So How Many Have Done Jury Duty
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Filled out a questionnaire for jury selection this morning never did it that way before.
I was the last one still writing....
What's up with that?
This will be a serious one if I get picked....
Can't talk or search online, that will be very difficult for me as I'm sure you guys know.
Helped decide a civil case 2 weeks ago. One day of jury duty. Easy breezy
I did it about 15 years ago or so. We are on for a month. Ended up sitting on a burglary case, a DUI case, and then for a week on a murder case. Missed about 8 days of work that month doing my "civil duty". It was very interesting though. I'm not sure why I was picked every time. I just answered the questions honestly and sincerely and ended up in the box every time. Remind me to lie if I get selected again! Ha!
I would love love love to be on a jury. I'd like to see the process behind closed doors. However, as an attorney, unlikely that I'd ever be allowed to serve. Missouri did just change their law a couple years ago, attorneys can be on juries now. But I'd probably be stricken by one side or the other. . . .
Jury trials are fascinating. And they're not nearly as common as they used to be. My dad has practiced for 43 years, and there were times he tried 13-14 jury trials a year (back in the 80s with condemnation suits over a new lake). I've been practicing for 11 years, and have only tried 6 cases to a jury. I've sat second chair on several more. But they're just not as common anymore.
They are extremely stressful to try, but they are a LOT of fun to try, if you can get past the stressful part of it.
Watching the jury, picking the jury, is very fascinating. I love it
I've been summoned 3 times for jury duty. Each time the case was postponed to a later date, and I didn't have to serve. The last time it happened, I was actually kind of disappointed. It must be the Perry Mason fan in me.
Matt
I wasn't in the jury but I was fortunate to have just been able to watch my daughter's first felony jury trial as a prosecutor....and she won the case. It is great seeing one of your children achieve their dream.....I am blessed.
I have been asked 3 times, each time was after I relocated to another state.
That's awesome SA! Congrats to your daughter and to you! Nothing sweeter in life than watching your children accomplish their dreams!
Been called in 2 times. First time the case was settled before trail. Second time was seated as one of the 12 but was kicked off due to being robbed at gun point when I was a Finance Manager.
I've been called a few times, but only had to go in twice.
Once they released me after about an hour of sitting in the jury room. The other time I had to go into the courtroom, but after questioning by one of the attorneys, they dismissed me. As I recall, the case involved something regarding finances and one of the attorneys thought I knew too much about that subject.
With a mailing address, street address and actual house location in three different counties, have never served on a jury. Mostly because of address conflict. However, once because of my educational status.
I did serve as an expert witness several times and found that frustrating. Our laboratory was did occasional paternity testing based on blood groups and major histocompatibilty complex (MHC) (pre-DNA test era). As supervisor of the lab, I oversaw all of these cases.
I was told to answer yes or no by an attorney and reminded not expand on my answer unless asked. Frustration came because the attorneys had no clue about science, math and statistics so the interrogatives asked of me were often almost putzeidan in nature.
Imagine the case where twin brothers were named as father... LOL
Good stuff Straight Arrow !! Congrats !!
I have been called 5 times and served twice as an actual juror on the panel. Hope they never call again.
I was selected 1 of 2, from a pool of 60 people. I have a serious hardship with hearing. They first said that is no reason to be dismissed. I told the court clerk that I could not hear from the jury pool located at the back of the courtroom. I was moved to a location close to the front in a gated box between the defendant/accused and the judge. A rather awkward experience to say the least. Smart ass Judge. So I began to sketch the proceedings and make as though I was a court artist. When asked if there is any reason that I could not serve I said as long as I can hear, I can serve. They assured me of headphones adequate to the task.
Then when it came time to serve ( that morning) they dismissed me because of inadequate assistive hearing devices. That ticked me off a bit.
I reasoned that this kind of treatment ( them having it both ways) was unfair to the handicapped person and argued for a lifetime dismissal. So Granted.
Wait until you're all sitting there and see how many losers tell the judge they can't serve because it would cause an "undue hardship" for them. Yeah, right, most of them probably don't even have a job...so what hardship...not being able to sit in mommy's basement all day and night playing video games? You'll see...and it will piss you off. Did me!
I've been summoned several times, interviewed two or three times but only seated on one jury. It is interesting to get a first hand view of how the system works.
