Chosen for jury duty and....

[ckay87]

I appeared for jury duty this morning and was chosen to sit on the jury. Everyone is telling me "oh that stinks, I'm sorry" etc. Is it strange that I'm not upset/annoyed/inconvenienced/angry at all? I go through my same old routine at my same old job every day. I find this whole thing kind of interesting and am somewhat looking forward to it (it's only supposed to last 1-2 days). How weird am I???

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Not weird at all. I think it would be interesting to sit through a short trial and be a part of the process. I've been called several times but as soon as they ask me my background, I get kicked out. My dad was a deputy sheriff, uncle was a chief of police, mom was a jail nurse, I was a clerk at the jail and so was my sister. Prosecutors always approve me but defense attorneys send me home! I guess they think I'm too much on the side of the law!

 

[Handbag Lady]

I appeared for jury duty this morning and was chosen to sit on the jury. Everyone is telling me "oh that stinks, I'm sorry" etc. Is it strange that I'm not upset/annoyed/inconvenienced/angry at all? I go through my same old routine at my same old job every day. I find this whole thing kind of interesting and am somewhat looking forward to it (it's only supposed to last 1-2 days). How weird am I???

No, not at all. I think the people that try and avoid jury service are not smart enough to enjoy the process. It is VERY interesting. I was on a murder trial once and we even got to ride the pokey bus to the scene of the crime. Now, that was pretty cool.

Not weird at all. I think it would be interesting to sit through a short trial and be a part of the process. I've been called several times but as soon as they ask me my background, I get kicked out. My dad was a deputy sheriff, uncle was a chief of police, mom was a jail nurse, I was a clerk at the jail and so was my sister. Prosecutors always approve me but defense attorneys send me home! I guess they think I'm too much on the side of the law!

Oh, boy. I was dismissed from a trial three weeks ago by the prosecutor, and the defense atty wanted to keep me on...I wonder what that says about me.

 

[freckles and boo]

I don't think it is weird. I would love to serve on a jury. Unfortunately between having a kid with special needs and a husband who has a completely unpredictable work/travel schedule I won't be able to do it for a few years.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Oh, boy. I was dismissed from a trial three weeks ago by the prosecutor, and the defense atty wanted to keep me on...I wonder what that says about me.[/QUOTE]

That makes you an outlaw!!!

 

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, boy. I was dismissed from a trial three weeks ago by the prosecutor, and the defense atty wanted to keep me on...I wonder what that says about me.

That makes you an outlaw!!![/QUOTE]



Yeee-haw!! It WAS an interesting case and I tried to stay on and seem as fair as possible. It was another gang murder case, but this one had three defendants. One of the defendants was already in the hoosegow and the guy who was OUR defendant, had quit the gang life and was a cab driver. Plus, it was a cold case from the 1990's.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

My experience with jury duty was not very exciting. I sat with a room full of potential jurors and waited for 3 days. I saw the inside of the courtroom once, was never asked a single question by either attorney and was sent home. It was just boring. The one thing I did learn was do NOT try and get out of it (I didn't, but I saw tons of people who did). They have heard every excuse in the book. It was almost comical how many people tried to get out of it and how they were quickly shot down. I did have a vacation scheduled for California for about 2 weeks afterwords and I asked a clerk about if I could reschedule, and she said if I was picked, I could bring proof of airline tickets, hotel reservations etc and ask to reschedule, not ask to be dismissed. Luckily, I never even was considered, so no one even knew but the clerk I asked, and I think she could tell I wasn't trying to get out of it since I asked upfront about being rescheduled, not dismissed. I think they are pretty good to work with you if you have a valid reason why you cannot do it at that time. But they will reschedule you for jury duty for a month or 2 later.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I was on a drug case for a couple of weeks. It was like being on Law and Order, I thought it was an interesting experience and would gladly do it again.

 

[VillageMama]

I would love to do jury duty!

The entire criminal justice process fascinates me. I don't understand why more people aren't interested in sitting on a (brief) jury.

I went through voire dire once... the prosecution accepted me but the defense thanked me for my time, but excused me from service. Why? The same reason as Luv Bunnies... my father is a retired police officer.

I was so disappointed!

Have fun! Serve well!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

I would love to do jury duty!

The entire criminal justice process fascinates me. I don't understand why more people aren't interested in sitting on a (brief) jury.

I went through voire dire once... the prosecution accepted me but the defense thanked me for my time, but excused me from service. Why? The same reason as Luv Bunnies... my father is a retired police officer.

I was so disappointed!

Have fun! Serve well!

NYC doesn't excuse you for that anymore. DH is a prosecutor and got chosen for a case, go figure.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Any 30 Rock fans out there? This thread reminds me of the time when Liz had to fly to Chicago for jury duty because she didn't change her address. She got out of it by dressing like Princess Leia

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I was questioned last Thurs. but was dismissed. I went to HS and college with the judge. I'm like you, I really wanted to serve.

Lori

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I could see how an interesting case would be worthwhile....

I was called for a case over whether a deal made by a handshake in a bar was legally binding or not.

SERIOUSLY???

I was dismissed, but all I could think about was all of the taxpayers dollars (and court time) that were being wasted on this stupid case.

 

[MICKEY88]

No, not at all. I think the people that try and avoid jury service are not smart enough to enjoy the process. It is VERY interesting. I was on a murder trial once and we even got to ride the pokey bus to the scene of the crime. Now, that was pretty cool.
QUOTE]

it's like anything else in life, some people are interested , others are not, I hardly think it has to do with not being smart enough to enjoy the process.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

I'd love to go to jury duty! But then, I'm a lawyer, and by and large we all want to sit on juries. However, we almost never get called. Strangely, a friend of mine went to voir dire at the court across the street from my office today and got picked. That just means we get to have lunch together tomorrow as well as today.

 

[doxdogy]

I have been on jury duty only one time and was glad to be chosen. So no, I don't think you are odd. Mine lasted about a week or so and it was a murder trial.

 

[DVC-Don]

I did 3 months of Grand Jury duty back in 2003 and enjoyed it. We only sat 1 or 2 days a week and only once did we put in a full day. It was very interesting. Since then I have never bet on a horse race though. I'm a retired police officer and that did not keep me off at all.

 

[ckay87]

Well thanks everyone. Talking to other people, I feel like I should have tried harder to get out of it, but I'm glad to be chosen. Today was boring, but I think it will be interesting for a day or two.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

The whole month of May....actually, I got notification of about 10 days of trials that are scheduled. That kinda throws a wrench in the schedule at work, but, like the OP I'm kinda looking forward to doing something other than going to work!

 

[Sparx]

I think it would be really interesting to be on the jury of a high profile case, but at the same time I can see how it would be very stressful to have such a major decision in your hands.