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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: lonestar on February 16, 2012, 08:56:06 AM
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Reporting in today for the first time. Personaly, I'm amazed I made it 42 years without a summons. Since I'm paid for the time by my work, and could use a couple days out of the kitchen, I am going to be a good American and perform my civic duty. I am very curious as to the process and am kinda looking forward to the experience, that is until I get bored as hell and just want to get the fuck out of there, let's see how long I'll last.
So, share any jury duty stories, or any stories of similar service from others outside of the US. Also would love to hear stories of what people do to get out of serving.
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Too much sitting around waiting.
I've been called twice in the last year and a half. Both times for DWI cases (that's the only thing people seem to get busted for around here). Suffice it to say given my attitude towards DWI laws, I don't get past voir dire. Aside from that, the prosecutor will always ask how you to rate the local police on a scale of 1-10, and depending on how generous I'm feeling, I usually go with 0-2. You can actually see them draw a big X across my square.
The last one I was at was actually pretty damned interesting, though. The defense council was a specialized DWI attorney, and was fascinating to watch. I thought he tipped his hand a bit too much, but he nevertheless did a fine job of creating doubt in every aspect of the system. His client was guilty as all fuck, but I thought he stood a pretty good chance of getting him off. Unfortunately I was swamped at work, or I would have loved to stick around and watch the trial after they cut me loose.
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It's not hard to get out of if you really need to. Just don't seem too obvious about it or the judge will get pissed. If you get called for a trial, they always interview you. If you can find a way to show that you'll have a bias of some kind, they'll likely cut you loose. That's not to say that you won't just go back into the pool and possibly get pulled for another trial. It's all up to how your county does it. There's really no good way to get out of it in advance without a really good excuse, and even then they'll likely just delay it.
I served once several years ago. It was a civil case that got settled after a day and a half. It was interesting, but incredibly slow and boring. It was a good thing they settled because it would have taken over a week if it had continued at the pace it was moving.
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I got summoned once. I called the little number to see when and if I had to go, but the case never went to trial so I never had to report. That was back when I was like 18 though.
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I served on a DUI case last year. One full day - jury selection and then the trial - and done. It really wasn't too bad, but it probably depends on the case you might be selected for. Tell them if the length of time would mess up scheduled vacation or work, if you know people who have had similar issues with the law - that may help to get out of it.
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Reporting in today for the first time. Personaly, I'm amazed I made it 42 years without a summons. Since I'm paid for the time by my work, and could use a couple days out of the kitchen, I am going to be a good American and perform my civic duty. I am very curious as to the process and am kinda looking forward to the experience, that is until I get bored as hell and just want to get the fuck out of there, let's see how long I'll last.
So, share any jury duty stories, or any stories of similar service from others outside of the US. Also would love to hear stories of what people do to get out of serving.
If you have a pre-set opinion on the topic, you can usually get out of it. One jury group had a girl who had been sexually assaulted, so she was excused because the crime was rape. So if you reeeeally wanna get out of it, having a biased opinion might do it.
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Never been called.
but given that I work at a police HQ.
Probably wouldn't get picked.
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I've been summonsed twice. I filled out the questionnaire both times and when the time came for me to report, I was told that they didn't need me to show up. That's been my experience with jury duty so far.
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Cool, wifi and I got my kindle. And the waiting begins. :crypt:
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This always bugs me (sorry lonestar). As a society we value our trial by jury system, but as individuals we do anything we can to get out of jury duty. I know it sucks to lose time at work, but if I am on trial for murder, I don't want my jury to be made of up jobless losers who have nothing better to do that sit around and watch Springer.
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I always wanted to serve on a jury but I've never received a summons. I guess I probably wouldn't make it through voir dire now since I'm sure attorneys don't want some snot-nosed know-it-all law students on the jury.
My torts prof. last semester told us he got called a few years ago for the first time and actually made it on the jury for some tort case, which I think is just hilarious.
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I'm not trying to get out of it. Otherwise I would have just thrown away the summons like many people I know do. I was just being silly with the thread title. Actually looks like a fair cross section of the public in here.
