Quote:
Originally Posted by Zeke
Oh yeah, I know all about that. They got me as far as sitting in a alternate seat for a murder trial. I wanted no part in that. The ruse was if I objected strictly on the basis of serving on a capital crime, they would send me down the hall to a business trial.
I worked around the whole deal using the "informed jury" spiel. You can Google those terms if you're unfamiliar. I think I learned that here.
|
I'm almost 40 and this is the first time I've ever even received a summons. When was the last time you went?
My understanding in LA County back in the old'n days you had to sit for 10 days waiting to be called and if you got called but didn't get picked you went back to wait.
NOW it is 1 day or 1 trial which means you will not sit and wait for more than 1 day. If you do not get called to a pool by 4-5pm (they finish up based on case load at different times) the day you are instructed to serve then you are done. Service complete.
If you do get called for a pool then that pool may not start right then and there - I don't know if it is normal to be pushed to another day or not but all of the pools I saw get pulled today seemed to go that way (this was downtown by the way). The first pool was pulled for an estimated 40 day trial - mine was 'estimated' at 18 days. My boss loved that when I told him...
So now next Tuesday I report again for jury selection. I'm in the pool, I do get to talk to the judge about if I can or can't meet the needs but they will probably have little regard for my personal needs. I did tell my boss that 18 days was kind of a long time but at the same time I do feel like if everyone tried to get out of it who would do it? It's an obligation and being that I am a firm believer in the constitution I should take the high road here and do my duty. Right? =-)
I have to call in Monday night to see if I actually need to show up. The other thing is the county isn't supposed to ask you to server more than 20 miles away from your home. Downtown for me is 19. If it is more than 20 you can ask for a transfer.