agree to disagree? gray areas everywhere

[iheartdisney]

OK, why do you keep chiming in on this subject? As someone that is in the military, you are already exempt from jury duty. Secondly, if you dont already have your children registered in the military base day care, then it is not just as simple as dropping them off. Having had an emergency arise and new to an area I found this out the hard way.

But after 31 pages of this, it is a bit suprising that any court has difficulty getting a large enough pool, as plenty of folks seem to already be in the Judge and Jury mindset (ZING!)

As the spouse of a military person who just served jury duty this summer, there is no such exemption. Maybe where you are, but not here.

Though it sounds good in principle, volunteering for jury duty is not so good of a practice. Instead of being judged by a jury of your peers, you are judged by a jury of people who had nothing better to do.
Honestly, if you know how to answer correctly, you don't have to go farther than the selection process.

 

[Jaime4004]

I haven't read all the posts, but when I was called for jury in New York State, mind you it was 18 years ago, I wrote down that I was the sole care taker of my children. I truly was. They were not in school at the time.

They said I still had to report.

So I reported with my children. The person I reported to was not happy. She asked me why I brought my children. I told her I was the sole care taker of them and they come everywhere with me.

I was excused.

I have been called since and have gone.

Interesting thread, though i'll admit that I skipped about 20 pages...
Here's my 2 cents: I would not serve being a SAHM unless it happened to fall on a day that I knew I had childcare (ex. Mom happens to be on vacation that week), which is unlikely. I don't have "back-up" child care. What is that, anyway? A back up in case I am called to serve once every 3 or 4 years? Who is going to commit to being around for that? Daycares around here aren't going to take a child or two for one day. I have used my husband or mother in emergencies (I was too sick to take care of kids, one kid was in the hospital, etc). Jury duty - not an emergency and I would never ask anyone to take a day out of their work so that I could serve. It can wait a few years (5, 10? whatever it takes) until I have a job that I can leave for a day or more, and right now, leaving the kids is not an option.
I have served while in college. I was not happy about that one because I did not live in the state, could not vote there, could not get in-state tuition, etc. Made no sense to me. I did defer it until the summer, because I was in classes at the date they had originally given. Thankfully, I wasn't picked and wasn't there very long that day. Interestingly, I have never been called in my own state. But if they would not excuse me, I would absolutely be bringing my kids with me. And then leaving at noon to bring DS to kindergarten. And leaving at 3 to pick them up from the bus...

 

[LadyBeBop]

Honestly, if you know how to answer correctly, you don't have to go farther than the selection process.

Most of the time, but not all of the time.

I was an alternate juror about 25 years ago. I answered the so-called questions correctly (or incorrectly depending on your point of view). I knew neither the prosecution or defense wanted me. But each side already used their three challenges. And they still needed their alternate juror.

Happy to do my duty. I was still single at the time, and my employer still paid my salary. Regarding the questions, I was just answering truthfully (I had my purse stolen about a year earlier, my father was a prominent physician and my uncle was a semi-famous lawyer).

I have served while in college. I was not happy about that one because I did not live in the state, could not vote there, could not get in-state tuition, etc. Made no sense to me.

How could they make you serve if you did not live or vote there? I went to college out of state, and I did not consider myself a resident of that state until I finally registered to vote late in my junior year. Did you register a car in your college state?

 

[Leajess99]

OK, why do you keep chiming in on this subject? As someone that is in the military, you are already exempt from jury duty. Secondly, if you dont already have your children registered in the military base day care, then it is not just as simple as dropping them off. Having had an emergency arise and new to an area I found this out the hard way.

But after 31 pages of this, it is a bit suprising that any court has difficulty getting a large enough pool, as plenty of folks seem to already be in the Judge and Jury mindset (ZING!)

You should really get your facts straight BEFORE posting as it makes you look, well, uninformed. I am NOT exempt from jury duty as I am no longer in the military. I can chime in all I want as this is a public forum!!!!

