Got tabbed for Jury Duty!

[Gary68]

i got to go mid next month,last time was early 1990's

 

[LeeRevell]

I just got another jury summons. Court date is two days,after my 60th birthday, oh joy. If I am lucky, my "pool ID number" of 145 is high enough that I won't need to go in. That happened last time. I still need to call in the prior evening to check.

 

[Gary68]

mine is 99 so i hope the night before call says they dont need me or i will have to sit at the court house for a few hours before they reject me

 

[Queen]

I was only called once, back in the mid 80's, they wouldn't take me because I was a former deputy sheriff. When you're from a small-ish county you know all the lawyers/judges/scummy folks on a first name basis.

 

[DrJean]

I appreciate every common sense thinking citizen who performs jury duty!

I am permanently exempt.


I was only called once and I was in the middle of Federal terrorism training and could not even call them to bow out for postponing....  by the time I could call someone who had clout, by the time they contacted the court the arrest warrant was next to be issued!  Whew!

 

[Dandelion_Puff]

I was summoned once, for the federal court located in the state capitol (which I live near). There were two defendants being tried together on the charges of trafficking marijuana across state lines. Before selection started the judge actually asked if anyone there believed marijuana should be legal. I very nearly raised my hand, as I strongly believe that, but also wouldn't have had to worry about drawing attention to myself because I haven't smoked pot or done any illegal drugs in many years. But then I thought I could do more good by being on the jury. Of course, the prosecution used one of their pre-emptive objections to remove me anyway, along with every single other person who had even a slightly alternative look or was employed in a creative field. I stayed to watch the final selection, which was 12 extremely conservative looking people, including the wife of a prison guard, every single one of them white. The defendants were both black. We were invited to stay and watch the trial, but I saw no point in that. I already knew what the verdict would be and that they would be going away for a very long time. I walked out of that court house shaking my head at what a total farce the entire system is and regretting that I hadn't raised my hand. At least then they would've known one person had the spine to object to their stupid laws and racist, rigged system.

That happened in 2010 and I haven't been called again since. If I'm ever called again, I'll probably show up if I'm not down south for the winter, but I have no doubt I'll never be chosen. The way I dress literally screams "anti-establishment freethinker" and no prosecutor wants to deal with that.

 

[introverting]

@jimindenver:  That doesn't seem right that you were called every year for 10 years.  It's supposed to be a random drawing of names so what are the chances that your name was drawn every year for 10 years straight?

@Every Road Leads Home:  Are you complaining?

An earlier post stated that the user had access to a laptop.  I recently received notice that I have to be an stand-by status.  One of the things specifically stated in the notice as not being allowed in the courthouse are electronic devices.  Even electronic book readers aren't allowed.  I emailed the court and asked if there were at least storage lockers that jurors could place their cellphones in and the response I received was, "No electronic devices period."

As far as penalties for not showing up, my notice states that you could be escorted by a  U.S. Marshal to the courthouse for you to explain to the judge why you didn't show.  You could be fined up to $1,000 or imprisoned for up to three days or perform community service or any combination of the three.

Here's my bone with the whole jury duty thing.  First, they don't even pay you minimum wage to serve.  Where I'm located, you get $40 per day, plus $0.53 mileage round-trip from your home, plus parking expenses.  For those who are employed, it's not a big deal, but I'm unemployed.  Second, because of the commute involved, I'm looking at 12-13 hour days if I have to be at the courthouse for 8.5 hours.

 

[Ballenxj]

I've been selected for jury duty before. I showed up at the expense of a well over two hundred mile round trip, not to mention half a day of waiting.
The attorneys for the accused did not pick me for whatever reason. Still, if summoned, I will show up with an open mind so a fellow citizen hopefully wont get a raw deal.
It's the right thing to do, and if any one of us were innocent, but accused of something they didn't do, they had better hope people with open minds show up for jury duty. (rant over)

 

[LeeRevell]

When I was employed as a state employee, we had a special leave code for jury duty, so I received full pay for that day.
One tip, if the case involves firearms and either legal beagle asks if any juror is an NRA member or has firearm experience (collector, etc.), just admit to it. Guarenteed you will get the bum's rush out the door. Been there, done that.
They do NOT want anyone with knowledge of the case. They want empty impressionable heads.

 

[Ballenxj]

When I was employed as a state employee, we had a special leave code for jury duty, so I received full pay for that day.
One tip, if the case involves firearms and either legal beagle asks if any juror is an NRA member or has firearm experience (collector, etc.)
<----snip---->
  They want empty impressionable heads.

