I just got summoned for Jury Duty

[LynneSin]

:grr:

I think I'd rather have my spleen removed thru my butt before going thru this one.

Ironically the last time I got picked for Jury Duty was in college and my mother managed to get me out of it. I figured she found a way to keep me permamently off Jury Duty.

:grr:

[Wapsie B]

1. I haven't had to sit on a jury for quite some time thank God.

But if you get picked just stand your ground and do what you feel is right when deliberating a case.

[TZ]

3. and pray you don't have an insane person on the jury!

Because of that my one day trial turned into 3 days of hell in a jury room....:banghead: Otherwise I think its a fascinating process.

[LynneSin]

7. Let me guess - someone who has read too many John Grisham books

I'm carefully planning my reading selection for the day. I'm figuring some of the following books in my possession might keep me off the Jury including "Runaway Jury" by John Grisham, "Dead Man Walking" by Sister Helen Prejean or anything by Glenn Beck just to have them think I am insane

[TZ]

10. No. Just a woo-woo maniac literally.

The main witness for the prosecution was a retired cop..On disability because a brick wall fell on his back. She asserted that he could not be believed because people on disability are mentally ill...:wtf:

[LynneSin]

14. Let me guess where that asshole watches his/her news every night

:grr:

[Wapsie B]

16. My experience has been the Voir Dire doesn't screen panelists well.

For example, either you get someone who wouldn't believe anything a cop said no matter how credible or the other extreme where if someone's accused they're automatically guilty.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

41. The quality of Voir Dire work depends on the attorney

If the attorneys come in prepared and know what sort of people they want to sort out, Voir Dire can be a pretty useful process.

Unfortunately, when some attorneys have case loads numbering in the hundreds, it's pretty hard for them to be fully prepared for anything but the biggest trials (homicides, rape, agg assault, L&L cases, etc.)

[Richardo]

2. I may be the only American citizen that doesn't mind getting a jury summons in the mail

I never try to get out of it, but I never get selected anyway. :shrug:

I've been told that it's not appearing prejudicial that gets you excused (who would I be fooling? Like the court has NEVER seen that before?) but offering an opinion on anything shows that you might be too independent a thinker for the lawyers to be comfortable with.

[Betty88]

19. I don't mind it either

Last time I spent 3 weeks learning more about feet than I ever wanted to know, medical malpractice, settled on the last day. I just relaxed and enjoyed the time away from work.

[seaglass]

33. I felt exactly the same as you do up until I sat on a jury a month ago.

It was a civil commitment case to determine if a sex offender who had completed his prison term was a sexually dangerous person and should continue indefinite commitment at a treatment center.

It was a horrible experience which resulted in a great loss of faith for me in our system of justice.

[madmom]

38. I've sat on a jury twice. I found both cases quite interesting and learned a lot.

[WilliamPitt]

4. It sucks, but...

(please don't take this as me being preachy)

I have this theory about Americans. We are all, in a small but vital way, public servants and public employees. We have three duties in this regard:

A. Vote

B. Pay taxes

C. Show up for jury duty

When we don't do these things,

1. Assholes and fascists win elections

2. Schools and roads fall apart

3. The laws get written (via jury decisions) by less than the best and the brightest

Seeing as how too many people not doing A-C has led to all of us dealing with 1-3, I tend to take a jury duty summons as a small chance to right the ship.

(/preach)

*ducking*

[Richardo]

6. My view exactly

Thanks for articulating it for me Will. :patriot:

[GoCubsGo]

8. That's how I see it, too.

Besides, sometimes the trials are pretty interesting. And, you might save someone from the mob-mentality morons.

[LynneSin]

9. I vote, I pay my taxes and I'll show up to the *(#$)#@#$ Jury Duty

But damnit, do NOT take away my god given right to bitch about it.

[WilliamPitt]

11. Wouldn't dream of it.

*fleeing*

;)

[LynneSin]

12. Just checking - didn't know if I was gonna have to start a "I'm gonna kick WillPitt's *#$"

:loveya:

[WilliamPitt]

13. It's always a good day for one of those.

*giggling*

:hug:

[LynneSin]

15. I could start one just for amusement value

It's Friday the 13th - Couldn't think of a better time to do one!

[Kali]

17. agree

:thumbsup:

[Patiod]

20. + 1 agree 100%

No need to duck, Good Citizen Pitt

[ashling]

44. I wish I could rec your reply

I was once assigned to be a graduate assistant for a professor who started out the semester by telling me that he would be at our meeting unless he couldn't get out of jury duty.

needless to say, that assignment did not go well

[pitohui]

45. yah well that's all nice and good but i have a different theory

i believe you don't get a jury to decide if the sun rotates around the earth, you get a scientist

the reason we will forever have the cruelty of so many innocent people in prison for years or decades for stuff they didn't do, is because we have this superstitious belief that people untrained in forensic science can decide the facts just based on common sense

common sense tells me the earth is flat (hey, i live in louisiana) and the sun rises in the east and rotates around planet earth

common sense is not good science and no scientist would accept a random jury of 12 people off the street to make a good decision in a matter of fact -- but when it's a matter of science we actually want to know the truth, when it's the mere matter of a man's life or liberty, we don't fucking care, we would rather play to the ideology and pretend that 12 random peers can make an honest determination of fact (even though 20 yrs of project innocence should have proven to anyone who cares that a jury CANNOT CANNOT determine factual truth)

we KNOW from DNA evidence that a great many innocent people are sent to prison by juries -- it isn't like it's some rare thing anymore, they're releasing innocent people every other day, it's just disgusting, after costing people their entire working life, their entire youth...

