I’ve spent the better part of the week serving as the foreman for a jury in a criminal case. As they tell you, you’re not allowed to talk about it with anyone, not even your fellow jurors, during the trial. As they also tell you, once the trial is over you can talk about anything you want. So, here goes.

I am one of those civics nerds who does not look for every excuse not to serve on a jury. I was a political science/journalism double-major and, though I’m far away from those in my professional life at this point, I still have a passion for the processes that bring us together as communities, societies and civilizations. I won’t say I wanted to be put on a jury for a criminal case, but when the opportunity arose I certainly welcomed it.

—Mohandas K. Gandhi