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OT Jury Duty

D

David G

Well-known Member
I got a summons for Jury Duty and filled out the questionnaire

My summary:

2 different cars stolen
2 different home invasions
good friends on local PD
Have been defendant in lawsuit
College degree
Self employed

What do you think my odds are of getting called back?
 
100% that you'll be seated if the judge there is anything like the one here. When I was on,I saw a guy try to pull a stunt he thought would get him sent home. The judge dressed him down and set him straight about the legal system and he stayed,oh boy how he stayed.
The judge grew up milking cows,so he knew what a hardship it would be for me,but I got seated on three trials anyway.
 
the lawyers get to deselect potential jurors. if the case has your history as a factor, and the Lawyers feel you would be an asset, you are in. If the case is based on not knowing the subject, you are likely out. Jim
 
I went through that when I was involved in a jury trial, my lawyer and the other one selected the jury.

I have a very complex background, just stating the facts.
 
I am always getting called up ! Just was on a 3 day trial in July and got a notice in the mail in October notifying me to be on call again in January. This is the 3rd call up in a year ! It is to be random yea right no way it is random. The lotto is random and I don't keep hitting it ! That is what I wrote on my comments.
Do you guys know that if they don't seat a jury with all they call in they go out on the street and grab whoever they can get. We had to wait around while they went to find some more people. Didn't get to go to lunch until 2 pm.
 
Regardless, David, I think you'll find that getting out of jury duty is a lot harder than it used to be--courts, for a number of reasons, are having a hard time getting full juries, and the days when you walked in, said "I think he's guilty, let's hang him now!", and walked back out again five minutes later are long gone. Not a bad thing, really--jury duty is a whole lot more than a nasty scheme to keep you from work--it's the civic duty of EVERY citizen and really ought to be approached and valued as such.
 
The timing is actually good, my projects will be closed out so I should be home if needed.
 
Serving on jury duty is a small price to pay for living in a free country.

Go live in a country where they don't have trial by jury, then come back to the States and see how you feel.
 
I tried the hearing thing. Told the judge it was part heredity and part being around loud machines. He said "Can you hear me now?". I said yes sir. He said "That's good enough".
 
I got called up for jury duty right out of college round one. A guy was going after the county for some reason and the first day of jury selection they asked if anyone knew any county employees, I said yes. When asked who I replied the county attorney (best friend's dad). I could see the guy cross me off his list of jurors. Between my friend's dad still the county attorney and myself having been a correctional officer at the county jail, I don't have to worry too much about being stuck on jury duty very long.
 

Bout the only advice I can add is go in front of a judge and tell him you can not make it because of your employment. He will ask when can you make it so you will have to come up with a time during the year you can. Then go to the clerk of court and ask him/her to call you up when they think they will have a week when no jury will be needed... Its a roll of the dice

The clerk of court is a elected official :wink: :wink:
 
two things I remeber from jury duty 1 They came and took all the names of the people in for the jury then the judge sent bench warrents for the no showes (that got everyones attention)2 There was one jurer that told the judge in front of everyone in the court room defendant, prosecuter and other jurers he felt most all the people in the area where I live are uneducated ignorant hillbillies (most are butt you dont need to tell them) he then got to meet with the judge in his chambers and the next time we were asked to serve he was setting there quiet and smiling and I don't know why no one would set near him.
 
I normally would and do sere but I did make a point of dodging the Paul Bernardo trial. There are people still in treatment to this day after seeing and hearing the evidence.
 
I also added I cant stay awake when sitting I a comfortable chair. Haven't heard from them since. I probably served 8 times. When I was younger and working in my factory job my employer gave us paid time off. It wasn't never a big deal for the no shows here in California. Stan
 
I was called once. I wrote back I would like to serve but I had just had shoulder surgery and was on pain Meds. They let me go but I wouldn't mind serving someday.
 
I was called years ago and wanted to serve on the jury. Employer would pay salary anyway. I was selected and during questioning, the defense attorney asked each juror "will you make the prosecutor prove my client is guilty?" Each one answered "yes". I thought that was stupid, so I said "no". He said "why not?". "Because they can't prove him guilty if he is innocent". Everyone was reading into the question, make him prove him guilty before returning a guilty verdict. But that was not the question. I was discharged for listening to the question. Hacked me off, and haven't been recalled in at least twenty years, even though I lived at the same address 30 years and vote.
 
