Grand Jury information that made me pause...

I was reading the above linked Washington Post article about the whole Plame leak and the speculation of who might be indicted, etc. etc...then...I came upon this tidbit of information:

The grand jury, a group of onetime strangers from across the District, has spent two days a week for nearly 24 months in the cloistered, guarded room on the third floor of the U.S. District Courthouse. They have sifted through the day planners of White House aides and listened intently as the prosecutor grilled West Wing officials and reporters who relied on them as confidential sources. They are paid $40 a day, plus $4 for transportation.

There were 23 members at the start, committed for 18 months. Their term was extended in May for six months. At least six original jurors have been excused because of hardships their service created. Some were replaced with alternates.

Like the jury's forewoman, the majority are African American women who appear to be middle-age or older. The jury includes at least two black men, two older white women and three white men. One trim, agile retiree with white hair often entered the grand jury room with his bicycle helmet in hand.

You have to really believe in the process of our government to work for $44.00 a day for two years. You would think for a jury of that long of time period they would earn alot more than that. Realistically how many people could leave their jobs for that long? I'm not really familiar with the available jury pool in Washington, but it's obvious only retirees or those who have a flexible employer or are unemployed can do a long term assignment like this.