I just got a jury duty notice...

[WillParkinson]

For the busiest time of the year at work. I'm a 3rd shifter. This is going to be tough.

[MissMillie]

1. Maybe you can get it deferred

I've found that the courts are happy to work w/ you, as long as you're not just trying to get out of it.

I was an alternate on a jury last year. The case lasted just the one day, and it was kind of interesting.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

3. They will work with you

But be sure to let them know your problem. Don't just blow it off. When I externed at the U.S. Attorney's office last summer, I got to see a judge severely reprimand two men who were on vacation at the time they were supposed to show up for jury duty and didn't give sufficient notice of their absence.

[WillParkinson]

4. Oh, I'd love to serve on a jury!

I've always wanted to do it. I'm just hoping for a better time.

Oh, and a nice juicy crime. :-)

[pagerbear]

13. No you wouldn't

Several years ago I was on a 2nd degree murder case where one young inner-city man killed another. Tragic all the way around. It was very painful. In the end we found the evidence supported a guilty verdict, but I later found out some people voted that way just to get the hell out of there. I felt awful about that.

[RebelOne]

6. Not in my state will they work with you.

I tried to have jury duty put off because we were on a magazine deadline and it would be a hardship for others in the office if I wasn't there. No way, the judge said.

[denverbill]

11. Ditto. I already had plane tickets for my vacation.

I called and they rescheduled me for a month or two later. Then they didn't call my number anyway, so I didn't have to serve.

[H2O Man]

17. If you say:

"Bring the guilty son of a bitch in here, and let's give him the fair trial he deserves!" (loudly), both sides will move to have you let go.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. Say you're a liberal and post at DU

You'll be out of it fastest than you can say "soft on crime".

[Endangered Specie]

5. A mention of religios affiliation might help your case too

[FarmerOak]

7. Closest I ever got to jury duty...

... was playing Juror #3 in "Twelve Angry Men." The Lee J. Cobb part... angry racist! Great fun!

I'd love to do it for real, but life interferes. Maybe someday...

[demnan]

8. I've served two sessions in my lifetime

both in Prince William County, VA. Once I had a trial of a man who wound duct tape around his exwife's breasts as she was recovering from breast cancer surgery and raped her.

He got the book thrown at him.

Another interesting case I had was an orthopedic doctor who started arguing with a police officer and they tried to throw the book at her for a few stray perscriptions.

She got off. (Part 2 of the famous PMS drunk driving charge, she got off on that one too).

[Rowdyboy]

9. Served once in a case of possession of crack cocaine

VERY interesting experience.

[Bronco69]

10. I've served 3 times

The first was a murder trial where a guy killed his brother. He was acquitted. (Self Defense)

The second was when a guy sued General Motors (his employer). He said he was injured on the job and wanted permanent disability. We found in favor of General Motors.

The third was back in January when a lady hired a band to play at her wedding reception and sued for a refund because the music was too loud. Needless to say she lost that case.

Serving on a jury is actually quite interesting. Also, I'm not sure about the rest of the country but here in Texas the head of the jury is no longer called the foreman s/he is now reffered to as the presiding juror.

[JM]

12. Tell them the Grand Dragon of your

KKK chapter won't excuse your absence at the cross burning.

A fraternity brother supposedly tried that one. I can't remember if it worked or not.

JM

[pagerbear]

14. Actually, that might get you excluded from cases but

...it won't keep you from sitting and waiting to be pooled for other cases. Depending on the kind of court and the locality, of course.

[DS1]

15. Maybe they're trying someone on double secret probation

[Nikia]

16. Just filled out my juror selection form

I have mixed feelings about serving on a jury. My workplace does pay employees for the time that they are off due to jury duty. Sometimes I don't like going to work. Maybe, I'd rather be listening to a case than going to work.

[tjwash]

18. I keep getting kicked off of juries.

I tell them I am an engineer, and they dismiss me rather quickly.

[WillParkinson]

19. Wow...can you blame them?

Though I'm not sure why they'd kick you off.

[Kipepeo]

20. I just served jury duty

And it's not true that they'll all let you off if you work with them. My state, for example, just changed the rules so that it was EXTREMELY HARD not to have to go to jury selection. The only way you wouldn't make it there is if you like worked at home AND took care of an elderly relative AND had no one to pick your kid up from school... I am so serious. People whose employers didn't pay used to be able to get off in the past but not any more.

If you REALLY don't want to do it, then yes, just act crazy or simply like your mind is already made up during jury selection.

[lazarus]

21. Oh, crap

That just reminded me.




Yup. Just checked. I had jury duty last month, and forgot all about it. My daughter was on spring break, I had nobody to watch her, and I thought I had sent in the request for a postponement.

Yikes!

[Piperay]

22. Served on one jury

HATED, HATED, HATED it. :puke: Since that time I make sure of finding a way to stay off of every jury I have have been questioned for even if I am stuck having to put in time in the waiting room. Lately I have managed to avoid serving at all by claiming a financial hardship.

[WillParkinson]

23. I'd serve on a jury...

It's part of my civic duty, I believe.

That, plus the fact that it keeps me home during 'normal' hours.