Brandon Aubrey’s bye week took an unexpected turn. As the Dallas Cowboys readied for their game against the San Francisco 49ers, Aubrey faced a unique challenge: balancing jury duty for a felony trial with his practice schedule.
Yes, he practiced in the dark.
Despite these obstacles, he made the trip to California, successfully completing both of his extra point attempts and a 29-yard field goal.
His jury duty, which took place in Tarrant County (Fort Worth), was for a trial that lasted several days, overlapping with preparations for the upcoming game against the Atlanta Falcons. With the case now resolved and a guilty verdict resulting in a 65-year sentence for the offender, Aubrey can return to his regular routine.
On Thursday, he shared his experience, offering insights into the past week.
Why did you decide to fulfill your jury duty instead of opting out?
“I pushed it back, and when I called to push it back a second time, they didn’t allow it, and it slipped through the cracks until it was too late.”
*If you had managed to get out of it this time, would you have tried to postpone another summons in the offseason?*
“No, I would go, if it was the offseason.”
When you learned you were selected, was it a moment of shock or did you have a plan?
“It was definitely an ‘oh sh-t’ moment. I have a D.A. as a sister-in-law, and she told me, ‘They will never pick you with your public figure status.’ I mentioned my connections, but I was still surprised when I was selected.”
What was the jury experience like?
“Eye-opening, long, frustrating, and depressing. The story we heard was very sad. I don’t want to delve into the details, but it was a challenging experience that lasted longer than expected. I’m glad it’s over.”
Did you feel your presence distracted anyone?
“Initially, yes, but there was so much downtime that distraction wasn’t really an issue in the jury room, and we had to focus in the courtroom.”
Did they recognize you?
“Yes, the judge announced who I was during selection. When I raised my hand for conflicts, he came back to me and said, ‘Oh, you won’t have any conflicts. We don’t meet over the weekend.’ I could have been more assertive, but I didn’t want to appear as though I thought I was above the role, so I stayed quiet, which might have been a mistake.”
What did your practice schedule look like last week?
“I was in court from 9 to 5 in downtown Fort Worth, then rushed to The Star in Frisco, about an hour and a half drive. I arrived around 6:45 or 7:00, wanting to practice indoors, but we had a high school game, so I ended up outside fighting the sunset. It reminded me of my time as a software engineer, racing to practice after work.”
How challenging was it to kick in the dark?
“Kicking in the dark is tough; visibility is poor. For Brian [Anger], catching the snaps was particularly difficult at first. It complicates my job too, as I struggle to see where the ball is placed. It made things harder, but I focused on getting my leg moving and keeping my body ready for game day.”