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I posted my experience in your last thread I believe. 2 civil cases involving car accidents, and one child molestation case. The first two were interesting because the outcomes were polar opposite, but I wouldn't wish the child molestation case on my worst enemy. The funny thing is that during voir dire attorneys on both sides seem to like seeing someone with a scientific background in all three cases.
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This always bugs me (sorry lonestar). As a society we value our trial by jury system, but as individuals we do anything we can to get out of jury duty. I know it sucks to lose time at work, but if I am on trial for murder, I don't want my jury to be made of up jobless losers who have nothing better to do that sit around and watch Springer.
I'm not opposed to serving at all. I just recognize that I'm stunningly ill-suited for a variety of reasons. Since I realize I won't be picked for a jury, it's annoying as hell to have to waste a day sitting around waiting. I get paid for it, and I usually have the time, but it's just so pointless for me.
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Just had a 3.7 quake while watching the intro video. Everyone in the room looked around quickly, shrugged, and went back to the video. Fucking Californians. :rollin
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Just had a 3.7 quake while watching the intro video. Everyone in the room looked around quickly, shrugged, and went back to the video. Fucking Californians. :rollin
:lol
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I always just call and say I have class, it's gets postponed for 6 months, then I just "have class" again. This has been going on for 4 years now :lol
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Fucking Californians. :rollin
How do they work?
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Well this is just about the most boring thing ever.
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When I was 18 I had to call for a week to see if I needed to go in, I didn't end up needing to go in. And I got that stupid letter again, I have to call in about two weeks.
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Well this is just about the most boring thing ever.
The actual case, or just the introductary stuff? Be careful what you wish for. After two civil suits involving car accidents I wanted my third case to be more interesting...then I got to hear about how this guy diddled this kid, and messed around with another, and did more things to another, then another...and another...and you get the point.
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Well this is just about the most boring thing ever.
The actual case, or just the introductary stuff? Be careful what you wish for. After two civil suits involving car accidents I wanted my third case to be more interesting...then I got to hear about how this guy diddled this kid, and messed around with another, and did more things to another, then another...and another...and you get the point.
The waiting. Five hours and they haven't called a single name. Hey bowl, how bout calling in some favors and get them to hurry this thing up. :zeltar:
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Once I got out of it because it was the same week I was supposed to start school at a place a couple hours away. The next time, I got on an interesting medical malpractice case. Though I was kind of expecting them to say that the guy that was about to start at acupuncture school might be against doctors and to kick me off.
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I wear my Metallica "Kill em All" tee shirt. That usually works quickly :)
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The waiting. Five hours and they haven't called a single name. Hey bowl, how bout calling in some favors and get them to hurry this thing up. :zeltar:
That's a drag. Down here you're usually either assigned to a panel or deemed unnecessary and cut loose by 11 or so. The only time I've been downtown passed lunchtime was when they assigned me to a panel right around 11, and that's just unlucky timing.
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Oh man I don't miss the waiting.
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A whole day to decide I have to go back Tuesday for the BEGINNING of jury selection.
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I'm 19 and I've received two summons in the past 8 months. I don't remember what kind of cases they were or they didn't specify in the summons, but since I go to college two hours away from home, I wasn't required to show up to either case.
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A whole day to decide I have to go back Tuesday for the BEGINNING of jury selection.
So you got assigned to a panel, but voir dier won't be for 4 more days? How many people in the panel?
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Well, at least it probably won't be a civil case involving a car accident.
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I had to report (and was interviewed) the only time I got a summons. However, I wasn't picked...I had spent a good portion of the preceding summer helping my wife study for the bar exam, and much of it was still fresh in my mind. They didn't want to touch me with a ten-foot pole.
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I got to get out of school for one whole day due to a jury summons. It was great too, because it was the end of the year, and my teachers were doing absolutely nothing interesting. I enjoyed hearing the moronic people of Ohio and all their bullshit excuses why they couldn't serve. This one asshole pretended to be a priest and kept saying that he refused to pass judgment on people because "judge not or....er....be judged you" (That's seriously what he fucking said). Another guy flat-out told the judge "Somebody's going to jail if I miss a whole day's pay...".
