Anyone doing jury duty?

lene1949 · 12-13-2010, 03:36 AM

I was called up for jury duty for 3 weeks starting 6th December 2010...

I don't mind doing it, I just mind when I'm not called in, I have to tell work, and they can then send me anywhere they like, and I hate that...

I work with intellectually disabled people, and we have a large range of different support needs...

I find it so frustrating not knowing where I'll work on any given day...

At least now I've been selected, and know I'll be in court for at least 4 days... and that's sooooo boring - I think we were in the court room for 1.5 hours all up... The rest of the time was waiting...

Exer · 12-13-2010, 04:06 AM

I've been called for Jury Duty 4 times in the 11 years since I first moved to Alaska. I served the first two of those times in a normal jury, the third I didn't get picked, and this last time (about a year ago) ended up being Grand Jury. Grand Jury lasted 1 week a month, for 5 months.

I have to admit that Grand Jury was one of the most interesting, and at the same time disturbing, experiences of my life. I heard such appalling stories (child abuse, rape, incest, etc.) that it took me weeks to feel "normal" walking around in public after the process was over. I take my civic duty very seriously, but I honestly hope I never have to serve on an evidentiary trial.

Just "hearing" about it was enough.

Some of that stuff is heartbreaking, and really tough to stand.

dsvick · 12-13-2010, 08:42 AM

I've gotten the notice three of four time but never had to even go in, let alone get selected and serve. I'd like to though, if for no other reason than to see the process up close, although it might just irritate me.

Mike L · 12-13-2010, 09:27 AM

I served on a jury for two weeks, about four years ago.

My overrding memory is long tedious hours sitting in a cramped jury room, while the lawyers and judges argued over legal points that the jury weren't allowed to hear. Over half the time I was in court was spent like that.

It was worse then waiting for a plane that's been delayed, because at an airport you can at least sit in another area or go for a walk around.

I didn't have an ebook reader in those days. I got through several magazines and a book of crossword puzzles. If I'm ever called up again, I'll make very certain to take my Kindle along.

kindlekitten · 12-13-2010, 10:15 AM

I've always been dismissed. usually they do not like having anyone with a legal background on a jury

mrscoach · 12-13-2010, 10:33 AM

I've gotten jury summons several times, but never even had to go IN the court house.

This last time was for a federal jury and I was to call after 5pm the day before to ensure I had to report. I didn't. I was glad because it was an hour and a half drive to get there.

The time before that I took my card to the court house, only to be met by an officer who took my card and informed me the case had been pled (plead?) out that morning. The cards were color coded for each courtroom or something, and they took up the ones for the dismissed cases to prove the juror appeared, so they could get their $15 check.

Bilbo1967 · 12-13-2010, 10:37 AM

I was called for a Coroner's Court jury duty earlier this year. Just one day in court. I found it quite interesting, if a little distressing at times (it was a case of suicide, disputed by the deceased's family).

astrangerhere · 12-13-2010, 11:28 AM

Being a former prosecutor and a current attorney usually gets me out of it. Often times I can call the clerk and just get written off without having to come in. I appreciate the need for the civic duty, and I am eternally grateful to those who serve, but it would be unfair to both the attorneys and the parties if they were to let me on a jury.

jkeene · 12-13-2010, 12:48 PM

Called twice, excused before trial date once. Not selected when summoned this past fall. Next time I'm summoned I'm going to make sure to sit front and center of the jury waiting room. Here in my county a judge hears requests from jurors to be excused from a desk in the front of the room. The requests, and often the judge's replies, can be quite funny.

kindlekitten · 12-13-2010, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkeene

Called twice, excused before trial date once. Not selected when summoned this past fall. Next time I'm summoned I'm going to make sure to sit front and center of the jury waiting room. Here in my county a judge hears requests from jurors to be excused from a desk in the front of the room. The requests, and often the judge's replies, can be quite funny.

hello jkeene! welcome to the forums!

Billjr13 · 12-13-2010, 06:22 PM

Got called in last month for the first time in my life. (Been registered to vote since I was 18.) Criminal trial, assult on a police officer. Sat through the whole trial for two days and then was dismissed as the alternate! It was so unfair I miised two days of work had to write lesson plans for the sub and then I dont even get to talk about the case with the other jurors.

John Carroll · 12-13-2010, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lene1949

I was called up for jury duty for 3 weeks starting 6th December 2010...

