Jury Duty - who has served?

[strmrdr]

The first time I got the called I was 19 and blew it off, it wasn''t kewl and I would have had to take off from school to go during finals week.

The second and third time I got called years later I had to get a medical exemption because I couldn''t sit for long periods because of medical problems. :{
Im now on the don''t call list but would like to have done it when I could have and regret not going the first time.
I think everyone should experience the court system to see how it works and how it don''t.
Iv went a few times with friends for various stuff and its no wonder they never get anything done, delay after delay after delay.

One of our clients is a Judge and he says 90% of his day is spent granting delays.

 

[WTNLVR]

I''ve been called 5 times over the years and all you do is sit around in a dingy room waiting to be called. I have never been called and been released at the end of the day. A total waste of time. I wouldn''t worry about it- the chance of being called is slim and if you can''t sit for long periods it won''t work for you.You haven''t missed a thing. I think it''s a vital process, just boring for the majority that have to sit around and lose a days pay (if self-employed).

 

[atroop711]

I actually did serve many yrs ago. I was there for 2 weeks. During the 2 weeks I got knocked off so many panels because my father was a Correction Officer in NYC where I was serving jury duty. I finally got picked for a jury (rape case) and the very day the trial was to start the man took a plea.

Since at the time I was working for the NYC Welfare system as a case worker, I took this Jury Notice as a 2 wk vacation (of sorts) from the office.

Shortly after that I was assaulted at work and have permanent back issue which prevents me from ever serving again.

Annette

 

[eks6426]

I''ve done it. Went for jury selection. I was way back in line so that meant a full day of sitting doing nothing. I was amazed at how many people were not selected. They had 12 jurors picked but still need 2 alternates...still 20+ people ahead of me. Well, they could find only one alternate in those 20 and I was the unlucky 2nd alternate.

So, back the next day for the trial..as an alternate you sit through the entire thing like a regular juror. Several days later, it was time for deliberations. All 14 of us locked in a dingy room...told no going home until a verdict is reached. But here''s'' the kicker. As an alternate, you can not participate in the conversations of the regular jurors. You cannot read a magazine, talk on your cell phone (they collected those) or even talk to the other alternate. It was 12+ long hours of trying to stay awake.

It was an interesting process to see, but I hope to never be an alternate again.

 

[AndyRosse]

I''ve been called twice. The first time I went, sat around for the entire day, and finally was interviewed for about two minutes. They asked what my parents did for work, and then asked if I wanted to be on the jury. I said no, that I was taking some summer classes. They said have a nice day

. LOL.

The second time was within three years of being called the first time, so I was excused without ever having to go.

 

[Kaleigh]

I just got summoned and not too happy about it either.

I got out of it once because my daughter had medical problems. This time I have to do it. Hopefully they won''t need me.

 

[Logan Sapphire]

I''ve been called twice for jury duty in DC; the first time, I wasn''t selected and the 2nd time, I had since moved to VA and therefore wasn''t eligible. My sister, who lives in DC, gets called frequently. I guess it''s b/c DC has a small population and they''re going through the eligibility rolls quickly. I had a coworker who sat on the grand jury for the Clinton case. She''s sworn to secrecy but said that the public doesn''t know half of what happened.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

I have! Part of me wanted to serve on a trial because I was curious (Law and Order is one of my favorite shows) the other part just wanted to go home! I am self-employed so it wasn''t like I was getting paid to be there (oh, excuse me, the state of NC pays you $7.00 a DAY) I was selected for two counts of assult with a deadly weapon. A landlord supposely stabed her tenant twice in the shoulder. I thought I would be dimissed since my FI is a landlord and my parents are STILL in a dispute with a tenant in their San Francisco property but alas, no. I guess since neither had any violent encounters I wasn''t "jaded". Turns out we thought she was guilty anyways. One older lady did not want to vote guilty so we almost had a hung jury

Finally we convinced her. Over all I was VERY disappointed. It was boring and we had no evidence! Where were the photos? Where was the knife in the plastic baggy? 911 calls? NO! We got zip! And the lawyers were horrible! The judge actually yelled at the DA because he wasn''t objecting

In total with selection and trial it was only two days so it wasn''t so bad.