The case was something to do with jewelry theft. I would have loved to stick around, but they let me go (presumably because I was a high school student at the time). They gave me $40 to get out of school and listen to stupid people though, which I was quite happy with considering I didn't (and still don't :p) have a job.
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A whole day to decide I have to go back Tuesday for the BEGINNING of jury selection.
So you got assigned to a panel, but voir dier won't be for 4 more days? How many people in the panel?
Voir dier was today, which I tried. I listed my early alcoholic recovery, having to work every day I don't serve at least ten hours, and my 1 1/2 hour commute on public transit as my reasons. The judge, who is fucking hot, decided it wasn't good enough. We listed our reasons on paper, and those granted were given paper. No exchanges with the judge occurred, which was unfortunate cause I wanted to continue fantasizing about that beautiful mouth of hers. Did I mention she is really hot?
Anyhoo, the panel had about a hundred on it, and about twelve were excused. I report at 9 Tuesday morning for the beginning of selection. It is a criminal trial.
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ell at least yu will get to see that mouth for a while. I mean look at the positives.
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True that brother. She's about my age, dark and sultry, and in my head, buck fucking naked under that gown. :metal
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Perhaps you could, you know, make use of some negotiation.
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True that brother. She's about my age, dark and sultry, and in my head, buck fucking naked under that gown. :metal
ah man man after my own heart. Can I someohow get on that jury trial LOl
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I've been summoned twice.
The first one was a attempted murder case so I wrote that I would be biased towards defendant and that I have no remorse for people that commit extreme crimes like murder. They should be be executed not life in prison. Its honest truth about how I feel. I was excused from the case, perfect for me. I would assume what I did is a good way to BS your way out of jury duty if your case involves murder.
Second time, instructions were to call the morning of the summons, called and recording said I didn't have to show up. :biggrin:
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Fucking Californians. :rollin
How do they work?
:tup
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True that brother. She's about my age, dark and sultry, and in my head, buck fucking naked under that gown. :metal
You could always hit on her. You might get lucky with her or at least you'll be off the jury duty
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True that brother. She's about my age, dark and sultry, and in my head, buck fucking naked under that gown. :metal
If possible can we get some pictures please? Reading you describe her has me interested!
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Tell them EVERYONE is a terrorist in your eyes.
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So I just got my first summons... yesterday. i got a call from my ex after driving for 8 hours... telling me that it came in.
ugh not really looking forward...
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So I just got my first summons... yesterday. i got a call from my ex after driving for 8 hours... telling me that it came in.
ugh not really looking forward...
lol sorry man.
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how much... reimbursement do they give for your time?
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15 bucks a day plus 36 cents a mile driven.
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lame
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True that brother. She's about my age, dark and sultry, and in my head, buck fucking naked under that gown. :metal
Pics or it didn't happen.
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True that brother. She's about my age, dark and sultry, and in my head, buck fucking naked under that gown. :metal
Pics or it didn't happen.
Trust me, hef, you don't want pics of what happens in my head.
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I've been summoned once so far. It wasn't too bad, I brought my laptop. I didn't actually serve on a jury though (unfortunately). I went in Monday, sat it the waiting room with like 30 other people and waited to see if there would be a trial. Around 11 we were told there might be a trial and they'd need half of us. They cut us loose for an hour long lunch, we all came back and were informed around 1 or 2 which half they wanted. I wasn't in that group so I got to go home. I took the whole day off from work so I wasn't going to waste that. I did have to go in on Tuesday though.
Went back in on Tuesday and, around 11, we were told there might be another trial. Around noon, they told us they still weren't sure if the trial was gonna happen, so they let us go for lunch. We came back from lunch and they told us they still weren't sure. Around 2 they said the trial had been postponed and that we were off the hook completely. I was disappointed that I didn't get on a case. I guess two days off from work was nice, but I was kind of interested in being involved in a case, no matter how minuscule it might've been.
So, I basically spent two days writing and surfing the web in a government building.
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True that brother. She's about my age, dark and sultry, and in my head, buck fucking naked under that gown. :metal
Pics or it didn't happen.