The very first time i had to do jury duty about 4 years ago. Never been before or called until then. I got pick for a murder trial. With all the question they where asking i knew i wouldnt be picked. They were asking if you owned guns and shot guns and they were not picking those type of people so i just knew i was going home. After they got to me and ask me some of those questions the last question he ask me was Mr. Smith do you want to be on this Jury. I said sir you called me to come here i didnt call you. After that he said stay seated. Six weeks i was in that seat. But i will say it did kinda renew my faith in the judicial system after that. I can see why it takes a long time for a death sentence trial. Durning that trial i went to eat across the street for lunch. standing in line and also looking for a menu i had to ask for one from the folks in front of me they give me theres i looked it over. Well in comes the defense attorneys for the man. There now right behind me i hear the Lady ask about a menu so i just turned and gave her mine. I got my food and went outside i didnt want to be around them. Well we get back in court after a few mins the Judge told all the jurors to be excused except me. I bout craped my pants i didnt know what was going on i thought these folks have found something on me i didnt even know. Turns out being they were behind me in the lunch line they wanted to make sure i didnt hear anything i wasnt supposed to hear. I said sir i was just standing in line and i heard the lady ask wheres the menus so i just turned and gave them mine ,got my food and went outside. Then all was ok but it scared me to death.
 
I did 4 years in the Navy. That was my patriotic duty. Sitting is a jury box trying to stay awake, and counting the minutes before pi$$ my pants is not someone I would want on my jury. To make a decision that could effect me for the rest of my life. Stan
 
The accused got better treatment than the jurors. He got to go back to the jail and eat while they were tracking down more people. Only thing we were offered was water and bad coffee.
 
Years ago, my wife was on jury duty and it almost destroyed my faith in the legal system.
The Reader's Digest condensed version is that a guy pulled a gun on a cop and the cop then shot the guy. He recovered and never was able to post bail.
During the trial he took the stand and had no real defence except he just said: "I didn't do it!".
When it came time to vote on the verdict, the count was 10-2 in favor of the guy being INNOCENT. 10 people voted that he was innocent because their reason was that a guy CANNOT lie under oath on the witness stand. My wife and the jury foreman voted that he was guilty and it took three days to convince the other 10.
On top of that, she was 9 months pregnant at the time and the trial had to be continually stopped because she had to go to the restroom several times an hour.
A guilty guy almost walked on that one.
 
That one doesn't play in Colorado. I was called to appear as a juror several years back. As each juror was being interviewed a couple said they could not serve due to work. The judge explained that their employer pays their wage for the first number of days and the courts pay after that. Employers are not allowed to say you can't serve or your job is in jeopardy or replace you for serving. If you are self employed as a business owner you just take the pay that the courts offer. He made no bones about it. I remember him telling one potential juror that being a juror is a pain and inconvenient. Now is your time to feel the pain and be inconvenienced. we served a week.

Greg
 
Wear your NRA cap sideways crooked, carry a bible in your hand & mumble to yourself a lot. Good chance you will be dismissed.
 
(quoted from post at 21:53:44 11/13/15) I am always getting called up ! Just was on a 3 day trial in July and got a notice in the mail in October notifying me to be on call again in January. This is the 3rd call up in a year ! It is to be random yea right no way it is random. The lotto is random and I don't keep hitting it ! That is what I wrote on my comments.
Do you guys know that if they don't seat a jury with all they call in they go out on the street and grab whoever they can get. We had to wait around while they went to find some more people. Didn't get to go to lunch until 2 pm.
Click to expand...

I thought they couldn't call you more than once every 8 years?

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
You may be referring to Civic Duty which includes jury service among other things. Like I said having served on a jury at least eight times in my lifetime, along with my age, 73, and the problems I described. I believe I would not make a good jurist. Stan
 
I served on one jury; after that I was at an age that I could decline to serve, under state law. When I returned the jury summons with the box checked that I declined to serve because of my age, they took my name off of the list permanently.
 
(quoted from post at 20:51:33 11/13/15) In my area judge and jury are only for show. Money usually decides most court cases.
Click to expand...

Could you explain how they get the money to you?
 
