Medical malpractice cases are very complicated. From 8 to 10 am, the attorneys were taking up preliminary matters, motions to limit or expand what can asked of the potential jurors, motions about what can be discussed during opening, etc. Most of those don't get taken up until the day of trial, and there is almost always a discussion of a potential settlement. In your little area, the bailiff(s) and the Circuit Clerk were checking the jury list, awaiting late arrivals, and possibly calling those absent. You can't start jury selection until everyone who is gonna be there is there. The two hour lunch was also involved with trial matters, likely including a discussion about jurors who could already be stricken for cause . . .
I'm sorry if you were upset by your experience, but the system as it exists is designed to make it as fair as possible for the litigants on each side. Almost always, in any trial, one of the first questions asked is "Is there anyone here this morning who has a pressing, immediate, personal or business responsibility who would be concentrating on that issue instead of the matter at trial, and thus would be unable to give fair attention to each party?" Hopefully you answered that question and explained. You're not gonna get told you can leave after you answer, but during that two hour lunch, the parties talked about you and your answer in front of the judge, and ultimately reached a decision about whether or not you would be excused. If you didn't answer, then your likelihood of being on the jury increased, as it does when any particular juror remains silent through the process for fear of getting picked.
Jury selection is about selecting who you definitely don't want, and dealing with who is left. Remaining silent gives the parties no legal reason to strike you from the pool . . .
Edit: There have been several lucid, well thought out responses to your original post in this thread, but the post quoted below, your most recent, reflects that you have been unwilling to consider them. I wish you luck in your future calls to do your civic duty.
I am not naive - I understand! I was being interviewed for a potential Juror on a medical malpractice case- the case was not being tried at the time. There are no excuses (IMO) that we should have been told to show up at 9 am and have to wait until 10 for the process to start. THEN A TWO HOUR lunch?? A waste of time IMO. Maybe some people have nothing better to do with their time, but as a Businessman running 4 Company's simultaneously I've got better things to do than stare at 4 walls. I have absolutely no problem fulfilling my duty as a US Citizen and serving as a Juror - just don't like my time being wasted. Don;t like my tax dollars being wasted either. IMHO 4 working hours in a Court Room just isn't right.
