CIVIC DUTY

When called to serve on a jury, the first part of the day entails crowding in with a hundred-plus other folks, waiting to get called.  During the Big Wait, it's fun to bring paper and pen and draw pictures of fellow jurors-to-be.  I didn't get many sketches off before I was called in to be on a potential jury for some nobody plaintiff named Kareem Abdul Jabar.  Really.  This IS Los Angeles, man. 

Years ago I was actually on a jury presided over by the honorable Lance Ito -- yes, THAT Lance Ito.  Then, after that, I was on a jury presided over by Judge Wopner -- no, not THE Judge Wopner, but the son of  THE Judge Wopner (if you don't know who Judge Wopner is, he preceeded Judge Judy as the official; 'TV Judge'.  if you don't know who judge Judy is, you're not watching nearly enough daytime TV...)