Acknowledging the fundamental importance of serving on a jury, Cambria County Judge Linda Fleming reported for jury duty on Thursday. She didn’t use her status as a judge to get out of the obligation.
 
Judge Fleming arrived at the county courthouse with 120 others, and she was on a jury panel for a criminal case. While she wasn’t selected for the case, Judge Fleming “thought it was important…not to try to get out of the duty to answer the summons.”

Fellow prospective jurors discussed the hardships they encountered in having to report for jury duty. Judge Fleming had to rearrange her caseload, but said that the experience was a positive one. County court administrator, William Valko, couldn’t recall whether other judges had been excused from jury duty in advance, but Judge Fleming’s appearance may have been a first for a Cambria County judge.

“I could have been excused, but my job is no more important than anybody’s [sic] else’s,” she said. “I don’t let anybody out of jury duty, and you got to do what you ask others to do.”