jury duty

[KellyHabersham]

Not the worst thing I'm dealing with at the moment, but as it is causing me a bit of stress, I just wanted to ask for positive thoughts that I don't have to show up for jury duty tomorrow (have to call after 11 am to see if my group has to appear in the afternoon), or that if I DO have to go, that I am not selected to be on a trial.
One reason why I'm worried about that is that neither job pays part-timers who're on jury duty, I cannot afford to lose money out of my paycheck, and with my luck, I'd get stuck on an extended trial. Also, transportation is a major issue as I do not drive, the bus wouldn't get me to the court on time, and I don't have anyone who is willing/available to give me a ride that early in the morning.

[BookstoreEscapee]

You might be able to plead your case with the judge. If serving will cause you undue hardship (lost wages, etc.), they will likely let you off.

[KellyHabersham]

Oh, I know you do get a chance to explain that sort of thing to the judge during the trial selection, but I'm hoping it won't come to that point.........there's quite a few groups who do have to appear in the morning, and mine is one of several who're on "standby" status.

[Pedersen]

Well, if worst comes to worst, here's the simplest way out of any jury: When you get called up for the interview, simply tell the lawyers and judge (with as much sincerity as you can muster) that the defendant in any is probably guilty, and will have to prove his/her innocence to you. After all, if that person hadn't done anything wrong, they wouldn't be on trial. And that means that you wouldn't have been called up, so you're kind of perturbed about being here because they couldn't not break the law.

You'll be told to have a nice day and get the hell out so fast you'll think you're Dorothy and just found yourself in the tornado itself.

[PentUpRage]

The only time I've been called for Jury duy I watched someone try that. The Judge told them to not pull that crap in his court room and refused to dismiss. That was during intial selection before lawyers got involved. I was sicker than a dog and had to stay but the lawyers dismissed me after I was picked because I'm evil. Or something.

[KellyHabersham]

I love that idea........although I'm not sure as that I'd be able to say it with a straight face. :) I'm actually not so worried about having to be there tomorrow, because I won't be at either job by then, it's just the trial selection that I'm concerned with. (Well, that and the fact that I'm not sure where my jury summons is)

[KiaKat]

The one time I was almost picked was for a drug case. I claimed conflict of interest, as I was working with several groups that were looking to take down various state and federal drug laws and policies. I listed a couple of the groups for him.

He said 'ok, but you wouldn't have a problem with a murder case, right?'

'No, sir.'

'Ok, so we'll find you a nice ax-murder case. Dismissed.'

*giggles* I still love that story.

[JLRodgers]

I think I've found the best way to get out of jury duty: want to be on it.

My dad's wanted to be on jury duty for probably 50 years -- he's been called numerous times and dismissed every one of them (one time he said he knew the judge, both attorneys, someone else at the court, the defendant, and others involved; he showed up and they all said "hi {his name}! Why are you here?").
I was given a "fill out this form" that my town sent to over 600 people (10% of the population), never got called in or anything else (and since I'm not related to anyone in the town, only know a handful of people, and friends with even fewer.... and don't get the newspaper, and don' t watch the local news... I'd probably be perfect for it, the only thing I'd know would be what was mentioned in court).


Good luck not getting put on it though... although an economic reason why you can't work would potentially get you dismissed quite easily. I've known a few people that were called in for jury duty and said they couldn't do it since they were the ones putting food on the table, and min. wage (that's what they apparently paid at the time) wouldn't be enough to cover their bills.

[Mr Slugger]

The only time I've been called for Jury duy I watched someone try that. The Judge told them to not pull that crap in his court room and refused to dismiss. That was during intial selection before lawyers got involved. I was sicker than a dog and had to stay but the lawyers dismissed me after I was picked because I'm evil. Or something.

I've seen that too. In this state you can go to jail if you attempt to get out of jury duty in I guess you'd call "in a bold way."

Although honestly I would bring up the pay thing because that would affect you're views. I know here if you're a single mother/father, self employed, etc. you can get out. I would honestly just say look my job won't pay me for a trial, and I'm trying to make ends meet, and I can't afford to not get paid for a couple of days.

You might not get immediately dismissed, but 1. you'll be honest. 2. you may still end up in a waiting pool, but all sides are going to want people who can be there happily. And they will go through the pool until they find the group they are happy with. And chances are you being up front about not being happy with a long trial you'd be one they wouldn't pick.

[draggar]

Be a juror that would make you a bad juror. They interview you so find things in your life that would make you a biased juror.

If it's a drug case - try to think if you have any friends who are drug addicts or recovering.

Be honest and don't be too outgoing about it.

[worddork]

Two words "Jury nullification". Judges hate this. It mweans that you believe that the jury has the right to over turn any law they feel is unjust. So if your on a jury for someone who was arrested for indecent exposure, say a woman on a beach in a really skippy swim suit. I you and the rest of the jury feel that ruling was unjust could over turn it and there for change the law.

It is completely legal eventhough most judges claim it is not. They just don't like jurors knowing they have that much power.

[KellyHabersham]

Well, as it turned out, my group was one of those required to appear this afternoon, I wasn't assigned to a panel for the first two trials, and was eliminated during the pre-screening for the third trial. (the latter was done in the jury assembly room, I think because it was expected to last three months). So I only ended up being at the court for an hour and a half, and won't have to go again for another 18 months. (By which time I expect to be summoned again, always seems to work out that way)

[BookstoreEscapee]

My mom used to get out every time because she had little kids. The last time that worked for her was because I was home sick from school (even though I was 16 and not so sick I couldn't be left alone). She did finally have to serve on a burglary case a few years ago, but it was only one day and she's retired, anyway.

I've only been called once, and I spent the morning in the waiting room reading and watching movies (they have a TV and DVD player down there). I went home for lunch since my parents only live 5-10 minutes from the courthouse, and in the afternoon I was finally called up to the courtroom, but they finished picking the jury before they got to me. The rest of us went back to the waiting room for a while longer and then they told us we were done and sent us home.

[KellyHabersham]

That's pretty much how it was today - funny thing is though, that when I called the jury information number to check on my status, their message system said I was listed as having failed to appear today. No idea what was up with that, unless it had something to do with my having misplaced my summons/original ID badge. But, since I've since found that at home, and I DO have papers to prove that I did report for jury duty, I'm just going to photocopy everything and mail it to the jury commissioner's office, along with a brief letter.......hopefully there won't be any further issues.

[MadMike]

Be a juror that would make you a bad juror. They interview you so find things in your life that would make you a biased juror.


I think I could do that, and it wouldn't be by lying. It would be by telling the truth.

I won't get into my views, as most of them are Fratching-worthy, but I will say most of them are all over the place. There are very few things I could be truly impartial about.

One of my friends got out of it by stating on the questionnaire that she "doesn't trust the police." She wasn't lying, she really doesn't trust the police, or the government, for that matter. She says they haven't called her again since.

So far, I haven't been called (knock on wood.) I did get a notice saying I was "on call for jury duty" during the month of March of last year, but I never got called. My wife get a notice and had to go in for just the first day, because she ended up not being picked.

[pssorens]

the last ( and only time) that i did the jury duty after the trial, the judges clerk told us that the best way to get out of jury duty is to respond to as many of the questions as you can and get the lawyers attention