Trust me, hef, you don't want pics of what happens in my head.
We might want pics of what happens in front of it, though...
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:lol
I definitely want pics.
I got summoned once but I had class or something and haven't gotten one since. It's a shame because I've always wanted to do it.
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Lunch break, still in the selection part. They haven't asked me shit yet. Judge isn't as hot today, but id still do her. Lawyers are fucking annoying as hell, present forum admins not included of course. Tis about all I can say at the moment without breaking the law. Hate to go to jail cause some DTFer from Indonesia saw me posting about the details of a trial in Cali.
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Came back from lunch to the judge announcing they settled. Fuck yeah!!!!
It was assault with a firearm btw.
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Good to hear you got off. Did you get a chance to hit on the judge?
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Good to hear you got off. Did you get a chance to hit on the judge?
No. :(
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Good to hear you got off. Did you get a chance to hit on the judge?
No. :(
There's always tomorrow. Or the next day. Or stalking.
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Came back from lunch to the judge announcing they settled. Fuck yeah!!!!
It was assault with a firearm btw.
How do you settle a criminal case? Plea bargain?
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Came back from lunch to the judge announcing they settled. Fuck yeah!!!!
It was assault with a firearm btw.
How do you settle a criminal case? Plea bargain?
That would work.
Now, are you still on call lonestar? I don't know how other places do it, but where I lived when I was summoned, you are on call for 3 months, but you only get called for 3 cases tops, and it counts as a case if you don't pass voir dare or show up and they reach a settlement before hand, so I only missed 4 days (3 cases and orientation). Also, since I am salary, I didn't lose money on jury duty so I kind of looked forward to it - and wouldn't mind doing it again as long as its not another child molestation case. Hell, I have a morbid curiosity to sit on murder trial or an elaborate white-collar crime trial, but neither of those really happen where I live now, although since I'll probably be moving soon...
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I've been summoned three times for jury duty. I have never actually sat on a jury, though. I am always blatantly honest about my, um, "time away at college" ::) on the form and for some reason they just don't seem to want a person with that kind of, um, "experience" on a jury.
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Came back from lunch to the judge announcing they settled. Fuck yeah!!!!
It was assault with a firearm btw.
How do you settle a criminal case? Plea bargain?
That would work.
Now, are you still on call lonestar? I don't know how other places do it, but where I lived when I was summoned, you are on call for 3 months, but you only get called for 3 cases tops, and it counts as a case if you don't pass voir dare or show up and they reach a settlement before hand, so I only missed 4 days (3 cases and orientation). Also, since I am salary, I didn't lose money on jury duty so I kind of looked forward to it - and wouldn't mind doing it again as long as its not another child molestation case. Hell, I have a morbid curiosity to sit on murder trial or an elaborate white-collar crime trial, but neither of those really happen where I live now, although since I'll probably be moving soon...
I assume it was a plea bargain, and I am done for a year. I am paid from my work, so it's not like I would have been losing out on money, it's just that because of my schedule, the days I am off from court, I would have been at work. That would have ran me for a 20 to 25 day marathon of work/court which would have left me exhausted.
Kirk, I talked about my "club membership" on my form too, and the judge didn't seem to care. I think I could get it for a long timer, but seeing as I only have eight+ months clean, I would think they would avoid someone that fresh out of the insanity.
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It's a shame they discriminate against Mickey Mouse Club members. ;D
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It's a shame they discriminate against Mickey Mouse Club members. ;D
:lol Nah, you know something, if I was on the other side I wouldn't want someone like me on a jury. I mean, I know that I could be completely objective, but on paper I'm a horrible candidate for jury duty so I don't blame them for kicking me loose. I just wish they wouldn't make me go through the motions. It's a waste of time for the court and for me.
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When I was 18 I had to call for a week to see if I needed to go in, I didn't end up needing to go in. And I got that stupid letter again, I have to call in about two weeks.
I have to report on Monday morning to the courthouse that is of course the furthest away from where I live. I already called my boss to say I wouldn't be making it to work, and I emailed my professor to say that I might be late to class. Oh and I have a quiz in that class. Hopefully I wont have to report on Tuesday because I have lab (which I can't miss), and a test in my other class.