Based on what I've observed, I agree with south farm in that many (most?) of the people who say they cannot serve really just don't want to serve. I don't like the possibility of getting called away from work/life for a period of time, but if summoned, I will be available if at all possible. I feel it is part of my civic duty.
If you're selected, some good advice I received from a former boss that I would also recommend is to volunteer to be the jury foreman. The foreman can cut down on a lot of the "rabbit chasing" and keep the jury on track.
On a related note, if you ever sit on a Grand Jury you will really see the seedy underbelly of society.
Oddly enough, knock on wood, even though I've been eligible for jury duty for five decades and have lived in several places, only when I lived on the SF Peninsula from 1988-2008 was I ever summoned for jury duty. I lived in Hillsborough during those years, and I was summoned five or so times then.
Been on 2 cases in 40 Years, one was a criminal case, the other was basically a domestic dispute that should have never been tried.
I headed up the Jury on the second case, which I was told we could complete in one Day if we could get a verdict. I really wanted to get out of there, just like most of the others, because it was obvious the case shouldn't have come to trial.
There was one Woman who just hated the accused guy's face, regardless of the lack of evidence against him. Being down to the last hour, I bombarded her with facts to the point that she couldn't do anything, but rule for the accused. We found him not guilty, and all went home...bam!
Judge sent me a personal letter of thanks ;^)
I got a summons back when I was commercial fishing offshore 100-250 miles. My wife sent it back saying she had no idea of my location. Back then the only way to communicate was by a giant AM radio using a marine operator.
Ive been selected twice. Brought into the court room and one time the lawyers didnt like me for some reason, (Wahooooo) and the other, when the judge asks something like: "do any feel they can not fulfill their duty on a jury"... I raised my hand. Son was in the middle of treatment and I needed out. The judge listened, looked at the lawyers, then they all pointed to the door.
I've been called three times and have always been dismissed. They ask if any prospective jurors have ever had a relationship with the court or prosecutors. I tell them about a reward program I set up and administered in collaboration with the DA for unsolved homicides (actually paid 8 rewards). I get asked a few questions about it and then they say, "you're excused."
I was called once but didn't go as active duty folks can get excused.
Kevin,
"I sincerely hope that if the day ever came that my fate is in the hands of a jury, it's not comprised of a bunch of losers that had nothing better to do that day. "
That goes to the old adage about a jury being composed of 12 people who were too dumb to get out of jury duty.
KPC, as my father in law used to say... "The reason they call the "common man" common, is because there are so many of them"...
Good point you raised.
I wouldn't trust a jury of today's people. You have a 50/50 chance at being hated right off the bat.
I was called and interviewed several time but never got picked. My wife and son both served on the same jury. That amazed me that they would do that but they did. They found a rapist guilty and the judge threw the book at him.
Raises a good question that we debated in college. Do you think we should have professional jurors? People who are well versed in the law and constitution and serve for a set amount of time. After their time is served, another group of jurors is seated and so on.
Interesting pros and cons to both scenarios but I’m Interested in hearing your opinions.
Paul Zeidan,
Again, YOU LIE!
The LAST thing you and your ilk want are juries and judges who are well versed in the Constitution, let alone judges and juries who believe in it.
I get summoned every 2-3 yrs. Never have served on a jury the case always gets settled. I got close once on a DWI case, I was asked by the Defense attorney if I would be open to hearing all circumstances related to the case. I replied the only circumstance I'd be interested in knowing if the defendants blood alcohol was legal to drive, if it wasn't he's guilty. I was dismissed after that.
Where I use to live we had a corrupt bias judge and was called up 3x and was let go when I gave the reason. I did experience his bias in a small claim. He died but was requested to step down from the bench and retire after a 4 DUI in the major city of the state, a fine representation for the law was this gent, not.
Never served. Either was unable to due to work/school and they let me out of it, or they've filtered me out with the initial interview questionnaire.