 

[Leajess99]

But if they would not excuse me, I would absolutely be bringing my kids with me. And then leaving at noon to bring DS to kindergarten. And leaving at 3 to pick them up from the bus...

I would so love to see what happened when you did that. I know if you had the female judge here you would be held in contempt and possibly watch your kids go with CPS. The one male judge is not any better. Many judges I know do not take kindly to jurors telling them what they are going to do.

 

[Michelle and crew]

Any judge who uses childrens services as a weapon should be disbarred. There are children out there in need of real services.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Any judge who uses childrens services as a weapon should be disbarred. There are children out there in need of real services.

Okay.

How do you propose to penalize judges driven to such extreme measures by potential jurors actions in states where a law degree isn't a requirement? http://www.careeroverview.com/judge-and-judicial-careers.html

 

[momx2]

Any judge who uses childrens services as a weapon should be disbarred. There are children out there in need of real services.

Well, since the mother who did this would likely being going to jail, the Court would either have to find a family member close by to collect the child or Family Services. Since the mother obviously didn't have anyone to watch the child or they would have left them there instead of bringing them to jury duty, I would assume it would be Family Services to come get the child.

 

[iheartdisney]

Well, since the mother who did this would likely being going to jail, the Court would either have to find a family member close by to collect the child or Family Services. Since the mother obviously didn't have anyone to watch the child or they would have left them there instead of bringing them to jury duty, I would assume it would be Family Services to come get the child.

COMPLETELY off topic, but when I was in the Navy, we had a chief that used that logic one night when a junior sailor tried to get out of duty with the "I don't have anyone to watch my kids tonight" song and dance. He asked her how she would feel with her child in foster care while she was on restriction for unauthorized absence. She changed that tune pretty quickly!

 

[angelmav]

You should really get your facts straight BEFORE posting as it makes you look, well, uninformed. I am NOT exempt from jury duty as I am no longer in the military. I can chime in all I want as this is a public forum!!!!

You stated you were dual military and gave examples about the NCO's that you worked for being accomodating to your scheduling (even though by your own example it wouldnt have been necessary as at the time you would have been exempt). You also mentioned base daycare, which again only applies to those in or attached to a military member (which I assume is your current state) and is neither applicable for most, nor as easy to use as I have seen from my own example.

Chime in all you want, just thought it was an odd statement given your position as a servicemember at the time and that your advice wouldnt help the majority of those reading it. You also apparantly know multiple judges and how they would react...

 

[okeydokey]

I would so love to see what happened when you did that. I know if you had the female judge here you would be held in contempt and possibly watch your kids go with CPS. The one male judge is not any better. Many judges I know do not take kindly to jurors telling them what they are going to do.

It's amazing that people seem to think they can bully their way through life. The buck stops with the judge. They DO have the power to throw you in jail and take your kids if you pull a ridiculous stunt like taking your kids to jury duty or walking our at noon to drop a kid at school. Sorry, but there are times when you do not have a choice, and court is one of those times.

 

[Michelle and crew]

Well, since the mother who did this would likely being going to jail, the Court would either have to find a family member close by to collect the child or Family Services. Since the mother obviously didn't have anyone to watch the child or they would have left them there instead of bringing them to jury duty, I would assume it would be Family Services to come get the child.

A waste of time, money, and resources just to be pissy. I'm glad you have an overflow of foster parents, no abused children, and an empty jail with plenty of cash to blow. We dont. Nor do we have any judges that would think it appropriate.

 

[Jaime4004]

It's amazing that people seem to think they can bully their way through life. The buck stops with the judge. They DO have the power to throw you in jail and take your kids if you pull a ridiculous stunt like taking your kids to jury duty or walking our at noon to drop a kid at school. Sorry, but there are times when you do not have a choice, and court is one of those times.

"Bully" seems a little extreme. Taking the kids to jury duty when the court was informed that that would be the only option is not bullying. They were informed of the circumstances. Shall we leave them at home alone instead? That would be against the law, not bringing them with me to stay safe.
If the court would like to provide daycare, I'm all for it.

