And “Snap!” Or, as Dame Edna would say, “Spooky, Possums!”

So, it was a week to the day since I attended what was for me, the highlight of this year’s Mildura Writers Festival.

And that was the opening night event at Mildura Club, and a conversation between probably my 2 favourite writers, David Marr and Helen Garner. The subject decided upon by our two guests, was, appropriately enough, “The Law.”

Appropriately enough, given the history for both writers in the law (Marr a member of the bar), and in court reporting (Marr in the Pell case amongst others, Garner notably in the Cinque and Farquharson trials.)

So the scene was set and we were drawn a verbal impression of all aspects of the court scene, from the drama of counsel presentation, the tedium of drawn out and difficult to comprehend expert and forensic evidence, to the most basic of logistical challenges such as simply being able to hear evidence being given where courtroom acoustics are poor.

It was a completely enthralling hour or so, and I felt extremely lucky that time permitted a question or two, and I was able to pose my question in regard to their opinions of the competency of, and confidence in, juries and the jury system overall.

From both, the response was mostly in the positive sense. David Marr said that it seemed overall to work well; Helen Garner recounted the experience of a family member who had participated in a jury, that the group dynamic seemed to counter the extremes of opinion, and encourage the group to work towards a reasonable way of reaching a verdict.

I came away feeling encouraged, but still not convinced that given the option, and put into the position, that I would trust my fate to that of a jury.

How ironic then, that I should receive in the mail today, a Notice of Selection for Jury Service!

So, I have registered online, and now await the ‘Call.’