Jury duty?

[pavulon]

When called for jury duty selection process, what do you do (maneuver for dismissal or play it straight) and why?

[KFC911]

About 30 years ago, I sat until noon in a room of about 200 folks until my pager went off (a major corp was "down") so I just left. Another time I forgot to call in... other than those....I get the notice, call in the night before and am told I don't need to show up. Works for me...

[porsche tech]

Had duty in VA and about a month after I moved to SC (as soon as I registered to vote here). Performed my civic duty. Then about a year later they sent me another summons. In SC you can be exempt if you're over 65 years of age. I called them and claimed that exemption and haven't been called since.

[jcommin]

I don't mind it - I'm a city guy - I would prefer jury duty in the summertime ai the Daley Center in the heart of Downtown Chicago. Lot of eye candy - I make a day of it.

[TimBer]

I have only had to show up once. I sat in the big room from 8:30-1200. We were told to be back at 1:00, then dismissed by 1:30. I would have played it straight and that is what I recommend to everyone. Don't try to get on the jury and don't try to get out of it.

[mattdavis11]

I've only had to show up at the court house one time, which was recently. I was interested in the case and wanted to sit on the jury. A lady bought a home that had foundation damage, the seller was also a realtor, and did not disclose. I happened to live in a house my parents owned (2nd home, my brothers and I lived there) that had to have the foundation repaired. It was cool to watch them do the work. Anyway, both sides asked me a few questions, but I did not get selected. The plaintiff was a hot single woman. She had my vote.

[masraum]

I play it straight. I've been on a prospective jury twice, most of the time I go in the morning I'm requested and then get sent home. The two times I might have been on a jury, once they picked the 12 and sent me home. The other time I was questioned, and apparently someone didn't like my answers so they sent me home.

Fortunately, I've moved to a different county where I seem to get called less (for more folks to choose from). In the previous county, I got called nearly every year, and even then, you go down Mon morning and then you call back each evening of that week where they could send you anywhere in the county.

[billybek]

The last time I had responded to the summons by indicating that I was paid by the hour and that performing my duty as a juror would be a financial hardship.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by billybek

The last time I had responded to the summons by indicating that I was paid by the hour and that performing my duty as a juror would be a financial hardship.

This was my reasoning as I am a self employed solo practitioner. They clearly did not read the first two responses I sent.

[GH85Carrera]

I have been called to to Jury duty for the county (twice), state and even the feds.

Only got to sit on the county one, the rest they sent me home after a day of sitting. Bring a book to read. They don't allow cell phones, or any device that can connect to the internet.

For the first county jury duty I even knew the judge and he knew me by name as he was a customer at my place of work. He still made me wait all day before he sent me home. The only people getting out of there were mothers with "infant in arms" and people willing to claim chronic alcoholism, drug addiction, or felons. I am none of the above, so I did my civic duty.

[javadog]

I was always out of the state working when I got a summons. Never had to go.

Next time I get one, I'll ask if there are any young, hot women in the pool. If so, I'll think about going.

[legion]

I figure that most juries are made up out of people who weren't smart enough to get out of it--not what I'd want if I was falsely accused of a crime.

As such, I don't maneuver to get out of it, but I've never been selected.

[URY914]

I don't get why people always want to get out serving. It is part of the American legal system that you should participate in. One day it could be you on trial and there could a jury pool of Miata drivers that determine your fate. Do you want that?

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

For the first county jury duty I even knew the judge and he knew me by name as he was a customer at my place of work. He still made me wait all day before he sent me home.

That is a bad judge

[MBAtarga]

The only time I've been called up (about 20 years ago), I served on a divorce case. A married with 3 kids local town deputy that served as a jail officer was having an affair with the nurse that came to the jail to do simple med exams to the occupants and also deliver prescribed meds. This would make a good TV movie, as his soon to be Ex-wife found meds with all different names on them on his closet shelf and hand delivered them to his soon to be Ex-boss. As occupants were released from the jail, any remaining meds were "confiscated" - and this Ex-deputy claimed he took them away to dispose of them, but forgot.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Tobra

That is a bad judge

Nope, just 100% impartial. If he lets his friends and acquaintances off jury duty is it is not a fair jury pool. Only retired people have the time to do it without inconvenience. Do we want a jury pool of only retired people? Maybe so, they are smart enough to live to retirement, but it is not quite a jury of your peers if you are 21 years old.

[Eric 951]

Show up, play it straight and bring a book. I spent a day downtown and was not selected. I declined the $8.40 compensation, and also heard the judge give a very nice speech thanking us all and stressing how important it is to participate in one's civil duty when called.
It is also interesting people watching--despite clear instructions on proper court room attire, I saw lots of potential jurors in shorts and loud T-shirts

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

...but it is not quite a jury of your peers if you are 21 years old.

I always wanted 12 hardened criminals on mine .

I just stagger in...reeking of weed...never served on a jury tho

[javadog]

Originally Posted by URY914

I don't get why people always want to get out serving. It is part of the American legal system that you should participate in. One day it could be you on trial and there could a jury pool of Miata drivers that determine your fate. Do you want that?

Around here, you have to show up for a week. My wife did it a couple times, never got selected. Show up every day, wait all day doing nothing, go home. Repeat for the entire week.

I worked out of state all week and would have had to shut down my projects to stay and attend the fiasco. Not worth it.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by javadog

Around here, you have to show up for a week. My wife did it a couple times, never got selected. Show up every day, wait all day doing nothing, go home. Repeat for the entire week.

I worked out of state all week and would have had to shut down my projects to stay and attend the fiasco. Not worth it.

My wife has been called several times. Every time, after just one day the judge says all the juries have been selected for the week, and sends the rest of them home. So one day and done unless you are selected.

On one of the trials that was scheduled for the week I was called was a high profile murder case. I knew it was going to be a long drawn out trial. I figured if I was called to be questioned during Voir Dire I would just tell them if she was arrested she must be guilty, so lets get on with this. They would bump me and I would go home.

I did serve on one trial of a dumb kid that broke a window of a car and stole some change from the center console. The car owner only knew it was less than two bucks. The cost of the window repair was the biggest expense. The crook had done it before. After a full day of boring testimony, one of the lawyers on one side or the other said something that the judge instantly sent the jury out of the room. We stood around for 30 minutes, and he declared a mistrial. We never did know why for sure.