I testified at a grand jury one time. Four of us had been to a car show in Baltimore and had just crossed the bay bridge when we stopped for gasoline. My buddy went inside to get a snack. We heard a shot and my buddy ran back and jumped in the car, saying he had been shot. We saw a guy run from the store, with a rifle and jump into his car and take off. We got a good look at him and his car. My buddy had a small bloody spot right in the middle of his chest that was getting bigger. Our driver took off to Chestertown hospital that was over 20 miles away. Down 301 at 120 MPH and right into Chestertown hospital. My buddy had stopped talking at this point. We were carrying him into the emergency ward. We loaded him on a gurney and they cut his shirt off. A 22 cal bullet had gone all the way through and the T shirt had stopped the bullet. He stopped breathing but they gave him CPR and got him going again. He was in intensive care for a long time. The surgeon told us the bullet missed the major arteries by a fraction of an inch from the top of his heart. Took him a long time to recover but he did. They caught the shooter and he spent years in prison. That is why I had to testify before a Grand Jury.
I sat on a DUI case jury. It made me hope my fate isn't ever in the hands of people like several of my fellow jurors. Some had a bias they should have been honest about during selection and others couldn't grasp the instructions given to us by the judge. Ended in a hung jury.
Wierd case. The DA and the defense agreed on all the facts of the case. We were tasked with deciding if sleeping at the wheel of a running vehicle parked in a public parking lot met the definition of "operating a vehicle".
Got called in once for a murder case. Turned out I knew 3 of the LEOs (a brother, my brother in laws brother and I was a reservist with the SO and my boss, of course, was the 3rd investigator). Needless to say they showed me the door.
Will know whether I'm chosen by the 22nd.
Wish me luck as I am proud to serve.
I was a juror on a medical malpractice 2 years ago. It lasted 5 days but was easy to decide. Surprisingly there were 3 attorneys and 1 cop out of the 12. It was a fun group of really thoughtful and intelligent people. Overall it was a very rewarding experience and I would definitely do it again.
I was a juror on a medical malpractice 2 years ago. It lasted 5 days but was easy to decide. Surprisingly there were 3 attorneys and 1 cop out of the 12. It was a fun group of really thoughtful and intelligent people. Overall it was a very rewarding experience and I would definitely do it again.
Been 4 times never picked . One time for a murder retail but I was not picked because I know both party’s
Being self employed it would cost me some money but I’d love to do it. I’ve never been called but I hope one day I will. My wife has been called twice and got to serve on a physical assault trial. It lasted a day and she said was pretty interesting.
One time. Sat in on an appeal for a DUI. The guy was guilty, again.
Funny thing is, it was nothing like any court case movie or tv show you watch. I could've argued the law better than the county attorney and I'm clueless, according to some...
I get called every three to five years like clockwork. I've only served on one jury and that was a case where a truck driver got hurt unloading a small steam roller over a steel plate onto another truck. He ended up losing half his foot and was suing for damages. They settled after one day. All the other cases both criminal and civil I have been questioned and then dismissed since I was a CPA and CFO. The last time on the jury questionnaire the Judge didn't believe all of my answers so she questioned me since every box was filled out. I owned a gun, knew officers in the dept, was a victim of a crime, related to someone that was a victim of a serious crime, involved in insurance fraud case from work, involved with uncovering employee theft, etc.
This thread got me thinking - never been called in nearly 40 years of being a potential jury member. Wonder how many people never get called?
I love this kind of thing and would jump at the chance.
Was called once, but case settled. If you want to get tossed from the jury pool wear a MAGA or NRA hat when selection is made.
I served on one jury trial, took a week. Some chick suing the city because she got hit by a cop who was in pursuit of someone else. They wanted a windfall, we gave her the cost of medical bills. Car had already been replaced. Her lawyer was a crock, and it turned out the lawyer was sleeping with his client as well. Was like a soap opera, and the more that was revealed the sleazier it got.
And while it did re-affirm my faith in the jury system, it was interesting to see the egos on the jury as well. A couple of guys just had to be jury foreman, thought they were going to fight about it. I didn't want either one of those egos as jury foreman.
Have been on call several times. The last time was a case involving pit bulls. They asked me what I thought about pit bulls and I replied "each one is a ticking time bomb". So I got to go home early.
Skipped out on federal duty to go elk hunting. Had the trip planned for a year and took me two years to draw. Moving was my excuse(which I did move). I’m not in jail yet and that was three years ago
The courts pool a lot of people because they know a lot of them don't even open the "summons" letter and just throw them away...
