Trish Gannon/River Journal and I had a conversation on Facebook, launched by Trish's comment: “Wow! After 25 years residency, I have finally been called for jury duty.” Which prompted me to post: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Take it away, Trish: “I feel like I'm going to reprise childhood, sitting on the bench, bouncing up and down, shouting, 'Pick me! Pick me!” and probably with the same disappointing result. … Seems like the only things kids picked other kids for when I was in school were athletic games. I would only get picked fourth if there were only four people to choose from.”

Question: When did you get picked during your grade school days, when classmates were choosing up teams? First? Mid-pack? Last or close to last?

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, spent Monday morning in the jury pool at the Ada County Courthouse. But when he explained his schedule to 4th District Judge Darla Williamson she excused him from serving. The Senate reconvenes next week and Risch said he told Williamson, “I have to cast a vote and if I'm not there, there's a chance a U.S. marshal will be looking for you or me.” “I think I will excuse you,” Risch said the judge replied. Risch said the criminal trial was scheduled for three weeks. As a former prosecutor — Risch was a deputy for two years and then elected to two-year terms in Ada County in 1970 and 1972 — Risch said he guessed the defense attorney would likely have used a peremptory challenge to remove him from the jury/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here.

Question: Should Sen. Risch have been excused from jury duty?

Not enough people are responding to jury summonses in Cassia County. That's left officials to consider different ways to expand their jury pools. Options include sending more a strongly worded summons and to use additional databases to collect potential juror lists. The Twin Falls Times-News reports the issue arose because the sheriff's office has had to deliver more summonses because people have failed to respond to the court's initial letter. Jury Commissioner Elizabeth Kenner says the court has been pulling 1,000 candidates every three months, and each time about 600 are disqualified/Associated Press. More here.

Question: When did you last serve on a jury?

Here I am, almost 60 years old and I’ve been sniveling about NOT being “chosen” for jury duty. Like it was some kind of contest. So typical of my life – first in 4th grade being the last.one.standing to be picked for one of two teams. Now, I am entering close-to-retirement years and I finally got picked for jury duty. They say you have been “randomly” picked – but I know better. They couldn’t find anyone else taller, smarter, prettier, or more athletic and they had to settle for … me/JeanieSpokane, Nuts & Nonsense. More here.

Question: Do you react as graciously as JeanieSpokane/Nuts & Nonsense when you’ve been summoned for jury duty?