Your odds of getting to voir dire aren't that good, because they always call many more jurors than they need. That's because a lot of people ignore the summons, while others get excused for a variety of reasons. But once you get called up to the jury box and start answering questions, your chances of serving are very good. You might get disqualified if you're a close friend of someone involved in the case, but otherwise neither the prosecution or defense is likely to kick you off the jury. Each side only gets a couple of peremptory challenges, and they're going to save those for somebody they REALLY don't want on the jury.
 
>Tell them you believe in God, Guns and the Death Penalty. You WILL get to go home!

Nonsense. Most states with a death penalty require jurors in capital cases to be "death qualified", meaning each candidate must state they are willing to give a death penalty sentence. If your state doesn't have a death penalty, then your opinion on the matter is irrelevant.

I speak from experience. I served on a murder trial jury in North Carolina. The jury consisted mostly of bible-thumpers and retired Marines. The one jury candidate who said he couldn't vote for the death penalty was immediately booted. You'd have a hard time finding 12 people for a jury in Onslow County, NC if you had to exclude gun nuts and bible-thumpers.
 
I served last month for the first time- only called one other time, the Summer I spent working in Alaska-lots of mileage fees that year!

I'm glad I did it, quite an experience. Yes, I had lots of other things to do, but I am glad I did and I hope the young man who we found not guilty of assault and battery is glad, as well.
 
Some states have that rule; some don't. Simple to reply to the notice and decline to serve once you reach the age required by that state.
 

It amazes me that so many people will go to such lengths to avoid jury duty. If you or a family member is a defendant, or if the defendant is the guy that killed your wife or kid, who do you want on the jury? The people that thrive on jury duty, (they do exist and hope for some face time out if it) or the people who have nothing better to do, or do you want the hard working, common sense citizen who understands it's his duty to serve to the best of his ability? No normal person enjoys it, but it's part of being an American.
 
Your odds of getting a call back are not necessarily extremely slim based on your responses. It can make a difference if the case is Criminal or Civil. Its also a numbers game which makes your chances fairly slim regardless of what you posted above. Ive been called but usually neither side likes having an attorney on the jury. HOWEVER if you make it to any short list and its a criminal case, some of what you responded would raise a red flag if I represented a criminal defendant, but I would still use statutory challenges wisely as I could get someone worse!!!!

Look at is as civic good citizen duty.

John T
 
I got a notice in July to be "on call" Sept 1st through Jan 1st....I have knees surgery scheduled for this coming Monday (16 Nov), so I can pretty much guarantee I won't be called. Maybe I can schedule the other knee for next time I'm called......
 
Amen Bret! It's a complete pain in the #$#4 inconvenience, but if one considers themselves an intelligent, fair minded, logical thinker,
they are doing a disservice to our country by taking steps to avoid serving.

I don't think the original poster did anything to avoid getting called, I'm just making a more general statement here.
 
I've been called for jury duty quite a few times but never even got to the interview part.....When I called in the evening before the trial was either postponed or it was settled out of court...We don't seem to have very many jury trials in my area..

When I was young Dad got called to district jury 60 miles away which lasted nearly a month...They barely paid him enough to buy the gas and the farming got behind...
 
My experiences with jury duty were not positive at all. First time, there were about 120 other potential jurors. We had to sit in a room that resembled an oversized classroom in uncomfortable seats. We were only allowed to leave the room for the bathroom, and had to be excused for that. No entertainment, no food, no drinks. We did get a short break for lunch, which consisted of paying ridiculous prices for skimpy portions at the local food stands.
Second time, similar to the first, but this time jurors were advised to bring reading material or similar entertainment. Sat all day, was never called.
Last time, started out similar to the first time, but there was some kind of case going on, and they were going back and forth between a plea bargain or a jury trial. After messing around all day, the guy took a plea bargain. Jurors were dismissed after sitting for 9 hours. We were not allowed a lunch or any other break except bathroom, and we were not allowed to leave the building. That day, the criminal was treated better than the jurors. I felt that I was treated like a prisoner. And all of this was after having to sit and watch their little film about how "wonderful" it was to be a part of the justice system. NOT!!!!
 
