Jury duty

[Camicar]

Within 3 months of changing my license in this state, I got called for jury duty. I have since been called at least 3 more times. My dh has been called twice. We have each served on a jury.

The process here is that you served for a month. Every Monday morning you have to call by 6am to see if your number is up that day. If it is not, you are free for the week. If it is called, you have to go the county building (pay for parking), and then sit in the city council chambers until 5pm unless you are pulled for a jury. If you are not picked that Monday, you still have a month of Mondays for the same thing.

If you are picked, you go into a courtroom for jury selection. If you do not get selected, you go home and you can be picked again another Monday in your month. If you do get selected, you return later that week for the actual case AND can also be picked again another Monday in that month.

I served on a malpractice case against nurses-- civil suit. It was ridiculous. AND I should have never been placed on that jury bec my mother was a nurse and when they asked if I could be impartial, I told them, "I will try, but to be honest I'm likely to always side with a nurse." They told me that since I had a master's degree that they trusted I could be impartial anyway. HUH? Then, after sitting thru 3 days of dreck, I got pulled as an alternate and got sent home before I had a chance to vote.

My dh served on a high profile criminal case involving a police officer defendant. Very political, very nasty.

I got out of it. I actually really wanted to go, but could not find childcare in the morning for my 4 yr old.

You are lucky. In this county, lack of childcare or care for a dependent of any kind does not get you excused from jury duty. I saw several women cited for contempt of court bec they brought their kids to the courthouse bec they couldn't find childcare. The fines were not inconsequential, either.

 

[HsvTeacher]

I reported for jury duty on Monday morning and was chosen among the first group of people to be interviewed by attorneys. I was placed on a jury that morning to hear a trial about property lines, harassment, and invasion of privacy. I was so excited to be a part of the process. However, I have heard enough curse words and seen enough crotch-grabbing in the past three days to last a lifetime!

This morning, we went into deliberations and handed over our verdict this afternoon. The defendant (the cursing crotch-grabber) was not too happy about our verdict and the amount he had to pay in damages, but I think he will think twice about his actions the next time a dispute occurs.

God bless America!

 

[SideshowBob]

... and kinda' comes down to chance for what you get. SSB ended up being there the day that they picked the Grand Jury (sees all "capital crimes") for the next six months (once or twice a month) and was foreperson over deadliest six months in Orlando history. Saw many, many murder scenes and had to sign the indictments with State Attorney for the charging of murder and to what degree. Fascinating process, but still see "dead people" photos/memories at times that are haunting.

 

[Violet Crayon]

Saw many, many murder scenes and had to sign the indictments with State Attorney for the charging of murder and to what degree. Fascinating process, but still see "dead people" photos/memories at times that are haunting.

that was my biggest fear when I was called. I did not want anything to do with the death of a human being. I don't even watch the news because photos of crashed cars, crime tape, and body bags are way too much for me. If I was not able to get out of a murder case I was going to tuck my head between my knees and hope they would excuse me without penalty.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

In answer to the OP's question, it's completely a toss up.

I belong to the one profession where everybody wants to sit on a jury.

Attorneys almost universally would like to be called for jury duty, but we almost never get picked (for obvious reasons). You'd think we high powered lawyer types (yeah right) wouldn't want to give up our precious time to do our civic duty, but that's not the case at all. You can't really make it through law school without almost religious reverence for the jury being drilled into you.

 

[SideshowBob]

that was my biggest fear when I was called. I did not want anything to do with the death of a human being. I don't even watch the news because photos of crashed cars, crime tape, and body bags are way too much for me. If I was not able to get out of a murder case I was going to tuck my head between my knees and hope they would excuse me without penalty.

I would have labled myself along the same lines, but all of a sudden the 200 got down to 12, and they named me the foreperson without my ever speaking one word!

PS: Love "shadetheworld"...part of children's book?

 

[Scoobmuzic]

I got called for Jury Duty when I lived in RI about 8 yrs ago. You go for 2 days and if you are not picked in those 2 days you go home.
Day 1.... nothing.
Day 2....we get called to the court room and the first thing the Judge says is "this is a murder trial, you will possibly be here up to 3 weeks" The whole room said "ohnooooo" It was so interesting watching everyone try to not get picked
Then it was like the lottery, if your juror number was picked out of the bin, you were then questioned by the attorneys or the Judge and either you stayed or were excused. I was the last one picked. I think there were maybe 8 people left in the Jury pool by the time they decided I was the last one. They didn't ask me many questions. I was lucky to have a job at the time in a Bank and I was paid my full salary the whole time I had jury duty.

The whole process was facinating. The defendant was charged with 2 counts of murder 1, he and another man killed 2 people.

After 3 weeks, both our alternate jurors being excused for stupid things and lots of gross photos and evidence: We found him Guilty. The next thing we had to decide and I didn't know about this before, was we had to decide if he was going to get life in prison without the possibilty of parole, because RI has no death penalty. That was the max he could get. Due to the severity of how he and his friend killed the 2 men, he got life without parole.
I would like to serve again. It was quite an experience.

 

[stacyp9]

I would love to, but they never choose me.

 

[dogluva]

Has anybody served Jury duty before? How as it? Interesting, boring ??

Ive lived here for 15 yrs,and finally last month got a summons for Jury Duty. I Was told to call the number Starting on Oct 24th. I call every night for 2 weeks. So I have been doing it, it kept saying you have NOT been selected etc....Today though It said I am to appear Wed Nov 5 8:30am, but to call the night before to check status?

What are the odds when I call tomorrow night they will say I dont have to report. Part of me really wants to do it, I think it would be very interesting. BUT.. I do have 3 kids, my older 2 are in school , my youngest goes to preschool 3 days a week 3 hrs a day...Thats where the problem comes in.

So those who had their number called what was it Like?

I served on a week long jury in Sept. I was floored I was chosen. I was number 45 out of about 90. They kept brining people up and then the lawyers would "challenge" them and they could leave. I was never challenged and low and behold, I was on the jury for a week. It was a malpractice. The content was bland but the process was exciting. I enjoyed it and would do it again if chosen.

 

[sunlver]

I am the op. The funny thing is I really wanted to do it, but a 4 yr old, just cant' watch themselves ..If it were summer time, then it would be easy. I could have my 14 yr old son watch his younger sisters. During the school year, though it doesnt work that way...

Maybe I will be called during the summer months..I know so many people dread it, but I just want to experience once in my lifetime