By Trudy Barrett

In 1982 when I lived in Idaho, I was picked for federal jury duty. I was picked like everyone else, at random through the telephone, census, and voting registration. My husband and I were going through the mail one night after dinner as we always did at that time. We ran across a letter and form saying I was called for federal jury duty. I felt honored and surprised at the same time. We filled out the form and returned it.

We had a friend in our church that happened to be a law clerk for a federal judge at that time. I called him and told him I was selected for jury duty. He told me, “Congratulations!” He told me if I needed anything read before or during a case he would be glad to be my reader! I called the federal court office the next day, and explained that I was blind and a friend of mine worked for the judge and asked it he could read me any documents that I would have to have read before the case I would be serving on. The lady at the other end of the phone said, “Oh, no, we didn’t know you were blind. We will have to have your name and address taken out of the pool. We can’t have a blind person serving on a federal jury court case.”

After hanging up the phone, I called Norman Gardner who was the state president of the National Federation of the Blind in Idaho at that time.

A few days later, I received a letter in the mail saying I was exempt from jury duty because of blindness. I called Norm and showed him the letter. He made a few phone calls and talked to a few people, and within a few weeks, I received a letter and form to fill out. The form consisted of my name, address, telephone number, social security number, earnings, employer’s name, and availability on a minute’s notice. It stated that I would be on call for six months. I was pleased to fill out all the paperwork that was required. Within about a week, I got a letter in the mail accepting me for jury duty.

I felt so proud! I felt I was serving my country and making it a little easier for my blind brothers and sisters by opening the door a little wider for opportunity.

I called Norm Gardner as soon as I received the letter. He said, “Congratulations! Now when you show up to be selected, don’t lose your temper, and don’t say something you will be sorry for later! Don’t let us down. We are counting on you! Good luck!”

The first case I was selected for dealt with the State School and Hospital for the Severely and Profoundly Retarded. I was not selected for this case because I worked in this institution as an employee for a few months, and my twin sister was a resident there for a short time. The next time I showed up, there were more than enough jurors. The third time, I was picked for a case. The case was about immigration, with a man accused of importing illegal immigrants from Mexico to Idaho to be farm workers. He was importing them in a station wagon with no seats and with all passengers piled on top of each other. We declared him guilty.

Each juror was cross-examined by the lawyers, and I was asked how I would be able to know what was going on in the courtroom without being able to see. I told the lawyer calmly and firmly that I could tell what was going on in the courtroom by what the witnesses said. We were to make up our minds on what we heard in the courtroom. So it didn’t matter if I could see or not.

During the trial, I got so involved in the case I kept making a humming sound. The judge told me several times to be quiet. He told me that he worked hard to get me on this case and to serve for jury duty! Now if I didn’t be quiet, he would have to dismiss me! He scared me and I never made another sound.

The judge thanked me for my service at the end of my six months, and I have not had an opportunity to serve again.

It felt good knowing I was making a difference by trying to change what it means to be blind.