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Sitting in the courthouse again, awaiting the boredom....
Entertain me...
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Your battery will run out. You will cry.
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That's fucked up man. :'(
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I've had it happen. :lol
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Got your CSI shirt on? Tapout is a close second.
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Ok, so we go into selection, and the judge starts going over details. Blah blah blah and he finally gets to the case, says it's gonna be a civil case, and it should take three months......................
Three fucking months........ the courtroom obviously groans, and the judge goes "huh, I expected a louder groan...." :lol
So he asks who needs hardship forms, and almost every hand goes up. I fill one out saying I'm too broke to take 3 months off and make sure to tear stain the paper. A nervewracking half hour follows where he starts calling off names one by one. He calls my name and my heart skipped three beats, whereupon he says he understands and I'm excused. So damn relieved.
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Ok, so we go into selection, and the judge starts going over details. Blah blah blah and he finally gets to the case, says it's gonna be a civil case, and it should take three months......................
Three fucking months........ the courtroom obviously groans, and the judge goes "huh, I expected a louder groan...." :lol
So he asks who needs hardship forms, and almost every hand goes up. I fill one out saying I'm too broke to take 3 months off and make sure to tear stain the paper. A nervewracking half hour follows where he starts calling off names one by one. He calls my name and my heart skipped three beats, whereupon he says he understands and I'm excused. So damn relieved.
Wow... that would've fuckin sucked monkey balls. Close call mang.
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Seriously bro. It was a class action, a bunch of homeowners against the contractors that built the track homes they lived in. Judge said the lawyers statements would have been 45 days, and the rest of the time would had been going over construction law. :zeltar:
I feel so sorry for whatever poor fuckers end up on that thing man.
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Summoned three times, 33 years old. Started at age 25. First served on a trial, second I asked not to attend and didn't get to the jury pool, and last time summoned but not selected.
I will not apparently ever serve on a jury again, due to my studies and career's nature. I did not mind serving, to me it's free time. Especially if one's employer pays you to be there.
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If the case had been a week or two, I wouldn't have had an issue; I got about a month of vacation saved and have always had an interest. Three months would've put my ass on the streets though. (doubt my girl would throw me out, but it would have been hella tricky)
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Oy vey, this shit again. Trying to decide if I even show up tomorrow. I really hate the thing on general principle, knowing that I'm not juror material and all. Also, I have to wonder if they stop nagging people who don't show up. Maybe I get called every year because they know I'm a sap. On the flipside, I suppose it's possible I see an interesting case, and if it's something awful I could pretty easily wrangle out of it. A little perjury don't bug me none.
Seriously bro. It was a class action, a bunch of homeowners against the contractors that built the track homes they lived in. Judge said the lawyers statements would have been 45 days, and the rest of the time would had been going over construction law. :zeltar:
When I was nine a contractor killed my younger brother. I've held a grudge against the entire industry ever since. Oh, and I have a seething hatred of all homeowners; smug, condescending assholes.
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I had Jury Duty last week. Well.. My group was never called... so I got out of it. Wouldn't have mattered if I got called or not. I still get my full pay as a county employee. The only shit thing is if I would have been called, I would have fallen behind on my caseload at work. Which is no bueno.
The employees the actually work at the government center complex have the option to be put on a call list, and they just get a call when their group is called. I work in a satellite office ACROSS THE STREET so I don't qualify for that luxury. By the time I get it next year I'll probably gladly take the paid day off.
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I got to serve on a jury this week. It took two days and was legit the most fun I've had in a while. I know that's a weird word to use to describe it, but I really had a great time. I thought the whole process was great. Being in court was like watching a live drama. The witnesses were contradicting each other. It was one lawyer's first case. Witnesses were getting called out on wrong information. It felt exciting, and knowing that I was going to be 1 of 6 people responsible for ruining someone's day had me hanging on every word. I took it very seriously, volunteered to be the foreman, and lead a 3 hour deliberation.
10/10 would do again.
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I was on a jury in Hartford and I LOVED it. So interesting.
