jmc_bks

I had an SBD plot bunny today, while doing my civic duty: jury duty. Holy mother of all things chocolate, it was the dullest day I've ever spent. Line up, sit down, wait, go to this room, sit down, line up, wait. If you didn't bring a book to read, you were SOL; the only entertainment available was that horrendous JLo/Jane Fonda movie.

Now that my civic responsibilities are complete (luckily, the jury for the attempted murder trial was set before they reached my number), I'm free to speculate: why are there no romances set between jurors? Lots of romances between opposing counsel; between investigator and suspect. But I can't think of a single one that starts out in the jury assembly room. And it's not like it couldn't happen. I watched several people sit down next to strangers and end up chatting with them like long-lost friends. Imagine it: there's a closed pool of candidates and enforced proximity, with little opportunity for distraction or entertainment. The romance would be even better if it was between jurors empaneled for a long trial. Oh, or (even better) jurors empaneled and sequestered!

I can see the backblurb now:

Martha and Jim were meant for each other -- thank the judicial system for bringing them together as jurors in the Trial of the Century! But dangers lurk: Martha's thinking "Not Guilty" and Jim is convinced of the alleged killer's guilt. Will the crime that brought them together tear them apart?

I must go look for an appropriate cover to photoshop...