Jury Duty

[84porsche]

I just got a jury duty summons. just curious how many of you believe in jury duty or do you make an excuse to get out of it?

[epbrown]

I've served 3 times in the last 6 years. I think it's part of your responsibility as a citizen, but I know most people don't feel the same - that darned boy scout experience works against me

Emanuel

[Moses]

A friend of mine had the following conversation with a judge while being interviewed for jury duty on a big case:

Carl: Your honor, do you have the right to issue the jury a directed verdict if you believe it is warranted?

Judge: Yes, of course. But it's rarely done.

Carl: Do you have the power to set aside our verdict if you feel it is contrary to the law or the evidence?

Judge (sternly): Yes.

Carl: Then our verdict is only binding if you happen to agree with it? Your honor, this sounds like an elaborate ruse.

Judge: Carl, you are dismissed. Thank you for your service.

[vash]

i served once. not my type of case. child molestation. but it was a fantastic learning experience. and i made a bunch of friends in the process. but my job, covers my salary for the duration. if not, i would be pretending that i dont speak english.

[Moneyguy1]

Moses:

I love it!

Also, a letter something like:

"Before I moved out here, I served on three different juries in four years. After moving, I didn't even register for the vote in an attempt to stay under the radar, only to find that had no effect, Y. I would rather put a bullet through my brain than serve again."


response from the County:

"Dear Mr. XXXXXXXX

You are hereby dismissed from jury duty.

[Moneyguy1]

Moses:

I love it!

Also, a letter something like:

"Before moving here, I served on three different juries in four years. I haven't registered for the vote in an attempt to stay under the radar, only to find that had no effect, You found me. I would rather put a bullet through my brain than serve on another jury."

Sincerely,

XXXXXX


response from the County:

"Dear Mr. XXXXXX

You are hereby dismissed from jury duty.

(signed) County Clerk

Hey don't blame me; I saw both the letter that was sent and the response!!!!!!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Here in CA it's especially fascist - in addition to not being able to get out of your service, the courts typically expect you to be available for jury duty "on call" for not one day, not two days, but in my case for TWO WEEKS!!!

Here's my story:

I got my Jury Duty summons and, like a lot of people here I believe it is my responsibility and might actually be sort of educational, on top of a change of pace. Problem is, I worked for a total cheap-ass employer that did not compensate me for jury service. This was further compounded by the fact that I was already SERIOUSLY underpaid by them to begin with (did I mention they were cheap-ass?) As such, I really couldn't afford the $7 per day or whatever it was that I was going to be "compensated" for my time. I even went so far as to have my employer write a letter stating that they do not compensate employees for jury service and that my absence would have impacted their operation in a negative way; I also included copies of my last three meager pay stubs. Nope. Not good enough (!)

I was required to be ON CALL for TWO WEEKS. I "rolled the dice" and went to work every day (I was flying as a cargo pilot at the time) so if I'd been actually told "report for duty" that day, I'd have either ended up in contempt of court (due to inability to get to the courthouse from wherever I was laid over that day) or possibly out of a job if I got caught leaving my layover in an attempt to get back to LA somehow and "call in sick" for my evening flight home (which I obviously wouldn't make in that case). I even mentioned this in my letter, but oh, no - that wasn't good enough either.

Fortunately I got lucky and wasn't needed, but you WON'T get out of it (don't try) and you better hope you work a job that's close to the courthouse. Evidently anyone that doesn't is just allowed to "fall through the cracks" in our ingenious legal system.

[pwd72s]

Two weeks on call? Lucky you! In Linn County Oregon, it's much longer...6 weeks if memory serves, and you only get to "escape" after you've been called to, and show up, at the courthouse 10 days within that 6 week period.

[azasadny]

Personally, I would never serve on a jury because the newspapers can publish your personal information after the case has been closed. I served in the military for 9 years, so I've done the "good citizen" bit. Everyone I know who has served on a jury hated the experience and has horror stories about it. Wayne County, MI sent me a few "threatening letters" telling me I have to provide personal information "or else face contempt of court charges" and since the letter wasn't sent certified mail, I threw it out and ignored it. How could they ever prove I received it?

[ronin]

Greetings Mr. Z.

We regret to inform you that we are on to you and have issued a warrant for your arrest as you have been found in contempt of court. We had implanted a tiny homing device on the last notice that was sent to your address. The notice was tracked via satellite from your mailbox into a garbage truck and on to the county dump, which does not appear to be your residence.

Do not bother to pack any bags, as you will be provided with all the amenities at our state-of-the-art county detention facility. A conspicuously marked van will arrive shortly for your convenience. Should you feel the need to resist, we urge you to reconsider. Any attempts will result in your being absorbed into the entity.

Have a nice day and we hope to see you soon.

Your friendly Court Clerk

[juanbenae]

i have gotten out three times by metioning my sister is in county probation and how frustrated i get over hearing how its the same offenders over and over.

my pops has skated twice by asking the lawyers (jury selection) to repeat questions a couple times. not to blatantly, but just enough to give them the impression you dont hear so well.