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I got to serve on a jury this week. It took two days and was legit the most fun I've had in a while. I know that's a weird word to use to describe it, but I really had a great time. I thought the whole process was great. Being in court was like watching a live drama. The witnesses were contradicting each other. It was one lawyer's first case. Witnesses were getting called out on wrong information. It felt exciting, and knowing that I was going to be 1 of 6 people responsible for ruining someone's day had me hanging on every word. I took it very seriously, volunteered to be the foreman, and lead a 3 hour deliberation.
10/10 would do again.
Was it a civil or criminal case? What was it about and how'd you guys vote?
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I got a summons a few weeks back, but my group was never called so I didn't have to go in. My wife was called but was dismissed during juror questioning, or whatever its called. She had an experience too close to the nature of the trial and said she could not be impartial.
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I was called for Jury duty and I really wanted to participate and be selected, I was selected in the initial group, went in front of the judge and lawyers on both sides, they gave a brief overview of the case which I think I would've done great on. But ultimately had to back out as the judge said it would take 2 weeks and at the time I couldn't forgo that much time as I had other commitments.
But I think I would've been marked an impartial juror because my wife too had the same thing happen to her as the defendant.
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I was on a jury in Hartford and I LOVED it. So interesting.
I've been summoned about 6-8 times in my life. I had to report at least 4 times, and I got on a jury once around 2005. It was a simple possession case. The prosecutor accepted the jury several times, but the public defender's strategy seemed to be to use all of her peremptory challenges to delay things. When I was called for voir dire, I got the sense she'd have liked to have gotten rid of me, but she had run out of challenges and had no basis to challenge me for cause. When we started our deliberations, we all sat there quietly for about 15 seconds when someone said, "well, I guess we should elect a foreman," and someone else immediately said, "I nominate the lawyer. I was unanimously elected despite pointing out that I had no experience with criminal law. It took longer than it should have, but we convicted the guy.
My daughter got called a couple years ago. She postponed it a couple of times since she was away at college. I suggested she schedule it for the second to last week before she returned from spring break. Very few civil trials start that week, and she'd have an easy excuse for not getting stuck on anything other than a 2-3 day criminal case. Her group got sent up to a courtroom, but it was a two-month trial, so she was done before noon.
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I got to serve on a jury this week. It took two days and was legit the most fun I've had in a while. I know that's a weird word to use to describe it, but I really had a great time. I thought the whole process was great. Being in court was like watching a live drama. The witnesses were contradicting each other. It was one lawyer's first case. Witnesses were getting called out on wrong information. It felt exciting, and knowing that I was going to be 1 of 6 people responsible for ruining someone's day had me hanging on every word. I took it very seriously, volunteered to be the foreman, and lead a 3 hour deliberation.
10/10 would do again.
Was it a civil or criminal case? What was it about and how'd you guys vote?
Just a civil case around a car accident a couple years back.
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About 10-15 years ago, we were living in Mount Airy NC, a quite small town. My wife got called for jury duty, and as it turned out, her Dad was also called for the same session. When the lawyers were talking to her, they asked as apparently a standard question if she knew anyone else that was a potential juror, and she pointed at him and said "That's my father right there." The lawyer asked if she felt she could do her duty as a juror without being influenced by her father, and she said she had spent several decades without being influenced by him and didn't expect that to change in the next week. They were both accepted and served on the same jury (it was a DUI case).
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About 10-15 years ago, we were living in Mount Airy NC, a quite small town. My wife got called for jury duty, and as it turned out, her Dad was also called for the same session. When the lawyers were talking to her, they asked as apparently a standard question if she knew anyone else that was a potential juror, and she pointed at him and said "That's my father right there." The lawyer asked if she felt she could do her duty as a juror without being influenced by her father, and she said she had spent several decades without being influenced by him and didn't expect that to change in the next week. They were both accepted and served on the same jury (it was a DUI case).