think abt all the cases where DNA evidence can't clear the people, yet the same % if innocents are in jail and will have their lives forever changed and ruined

trial by jury is no more right or just than trial by ordeal

it is an evil and we should not participate in or give legitimacy to evil

i am not a qualified forensic scientist and i am highly suggestible, to put me on a jury is pure D evil

yes, whenever i'm called, i put forward the evidence i have that i'm not able to serve

the person who serves because, basically, "they know better than science" is not a good american, they are no better than those good citizens who used to throw women in the water and if they floated, they were a witch to be burned

sorry but that's my humble opinion

i know a woman who sent an innocent man to death row, when he was proven to be innocent, you know what she said? oh no he's guilty, i was in that courtroom, i saw the evidence jurors tell themselves whatever bullshit they have to tell themselves to sleep at night and damn the DNA...and this was a nice lady that i really like, don't get me wrong, if you're on a jury and you convict a dude no matter how innocent the dude may be "in reality" you will alway be somehow magically convinced you were right, because of tom jefferson and piece of paper...at some point when we believe in magic we are no better than those who believe in biblical inerrancy...we hurt people, we kill people, when we make a fetish out of a piece of paper written long ago

the jury system is a bad system, if we wanted FACTS, we would not have this kind of system but we don't want facts apparently

[GoCubsGo]

5. That's my entertainment this Tuesday afternoon

Whether or not I actually get picked for a jury is another story. The last time, I had to take the morning off of work, and sit around for over an hour, only to find out that the guy settled out of court. This time, I don't care if I get picked. Since I got laid off, I consider it income. It's traffic court, so it's only a one day thing.

[Akoto]

18. Well, try to look on the bright side ...

If you do hurry and have your spleen removed through your butt, you might get a medical exemption! :D

[Patiod]

21. Want to get out of a capital murder case? I have 3 magic words:

"I'm a Quaker"

I report to jury duty faithfully, since I think it's a responsibility of citizenship. But I was starting a new job, and it would have screwed things up royally to be caught up in a long murder trial. I tried to get out, and the judge only got mad, suggesting that (at 30) I "move home with my patents" instead of taking the job(???!!!)

But then I realized it was stupid to argue, because they wouldn't take me on a capitol case anyway, so I shut up and let the voir dire continue

Judge: "Would you have any trouble with the death penalty, Ms. Patiod?"
Me: "I'm a Qua.....
Prosecutor: "Judge I move to..."
Judge: "Ms. Patiod, you are dismissed."
It was just that quick. i didn't finish my sentence, and the prosecutor didn't finish his.

Unlike 99.9% of trials, this one was really fascinating - like something from a novel - a teenager was sleeping with his uncle's wife, and the wife convinced the kid and his brother to kill their uncle with an ax. Lots of money and cocaine involved. Wife had gotten off on a prosecutorial screw-up, brother had already pled and served his sentence. So the most culpable people involved were already walking free, and yet they were trying to fry the teenager (who was in his late twenties/early thirties at that point). The jury did a great job, convicted the guy (as deserved) but no death penalty. If I hadn't been starting that new job and already booked for travel, I would have LOVED to be on that jury.


I should note that my area has a (relatively) large number of Quakers, so the prosecutors know our stand on the death penalty, and know they want us OFF their jury. This may not be the case in other areas of the country where people think Quakers drive horses & buggys or make cool furniture.

[Kansas Wyatt]

23. Tell them you are on narcotic pain medication and drift out sometimes.

Ask them how soon they would be able to meet with you to go over your strict medical schedule and requirements.

They responded by saying that I would not be needed anymore.

[LynneSin]

28. I have been to Quaker services and I'm very much against the death penalty

I was always on the fence but after the whole Matthew Shepard incident, it made me realize that death penalties would never solve anything. (Matthew Shepard's father pretty much asked that the death penalty not be used against one of the men that killed his son).

[phasma ex machina]

42. +1 100% prolife pacifist with a heaping helping of pramatism on my end.

"There's no way that I could be the president. You can't have a pacifist in the White House." - Martin Sheen.

AFAIK Hoover and Nixon were the only two Quaker Presidents.

[LynneSin]

47. We Quakers don't have a good track record do we

:cry:

[phasma ex machina]

48. Au Contraire. Quakers ended slavery in both in Britain and America. nt

[Roon]

31. I always wanted to serve on a jury

and I finally got picked once! It was a stabbing case. We found the defendant not guilty. (She probably did stab the girl, but the prosecution didn't prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.)

Now I get summoned every other year or so and you can get out of it by email if you have a good enough reason. I just tell them I am hearing impaired and in between hearing aids. They always let me go.