[cmccuist]

Jury duty is a responsibility - just like obeying laws and paying taxes. Sure you don't want to do it, but that's the price we pay for living in a civilized society. Lawyers depend on responsible people getting out of jury duty.

For anyone who didn't do their level best to serve, the next time you read about a killer or rapist walking, or someone getting a million for falling off a toilet or spilling coffee on themselves, don't bother to participate in the argument - you didn't step up when you had the chance.

[VenezianBlau 87]

Don't let these guys sway you away from jury duty.

I recently served on a jury in state criminal court. I was on a domestic violence case. My interpretation was that it was a case of law enforcement run amok. It boiled down to whether or not the defendent cursed in earshot of his two stepchildren while being questioned by police. There may have been a scuffle between the husband and wife but that was not presented in evidence. There were no charges filed by the wife and she testified for the defendent. WTF!

A strange division emerged between men and women in the jury chamber. My impressions of professional, well-meaning men fearful to confront women and nutty women dragging out their fertile abuse histories.

With the diverse racial makeup of the jury, defendent, and witness, it was a real testament to civil rights progress and the application of fairness.

Someone may need you on the jury. Don't let them down.

Cheers,
Bob
PS-I have the same year/GLI Jetta as you.

[Dantilla]

I served a while back, and had a great time. Small town, only needed for one day.

Within five minutes of being sent off for deliberations, I was elected jury foreman. In another fifteen minutes, the entire jury agreed with me.

The MOST fun was after the trial was over. The defense attorney wanted to talk to a member of the jury. For over half an hour, it was just me, the prosecutor, and the defense attorney in the courtroom, with me critiquing their arguments. Both were taking notes on their legal tablets while I picked them apart. I had fun, and they both appriciated the critisism.

It's not every day you get to rip an attorney and they thank you for it.

[epbrown]

The last time I served, we were asked if we'd like to talk with the prosecutor - unanimous "no". That woman was mean as a cranky wolverine and I hope to never see her for so much as a parking violation. Yelling, screaming, pounding the docket - most of the older people on the jury were literally cringing from her when she approached. We figured the fact we found the defendant not guilty wouldn't have put her in the best of moods.

Btw, I was jury foreman on my last case since we made 2 rounds looking for a volunteer and no one stepped up. After we've got the verdict, someone asked me if they could take over and present it to the court!

Emanuel

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by cmccuist
Jury duty is a responsibility - just like obeying laws and paying taxes. Sure you don't want to do it, but that's the price we pay for living in a civilized society. Lawyers depend on responsible people getting out of jury duty.

For anyone who didn't do their level best to serve, the next time you read about a killer or rapist walking, or someone getting a million for falling off a toilet or spilling coffee on themselves, don't bother to participate in the argument - you didn't step up when you had the chance.

Bull*****! In Orygun, we the jury sentence a thug-predator-killer to death. A lefty State supreme Court commutes the sentence to life, then grants him a new trial because his attorney failed to have something or other notarized...it happens here...over, and over, and over! Oregon technically has the death penalty. By a vote of the people it was reinstated decades ago. The only time the sentence is carried out is when the condemned waives all rights to the process of appeals. These are those who decide that death is preferable to spending the years left on death row. Can't blame them for that. Don't believe me? Check it out. In Texas, you're lucky enough. You seem to live in a state where courts abide by the jury's decision. This isn't so in the people's republic of Oregon. Me? After serving here enough times, I do know what a joke the jury system is , I'm hoping to serve nevermore. The "justice system"? Gimme a break. It's as non functional, as non efficient, as any other branch of the bureaucracy. I hated every minute I served on jury duty. The longer I spent there, the more I learned about just how much a screwed up system the so-called "justice" system is. Just MHO...and if conscripted to serve again? I'll be the worst juror I can be, as far as the bureaucacy of the so-called "justice system" is concerned! Me, bitter? You betcher sweet donky! (Edit) All that said, your comments make me think I might want to move to Texas. At least politically. It seems "the system" may remain marginally effective there. Here in Oregon? Total breakdown...the socialists rule, and it's not the juries that turn these predators loose, time, after time, after...

[Hugh R]

Home invasion, double execution, had the POS's fingerprints of the plastic bags and duct tape he put over the heads (yup!), his boot prints, their stolen stuff in his apartment, and we deliberated for two friggin weeks, because "he seemed like a nice young man who had a bad childhood" All I cared about was whether or not we had the right guy, not why he did it. If I'm ever charged with a crime, I'll opt for the jury, there are a lot of really guillable and stupid people out there.

[pwd72s]

Gee Hugh, you seem to have reached the same conclusion as I..."Why bother?"...

[84porsche]

I have had jury duty every 18 months since high school and so far I have had to sit in a courthouse for 8 hours twiddling my thumbs. I am not saying I would like to be on case, but I don't like wasting time or being available on somebody else's whim. I guess one advantage is this time I can get my normal salary while I am out. And so far, in Orange County I don't meet any of the excuse criteria.

[cmccuist]

pwd72s, at least you gave it a shot. You did your level best and it was the system that failed. That's different than not even trying. Something must be working though because the jails are filling up and crime rates are trending downward.