American Notes Courts

Cat Mousam never voted, drove a car, paid taxes or performed any of the other everyday tasks that might ordinarily call her to the attention of Boston officialdom. Nevertheless, thanks to a city census taker who spotted her name on the front door of her home, Mousam received a summons last month ordering her to report for jury duty in August. Since Mousam ignored the summons, along with an enclosed form that permits prospective jurors to offer reasons for declining to serve, her housemates, Social Workers David Christian and Lia Graceffa, took charge. Christian checked a box indicating that Mousam could not speak English. Graceffa added, "Cat Mousam is not qualified to serve as a juror because she is a cat."

Last week Mousam, a plump gray-and-white cat of uncertain lineage, received a notice from the office of the Massachusetts jury commissioner excusing her from courtroom duty. Reason: "Language." Amused, Christian soon learned that Mousam and his other cat, Leo A. Longfellow, were listed on the 1984 Boston city census rolls as nurses, ages 29 and 32. Apprised of Mousam's true identity, Jury Commissioner Paul Carr was not embarrassed. Shrugged he: "It's not the first time. We've summoned cats and dogs and buildings and 'Occupant' and 'Vacant.' We accept what we get."