Inspired by jury duty thread...

[disney junky]

I've wanted jury duty since I turned 21 30 years ago...so DD turns 21 in January and guess who gets called....btw, she's not around, living in Orlando and completing her Disney professional internship....wish I could serve it for her.

 

[Kycha]

I felt the same way. Then I was called for jury duty for the first time. Initially I was excited and wanted to do my duty. In Lancaster County, you serve a minimum of 3 days for criminal court and 5 days for civil court. So, I went to the courthouse, got my number and a juror pin. Then I sat in a room for 3 days waiting for them to call my number. Never happened. Watched a lot of soap operas(1 TV, majority rule) and read a lot of magazines. Boring.

The second time(about 5 years later), I was almost as excited. So, I went to the courthouse, got my number and a juror pin. Right away they called my number. Woo hoo! Then I sat in a room for 3 days, watching a lot of soap operas and reading a lot of magazines. Boring. Never saw the inside of a court room. Apparently, they randomly call 50 juror numbers so they will be ready to go if a trial is necessary. Not one trial occurred the 3 days that I was there.

Then about 6 months later I received a notice for jury duty, again! Fortunately, I had a one year exemption due to the jury duty I had just served. Thank God.

At this point, I think the only way I will see the inside of a courtroom is if I commit a crime.

Oh, and I received $9 a day, plus mileage.

 

[LisaR]

I don't understand why jury duty can't work off of a volunteer system and only resort to mandatory jury duty when they run out of people interested in volunteering.

I realize some of the volunteers may not be acceptable to both lawyers and that is fine. The jury selection process can remain the same as it is. Maybe there wouldn't be enough volunteers to make this work but it seems to me there are plenty of young adults that want to serve and plenty of retirees that are willing.

I wanted to serve for 12 years and never got called. Then I have children and get called regularly while they are under six. Now they are older and I am right back to never getting called again. It seems like the system is flawed.