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Alex Cabrero ReportingJury duty -- those two words can send many people searching for excuses. One woman had a great reason to be dismissed, but stayed anyway. All this week the entire state is saying thank you to all jurors.
It's amazing how everything stops when you have to serve on a jury.
Susan Dahlstrom, Former Juror: “Al lmy friends and family were like, say this, say that, get out of it.”
Susan Dahlstrom has a busy life, but wasn't going to make any excuses.
Susan Dahlstrom: "You don't like to get out of voting, why would you look to get out of something that's really important as a us citizen to do?"
Her case was a big one, a criminal case inside Matheson courthouse. But on the 4th and final day Dahlstrom woke up in her Millcreek home with a big pain in her side.
Susan Dahlstrom: “I thought, there’s no way, I can’t miss today. I can’t throw this case into a mistrial.”
So she went, listened, and deliberated, and afterwards, drove fast.
Susan Dahlstrom: “Drove myself to LDS Hospital and had my appendix out.”
Talk about civic duty.
Jon Huntsman: “We are declaring this week as jury appreciation week.”
It's why Governor Jon Huntsman signed a proclamation Tuesday thanking all jurors across Utah.
Chief Justice, Christine Durham, Utah Supreme Court: "They're one of the last vestiges, in some respect, of the whole idea of direct democracy, where citizens themselves do the work of government."
It may also help explain why courtroom dramas are so popular in television. But if you think it's drama on the outside, you should try it on the inside.
Susan Dahlstrom: “I was so emotionally involved in that case and I was really curious to see how it was going to come out. I’ve told all my friends and family, you’ve got to do it. Do not look for a way out of it.”
The state says thank you. Jury appreciation week runs through this Friday.