 

[sunkist]

Date: 4/14/2006 10:20:24 AM
Author: Rascal49
I''ve been called twice. The first time I went, sat around for the entire day, and finally was interviewed for about two minutes. They asked what my parents did for work, and then asked if I wanted to be on the jury. I said no, that I was taking some summer classes. They said have a nice day

. LOL.


The second time was within three years of being called the first time, so I was excused without ever having to go.

Three years after and you got excused?! What state do you live in! Man, I''m in CA and I''ve been called in the past 2 years straight and there''s nothing I can do about it. But they did say that if people didn''t skip out so much and make excuses then we''d only have to serve every 5 years

I''ve been in the selection process for jury, but never selected. I kind of hoped I would be chosen last time. I think it would be exciting to see the trial process in person

 

[ladykemma]

wow, i get a summons at least once a year. and i always get picked, but i have never served more than three days because the defendant plea bargains. then we get sent home.

i have never sat through a trial.

 

[movie zombie]

i have been called many times and i have served on a jury for three weeks.

waste of time?! imo, it is our civic duty to serve. the system is only as good as those that participate. and that includes the jurors. abdicate your responsiblity to your own peril. some day any one of us might find ourselves in a criminal or civil proceding: who do you want sitting there listening to the evidence and making the decision?

the system is not set up for our convenience but to protect rights that it is easy to take for granted. personally, i love watching jury selection: it is a fine art within the legal community.

unless one is following a particular case each and every day, it is hard to understand why delays may be necessary. and any attorney is going to work the system for his client: that is the attorney''s job. you''d want the same if you ever get into a situation where it gets that far.

the last time i was called the judge personally came out and thanked us for being there. it was a criminal case that the defendant didn''t accept a plea offered to him until the very last minute.

i do believe there are instances in which getting rescheduled for jury duty is ok...i''ve done it myself. in this county, we get to select when we want to return if we say we''re unavailable when called.

movie zombie

 

[aljdewey]

When I lived in NH, I was called. I had to defer twice - once having just left job, second time having just started new job. Third time, I fulfilled service.

In New Hampshire, you are on jury duty for a MONTH....you report on Monday every week, and they select the juries for that week. If you aren''t selected, you report again the following Monday and every Monday of that month.

I was selected 3 weeks in a row....first week a civil case involving a car accident; second case a criminal case - jewelry store heist; third case was civil case - tenant sued property management company for injuries sustained in negligent keeping of common areas.

I found the experience boring and fascinating. Boring in that it''s long periods of waiting and sometimes aimless testimony. Fascinating in how deliberations occur.

4th week court wasn''t in session, and I got out of the last week where it wasn''t full and I had been picked 3 weeks consecutively.

 

[Mara]

I got called last summer after not being called for more than 5 years!! Of course it was right after I said 'hey i never get called for JD'...der...karma gets you every time.

I had to postpone the first time, because of a family trip we were going on at that time, but then I went when they rescheduled, and I was worried because I'm in commission based sales and if I don't work, I basically don't get paid! So we go and they call my number to go up the first ~10? in the box where they ask you questions to figure out who is viable...they excused about 5 of us for the financial hardship reason, aka if you serve on the jury would it affect your household income in a very negative manner. 2 people owned their own businesses so if they didn't work, didn't have income, me and someone else did commission sales, and another guy was going to be on an overseas trip for work during the case.

The case was criminal grand jury or something like that?? And he said it would take 3-4 months. So that is why I think he was being cool about letting people off, he said he did not want to go through this selection process more than once so if you could not serve the whole time, tell him now etc. I thought it would have been interesting to do a civil case which I hear typically takes about a week or so, just to see how it all works and being in the courtroom was kind of fascinating...but a criminal trial? eeek!

So I guess I'm off the hook now for something like another 18 months???

I like the idea of jury duty but unless you work for an employer who pays you full salary or don't work at all or are retired, then I don't know many people who want to serve.

