BESTSELLERS & BEST FRIENDS
My book publishing blog, with murder mysteries woven through it.
If this is your first visit, be sure to start with “1. Let’s do it!”
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Remember my posting several days ago about my Lawyers & Other Reptiles book? 20 years after its publication I got called to jury duty in New York City.
I’m good with jury duty. It’s the right thing to do. I’m a good citizen. But there were personal issues this time. I couldn’t get stuck on a jury.
I showed up. I got called onto a potential jury. The two lawyers explained the case, wanting to make sure that there were no conflicts of interest for us potential jurors. This was the last chance to pull out of the jury. I listened carefully. Nothing. Not even a hint of conflict.
Then the attorneys called for a coffee break and announced that if any of us had cause not to be on the jury and were uncomfortable with speaking in front of the other jurors, now was the time to talk directly, and in confidence, with the attorneys.
For about 30 minutes, I had been working on a Lawyers & Other Reptiles strategy. Perhaps I could explain how I wrote an unkind book about lawyers and certainly that causes me to arrive with prejudices to any argument that the attorneys might make.
I approached the two attorneys.
“I think there might be a problem with my serving as a juror.”
They frowned. They didn’t need this crap. They’d heard all the bullshit stories.
“See, I wrote an unkind book about lawyers. It was called ‘Lawyers and Other Reptiles,” and I—
“You wrote ‘Lawyers & Other Reptiles!’” He grinned like crazy, “I’ve got that on my desk!”
“Me too!” the other jumped in, “I can’t believe you’re that guy. You’re a legend! I must have bought twenty of those.”
“My daughter has one in her office,” proudly said the other.
“Darn it,” said the other, “wish I had my copy with me. Be great to have you sign it,” he smiled.
Then one looked at the other and both nodded. They turned back to me and said, “I don’t think we’ll be needing your services. We’ll see that you’re excused.”
Lawyers, you gotta love ‘em.
Tomorrow: Thinking about motive