Jurry Summons

[jason]

I got a jurry summons in the mail yesterday. From what I hear these aren't to fun. Not the greatest way to come back from a trip to WDW. Anyone have any good excuses to get out of it?

 

[mommytotwo]

Yup, say you're related to a lawyer or someone who is a police. They don't want anyone to be associated with them.

 

[GaryAdams]

Be be careful what you say.

i was called,figured not a problem i can get out of this easy.

It was a drunk driving case.

went in to the court room, saw that 1 of the defendents lawyers was a girl i went to college with, and that she had dated 1 of my friends.( figured the state would boot me just for that)

the prosecutor asked me what i did in the military? (I was a cop) figured the defense would boot me for that.

guess what, they both liked me,and i was choosen.

spent a month in court,all to end up a hung jury. ( no i wasnt the one who caused it to be hung)

ended up running into the lawyer at dinner a few months later,and asked her why she selected me?

well, i remembered how you were in school and figured you would still have that outlook on life.
so i asked her why the prosecutor kept me?
she told me they love to have someone who was a cop.


yea ok, i know my case was alittle strange, but if you would have asked me up intil i walked into that courtroom i would have bet everything that i would NEVER be picked.

 

[Otimon]

Have been called 5 of the 7 years we've lived here and never once served on a jury. Sat around most of the day waiting (bring a book with you) and then was sent home.

Many are called but few are chosen.

 

[LJC1861]

I, on the other hand, get chosen every time I get a summons. I got called once when I was in a neck brace and figured I would never gat chosen because of it. When it came time for questioning one of the attorneys asked me if I thought I could serve. the judge butted in and stated very emphatically....."If Miss Carney wanted a medical excuse she would have asked for one, continue questioning." Needless to say I sat on that jury for one month.

There is no easy way to avoid jury service and here in NYC it is harder than ever to do. I say just go for it, get it over with and then you don't have to worry about it for a few years.

Linda

 

[powellrj]

DH got one in the mail yesterday to serve on the 19th which is one day before his vacation, I am hoping he doesn't get picked, but I don't thing vacation is an excuse they will listen to. Maybe he will get lucky and just get a one day trial.

 

[Kristi1357]

I was on 3 juries here in NH a few years ago - I loved it! It was neat to see exactly how things are done. Neat, may be the wrong word since I got to see exactly how people get off / or have a jury find guilt or no guilt when from the outside no one would understand why. I was on three juries since in NH, when summoned you have to show up every Monday for a month. I was choosen all three times (only three since one Monday was holiday that month).

I would love to be picked again. Of course, my work pays for jury duty though! Beats getting up at 2:30am like I do for my "normal" job.

 

[Jeanny]

In Massachusetts, you can defer serving for up to one year, just check off the box and the date you're defering to.

There are also NO excuses here. The Judge does ask if there is any reason why you can't be bias while serving, or is there any reason you can't serve for X amount of days, (I'm on vacation doesn't count, which I found out when I had to give up 3 vacation days). At that point, you can raise your hand, and they let you go--- but you go back to the jury pool and you go to another case... I suppose you can keep saying you're not bias and eventually they'll let you out.

Last summer, I had to serve, I figured it would be just as easy to serve and get it over with... the case I was on should have been only 1/2 day, the lawyers dragged it out to 3 days UGH... But now I don't have to serve for at least another 2 years! I know it's my civic duty, sometimes it was interesting, sometimes it was boring!! I personally couldn't wait to get it over with... I suppose if I wasn't on vacation, it may have been different. But you know, there are SO many people out there that WANT to serve, my Mom for one, she never gets called and wants to serve so bad!!

Just don't defer to a "slow" time like during the summer when a lot of people are gone, because the people who do show up, are most likely going to be called.

 

[dizneenut]

I got called to serve a couple months ago. Ended up standing around most of the day, then went into the court room for selection. Made it to one of the alternate chairs (after some were dismissed), but the guy the seat ahead of me made it. Never had to go back after that.

 

[Straycat]

I was called to jury duty last week. Sat there quietly, mostly reading my book the first day while they questioned the 13 people they picked to sit up in the jury box. End of the day, they went to pick the jurors and let them all go except for four... the rest of us had to come back the next day for questioning.

Next day, I'm up in the jury box (civil case to decide damages), lawyer asks the question 'is it going to affect the amount of your award depending on where the money comes from?'... I knew from the day befores questioning that what they were looking for is people who would make a judgement unbiased and let the court take care of getting the money paid out.
I raised my had, first time I had said anything in 2 days and said 'yep, if the money is coming from the defendant, im gonna award less than if its coming from an insurance company'.. then i asked him 'are we ever going to know where the money is coming from?', he said nope and i said 'then im just gonna have to assume that its coming from an insurance company because why would a big law firm like you take this case otherwise'..

Next thing i know, MisTriaL based on that last sentence.. =0 oops!... apparently the jury should not have knowledge that the money is coming from the insurance company, and that statement put it in the rest of the jurys mind that it definatly was coming from there.

