Jury Service Inconvenient, But Educational.

By Juliette Rule, Wyoming Tribune-Eagle Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Feb. 27--CHEYENNE -- Some people are eager to serve, but most would call jury duty an inconvenience.

Laramie County District Clerk Gerrie Bishop is inclined to agree that it's problematic for busy people. But she adds that there hardly is a better way to learn about the trial process than to serve on a jury.

That's the theme of the tutorial she offers to jurors.

"It's a civic duty," Bishop said. "We try not to infringe too much on their time."

But one juror said time is what it takes -- along with a little patience.

"I enjoyed it, but some of it did get a little boring during the testimony," Tom Johnson said.

He served in a November criminal trial.

A few days of trial testimony lead to a few hours of deliberation, and every juror must be in agreement when it comes to the verdict. Passionate feelings about guilt, innocence and penalties might erupt, but in a matter of hours or days, the decision must be made.

When the case is turned over to the jury, leaving them free to talk about the case, the …