Jury Duty in Heels, anyone?

[bambam]

Just served 2 weeks on a jury here, and wore my high heels Frye boots about a third of the time, the same ones in my avatar, except black. Nobody said anything, although I did get a TON of looks, stares, and awkward smiles. It should be said, however, that most, if not all female trial lawyers and law clerks wore huge heels, around half the time. None of the others on the jury ever wore anything like that, despite one being a model, and another being very attractive, and very femme. Thoughts? 

I really will never stop wearing heels, I think...

[mlroseplant]

My thoughts are that I'm glad that there are a few people out there who still wear heels, even if it's only 1/3 of the time. All joking aside, it is seldom you meet somebody who actually likes to wear heels. I wonder what those lawyers wear in casual life? I bet it's not heels. I could be wrong, but I'm probably not.

[Jkrenzer]

8 minutes ago, mlroseplant said:

My thoughts are that I'm glad that there are a few people out there who still wear heels, even if it's only 1/3 of the time. All joking aside, it is seldom you meet somebody who actually likes to wear heels. I wonder what those lawyers wear in casual life? I bet it's not heels. I could be wrong, but I'm probably not.

They are unofficially forced into it, unwritten rule.

Bambam did you wear during your sequester? If you did and weren't excused I'm a bit surprised. No reason is required to excuse jurors and each side gets a certain amount. 

[pebblesf]

Good work buddy, must have felt great.  Besides the looks, did anyone actually say anything/compliment you?

[Aly]

6 hours ago, Jkrenzer said:

Bambam did you wear during your sequester? If you did and weren't excused I'm a bit surprised. No reason is required to excuse jurors and each side gets a certain amount. 

I think you're thinking of the "voir dire" part of jury duty - the selection process: sequester happens after all the evidence and testimonies have been presented, and the jury retires to discuss the case and reach a verdist.

[Jkrenzer]

23 hours ago, Aly said:

I think you're thinking of the "voir dire" part of jury duty - the selection process: sequester happens after all the evidence and testimonies have been presented, and the jury retires to discuss the case and reach a verdist.

My bad, question still stands.

[bambam]

So, I wasn't sequestered, although sequester can still occur after selection. It can occur during the evidentiary process, to be sure nothing is improperly seen or heard from  media or other people. That way, only the lawyers decide what is seen. 

Nothing was said, strangely, although the model was more vocal ABOUT heels while we spoke. And the lawyers who wore them were very aware of the image they portrayed, as they wore flats at any moment they could. 

[mlroseplant]

11 hours ago, bambam said:

So, I wasn't sequestered, although sequester can still occur after selection. It can occur during the evidentiary process, to be sure nothing is improperly seen or heard from  media or other people. That way, only the lawyers decide what is seen. 

Nothing was said, strangely, although the model was more vocal ABOUT heels while we spoke. And the lawyers who wore them were very aware of the image they portrayed, as they wore flats at any moment they could. 

I could have guessed that. I obviously can't get inside of anybody's brain, but I would be willing to bet that like for most women, it's a love/hate thing. Obviously, some of those lawyers thought that the heels projected a certain look that they wanted, but unlike say, us, they're unwilling or unable to put in the work that would allow them to wear them for 8 hours without thinking about it too much. Or just simply go with a less-than-"huge" heels. Even Christian Louboutin does in fact make 85 and 100mm heels!

[Shyheels]

Well 85 and 100 mm heels seem quite nice to me …

[Cali]

When I have had jury duty, I get thrown out right away because of my occupation and how that might work against statements and arguments made by either side. However, I am now excused for life.

[Shyheels]

It’s an experience I’ve never had, nor am ever likely to have. I’ve lived my entire adult life as an expat in one country or another 

[VirginHeels]

The selection process here in Scotland is very different. It appears now we are going back to the pre pandemic situation. The pandemic situation had the jury in a cinema watching from a video stream. Now we are going back to the 15 from 120 for a Sheriff Court and 15 from 90 for the High Court.

We don’t have that stupid Voir thing. Once selected, you are in. There’s an excusal system, so teachers can be excluded from a case involving kids. Retail staff can be excluded from a shoplifting charge.

Next year sees me off my exemption for the Sheriff Court, was last there as a potential juror in 2019, that was a 4 year exemption. My High Court exemption comes off in 2025 as that was a 20 year exemption after being a juror in 2005.

If I’m selected next year, a week of going up to the court to be sent away an hour later, well, I’m going to wear heels. The sound of the click off the marble floors reverberating against the tall brutalist concrete walls will be a confidence booster.

Many of the court female staff here wear heels, if only in the presence of the Justice/Judge. It’s normal for them to have flats on and be carrying their heels in their hand if they are no longer in that courtroom that day, otherwise they tend to leave them under the bench in the courtroom.