Sounds like they want to stack the deck. :dodgy:

 

[Gary68]

I've been selected for jury duty before. I showed up at the expense of a well over two hundred mile round trip, not to mention half a day of waiting.
The attorneys for the accused did not pick me for whatever reason. Still, if summoned, I will show up with an open mind so a fellow citizen hopefully wont get a raw deal.
It's the right thing to do, and if any one of us were innocent, but accused of something they didn't do, they had better hope people with open minds show up for jury duty. (rant over)

they dont want open minds,they want sheeple that will fall for their spin on the truth,it's all about the win,professional liars they are

 

[SternWake]

Are you pickin on me?

[video=youtube]

 

[jimindenver]

@jimindenver:  That doesn't seem right that you were called every year for 10 years.  It's supposed to be a random drawing of names so what are the chances that your name was drawn every year for 10 years straight?

I shouldn't have been called three times in the last five years either, go figure.

 

[Gunny]

I've been called for jury duty three times and made the initial interview twice. When I mention that I was a defendant in a felony trial (not guilty, the two sweetest words I know) the prosecution dropped me like a rock.

My charge was just a fight that got out of hand.

Rob

 

[TrainChaser]

My sister is off the list. On the third case, they took her into a private room and quizzed her. The first question was, had she ever been molested as a child, or knew anyone who was? She thought, "Oh-oh". Our other sister had been molested by a neighbor. Even then, they asked if she thought she could be an impartial juror, and she said "No - If he's he's gotten this far, he's probably guilty, and probably should be shot". They thanked her for showing up and told her she was excused.

This is the guy: http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/crime/article115787538.html Pure scum.

Introverting: $40 A DAY! Jeeeez, here in WA it's $10. But Sis is getting regular pay from work. Not all employers do that.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I didn't even realize you got any money for Jury Duty. I'd gladly do it for free. It's probably the most important part of our entire legal system. And all the people unwilling or not wanting or purposely saying things they know will get them ejected is sad to me. Not everyone in court is guilty and they need good honest common sense people to defend them, just as the guilty ones need us to put them where they belong.
I had a firearm stolen from my apartment once, busted the safe open I had it in, along with two laptops, a DSL camera and some cordless tools. I'm about 99.99999% positive it was the maintenance guy for the building as he knew I was going to be gone for the weekend. Reported it stolen, detective came, said he'd question the maintenance guy, but odds were good we'd never hear about or see that handgun again. Two days later, he called me up and asked if I could come down to the station to answer a few more questions, brings me into the interrogation room where he proceeds to tell me I made the entire story up and are going to charge me with mishandling a firearm, filing a false police report and a bunch of other complete bullshit. I asked if I was under arrest and he said not yet, so I said then i'll see you later. Called a lawyer, fought the charges, the detective was hell bent on getting me for what I have no idea. Eventually got charges dismissed as they had nothing to go on. I've never committed a crime in my life and this guy would have locked me up if he had his way. So I have a feeling others end up in court that are totally innocent who were railroaded by the police like I was. Had I not had the 5 grand to defend myself with, I have no doubt i'd have been in a court room. The best part of this story is, not two months after the cops put me through hell, the officer that is right below the captain in that very department was in court and had to use the bathroom. Took his LOADED gun off to use the toilet, placed it on the sink and forgot it!! Went back when he realized his mistake and it was gone. He got suspended for 20 days. If you or I did that, we'd face a lot more serious charges. Link to the article below. I should have been able to sue the department to get my 5k back. I moved out of that town right after. The very detective that wanted me in jail shot and killed an unarmed 15 year old as he was driving away from them a few years previous. No charges against him. The family is still suing him personally. I believe the case is still ongoing.

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/02/plymouth_police_officer_punish.html

http://www.patriotledger.com/x334976117/Deadly-force-issue-raised-in-Plymouth-police-shooting

Sorry, i went a bit off topic there, but YES, i'd love to serve on a Jury.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I didn't even realize you got any  money for Jury Duty.  I'd gladly do it for free. 

And if it's a complicated case that drags on for 6 months?  How exactly were you going to pay the rent?

 

[LeeRevell]

The case they dropped me from selection for, due to my being an NRA member, was a federal case involving a mideast fellow alledgedly trying to ship guns from USA to mideast - like shipping coal to Newcastle.
I really wanted to be on that jury! But, I answered the legal beagle's questions honestly. Both looked at me like I had farted at their daughter's wedding. Like I said, they don't want anyone they cannot dazzle with their BS. A knowledgeable juror is dangerous!

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

And if it's a complicated case that drags on for 6 months?  How exactly were you going to pay the rent?

You can be excused for financial hardships.  They don't want someone that's going to end up homeless half way through a long trial as that's not going to make a good focused juror.  The judge may ask for proof.

 

[Theadyn]

Just served 2 days jury duty, pool of about 40, I was one of the six picked. The first day went til 10pm, the second day lasted til 8pm. There was no mention of daily pay, though they did serve us both lunch and dinner. I'm still in the pool and the next round will be in April.