To the PP who would like to see what the judge would do to people who bring kids, I would too. If more people would stand up for themselves and bring the kids, instead of making it a hardship on someone else to watch them, they would have to change the system. Throwing all moms in jail wouldn't get them very far. Around here, CPS has way more real problems to deal with, than a good mom showing up to court with kids, so it wouldn't be an issue.

 

[okeydokey]

"Bully" seems a little extreme. Taking the kids to jury duty when the court was informed that that would be the only option is not bullying. They were informed of the circumstances. Shall we leave them at home alone instead? That would be against the law, not bringing them with me to stay safe.
If the court would like to provide daycare, I'm all for it.

To the PP who would like to see what the judge would do to people who bring kids, I would too. If more people would stand up for themselves and bring the kids, instead of making it a hardship on someone else to watch them, they would have to change the system. Throwing all moms in jail wouldn't get them very far. Around here, CPS has way more real problems to deal with, than a good mom showing up to court with kids, so it wouldn't be an issue.

Just because you "inform" the court you are bringing the child, doesn't mean the court will allow you to bring the child. The court will "inform" you that you will be held in contempt if you do. Many here have posted what the judge would do.

I just can't imagine standing up at noon in the middle of testimony and walking out to drive your kid somewhere. I can imagine that would be frowned on.

 

[Mkrop]

It's amazing that people seem to think they can bully their way through life. The buck stops with the judge. They DO have the power to throw you in jail and take your kids if you pull a ridiculous stunt like taking your kids to jury duty or walking our at noon to drop a kid at school. Sorry, but there are times when you do not have a choice, and court is one of those times.

I think there is enough argument to say that the judges in these cases are doing a bit of bullying themselves, maybe even an abuse of power...

If other judges can get jury members without resorting to these tactics, then I think these judges pracitices need to be looked at.

 

[jrmasm]

I think there is enough argument to say that the judges in these cases are doing a bit of bullying themselves, maybe even an abuse of power...

If other judges can get jury members without resorting to these tactics, then I think these judges pracitices need to be looked at.[/QUOTE


Not if the law doesn't allow exemptions for sahp's.

 

[Mkrop]

I think there is enough argument to say that the judges in these cases are doing a bit of bullying themselves, maybe even an abuse of power...

If other judges can get jury members without resorting to these tactics, then I think these judges pracitices need to be looked at.[/QUOTE


Not if the law doesn't allow exemptions for sahp's.

Is there a law? I am under the impression that there is not. It varies for jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Federal vs local. State to state etc.

I was under the impression it was up to the judge's discretion. He could excused the SAHP or the business owner with two employees. He could also not excuse them. So I could certainly see how a judge could abuse his/her power in this scenario.

 

[Jaime4004]

Just because you "inform" the court you are bringing the child, doesn't mean the court will allow you to bring the child. The court will "inform" you that you will be held in contempt if you do. Many here have posted what the judge would do.

I just can't imagine standing up at noon in the middle of testimony and walking out to drive your kid somewhere. I can imagine that would be frowned on.

I'm sure it would be frowned upon. But that is my life. I can't pretend I don't have people that i'm responsible for, just because it is inconvenient to a court...

 

[jrmasm]

Is there a law? I am under the impression that there is not. It varies for jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Federal vs local. State to state etc.

I was under the impression it was up to the judge's discretion. He could excused the SAHP or the business owner with two employees. He could also not excuse them. So I could certainly see how a judge could abuse his/her power in this scenario.

Didn't you say earlier that in PA being a sahp is a valid reason for exemption?

 

[okeydokey]

I'm sure it would be frowned upon. But that is my life. I can't pretend I don't have people that i'm responsible for, just because it is inconvenient to a court...

Well go ahead and try that and let us know how it works out for you. It's easy to say you'll do this preposterous thing and another to actually have the nerve to do it.