Well . . . They got me!

[Rick]

I must report to court on March 09, 20.



Jury duty time.

I don't mind though, I hear people complaining about jury duty all the time but I look at it as there being only one alternative to a trial by your peers and that would be a trial by gubmint. Now that just can't be good. Only real downside to this is that it is for four months, starts March 9th, April, May, June and ends on July 9th. Doesn't mean that I have to sit there all that time, most trials here are settled by plea agreement before a trial starts. Does mean though that I will be on call all that time. Quite possible that I won't sit on a single jury.

 

[JWFilips]

Ahah! Every time I get a notice no matter how I act They still pick me! honest face I guess!
The only time I got excused was when I showed up with the "Flu" & I mean the real "Flu" ( thought I was gunna die!)

 

[popper]

Used to get called every year for like 40 yrs, now the old age exclusion works. Nothing like sitting with several hundred others waiting to get called to a panel. Got empaneled for a murder trial once (mistrial declared). Funny, that judge got hit for not obeying a judge's gag order last year but DA refused to prosecute!
Around here only Grand Jury has a quarter turn and no defense allowed.

 

[462]

I've been summoned four times, selected three times, and dismissed twice. Won't go into why I was dismissed, other than to say that one guy was accused of being a multiple child molester and the other guy was accused of driving under the influence of drugs.
I, too, qualify for the age exemption.

 

[Rick H]

I always wanted to sit on one, just to see what happened in the jury room. Couldn't in criminal cases while working and now that I'm retired no one will seat a retired cop....."I would like to thank and excuse Juror sitting in seat #4" LOL.

 

[freebullet]

Make a racist comment. You'll be excused tootsweet

 

[Bret4207]

I seemed to get called once every 2 years or so. Last time I wasted 4 days sitting there while they got rid of prospective juror after prospective juror. When they got to me the County Judge (used to be DA, he and I butted heads- a lot) heard my name and his head snapped up. I walked down the aisle, he said, " Hello Trooper, you're kinda old to still be working aren't you?" Prick, I'm younger than he is. I tried to get empaneled, but once the defense knew I was a retired LEO it was all over. I got done and went to the Commissioner of Jurors office, explained I was a retired Trooper, and a farmer, and would she please note this and only call me for civil trials. Haven't had a call since then.

 

[Brad]

I have gotten the notice twice for district court and once for federal court. Never had to report.
My wife had to report once but wasn’t selected.

 

[Bill]

I got called up for fed grand jury while I was still working, disrupted my life for a whole year

Bill

 

[Ian]

I got called for federal jury too when I was still working. Had to go in a few times over a several month period but never got selected. The cost of fuel, parking, and time off work would have bankrupted me in real short order if I'd been selected.

 

[Rick]

One of the questions on the form I had to mail in was if I was related to or personal friends with any LEO. Didn't ask if I was one though.

 

[RBHarter]

Got letters 6 consecutive years for duty . 5 local and one notice of pool selection for the 9th Circuit Court . I only made it to the selection once . I really thought to myself when the initial call for association excusale came I could do it in good faith . Until I'd set there about an hour looking at the accused , witness list , and realized that I'd been informally asked if I would character witness , my boss was a defense witness , I'd been where the incident in question occured about 10 minutes before it happened and walked all over the scene the morning after and been privy to VFD liquor debrief 8 days after the event that took 30 days to charge .......
I lived in a county the size of Maryland with a population density of 1.6 persons per sqmi with 4 towns , a Rez , 6 FDs and an unincorporated county seat that had been but was undone . The 2010 census projected population growth was -134 after a decline of 600 from 2000 .

 

[358156 hp]

I've been on three Juries, and was Foreman of the first one. I got shanghaied while taking a bathroom break. When I came back I was Foreman! So I did it. Two trials were for drunks trying to beat the system, the other was a guy claiming punitive damages for having his life fall apart after a minor car accident.

He claimed he lost his job, his wife left him, his dog got herpes, and that this all was caused by a minor accident that he appeared to be more responsible for than the other guy. His ex-wife took the stand and testified that he had been abusive from the beginning, and she had had enough and left him. His boss testified that even though the plaintiff had advanced degrees (from China!), his knowledge and abilities of the materials were lacking, and that they always had to pair him with a higher achiever to get any results from him at all. The dog declined to testify.

I got summoned once more time for yet another Jury, got selected, and was in voir dire when the Judge asked if anyone had been on a Jury before. I raised my hand and was asked about my experiences. When the Judge heard about my three Juries, he thanked me for my service, and released me on the spot. A reserve candidate was called to take my place, and I have never been called again so far.

 

[CZ93X62]

Several jury summonses since retirement, none have required actually showing up at the court house. Yet.

 

[Tomme boy]

Ask about Jury Nullification. It will get you thrown out and never called again. I did this and the judge went ballistic. They called for all new jurors. They did not want to risk anyone that knows their rights. This was on a DUI charge.

 

[Rick]

Ask about Jury Nullification. It will get you thrown out and never called again.

Why?

As I said in post #1 . . . . I don't mind though, I hear people complaining about jury duty all the time but I look at it as there being only one alternative to a trial by your peers and that would be a trial by gubmint. Now that just can't be good.

 

[Bret4207]

View attachment 13076

Why?

As I said in post #1 . . . . I don't mind though, I hear people complaining about jury duty all the time but I look at it as there being only one alternative to a trial by your peers and that would be a trial by gubmint. Now that just can't be good.

I agree, I'd serve in order to see justice done. Some people want to serve because it gives them something to do. Others because they hope to make something out of it. I just want to see fair treatment. Jury nullification will just result in a mis trial.

 

[Brad]

Good on Rick for doing his civic duty.

 

[KeithB]

Been called twice. Got to interview twice. As soon as they found out I was an engineer and college prof I was excused. Apparently enginers are not wanted as jurors by whichever side has the most illogical case. May have to report for jury duty Monday morning, have a letter from my Dr to show them that details the medical issues and care I need throughout day. When I filled out survey I indicated that I would not sit on any capital trial where the death penalty could be an option. Probably won't matter, most cases aren't capital issues.

 

[Rick]

I would sit on a capital case however with that said the prosecutor had best not only have all of the ducks in a row but also standing at attention and saluting. I would sooner turn loose a possible murderer as opposed to any possibility at all of sending an innocent person to death row. "Reasonable" doubt is too low of a bar for a capital case.