 

[cinnabar]

My husband has been called twice here, but he''s not a citizen so he can''t do it.

They presumably get the names off the driving license register, which doesn''t say who''s a citizen and who isn''t.

Americans get called up way more than we do in England. I''ve never been called there in 20 years as an adult; my husband did it once but that''s still unusual. I only know of five other people who''ve done jury duty in Britain. They all got to serve on a case, no one was rejected or left hanging around.

 

[fire&ice]

We have been sent the selection forms. Neither one of us has been selected b/c we are the only person that can do a particular job. People hire hubby - not necessarily his company. And, being a sole proprietor, I'm at financial risk if I don't fulfill my "contracts".

I'd like to serve if I can. Now that I am scaling back - perhaps.

Funny about court - When I taught 8th Grade Civics, we took a field trip to the Courthouse. I kept telling my students that this isn't like Perry Mason...dum da dum dum dummmmmmm. Well, what case is being heard while we are there? A murder case involving unfaithful spouses - ALL with motives, a hammer & two suspects

being tried separately. It was bizaaare! It was better than Law & Order. The kids probably didn't believe a word after that about Court after that.

 

[pearcrazy]

Date: 4/14/2006 7:14:44 AM
Author:strmrdr
The first time I got the called I was 19 and blew it off, it wasn't kewl and I would have had to take off from school to go during finals week.

The second and third time I got called years later I had to get a medical exemption because I couldn't sit for long periods because of medical problems. :{
Im now on the don't call list but would like to have done it when I could have and regret not going the first time.
I think everyone should experience the court system to see how it works and how it don't.
Iv went a few times with friends for various stuff and its no wonder they never get anything done, delay after delay after delay.

One of our clients is a Judge and he says 90% of his day is spent granting delays.

"Don't call" list???? What the heck is that?? It's not a choice around here. Unless you have a doctor's excuse every time or are over 65 you have to show up, if you don't you can be held in contempt of court or fined or both. After you've served (whether or not they choose you for the jury, if you show up you've served) they can't call you again for 2 years. I've been called 3 times. Between the first and second summons was 2 years and 2 months to the day. I wasn't selected for the jury either time since both cases were domestic violence cases and I've volunteered at the battered women's shelter in the past. The third time I was called for grand jury duty but luckily, my number wasn't called the night before.

 

[strmrdr]

I dunno they just told me I wouldnt be called again after the last time i went in with a doctors note.
So i assume they have a list of people not to call.

 

[asscherisme]

I have lived in 4 states since I turned 21 (I''m 36 now) and have never been called.

But if I was called, I would have to drag all 4 of my kids there and hopefully they would let me out. I would love to fulfill my duty if called but I have nobody to watch my kids and I can''t imagine they would want a juror dragging in their kids everyday!

Do they let people off if they are primary care givers for children with nobody to back them up? If not then they would get me with my kids!

 

[glitterata]

I''ve been called several times and I served on a case once.

It was a criminal case, a kid stabbed another kid over a girl. It was obvious he did it--lots of witnesses, the victim had his intestine punctured--but some of the younger jurors wanted to say not guilty because they felt bad for the defendant. He seemed like a good kid with a hot temper, he was only 17, they could imagine doing the same thing themselves, and nobody wanted to see him go to prison with "hardened criminals." It took us forever to decide, we even got sequestered overnight in a motel on Staten Island (I was living in Brooklyn at the time). The deliberation process was fascinating, seeing what made people feel the way they did about the case and how they tried to convince each other. Everybody took it very seriously, as well they should. In the end the whole jury agreed he was guilty. The foreperson was one of the young jurors who had wanted to say not guilty. She was crying when she gave the verdict.

I wonder what became of that kid. The defendant, I mean. Well, I also wonder what became of the foreperson who felt so bad for him.

Other than that, my jury duty has consisted of sitting around on hard chairs reading a book and waiting for them to call my name. But I consider it my patriotic duty and I''m proud to serve.

I''m proud to live in a country where we take justice seriously. And when we violate it (Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay), it fills me with horror and shame.

