This film is part of an in-progress installation work, intended to re-animate cultural ideas and conversations about judicial service. Planned as a public project, the work aims to engage potential jurors in questions about this relatively unexamined, often-maligned civic practice -- and our collective assumptions about citizenship.

I interviewed 16 people for the film, each of whom, save one, was impaneled on at least one civil or criminal trial. Every person relayed more stories and ethical quandaries than I could represent here; and each individual's experiences surprised me repeatedly. Among these subjects, ideas and feelings about jury service varied widely. But each was engaged, and perhaps troubled, or moved, or curious, or amused -- usually some combination thereof.

I want the film to represent the catalytic possibilities of these probing conversations -- sidestepping both the moralizing of public service announcements, and the unquestioned, ritual malcontent that pervades popular perception about jury duty.