Im quite an experienced juror, I’ve been selected twice, been a prospective and unselected juror at least 7 other times. Once it was 6 times in 5 years.

I quite fancy a week going up to the court. I will be wearing my heels this time.

[at9]

I've not yet been called for jury service. Apparently only about 35% of the population in England gets called during their lifetime. The upper age for jury service was 70, but was raised to 75 a few years ago. I've got under 8 years to go.

Scotland has a different legal system to England.

[Shyheels]

Nearest I ever came was reading I, The Jury by Mickey Spillane 

[mlroseplant]

As a member of the State of Iowa Bar, albeit non-practicing (everybody knows I'm actually an electrician), I must object to your reference, "That stupid Voir thingy." Because then you go on to say that there are exemptions/excusals. I don't know exactly how the legal system works in Scotland, but that's exactly what the usual process of "Voir Dire" is designed to address. You don't want a firefighter on the jury when your client is accused of arson. In some jurisdictions, even the judge can disqualify a potential juror for possessing some sort of bias. In any case (pun intended), it would definitely be heels for me, were I selected as a juror in the future.

[Shyheels]

Yes, imagine being called as a potential juror for a case involving a fashion designer and in you stroll in some five inch Louboutins. I can’t imagine the prosecution being happy with that

[VirginHeels]

9 minutes ago, mlroseplant said:

As a member of the State of Iowa Bar, albeit non-practicing (everybody knows I'm actually an electrician), I must object to your reference, "That stupid Voir thingy." Because then you go on to say that there are exemptions/excusals. I don't know exactly how the legal system works in Scotland, but that's exactly what the usual process of "Voir Dire" is designed to address. You don't want a firefighter on the jury when your client is accused of arson. In some jurisdictions, even the judge can disqualify a potential juror for possessing some sort of bias. In any case (pun intended), it would definitely be heels for me, were I selected as a juror in the future.

I see now. That’s how it was described to us by a Clark of the Court. Here we get the charge read out, we also read it too. Then we go for excusals, then it’s into duty selection. I’m sorry if my misunderstanding of the US Legal system in regards to Voir came across as ignorant in any way.

[mlroseplant]

I think that the end goals of the jury selection process are not all that different in the various countries that more or less follow the Common Law system, it's just the details that can be a bit different. How very strange that we use the term "voir dire," which is French, when every other foreign word we use in the law is Latin. Depending upon what part of the U.S. you're in, wild, terrible mispronunciations of said foreign language terms are quite acceptable, even by professionals. I still cringe when I hear lawyers pronounce it "vor dyre." I wonder if I could get out of jury duty by calling a lawyer an idiot for pronouncing it like a hick. 😆

[Shyheels]

I should think having a legal. Background would see you bounced pretty swiftly anyway 

[Cali]

I have a jury duty call for the second week of the year.

I have a medical exception. Even if I get called and asked the standard questions, once I tell them my profession and my extensive background in logic, the attorney's from both sides will always excuse me.

[Rockpup]

I reported for jury duty wearing 100mm ankle boots once. Only comments was from the officer at the security checkpoint.

[pebblesf]

On 12/24/2023 at 5:48 AM, mlroseplant said:

As a member of the State of Iowa Bar, albeit non-practicing (everybody knows I'm actually an electrician), I must object to your reference, "That stupid Voir thingy." Because then you go on to say that there are exemptions/excusals. I don't know exactly how the legal system works in Scotland, but that's exactly what the usual process of "Voir Dire" is designed to address. You don't want a firefighter on the jury when your client is accused of arson. In some jurisdictions, even the judge can disqualify a potential juror for possessing some sort of bias. In any case (pun intended), it would definitely be heels for me, were I selected as a juror in the future.

Love showing my ignorance.  I had never even heard the words "voire dire" until I watched one of my favorite movies:  "My cousin Vinny"!  The prosecutor questioned "Miss Vito's' general automotive knowledge, so he wanted to "voire dire" her.  Love that movie, and Miss Vito had some great heels and booties also!  

[Shyheels]

That's a brilliant movie!  The scene where Miss Vito qualifies herself as an expert is priceless 

[pebblesf]

13 hours ago, Shyheels said:

That's a brilliant movie!  The scene where Miss Vito qualifies herself as an expert is priceless 

For sure!   