 

[firebirdgold]

I agree that it's our civic duty. It's just part of the cost of being an american, besides it's like voting. If you don't vote you have no right to complain about who got elected. If you weasel out of serving, then what right do you have to complain about our justice system or to expect things from it? A society is like a marriage, the participants have to put some effort into making it work. Mind you, I'm not the sort of person who ever had a ribbon on my car. My views have less to do with a deep love of this country, and more with a childhood filled with nuns!

sorry for the mini-lecture.

Anyway, I was called here for the municipal court where the only thing they cared about was if you spoke english and were still alive. It wasn't a one case only sort of thing. I was on tap for a whole three months. Every friday I'd call up and see if there was anything on the docket that my group had to show up for on monday. If there was we'd have to sit around while they picked names out of a hat (so to speak) for the jury. Theoretically I could have served on a jury every single week, but I only ended up getting picked and kept for one trial. It was a typical drunk driving/high-speed chase/assualt cops kind of thing. (my state has dui issues).
What surprised me was how seriously all the jurors took their jobs. Everyone was very careful to judge the case based on the facts, and wether or not the court had met their burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. When you're faced with it, it is very sobering to realize you hold someone's fate in your hands. I was the foreperson and made sure that the discussion went calmly and logically, and that no one was pressured into voting without being convinced. I found it very emotionally hard to stand up and look the defendant in the eyes and pronounce the guilty verdict.
IMHO, once you actually get the people on the jury, people really will try to do their best.

 

[ForteKitty]

Date: 4/15/2006 2:37:43 AM
Author: glitterata

It was a criminal case, a kid stabbed another kid over a girl. It was obvious he did it--lots of witnesses, the victim had his intestine punctured--but some of the younger jurors wanted to say not guilty because they felt bad for the defendant. He seemed like a good kid with a hot temper, he was only 17, they could imagine doing the same thing themselves, and nobody wanted to see him go to prison with ''hardened criminals.''

I wonder what became of that kid. The defendant, I mean. Well, I also wonder what became of the foreperson who felt so bad for him.

Chances are, he''ll end up in prison again.

I worked in L.A. County''s Men Central Jail and Twin Towers Correctional Facilities for 2 months as a student worker a long time ago. It was horrible. Most of the offenders will spend the rest of their lives in and out of jail, and many of them started young. If the young man was good looking, he will be someone''s "b*t^h" unless he is able to defend himself. It happens often, and the deputies will not attempt to stop anything.

But regardless, he stabbed another kid, and over a girl, no less. He could have learned a valuable lesson... but i really doubt it. The only thing prison teaches you is to not get caught next time.

 

[fortheloveofdiamonds]

Never been called. I lived in Canada the first 22 years of my life and never was called. Got married; moved to the states; I have never gotten a call. However, I have lived in Washington, California, Florida, South Korea, and Kansas since April 2000... so I guess they can''t find me! AND I''m not a citizen sooooo...

 

[atroop711]

storm I had a medical excuse too and was told that I would never be called (that was in 1993). Fast forawrd to 2004 and I get a summons to appear for Jury duty. I had to go down there with medical papers in hand to show that with my permanent spine disability I wouldn''t be able to participate. They told me that they aren''t excusing ppl anymore permanently but just granting 2 yr delays (in NYC). So now I am expecting another call back this yr and will have to do the same thing all over again.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Date: 4/15/2006 1:40:09 AM
Author: asscherisme
I have lived in 4 states since I turned 21 (I''m 36 now) and have never been called.


But if I was called, I would have to drag all 4 of my kids there and hopefully they would let me out. I would love to fulfill my duty if called but I have nobody to watch my kids and I can''t imagine they would want a juror dragging in their kids everyday!


Do they let people off if they are primary care givers for children with nobody to back them up? If not then they would get me with my kids!

The Charlotte courthouse has daycare

A fellow juror was 7 months prego and they made her stay...poor thing.