Talked the judge into sending me home the rest of the week after that one =)

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have gotten out of JD for the past 6 years because I am a SAHM. My husbands work sends him out of town quite a bit. A few months ago, I got a survey that was a preliminary to being put on JD for Grand Jury, which is an hour and a half away in our state capital. This would involve a commitment of being in a jury pool for one year, going in once a month. You could end up on a trial that lasts over a week. I believe in our judicial system, but this kind of intrusion on a person's life could be quite a hardship for anyone, let alone someone who is a caretaker for someone else.

When I was in college, I had one of my Accounting professors sign a letter I wrote stating that missing even on of his classes could be detrimental to my passing the course. It worked, but I lived in a small town then, and it was about 20 years ago.

Before DS6 was born, I went in for the only JD I actually ever had to show up for, Magistrate court. At least they chose the juries for the entire week on Monday, so you knew when you had to be there for each trial you were chosen for. I showed up for the 2 trials I was chosen for, and both were plea bargained beforehand. So I never had to sit on a trial..Whew...

 

[caitycaity]

it's called jury duty for a reason.

sorry, this is one of my big pet peeves.

 

[Bob Slydell]

I'm with caity on this one. How about a novel concept -- actually doing your civic duty and serving jury duty??

 

[welovedisneyx4]

I'm sorry, but I have a problem w/ the fact that they don't care what you have going on in your life, you just have to give it up and go.

I don't feel like I should have to change vacation plans, where deposits and reservations, etc. have been made, to serve on a jury.

My mother got called one summer when she was keeping my DD and they wouldn't let her out, even though we had no other babysitting arrangements. The courts told her that it was our problem, not hers. I think DH had to take off work to keep her, luckily mom didn't have to serve.

I understand about my civic duty and all, but I think they need to be a little considerate and understanding w/ calling people.

Personally, I don't feel comfortable deciding anothers person fate.

Now, this is just my opinion and I have my flame suit on!!!

 

[kasar]

I just served jury duty in the Spring and it stinks! I hated every minute of it, rearranging my life was very difficult and, no, they don't care if you're a SAHM or a CEO (in fact, our judge had once served jury duty). It was interesting but I left with a feeling of frustration over the way trials are handled and jurors are treated.

I'd say, just get through it and hope for a short, easy trial. If you have the option of deferring service, choose the day before Christmas or Thanksgiving - chances are they won't have court those days.

 

[ZebraStripes]

Last year I was selected for jury duty and was interviewed by the judge/attorneys (can't remember the official name of it). It was a first degree sexual assult on a child. I couldn't help myself....I cried while being interviewed. I had a child the same age. Bailiff brought me a box of Kleenex. Judge and attorneys agreed I wouldn't make a very good juror in this case.

 

[katerkat]

I've only been called once and I was 1000 miles from the jury at that time. DH was called once and the military thought he was doing enough civic duty already. I wouldn't mind being called now that I live in the state I'm registered in - but with my background as a journalist, I don't know if anyone would actually want me on a jury.

 

[browneyes]

I had a similiar experience that GaryAdams. I never had to serve on a jury, but came close though. A friend of mine was the plaintiff in a rape case. They asked me if I'd be biased and I told them I would definately be biased. The defendent's lawyer still tried to get me on the jury. The judge asked me a few times if I was sure I'd be biased and finally decided I was telling the truth and I didn't have to serve. I would've hated to have been on that jury and had the conviction overturned because of my biasness.

 

[missy28]

Sorry, gotta agree with Bob and caity on this one... I'm a prosecutor and pick juries all the time. We cannot enjoy the freedoms we do our country and the fairness in our legal system (I know some of you will disagree with that, but that'a ok!) without jurors. Yes, it is a hardship, yes, it can be emotionally difficult, yes, it is a pain in the rear end. But, it's a small price to pay for our system of government, which I truly believe is the best in the world.

I've served on a jury (before I was a lawyer) and enjoyed the experience. No, it's not easy to determine someone's fate, but it is necessary. Both sides are looking for someone who can be fair and impartial. Jurors who can't be need to be excused. (Of course, I have a collegue of mine who swears that the moment a person takes a juror's oath, that person instantaneously turns stupid-- I have run across juries like that as well, but that's another discussion.)

P.S. ZebraStripes-- the process you are referring to is called Voir Dire-- means to "speak the truth".

 

[ahutton]

We are so lucky in Austin. When you receive your summons, you go to a web site and complete a detailed interview about yourself, and then provide any dates in the next 90 days you are not available. Based on the interview answers, your availability and what the case in question is seeking, you then receive a jury impaneling assignment. When I went there was a group of about 40 of us, who met at 1:30 in the afternoon to be seated for a specific case. Ironically as the defendant was sitting there he and his attorney decided it was in their best interest to plead out the case, and after a couple hours of discussion we were sent home. I love that they already have washed out people who are specifically not qualified for the jury and also take into consideration your life in the assignment. Of course, as a licensed insurance claims adjuster and insurance agent it is unlikely I would be seated on many cases, but they knew that much about me before I even came in, so no spending all day in a room waiting for no good reason.