Jury Duty?

[lunarbeamdancer]

I have come of age..I told a neighbor as I opened the mail to find my jury duty summons last month. 52 seems to be the winner age this yr.
How many times have you been called? For which court...town, county or federal? Did you serve? What was the trial?
I go today will let you all know what happens. Will be interesting to be on this side of the court room. Last time in court I was a wittness for the prosecution in a shop lifting case. The scag got away with it!

[mood4amelody]

I've never been "called to serve". My sister in Texas was on the TX grand jury though. She had to go a couple times a year to Dallas, I think, and hear different cases to see if there was enough evidence to go to trial on. I thought that was cool! She's a city council person in her town, so that might have had something to do with her demographics coming up during the selection.

[mom2fussbudgets]

I got called to serve twice when I lived in AZ. I was in college at the time though, so they excused me both times.

My hubby was called once here in Tulsa. He had to call in on Friday to see if they needed him for the next week, but when he called, they said they didn't need him.

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.

[Cpogie]

I have been notified to serve in the Superior Court in Big Bear Lake 2 X in the last 10 years, and once for the same court (Superior) miles away in Barstow, Ca. which is over their 50 mile radius for traveling to court. On all occasions I was not needed after calling the night before I was to serve.

[momsangel]

I've been called upon 3x'sbut,I cant serve on the jury:rolleyes:

[lunarbeamdancer]

That must have been the shortest jury appearance on record. I learned a few things..one; learn how to read time printed in large print on paper. I was suposto be there at 8:30am NOT 8:00am. & of course I'm one of those who is at least 5 min. early. & second; BRING A BOOK! Why the book? Well just in case you end up sitting next to someone who just won't shut the H up! Now mind you, I like to gab right along with the best of them BUT! I at least breath once in a while & pause at times for emphasis. I kid you not...not only did this woman & I NOT have a thing in common but she is one of those (age 65) that is a violent type & talks (brags?) about it. I swear I heard out of her mouth more voilence of what she did to whom then I get in an hour on my tv news...& I live just outside of Detroit! I tried gently to let her know I didn't want to hear it zinggg right over her head. Finally I had to say "I'm sorry but I've got a bad headache would you please give it a rest?"
I almost got to see what it was all about besides the wait...but the last guy that 1st wanted a jury trial wimped out & took a plea. I was there an hour. So much for my big day in court...sheesh!

[mood4amelody]

When she started in on how violent she was, that would have been a good time to say in an innocent way, "I don't think I'm supposed to talk to you. You're the OFFENDER, right??" :rolleyes: A book would have really shut her up if you could have crammed it in the appropriate orifice!! :D

[MandMnmbr3]

I have been called for jury duty every year since I turned 18!!! :eek: I've made it as far as to go before the judge presiding over the case, but never made it on an actual jury. The last time I was called I was excused because I was the sole caregiver for our Grandsons while our daughters worked. Never been called the the Grand Jury but hubby has been.

He's served on 3 juries. One was for a robbery, they guy took the plea bargain so the trial was called off, one was for a burglary during the trial the guy changed his plea to guilty, and the last one was for a child ****ography and molestation case. The man and woman in this case both skipped bail!! :eek:

I feel for you lunar, I once sat next to these 2 women who were on opposite sides of me and they carried on a conversation over me. I offered to switch places with BOTH of them but they said, "Oh no that's OK we can hear each other just fine!!" i got up to get a drink and I noticed another seat was empty. i asked the man sitting there if anyone was using that seat he said, "No, feel free," so I did!

Our s-i-l was just on a jury for a stabbing, he was the foreman. Unfortunately, the jury could not convict the person even though they KNEW he was guilty. The PD botched up the evidence by NOT taking photographs at the scene, but waited until 4 days after!! :eek: :confused:

[MandMnmbr3]

When she started in on how violent she was, that would have been a good time to say in an innocent way, "I don't think I'm supposed to talk to you. You're the OFFENDER, right??" :rolleyes: A book would have really shut her up if you could have crammed it in the appropriate orifice!! :D

ROTFLMAO Lynne!!!! :eek: Remind me NOT to sit next to you!! j/k

[kuanyin1]

I've been called a few times but have been rejected because I had a family member in law enforcement; but my uncle retired last year so how knows if that will work now.

[notyard]

Called and served for three months of coroner's jury duty (coroner rotated through a juror pool for the three months). Served on three cases to determine cause of death.

Called in WI, but had just moved to OH two weeks before, so excused.

[rebate queen]

I have been called to serve several times for federal court/grand jury(???) Thank goodness I don't know the appropriate terms! LOL!
I have always been excused because of being self-employed. If it would not be so costly for me to miss work, I would love to do it.
My ex was also summoned several times, but it was always when he was deployed(military)

[lunarbeamdancer]

you know it never dawned on me, why on earth did i think i could be on a jury? I take a water pill every morning for my blood pressure...in the hour & 1/2 i was there in court i had to P twice. there is no way a judge is going to stop everything for me. lol. If i get called again i'll have to get a doc's note to be excused if i'm still on this silly but needed pill.

[czech7985]

I was on Jury duty (county) for 6 months. Served on 3 juries:
1) assault case
2) failure to pay child support
3) Driving under influence

The one thing I was able to ascertain was that despite the fact that juries are not randomly picked. They do this big show with a basket with numbered balls, similar to Bingo games. However, it was obvious to me that certain people were being picked all the time, including myself. On the 3 juries I was on, there were several people who had been on the other juries, with me. A couple years later, I came to know one of Court Service workers and we got to talking about juries. She admitted that it was true. They've already "picked" the ones whose names will be called, despite the
pretense that its a random drawing.

Also its quite obvious that the lawyers word their questions in such a way so that people are less inclined to say they might be biased or have heard some thing about the case. Also it seems to me that the way they look at you, if asked directly, "Can you be fair and judge this case according to the evidence presented?" they expect you to say "yes" regardless of h ow you feel about the case. They want certain people to be on that case and they really don't want people getting excused for any reason. Prospective jurors are intimidated and bullied so they don't try to get out of serving.

If you get the impression that I really don't care for jury duty, you'd be right.
I know jury duty is part of being a good citizen but I am often less impressed with the Court System, especially after that fiasco with O.J. Simpson.

Also I feel that Jurors are treated poorly. The room you are kept in, when you are not in the Courtroom is sterile, cold and uncomfortable. There is no food or beverage provided.

A co worker was on County jury duty a couple years ago. The jurors are supposed to call into a certain number, a couple times a week to see if any cases are scheduled. It happened that there was a snowstorm over the weekend and my friend lives in the country, on a road that is usually blocked. She didn't even think about jury duty and the snow plow didn't go by her house until 2 pm. It was at that point that she thought about jury duty and called in. Despite the snow storm, the court case had been held and of course, she was not present. She had to write a letter to the judge explaining her absence. Nothing happened to her, no reprimmand or any penalty, but they treated her like dirt for not calling in.