 

[Selkie]

I live in the LA area, where as you can imagine, there are a LOT of court cases. In the six years I''ve been here, I''ve been called twice. The first time, I didn''t get seated, and since there is a "one day/one trial" policy, that was it. In other words, if you report on the appointed day and don''t get put on a jury, you are done with your service for a year. The second time was last summer, and I ended up on a civil trial, which lasted 2.5 days. It was a car accident case, and we had to decide the liability of each of two defendants who had been involved in the accident. We also had to decide on the amount of damages (if any) that would be awarded to the plaintiff. Essentially, we had to decide on three important questions, which made it somewhat more interesting. It was oddly dramatic, one of the defendant lawyers was very calm and professional, the other one was highly emotional and animated. I think she was trying to distract us from the fact that her client''s testimony was completely sketchy. The judge almost threw out the trial once, as well, because a defendant started talking about evidence that had been deemed inadmissable.

We all put thought into it, but I got the distinct impression that some of the other jurors were just going along with the majority in order to get out quicker. Some also thought that the plaintiff didn''t "deserve" a damages award, for some weird reason. Never mind that through no fault of her own, her car was totalled and she was nearly killed. Finally some of the more reasonable people said "Look, we are not trying to make her rich, we just want to compensate her for her car and her medical bills."

The weirdest part was that after the trial ended, the lawyers, one defendant (who was really upset that we had found him liable), and the plaintiff all were in the hallway as we left, and accosted some of the jurors, asking why we decided the way we did!! I never realized they were allowed to do that. One juror was so upset she was crying. I doubt this happens with criminal cases, though,

 

[EdSkinner]

It seems like once a year I get a summons for jury duty. The first time I could not get out of it, I spent the day sitting in a half lit room and read a book. I felt like I was in detention hall in high school. Also I got the wopping sum of $5 for a days work. I ended up wasting a vacation day so I wouldn''t get docked. Iam sure everybody wants to spend their vacation on jury duty. Now they send out a questionaire to pre qualify you for serving. In it I tell them that I have to use my vacation time or else I get docked and I have been left off. I guess they dont want to spend their vacation on jury duty either.

 

[Sparkster]

Never been called for jury duty. Even if called, I would be exempt because I work in a legal firm (that''s the way it is in the state of Victoria - Australia)

 

[portoar]

The first time I was called I ended up on the jury; it was a drunk driving case. After the trial, we were locked in the jury room, and we were ticked off because we reached a guilty verdict a lot sooner than they thought we would and we were pounding on the door to be let out; only the bailiff, the attorneys, the judge, the defendant, everyone was out having a nice lunch while we were stuck and wanted out.

The second time I was the only educated person (and I don''t mean this in a snobby way, I literally mean, the only person with more than a high school degree) who was called up to be questioned for duty. The judge took a shine to me and was chatting it up with me during the proceedings (I worked for a major university and he wanted to gossip about its president). The lawyers found out I had previous experience with working on litigation in a law firm and excused me so fast it made my head spin.

A third time I sat around all day and was not called.

A fourth time I forgot to go because I just found out I was pregnant and was a little distracted.

 

[sanfranciscoellen]

Date: 4/15/2006 1:40:09 AM
Author: asscherisme
I have lived in 4 states since I turned 21 (I''m 36 now) and have never been called.


But if I was called, I would have to drag all 4 of my kids there and hopefully they would let me out. I would love to fulfill my duty if called but I have nobody to watch my kids and I can''t imagine they would want a juror dragging in their kids everyday!


Do they let people off if they are primary care givers for children with nobody to back them up? If not then they would get me with my kids!

I have been excused in both NC and CA from jury duty because I was either breastfeeding or was the primary caregiver for kids under a certain age. Those were both valid reasons for postponement. They also excuse you if you care for an elderly relative.

 

[msdarlinjoy]

I have been summonded twice. First time my number didn''t even get called. Second time my number got called, however we just sat in a room for hours, we ended up being released at 2:30 in the afternoon stating that our case would not go before a Judge as the the "guilty one" skipped bail and a warrant for his arrest was being issued.

If I get called again, I would do it. The company I work for pay''s for my wages, etc... no financial loss, and Thank God, that my kids are old enough that I don''t have to breastfeed! Two at one time was just too many!

Have a great day!