[Gige]

If I had answered this question on the day it was initially posted (which, incidentally, will be one year on the day after I complete this post) I would have said "Nope!" "Nada!" "Nein!" "Nyet!" etc. This was still in the time when I was wearing heels in private. As of today, however, my answer would be "You bet I am wearing heels!"  I see it as a matter of confidence coupled with an utter lack of concern about what others may think and if they should have a problem with it. As noted yesterday, I went to the dentist and it was the first time I was out wearing boots and a skirt while not in the company of someone who knows me. Then in the late afternoon, it was a visit to the (new for me) nurse practitioner, but dressed much more business like in a pair of Aerosoles pumps due to the warmth of that time of day. Today, it was the eye doctor in a pair of ridiculously cute Naturalizer slingbacks. Each and every time I entered the building for these visits, I did so without so much as the slightest sense of hesitation or fear. I marched right up to the desk, and stated my name and appointment time. I did not stop to look around at any of the other individuals who may have given me a second look or felt it necessary to do so. If anyone muttered a negative or disparaging word under his/her breath, giggled, or whatever, I did not notice and more importantly, I did not care. Then, when I got home, I had a bit of a walk from my garage to the front door my place. As today I was carrying my computer bag, bag of my case files, lunch bag, purse, coffee cup, and fumbling for my keys, I thought I had passed by hundreds of people and guess what, I truly did not care if anyone saw me. In fact, I hope some of the women around my complex did as they could sure use some fashion tips!

I have progressed to the point where I actually WANT others to see me wearing heels and when I have an appointment, I make sure my heels are fully visible. I can not explain it, but there is a huge RUSH (favorite band, btw) that comes over me knowing that others can physically see my heels. I guess that it comes from always believing that I would never be able wear heels out it public to now, actually doing so. Several weeks ago, I was out grocery shopping while wearing a pair of what pants (trousers for my UK friends) with white Espadrilles. A young man stocking shelves noticed me and then gave me a very obvious second and surprised look. I made nothing of it and went to the next aisle. As I thought about this encounter on the way home, I came to the realization that my approach to such reactions is simple: "I'm queer...deal with it." I have not had to use such a strong approach and I hope that I never will. There are two points that have really helped build confidence - accepting who I am and fully expressing that beyond just wearing heels, such as what clothing I wear, accessories, and the like. I realize that how I approach this may not be for everyone and that's totally cool - I'm completely down with that.  

Edited October 4 by Gige
Correction/Typo

[Jkrenzer]

Been public for many years and even at work. I'm not even queen as you put it. I love my heels, love how they feel and love how they look. I wear nothing less the 5 inch mostly stilettos yet everyone knows I'm masculine. Women have told me it takes balls, but I'm old enough to remember when if a guy wore an ear ring he was considered queen. Now women have tattoos and brush cuts so why should I not wear heels. 

[Puffer]

On 10/4/2024 at 4:15 AM, Jkrenzer said:

Been public for many years and even at work. I'm not even queen as you put it. I love my heels, love how they feel and love how they look. I wear nothing less the 5 inch mostly stilettos yet everyone knows I'm masculine. Women have told me it takes balls, but I'm old enough to remember when if a guy wore an ear ring he was considered queen. Now women have tattoos and brush cuts so why should I not wear heels. 

Did you mean to put 'queen' (twice) rather than 'queer'?   I am no expert (nor a practitioner!) but I don't think they mean the same thing.

[mlroseplant]

I have no doubt that Joe got autocorrected--twice. I have long used the chiefly British expression "queer fish" (I think I must have read it in some book when I was young). Everyone, even here in the U.S., understands exactly what it means, but one has to be very careful these days where one uses such an expression. I suppose I should use the more pedestrian American expression, "odd duck." I also habitually pronounce the last letter of the alphabet as "zed," which causes a lot more misunderstanding than calling somebody "a bit of a queer fish." I have no idea why I do this.

[Puffer]

1 hour ago, mlroseplant said:

I have no doubt that Joe got autocorrected--twice. I have long used the chiefly British expression "queer fish" (I think I must have read it in some book when I was young). Everyone, even here in the U.S., understands exactly what it means, but one has to be very careful these days where one uses such an expression. I suppose I should use the more pedestrian American expression, "odd duck." I also habitually pronounce the last letter of the alphabet as "zed," which causes a lot more misunderstanding than calling somebody "a bit of a queer fish." I have no idea why I do this.

I am delighted to hear that you say 'zed', in common with the great majority of the English-speaking world.   Now, please concentrate on using 'different from' and using the 'loo/bog/toilet' rather than the bathroom or restroom.   😉

I agree that care must be taken in using certain words or expressions - not that this should really be necessary in intelligent society, and certainly not just because certain groups have hijacked perfectly good words and given them a new meaning that is now sacrosanct, and often for use only by other group members.   But, in the UK at least, we are still able to use 'queer' in its established sense and context.   And 'queen' likewise, which reminds me of a tale attributed to the late Queen Mother (widow of Geoge VI).   Whilst waiting to be served her gin and tonic, the Queen Mum could hear two openly-gay members of her staff arguing in the hallway outside her sitting room. Impatient at being kept waiting, she eventually called out 'When you two old queens have finished arguing, this old Queen wants her gin.'.

[Shyheels]

I can just imagine the Queen Mother coming out with that.

As a writer I am appalled by the way the English language has been hobbled by the forces of political correctness. We have arguably the world’s richest language- we should make full use of it