I work with intellectually disabled people, ...

*rolls d20 to resist making joke . . . rolls a 1*

I work with intellectually disabled people too . . . .

I tried . . . I really did.

Honestly though, you're to be commended for doing so.

I actually got called for jury duty for my small rural town. The standard jury is 3 people. *sigh*

Elfwreck · 12-13-2010, 10:58 PM

I'm up for (potential) jury duty later this month; this'll be the first time in many many years I'm not going to check the box that says "financial hardship" and send it back. (For most of my adult life, a week on jury pay would've made me homeless. I've just barely got enough cushion to avoid that now.)

I don't expect to be selected; I'm aware of fully informed jury legalities, and willing to mention it. (There are FIJA supporters who try to hide that affiliation in order to get on juries; I can't afford it.) Also, any organization that pays me $15/day for my careful perception, consideration, and judgment, is obviously not paying for my *professional* knowledge, which goes at a much higher rate; they must be asking for something else. The other arena where I have practice with discernment and conclusions is religious.

I'm considering, if I get called in, showing up in full robes, which would probably get me dropped quickly. More than either side doesn't want "liberals" or "conservatives" or "people who hate cops" or whatever--none of them like wild cards. They want to believe they can predict the jury's response by their demographics, and I skew that assumption.

GraceKrispy · 12-13-2010, 11:10 PM

I've been summoned twice (once while in college and I was in another state at the time, and once here and I was excused for a few days, and not called the other days), and I had to fill out a questionnaire for another round, and this reminds me I haven't been summoned yet. Maybe I'll luck out.

I have to admit, I'm a little scared I'll end up on some scary trial and they'll start harassing my family to get me to vote not guilty. Do you think that's a direct result of too many courtroom movies over the years?

lene1949 · 12-14-2010, 05:02 AM

I have been an Australian Citizens since 2006 and this is the third time I've been called up... The second time I left the letter (didn't know what it was), only found it a few months later.

This current trial is interesting - and they don't know that I have a legal background from Denmark... I used to work for the Judge in a small town, and often appeared in court on his behalf in small litigation matters...

12-13-2010, 03:36 AM	#1
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	Anyone doing jury duty? I was called up for jury duty for 3 weeks starting 6th December 2010... I don't mind doing it, I just mind when I'm not called in, I have to tell work, and they can then send me anywhere they like, and I hate that... I work with intellectually disabled people, and we have a large range of different support needs... I find it so frustrating not knowing where I'll work on any given day... At least now I've been selected, and know I'll be in court for at least 4 days... and that's sooooo boring - I think we were in the court room for 1.5 hours all up... The rest of the time was waiting...

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12-13-2010, 04:06 AM	#2
Exer I see Russia! Posts: 205 Karma: 234787 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alaska Device: Etch-A-Sketch	I've been called for Jury Duty 4 times in the 11 years since I first moved to Alaska. I served the first two of those times in a normal jury, the third I didn't get picked, and this last time (about a year ago) ended up being Grand Jury. Grand Jury lasted 1 week a month, for 5 months. I have to admit that Grand Jury was one of the most interesting, and at the same time disturbing, experiences of my life. I heard such appalling stories (child abuse, rape, incest, etc.) that it took me weeks to feel "normal" walking around in public after the process was over. I take my civic duty very seriously, but I honestly hope I never have to serve on an evidentiary trial. Just "hearing" about it was enough. Some of that stuff is heartbreaking, and really tough to stand.

12-13-2010, 08:42 AM	#3
dsvick Wizard Posts: 2,737 Karma: 635747 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Northeast Ohio, USA Device: PRS-900	I've gotten the notice three of four time but never had to even go in, let alone get selected and serve. I'd like to though, if for no other reason than to see the process up close, although it might just irritate me.

12-13-2010, 09:27 AM	#4
Mike L Wizard Posts: 1,479 Karma: 3846231 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Device: Kindle 3, Samsung Galaxy	I served on a jury for two weeks, about four years ago. My overrding memory is long tedious hours sitting in a cramped jury room, while the lawyers and judges argued over legal points that the jury weren't allowed to hear. Over half the time I was in court was spent like that. It was worse then waiting for a plane that's been delayed, because at an airport you can at least sit in another area or go for a walk around. I didn't have an ebook reader in those days. I got through several magazines and a book of crossword puzzles. If I'm ever called up again, I'll make very certain to take my Kindle along.

