Getting out of jury duty

[ButterflyBlood]

give me some tips

[Taverner]

1. Do you have ADHD?

I do and that works every time.

There's no way in HELL I could pay attention that long!

[FarmerOak]

2. "I shall be pleased to serve, Your Honor.

I am the instrument of The Lord Thy God, and I will be pleased to condemn the defendant In His Name.

[Merrick]

18. I just got a summons myself

but if history serves as a guide, I'll be dispatched in short order as everytime I've been put on a panel the prosecuting attorney dismisses me... shows that lawyers can be pretty sharp. Actually, I'm pretty sure that both times were because each trial was drug related in some way and they asked me if I'd had a close friend or relative who's had a serious drug problem or ever went to drug rehab, which I have. So seeming like a person who's sympathetic to people with drug problems is a good method.

[Commendatori]

26. This is close to my suggestion

When you get interviewed, ask if he or she has accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her savior.

Make sure to do this before you get your answer.

[Loonman]

3. Jeez Louise.....

Just do your civic duty.

I've been called 4 times since I was 18.

[ButterflyBlood]

5. it's my friend, not me

and he's worried it'll stop him from seeing some band's tour dates.

let me put it this way, when hot cross and lickgoldensky played sioux falls a few weeks ago, NOTHING was going to stop me from seeing them.

[Loonman]

I hear that

But he better come up with a good one, judges have heard them all and they will cite people for contempt of court.

[ButterflyBlood]

9. that's why an excuse isn't the best way

just prove that you're unfit to sit on a jury. i'm thinking showing up drunk is a good idea, or basically just act like a complete fucking idiot.

[Bertha Venation]

11. "he's worried it'll stop him from seeing some band's tour dates"

:wtf:

I don't judge much, but on this one I'm going to. This is just wrong.

Go ahead. Flame away. Nothing personal toward you or your friend, Butterly, but this is just wrong!

[vi5]

12. Oh brother...not to be judgemental....

...but i sincerely hope your friend isn't ever put in front of a jury of his or her peers and find that the only civic minded reasonable people be trying to find a way out so that they can see some crappy bands play.

And we wonder why our justice system is a mess.

[ButterflyBlood]

17. you're assuming he's a civic-minded and responsible person

believe me he's not. this isn't a guy you'd want on a jury anyway.

[Village Idiot]

4. Fake Tourette's Syndrome or...

use the "N" word. Once should do it.

[ButterflyBlood]

6. ooooh, good one

fake racism

[underpants]

7. Don't it's your duty

it is like voting.

Trust me you probably won't get picked anyway.

[Bertha Venation]

8. Why?

[ButterflyBlood]

10. Because I know someone who doesn't want to miss seeing 1905

(a band)

[Bertha Venation]

14. I see.

Different strokes, I suppose.

[havocmom]

13. Am wondering about something

If you were on trial, would you want your fellow citizens ducking out of theer duty to provide you with a fair hearing or do you want their serious consideration? Shall we just scrap the system and let the arresting officer decide your fate?

Civic duty should be honored. Jury duty is a much smaller sacrifice than that made to secure right to trial by jury for you, should that occassion ever arise.

Jeeze, show a little civil responsibility for helping to make the system work. :eyes:

[ButterflyBlood]

19. the thing is i would be a terrible juror

and so would the person in question.

[havocmom]

That is for the lawyers to decide, not you nor your friend

There is a civic responsibility involved here. The system doesn't work unless citizens are willing to shoulder their responsibilities. Abdicating civic responsibilities is one of the reasons the nation is currently in such bad hands.

We The People.... it is more than just ink on paper or it is nothing at all.

[brokensymmetry]

15. Be opinionated.

Not rude - just opinionated. For example, if it's a civil suit, find something in your own life that makes you despise one side or the other and bring it up a lot.

Also, when the jury selection process begins (voir dire? something like that), act as if you're not paying attention. Look out the window, look at your watch, stare at the ceiling.

If it's a civil suit, and the attorneys ask if you think the attorneys should be paid, you might want to say "Only by their client. They make too much money anyway."

Act confused. If they ask a question, go down strange paths!

If it's a criminal case, you can either be very pro-cop (i.e., the police don't arrest people unless they're guilty. They ask if you've ever gotten a speeding ticket. You reply Yes, and I thought I was guilty, but I got an attorney to get me off. Only say that if it's true! :)

You can also be very anti-cop.

Now, don't lie, whatever you do. That's perjury, and can get you in trouble. Don't be disrespectful. It might be good to act afraid - for example, "I want to answer, but I took an oath to tell the truth, but I'm afraid my answer will get the prosecutor mad at me."

Oh, and if you break for lunch, don't go with the other jurors. Be a loner.

[MikeG]

16. If a freeper takes your place..

And an innocent man is found guilty, how will you feel?

[Bridget Burke]

20. Not sure how it works in your area.

In Harris County (Houston), you're called in & wait to be empanelled. Often you aren't empanelled & are sent home. If empanelled, you'll be queried by the lawyers, who will then pick their jurors; actually, they reject the ones they don't want. (Once I was empanelled but the bunch of us waited outside the courtroom & were told to go home without questioning. The defendant made a deal.) If you're selected the trial may take a day or two. Even for longer trials, the jury is usually not sequestered. That is, you can go home each evening--if you promise not to discuss the case. So he'd probably have the nights free.

And, as several have mentioned, it is one's civic duty.

[TEXASYANKEE]

28. Same in Dallas.

Getting picked for a jury (and the odds are high that one *won't* be picked for a jury), you can still go home at night. Tell your friend to go. If nothing else, it's a good learning experience.

I was picked for a jury in Dallas in March (felony, aggrevated assault). I was amazed by the excuses people had for NOT wanting to serve on a jury. These are my peers?! The trial lasted 3 days (9:00 to 5:00 every day) and was quite interesting. I will gladly serve again.

[Misunderestimator]

21. Sure... wear a John Kerry for President t-shirt when you show up. n/t

[sundog]

22. i was once called and responded--

that i was not qualified to sit in judgement of another human being & determine their fate -- it was against my belief system -- they let me out...

[Beaverhausen]

23. The band wouldn't be YES, would it?

eom

[ButterflyBlood]

24. nope

we're talking indie underground music here.

[camero]

25. You're partial

You hate the plaintiff or defendent. That works.

[ButterflyBlood]

27. here's a reply from another message board on this topic

and evidence of why certain people getting out of jury duty is a good thing!

I GOT PICKED FOR JURY DUTY ONCE. IT WAS FOR FEDERAL COURT AND MY CASE WAS 2½ WEEKS LONG. I HAD TO WAKE UP AT 5AM EVERY MORNING AND DRIVE TO DETROIT. I'D BE THERE FROM 6AM TO 5PM AND THEN DRIVE HOME DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. IT WAS BOTH TERRIBLE AND A BIG LEARNING EXPERIENCE. I GOT PAID $45 A DAY SO IT WASN'T BAD AT ALL, PLUS MY WORK PAID ME MY NORMAL WEEKLY AMOUNT. PLUS ALL THE FREE SODA/WATER/CHIPS/DONUTS I COULD EAT. MAN THOSE WERE THE DAYS. THE BEST PART IS WHEN WE READ OUR VERDICT AND THE PEOPLE STARTED CRYING. THOSE STUPID GREEDY FUCKS. ALRIGHT TIME TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD. XOXO.