At the time I was called, I was self-employed an independent contractor (building). When I got the summons, I was near the end of one job and the next job was for a friend who said it didn't matter when I started. The job I was just finishing paid well and I would be set for the month. So I finished up the job three days before I was to report. I spent the day in the jury pool waiting to be called for a case. I was finally called as a potential alternate juror. In the questioning I was asked if serving wouldn't present a financial burden, since I was self-employed.

I explained that I had ample opportunity set my business on hold in order to serve and that I thought it my civic duty to serve on the jury.

I turned out that the case in question was one of land use involving a local business that wanted to expand it's building on to land purchased over a decade before for that express purpose. However since the purchase, the state enacted strict restrictions regarding "green areas" and the building would encroach on a stream on the edge of the property. These regs weren't there when the land was purchased and the business was suing for loss of property value under the state law that was enacted at the same time as the regs. The defense attorney excused me for cause.