12-13-2010, 10:15 AM	#5
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	I've always been dismissed. usually they do not like having anyone with a legal background on a jury

12-13-2010, 10:33 AM	#6
mrscoach Guru Posts: 762 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	I've gotten jury summons several times, but never even had to go IN the court house. This last time was for a federal jury and I was to call after 5pm the day before to ensure I had to report. I didn't. I was glad because it was an hour and a half drive to get there. The time before that I took my card to the court house, only to be met by an officer who took my card and informed me the case had been pled (plead?) out that morning. The cards were color coded for each courtroom or something, and they took up the ones for the dismissed cases to prove the juror appeared, so they could get their $15 check.

12-13-2010, 10:37 AM	#7
Bilbo1967 Not scared! Posts: 13,424 Karma: 81011643 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Midlands, UK Device: Kindle Paperwhite 10, Huawei M5 10	I was called for a Coroner's Court jury duty earlier this year. Just one day in court. I found it quite interesting, if a little distressing at times (it was a case of suicide, disputed by the deceased's family).

12-13-2010, 11:28 AM	#8
astrangerhere Professor of Law Posts: 3,638 Karma: 65526796 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Libra H20, Kobo Aura One, KoboMini	Being a former prosecutor and a current attorney usually gets me out of it. Often times I can call the clerk and just get written off without having to come in. I appreciate the need for the civic duty, and I am eternally grateful to those who serve, but it would be unfair to both the attorneys and the parties if they were to let me on a jury.

12-13-2010, 12:48 PM	#9
jkeene Connoisseur Posts: 83 Karma: 85586 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Kindle 3	Called twice, excused before trial date once. Not selected when summoned this past fall. Next time I'm summoned I'm going to make sure to sit front and center of the jury waiting room. Here in my county a judge hears requests from jurors to be excused from a desk in the front of the room. The requests, and often the judge's replies, can be quite funny.

12-13-2010, 06:22 PM	#11
Billjr13 Addict Posts: 357 Karma: 550002 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Colorado Device: Sony PRS 700 & 650	Got called in last month for the first time in my life. (Been registered to vote since I was 18.) Criminal trial, assult on a police officer. Sat through the whole trial for two days and then was dismissed as the alternate! It was so unfair I miised two days of work had to write lesson plans for the sub and then I dont even get to talk about the case with the other jurors.

12-13-2010, 10:58 PM	#13
Elfwreck Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,185 Karma: 25133758 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: SF Bay Area, California, USA Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3 (Past: Kobo Mini, PEZ, PRS-505, Clié)	I'm up for (potential) jury duty later this month; this'll be the first time in many many years I'm not going to check the box that says "financial hardship" and send it back. (For most of my adult life, a week on jury pay would've made me homeless. I've just barely got enough cushion to avoid that now.) I don't expect to be selected; I'm aware of fully informed jury legalities, and willing to mention it. (There are FIJA supporters who try to hide that affiliation in order to get on juries; I can't afford it.) Also, any organization that pays me $15/day for my careful perception, consideration, and judgment, is obviously not paying for my professional knowledge, which goes at a much higher rate; they must be asking for something else. The other arena where I have practice with discernment and conclusions is religious. I'm considering, if I get called in, showing up in full robes, which would probably get me dropped quickly. More than either side doesn't want "liberals" or "conservatives" or "people who hate cops" or whatever--none of them like wild cards. They want to believe they can predict the jury's response by their demographics, and I skew that assumption.

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12-13-2010, 11:10 PM	#14
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	I've been summoned twice (once while in college and I was in another state at the time, and once here and I was excused for a few days, and not called the other days), and I had to fill out a questionnaire for another round, and this reminds me I haven't been summoned yet. Maybe I'll luck out. I have to admit, I'm a little scared I'll end up on some scary trial and they'll start harassing my family to get me to vote not guilty. Do you think that's a direct result of too many courtroom movies over the years?

12-14-2010, 05:02 AM	#15
lene1949 Wizard Posts: 1,952 Karma: 213930 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Middelfart, Denmark Device: Kindle paper white	I have been an Australian Citizens since 2006 and this is the third time I've been called up... The second time I left the letter (didn't know what it was), only found it a few months later. This current trial is interesting - and they don't know that I have a legal background from Denmark... I used to work for the Judge in a small town, and often appeared in court on his behalf in small litigation matters...