It came in an official looking envelope with a yellow border. It contained my notice to report for jury duty. Throughout my career as a physician, jury duty obligations often seemed to be a burden. I always reported to the Boston courthouse as directed, but was never selected to serve as a juror. I was told that judges and lawyers do not like physicians on juries and usually avoided selecting them. However, now that I am retired, I looked forward to my jury duty assignment. At 9:15 a.m. on the prescribed day, I appeared at the Edgartown Courthouse and was checked through security and then went upstairs to the courtroom with the other potential jurors. The court clerks processed us and we viewed a very instructive film on the Massachusetts court and jury system.

Then Judge Benjamin C. Barnes appeared, a bear of a man with a booming voice and an avuncular demeanor. He welcomed us and reminded us how important it was to serve on a jury and what our responsibilities were. He reassured us that the current Massachusetts requirement is to serve one day or on one trial to fulfill your jury obligation for three years. He then informed us that the matter being considered that day was a criminal case. That got my juices flowing. I had seen enough Law and Order episodes to begin to channel my inner Sam Waterston.

However, after about two hours, Judge Barnes returned and told us that he had good news. The case had been settled and we were free to go. I admit, I was disappointed. I was curious to observe what happens in a criminal trial. My experience caused me to do a little research. Only 54 countries in the world provide jury trials and 53 of them use them solely in criminal cases. The United States stands alone with a judgment by our peers in both criminal and civic trials.

This caused me to ponder further our recent election. It was one of the most contentious in recent memory, yet about 5 million fewer Americans voted in 2024 than in 2020. Fully 36 per cent of Americans didn’t vote this past November despite the availability of mail-in ballots and extended days and hours for voting in many states. In Australia, voting in federal elections is compulsory.

I am not sure that is the answer here given the size and complexity of our electorate. Rather, isn’t it time for all of us to reflect upon what a privilege and opportunity it is to live in this country. Immigration issues are complex, but looking beyond the polemics, it speaks volumes about how many people risk everything to join us in our wonderful land. The least we can do is to embrace the request to serve on a jury and to make sure that we vote — both are responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

Kevin R. Loughlin M.D. lives in Edgartown.