Quote:
Originally Posted by matthewb0051
We've been on break for the last 35 minutes.
The number of people that ask questions is staggering but what is really staggering is how little people seem to know about the system. Stuff that it doesn't take a law degree to know.
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About 25+ years ago, at least in NY State, they only called people on the voter rolls. This meant you had about a 1.5 to 2 year cycle between call-ins.
About 20+ years ago, they expanded it to the driver's license database. Now you had EVERYONE in the courthouse. I sat in the courthouse one day and this woman nearby kept repeating, like a mantra, "They won't pick me. I'm just ignorant." She said it over and over again. And I think she mispronounced it...
It was the only time I was picked for a Jury. Civil jury. We got as far as the lawyers going through the list of jurors. Suddenly, the judge comes in and tells us the sides have settled.
The only other time I was close, was a DWI trial. They asked if any of us had any connection to DWI cases. I raised my hand. When asked, I said two of my neighbors had family members killed by drunk drivers.
GONE!. I was willing to be unbiased. But I didn't want that fact to create a potential issue.
At that selection, one of the guys near me said he was going to tell the judge that he thought anyone stopped was probably guilty. He was also gone...