[ThomCat]

22. If it will disrupt your life/income then I hope you can legitimately

get out of it.

If not for the rampant and blatant bigotry in the criminal justice system, and the militant attitude of more and more cops I think jury duty might not be so bad, but damned if I trust or want to participate in the criminal justice system the way it is now. I would not want to risk accidentally being part of railroading anyone because of a cop's or prosecutor's or judge's bigotry.

[Patiod]

26. All the more reason not to leave some poor schmucks fate up to

12 Faux "News" viewers....

[ThomCat]

35. That is definitely true.

My problem is that judges are well known or giving orders to juries that bias the juries, and restrict the options for what juries are allowed to decide, though that is supposedly illegal and "officially" rarely ever happens. Is being aware of bias and bigotry in the criminal justice system enough if the judge can control the jury in many ways?

[Demoiselle]

24. As long as they don't call me more than once a year...I don't mind..

Most people who are called don't actually have to serve in any given time. I did serve on a jury once in a criminal trial...and it was a good experience. The jurors were diverse in every way, and intelligent, and we arrived at the right conclusions. Later, I got to know one of the clerks for the judge who'd been in charge of the case...and my new friend said..."OH, you were on THAT jury?! Judge (----) was really impressed with you guys and how you decided it." So I've always been rather proud of it.
Of course, I really fear getting into either a horrible murder case or an endless personal injury suit.

[pitohui]

46. all juries think they arrived at the right conclusions

in my personal experience a lot of juries who are so proud of themselves for reaching the "right" conclusions...well let's just say... i wish i believed there was a hell, so i could see the look on some of those jurors' faces when they found out why they had to spend some time there

if the judge was "really impressed with you guys" etc. that's a definite sign the fix was in...

yah, i know wrongly convicted people and wrongly decided cases -- there are events where i have personal knowledge of what happened and no jury EVER one time EVER got it right

jurors don't know fuck all abt what really happened and judges have a political agenda

[mwdem]

25. I just got summoned recently.

I showed up on Friday, was picked to show up in court Monday morning. Did that, and we were dismissed because it was settled out of court over the weekend. The first time I've ever reported to jury duty, and I was actually looking forward to it.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

27. It's not so bad

if you get picked to 'play'. Otherwise it's really BORING! :o)

[Debi]

29. I WISH I could serve on a jury - just once

I've been called to the pool and even put on the panel just to be struck after Voir Dire every time.

It's what I get for working for Plaintiff's attorneys for 18 years and married to a criminal defense attorney.

Since I've been through the trial preparation in cases AND been through jury trials from OUTSIDE the jury room I'd like to see just once - what goes on INSIDE the jury room.

Probably never happen. When the questions are asked "Do you know the Judge?" Yup, "Do you know any of the attorneys present?" Yup, "Have you ever been involved in a legal proceeding?" Yup. You're outta here!

The last pool I was called for my cousin was also called - we went to lunch after the initial panel was picked. He asked that I not sit by him after lunch b/c he didn't want to get 'black balled' and wanted to serve if he had the chance. Alas, the County Attorney called him aside and asked him his relation to me (and to my husband). He was dismissed the same time I was. None to happy with Cousin Deb.

[Sanity Claws]

30. I just finished jury duty today

It's not so bad. I wasn't selected so after two days, I was sent home. Most people called for jury duty end up not serving.
Just make sure you bring a book with you to read while waiting. Many waiting rooms for jurors are now WiFi equipped so you could even bring your laptop.

[driver8]

32. I was on a murder case a couple of years ago.

I found it very interesting, and we were given an hour and a half for lunch!!

Not only that, but some days we were done by noon!

I'll take jury duty any time...

[TK421]

34. YOU-MUST-SERVE-JURY-DUTY!!!! NO MATTER HOW MUCH OF A HARDSHIP IT IS FOR YOU

(BEEP) WE DON'T CARE IF YOU HAVE TRANSPORTATION ISSUES OR PRIOR COMMITMENTS...YOU MUST SERVE (BEEP) IF YOU DO NOT APPEAR FOR JURY DUTY, YOU WILL BE EXTERMINATED!!!!!! (BEEP)

[Odin2005]

36. It's your civic duty. Sucks, but deal with it.

[Midwestern Democrat]

37. I've been summoned for jury duty once but didn't even have to report.

I was instructed to call in after 5 pm the night before I was due to report and was informed by a recorded message that the jurors summoned to report that day were excused from jury service. Hopefully, you'll get the same break (my state has the one day/one trial system - so this might not apply in your case).

[Puglover]

39. I LOVED jury duty!

Surfed the web all day. And then the lady would call names and up you'd go to a courtroom. I never got sat however.
:( And then we got excused one day early for Xmas. It was great being off work a week and getting paid for it.

[Iggo]

40. Lucky! God! I never get picked!

Stupid felony conviction!!

(Actually, that's the ONLY good thing that comes with a felony conviction: no more jury duty.)

[Auggie]

43. If you do serve, let me thank you in advance

And I'm sure the defendants/prosecutors will be thankful to have an engaged individual smart enough to belong to D.U. serve as well.

I've served on two civil cases.