty. I wasn't necessarily trying to get out of it, but... that's what happened. At the time I lived in a large city so I figured that they probably did not want to deal with anyone who may be more trouble than they're worth.
I, too, feel that I have contributed to my community. From volulteer services such as certifying to take blood pressure for the local Health Dept., volunteering to teach CPR for 8 years, taking my blood pressure screening skills to a local pharmacy every Saturday for 6 hours, etc., etc., etc. If I were ever paid for these hours, I'd be rich. Just keep going on being an extraordinary person!
No phones?
I don't think it's a universal rule but it seems to be very common in my area, both county and federal courthouses. Some will just ask that you turn it off, others will lock it up.
OTOH in deposition rooms outside of actual courts... you can be quite sure that all the lawyers at some point will be clicking away at something on their cellphone :-)
In California lots of places ask that cell phones be turned off in restaurants. Great rule imho; they are extremely annoying.
I don't know about where you live but here in Philly when we get a summons to appear for jury duty there is a space to write a comment. Although I haven't had one in years each time I've gotten them in the past I would write that I'm insulin dependent and they would excuse me. I know how you feel about being restricted years ago that use to frighten me to know that when it was time to eat I was restricted from doing so. That was when I was on a very strict routine before learning the new routine in treating my T1.
Interesting that two of you just wrote that on the form. I looked at the list of criteria for being excused and didn't think that would qualify me. Next time I'll just try that. Since I was excused from this one since they didn't need me they can't call me again for a year.
I still feel that way about eating times, Betty, even though, being on a pump I can be flexible about eating times. For me it's the opposite problem. I eat later than most people, lunch for me is usually around 2-3 or even later. So it would be useless for me to get a lunch break at noon. Not to mention most people's idea of appropriate meal food is not mine! I hope I never end up in jail (highly unlikely at this point in my life) or the hospital! I really prefer self-direction, especially when it comes to food between my D, my vegetarianism, my eating schedule and my taste in foods, oh yeah, and despite 18 years of recovery, my eating disorder.
Last time I was on jury duty was after the diabetes. I had no trouble getting into and out of the courthouse (this was pre-pump)--I wasn't called up (they didn't even question me) but the judge made it clear that they would make any reasonable accomodation--and he specifically mentioned diabetes. I tested in the courtroom (while we listened to the other prospective jurors being questioned for most of the day) and ate glucose tabs, without anyone having an issue. The jury that I was closest to being on was sequestered, but I don't believe that would have been a problem either.
Well said Zoe, thank you.
As I've gotten older my eating habits have changed because of other health issues, such as Spinal Stenosis for which I take pain killers. I am no longer on that routine I had re: eating at certain times I too eat late because I get up late due to pain killers. My breakfast is usually between 10 to 12 and that makes my other meals late in the day. Having lived so long with this disease has brought many changes in my life...it's been a bumpy ride tthat continues.
Oh, funny, I live in Philly too. (Well at did at the time of the summons - I live in the suburbs now). So the lesson here is that diabetics in Philly get dismissed from jury duty!
I have been called four times for jury duty since I have lived in Columbus, Ohio. I was able to delay one jury duty two week tour of duty , to the summer because I work with special needs kids during the school year, and my letter from my supervisor to the courts noted that it would be very difficult to get a sub for them on a temporary basis. However, it depends on the judge. My close friend, also a speech pathologist, HAd to serve on a murder trial for 2 weeks, and nothing worked, no delay of serving, no note from superviser worked. She HAD to serve. I was excused one time because I was so very sick from undiagnosed pernicious anemia, so weak and shaky and mentally exhausted, that I burst into tearss the first day, because I was shivering from the AC; and they saw my distress. I called my endo and he wrote an excuse, saying I was too sick at the time to serve, but not particularly because I was a diabetic.
I was not on the pump during any the time I served nor the times that I was excused. I was on MDI. I guess I would serve now, but using the pump with a possibly noisy potentialif the /cgm alarmsl , my arm and back pain from a cervical herniated disc may make it to distrressfu at the current time.
However the two times I did serve, I learned a lot about our juicial systems and I felt honored to serve. No regrets at all that I did it.
God bless,
Brunetta
I went in for jury duty about a year ago,and while I didn't get picked for the case (it was a malpractice case and I work in the medical field and knew the parties involved), I didn't have any issues getting into the courthouse and jury questioning room with my pump, meter, CGM, etc. Just as I wouldn't want to be restricted from driving with my (or do anything else because of my D) D, I don't want to use it as an excuse as to not serve on a jury as long as accommodations are made for testing and treating lows, etc.
Don't worry about it. I'm guessing you are in the US (you used the word "endo"); you are not a diabetic by choice and you have every right to be on a jury. The court needs to accomodate you. Judges really do understand this.
The easiest thing is to ask the judge; simply say that you are a diabetic and may need to check your blood sugar, several times (possible many times) during the trial. You may also need to eat some form of food, but that can be accomodated. IRC the last time I was called the court recommended (in general - not specifically to diabetics) not making loud sucking noises.
I've never ended up serving. It's off topic to try to explain why one of the parties to the case didn't want me (the judge had no problem.) Still my impression is that a US court is nothing to be avoided; the courts are accomodating to the needs of jurors.
John Bowler