I have served on jury duty a couple times, though only on federal juries, never a local one. If you have a vacation or other important event scheduled they will excuse you for that time, or move your schedule back till later, but you still have to be available for the specified number of days after your vacation, etc. Of my 2 sessions I had to drive to the courthouse 3 times, one, the case was settled in the judges chambers that morning, so spent 2 hours and went home, 2nd one I was rejected by one of the lawyers, the 3rd time the trial including deliberation lasted less than 3 hours. I amazed me how little most of jurors knew about the law and how little attention they paid to the judges instructions. Due to health problems I am no longer eligible, so I can't serve, but would not mind it.
 
I've always wanted to experience being called to sit on a jury, but they always fill the slots and send the rest of us home. Maybe someday I'll get a chance. They call at 5 year intervals here, so time is running out. I have a "use by" date, ha.

I did have to testify in a non-jury trial once, and it was interesting because I knew both the sue-er and the sue-ee very well. My testimony sunk the sue-ee, and I felt pretty bad about it, but the truth as always was important. I explained to the judge that I didn't like the position that I was in, and he was very kind and understanding - in fact, when my testimony was over, I asked him if I could shake hands with both parties and he laughed and said I could if I shook his hand too, which I did.
 
If nobody did there civic duty there would be no volunteer fireman (fire person) no volunteer sheriff or service organizations or usher in church and the list could go and on.
 
I am called about once every two years, but due to plea bargaining only interviewed for selection once, and sent home.
I received a questionaire regarding my availability and qualification for a Federal Grand Jury. I hope I am not called, but will show up if they do. The Federal Court is 140 miles away.
Just in case of a potentially lengthy and financially impractical trial, I have always carried this pin in my pocket to court.


30043.jpg
 
I was told by a judge one time, after all of us jurors went through the thing. The judge said: when the defendant seen the whites of our eyes, he changed his mind and, coped a plea. Stan
 
I have been sent the question sheet several times, but have never been called. My wife has been called twice and both cases were settled before trial, two of my sons have been called and served in criminal trials. If called I would also consider it my duty to serve.
 
Cousin and I got called for same trial, got called in same group for interviews. They asked are you guys brothers? Nope just first cousins - I got dismissed and he had to stay for another day :)
 
I used to do my jury duty when I was younger. Then I got older and jury duty became a hassle. Then the indigent defender changed to a young fellow whose mother was a supervisor at the factory I worked in. The last 3 times I was called for jury duty, I mentioned the fact that the indigent defender's mother and I worked together and I felt like I knew him well enough to be his older brother. The other attorney always asked the judge to dismiss me!
 
Between 1974 and 1984, I was called probably 5 times, served on several juries, kind of enjoyed it. Since then, nothing. I don't know if they lost my name or what, but I haven't pointed it out to anyone.

Best jury story- I had been seated on a panel, and my boss was being interviewed. The prosecutor knew about the employment relationship, and asked me if the fact that my boss was on the panel would interfere with my ability to be objective. Nope, I replied. Then he asked my boss the same question, and with a perfectly straight face he said, "Well, he never listens to me at the office, I don't see how this would be any different." He's in his 80's now, and we're still friends.

Was on one where we were given the case at about 4 o'clock, and by 5, we were on the verge of coming to a unanimous verdict. Suddenly, some old gal started changing her mind. Couldn't figure it out, until they took us to dinner, and she was pretty proud of getting us another free meal on the county. Most of us would rather have gone home.
 
the court clerk tells us you only can serve every two years in TN. I was called almost to the day 4 times in 8 yrs. I served on two juries. the last time I was called court clerk asked if any one served in any branch of the service and if anyone was a vol. firefighter to raise our hands. she then said your dismissed and to stop by her office on the way out . the lady at the window ask what service I was in and I said vol firefighter. she asked what dept. and said thank you and I would likely never be called again for jury duty. its been 10 yrs since that day
 
Hello David G,

Pretty good chance. Those clerks can't read much. I go through it every couple of years. I knew a guy that trashed all of his summons. Unless he was pulling my leg, WHICH I DOUBT, he never had a problem.

Guido
 

I've been called to jury duty probably 12 times and actually served on a jury maybe twice.The one time that stands out for me was as I was in the box during the question and answer period,I forget what it's called.I was sitting next to a guy I worked with.He leaned close to me and said "I won't be here long".I said why not?He said "I know the defendant".When his turn for questioning came and he told the judge he knew the guy to be tried he was out of that court room quick!
 
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