The Judge said, in hushed tones to the attorneys huddled around the bench, “Any problems if I excuse Mr. Chapman?” It seems like these are words our potential jurors long to hear. Why is that, and how can lawyers who pick juries change the paradigm?

Recently, I chose not to get out of jury duty. What a way to celebrate my 49th birthday. A line of potential jurors waited to step through the metal detector in an alley behind the courthouse. It was a cloudy day, and an 8:15 a.m. start seemed earlier. “Put your phones, keys, wallets and umbrellas on the belt,” said the guard. We did. On the other side we gathered our things; then, we entered the big room. More than 150 strangers stood, sat, leaned, and generally looked awkward as we waited. I knew what was coming, but the rest did not. They knew their bosses wanted them at work and kids wanted them home. They wanted out because of vacations scheduled, physical problems and general unfairness they had to be here at all. Some knew it was a $9 a day job—that did not help.