Have been summoned several times. Served twice. Both were felony cases. Was appointed jury foreman on a trial that defendant was charged with 2 counts of 1st degree murder. Trial lasted five days and we were sequestered for one night after closing arguments. We found the defendant guilty and judges sentence was life with no parole. Sentencing was at a later date and we had no part in recommending sentence or participating in that portion of the trial.
In the second trial the defendant was charged for firing his handgun from second story window at gang members invading his front yard. Conflict had something to do with his son and son’s friends confronting a gang member. We found the defendant not guilty (self-defense), much to the chagrin of the States Attorney. Jury deliberation and vote took about fifteen minutes. Drank coffee and visited with each other for another half hour, just so States Attorney and/or judge didn’t think we reached verdict without appropriate deliberation.
Notified twice, served once, a 5 day stint. I must say I truly enjoyed the evidence, the testimony and strategy of the attorney's involved. I was 100% immersed in the realization that I would be deciding the fate of the accused. I listened intently and placed the pieces of the puzzle that I am believed fit and discarded pieces that others believed did. You believe and argue beforehand what you think you would do, but once in the courtroom the lens changes, that is,if you are being fair and honest to the process and most importantly to yourself.
The Rock
I've been called several times, even living in different states. I've only had to show up twice and was selected once, for a personal injury/ car accident case where a gal rear-ended a guy at a stoplight, and his back was re-injured. They needed 9 out of 12 jurors to settle in his favor, and when we went for deliberations one loud-mouthed lady proclaimed that he was only in it for the money, and this poor lady didn't have the money (her attorney was hired by her car insurance company, not her anyway) and blah blah and she convinced most of the jurors that she was right- despite the presented facts. When we came back with the verdict of the lady not being responsible, both attorneys and even the judge were incredulous.
There were a couple of things that I learned about the process- namely, that some people don't care about facts. I was one of two jurors who even took notes during the trial. Second, that attorneys are either very obtuse and narrow-minded, or else they are very clever in avoiding asking obvious questions. There were a couple of times when they were questioning witnesses that I thought of several pertinent and obvious follow-up questions, but they never were asked.
All in all, it was a very educational experience, especially the juror selection process.
For all of you guys that did jury time in court.....if you had questions about the case while you were sitting in court or in deliberations, were you allowed to write them down and give them to the judge?
The content of the question and the reasons should be for clarification purposes in most states of what I remember. A few states encourage and or require jurors to ask questions directly to the accused. The judge will inform you of the process in your state.
The Rock
Served on a grand jury for three months back in the early 1990s. The worst part(s) were the child abuse cases, DUIs involving deaths, and a gang rape case.
Once served on a Grand Jury for two months (2 days per week) serving as the ckerk keeping track of all true bills, etc Served on three Jury trials...one an aggravated assault, 2nd was a violation of a protective court order between a husband an ex wife (wife was defendent) and the third one was a drug bust with intent to sell. Served as jury foreman on all three of those trials. I too am self employed which smarts,...but the service is important, and interesting
The time I was on a panel, we were to write questions [of clarification] and give them to the bailiff, who in turn gave it to the judge.
During jury deliberations on murder trial we submitted requests to the judge (thru the bailiff) for a copy (transcript) of specific testimony. Several of us had taken notes during the trial, but our notes were not in agreement. Judges response to each request was "rely on your memory."
Have only been called once in my life and it was for a murder case. Made it through the initial round or Jury questioning. Then the judge ask if any of us had a specific reason we would like to be dismissed. I raised my hand. They pulled my back to the judge's chamber with both attorneys and ask me to explain. The trial would be while my son was playing in the state baseball tournament. The judge ask me if I could keep my mind on the case if I was required to serve. I responded, that I would serve if required, but I couldn't promise that my mind would be in the courtroom. I was just being honest. I could just see me sitting there and my son having the best game of his school baseball career and me not being there. The Judge smiled and said he completely understood and said I was dismissed. It didn't hurt that its a small town and all of us in the room knew each other and they knew the boys had made it to the state tournament for the first time in MANY years. Turns out the defendant plead guilty before the trial started.
I have been excused once on the basis of the 40 stiches in my leg I had to get removed that afternoon. Every single person in the 40 person jury pool tried to get out serving on that jury...luckily my excuse was real.