That's a great line. :)
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About 10-15 years ago, we were living in Mount Airy NC, a quite small town. My wife got called for jury duty, and as it turned out, her Dad was also called for the same session. When the lawyers were talking to her, they asked as apparently a standard question if she knew anyone else that was a potential juror, and she pointed at him and said "That's my father right there." The lawyer asked if she felt she could do her duty as a juror without being influenced by her father, and she said she had spent several decades without being influenced by him and didn't expect that to change in the next week. They were both accepted and served on the same jury (it was a DUI case).
That's a great line. :)
Well, she's pretty great lol
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I got to serve on a jury this week. It took two days and was legit the most fun I've had in a while. I know that's a weird word to use to describe it, but I really had a great time. I thought the whole process was great. Being in court was like watching a live drama. The witnesses were contradicting each other. It was one lawyer's first case. Witnesses were getting called out on wrong information. It felt exciting, and knowing that I was going to be 1 of 6 people responsible for ruining someone's day had me hanging on every word. I took it very seriously, volunteered to be the foreman, and lead a 3 hour deliberation.
10/10 would do again.
I'm glad our country has people like you on it :lol I guess if I felt like jury duty wasn't impeding on my life or I really wanted to get out of work, or the rare chance the case was really intriguing, I could find it interesting to be apart of the process.
About 10-15 years ago, we were living in Mount Airy NC, a quite small town. My wife got called for jury duty, and as it turned out, her Dad was also called for the same session. When the lawyers were talking to her, they asked as apparently a standard question if she knew anyone else that was a potential juror, and she pointed at him and said "That's my father right there." The lawyer asked if she felt she could do her duty as a juror without being influenced by her father, and she said she had spent several decades without being influenced by him and didn't expect that to change in the next week. They were both accepted and served on the same jury (it was a DUI case).
That's actually amazing :lol
I've been summoned a few times, never served. Last time, just last year, I actually got to the questioning part to see if they'd select me and I said I had a bias in the case. Not a lie, I had a similar situation happen to me and immediately felt strongly about the case based on the few facts they shared, but a bit of a stretch in that I could have withheld that and just did my duty without it ever mattering, but I wanted out so just told them I had a bias.
My gf currently has a summons awaiting her :lol But I think if you make it to the question part, if you just say you don't want to be there, they aren't likely to select you anyway.
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The biggest problem with jury duty is that the pool of people who can legitimately sit on a trial that will last more than 5 days is minuscule. Essentially, it's students on breaks from school, retired folks, civil service employees (who, for the most part, get paid for unlimited jury duty), (some) union workers, and the unemployed. Around here, the judges are VERY strict about the "financial hardship" excuse. I don't have any statistics, but I doubt there are many employers who will pay employees for more than 3-5 days of jury duty (and, of course, hourly employees don't get paid unless they work (union members excluded under some circumstances)). Judges will actually expect folks to exhaust their paid vacation time to sit on a jury. As a result, you get people who are desperately trying to get out of jury duty.
I've long been a proponent of professional jurors.
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My gf currently has a summons awaiting her :lol But I think if you make it to the question part, if you just say you don't want to be there, they aren't likely to select you anyway.
It really all depends. For starters, simply saying, "I don't want to be here" is at least a little likely to generate a tongue-lashing from the judge. Beyond that, there are plenty of situations in which a part might want people who don't want to be there. I can recall a lot of late night sessions where we sat around brainstorming about the sorts of people we did and didn't want on a jury for a particular case.
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Oddly enough I've never been summoned for jury duty. Then again, I've lived in a small town surrounded by other small towns for quite a while, so maybe not that many court cases needing jurors.
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I served on jury duty when I was 21 or so. It was kind of fun at that time. I think I would just find it annoying now though. I'm kind of surprised I've made it 20+ years without being called in again.
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I only got called for it one time, and it was for state grand jury. Had I been selected I would have had to serve once a week for three months. The judge warned the room full of us that he "very rarely" excuses people if they do get selected, and then proceeded to excuse almost the entire initial 12 person list :lol I was initially called as one of the next wave of replacements, but the judge agreed to exempt me as it was something like 2 hours each way of public transportation to get down to the state capital (I didn't have my license at the time). I was out of there before noon, so at least was able to enjoy a half day off once I got home :hat
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Getting called for a grand jury could be more interesting, but man would it suck.