@corlin

🤷‍♀️

County health department has been the lead on our re-starting jury trials. Do I trust them? No. That’s why I am anxious about my safety.

@corlin

Now, I cannot vouch for the accuracy of that, but that’s what I was (possibly inarticulately) trying to reference, that just me wearing a mask is only partially protective.

Also, sitting within 2 feet of another person for a number of hours seems risky when the health department has been telling us we need BOTH masks AND six feet of separation.

I don’t think our courtroom scenario has really been tested yet. We’re guinnea pigs. 👀

@corlin

It is difficult for the non-scientist to sort through it all. Our local health department puts out info. They indicated that the best protection is if all wear masks, as transmission rates between masked people are very low. They indicated that if the infected person is not masked (possible in my courtroom, since masks won’t be worn by all), that the masked people around them were only partially protected - the mask cuts your risk, but not nearly as much as if everyone wears a mask.

@corlin I am unsure if the filters are “good” but I did order a package of mask filters off Amazon, along with masks that can accept filter inserts. The filters are supposedly 5 layers with carbon. But whether they are actually good filters... no idea. 5 stars on Amazon doesn’t really mean much. I figure they are better than nothing, though.

@yogapaddlerun

I have cloth masks with ear loops, not medical N95 masks. Two fit me quite well, and I figured on wearing those. I am near-sighted, so generally only wear glasses for distance, not close up. This presents another problem. Normally I adjust glasses with my hands during a trial, as I go back and forth between looking at a witness and my notes or a police report in front of me. That’s dangerous in these times. I probably should get (and learn to use) bifocals. No time for that now.

@TomeReader I have an old face shield in my soap making supplies, I think. I am not sure if it would stay put on my head through a trial, but maybe I will see if I can dig it out. Certainly that couldn’t hurt, and might help. Thanks - I hadn’t thought of that.

Criminal trials by video aren’t allowed.

And from everything I read in reputable sources, wearing a mask only protects others, and minimally protects me. I am feeling extremely anxious and vulnerable.

If I could afford to retire, I would turn in the papers Monday. But I cannot afford it.

😱

They are exempting older people from jury service... people only a couple years older than me.

One of my opponents is a Viking wannabe — has a Mohawk style white boy haircut. He refuses to wear a mask, telling me that re-breathing air is “gross” but telling the judge that his asthma prevents it.

So he will be a plague rat often within 6 feet of me.

My client hasn’t been social distancing or masked while in a jail that doesn’t test people. They just isolate them if they have fever.

But being an older public defender during a pandemic that kills and disables the elderly disproportionately ihas put me in a quandary. How do I both do my job well and still protect myself and my older, disabled husband?

I am supposed to do a jury trial next week. If it goes, they have plexiglass up in the courtroom to protect others. But me? I will have a mask, but zero social distancing for at least two days.

I cannot post this anywhere that people know who I am. But I need to vent.

I am a public defender. It’s underpaid work, but I have always believed in it. My job is to defend the poor who are charged with crimes and who don’t have the money to hire lawyers.

@gshevlin when Trumps steal from charity they are ordered to take a class.

When my clients steal from local stores they face years in prison.

@MrsE0113

Nope. Although I ordered thieves oil for my masks. Might help a bit. 💜

@evistre @Minholkin @catbuttsmakemenuts @EnochianEntropy

Big hug for you. 💜

@yogapaddlerun be safe. 💜

@ChippySuave @evamarie

The silver lining to the pandemic?

@tyghebright @cephalopie

Far right religious folks won’t vote #BidenHarris no matter what. Biden could have picked ... Warren, Bernie, ANYONE, and those folks would not vote for him. Period.

Now, my Chinese American daughter-in-law, who is an evangelical Christian, is voting for Biden because she doesn’t believe in HATE, and she cannot support someone who appears akin to the Antichrist.

But the choice of Harris won’t sway religious folks one way or the other.

@TomeReader

Oh ugh. I have played that game recently. And so many things *can* be the beginning of COVID. Headache, GI tracts issues, etc. I was potentially exposed, too, so it was worrisome. Fortunately, it wasn’t.

Hope yours isn’t either. 💜

Good morning CoSo. It’s Friday Eve!