Jury Duty

[sam_gordon]

My auto insurance company allowed you to pick which zip code I insured my kids cars in, home or college. My kids came home a lot on weekends, so it worked out to 180 days away at college, so just five days under half a year.

Check your math. It would be 2 1/2 days shy of "half a year" (365/2 = 182.5). So all it would take is one weekend staying at school, and it would be half a year.

And of course, you're taking YOUR situation and assuming it applies to everyone else.
First, you don't know what their school calendar is.
Second, you don't know how often they come home.

 

[tvguy]

Check your math. It would be 2 1/2 days shy of "half a year" (365/2 = 182.5). So all it would take is one weekend staying at school, and it would be half a year.

And of course, you're taking YOUR situation and assuming it applies to everyone else.
First, you don't know what their school calendar is.
Second, you don't know how often they come home.

LOL. We don't know for sure. Many Colleges now have classes on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday only. No class on Fridays, Fridays begin reserved for classes that have labs. Just depends if the student stays at school when they aren't in class.

 

[Donalddidwhat…?!]

I got a notice for jury duty the other day. I am fine going on the day I am scheduled, which is a Tuesday. I am also okay to serve on Wed, if I get picked for a trial. The problem is that I leave for vacation on Thurs. If I got to the point where I get picked, I believe they ask for anyone to go up and talk to the judge if they have an excuse as to why they can't be placed on a jury. Then I would be excused and I believe I would have fulfilled my duty and can't get picked for another 3 or 4 years.

Would you do that or reschedule? I believe I can change the date but I want to get it out of the way and if it I get picked for a one or two day trial I am fine with that. I just can't do longer.

I’ve been called for jury duty many times over the years, and have never qualified for any of the usual exemptions. Years ago, it seemed like I was bein’ called every 6 months…!!!
I actually had to serve once, but more on that in a bit.
I usually got out of it because I have a good friend and a BIL who are/were law enforcement officers, and my wife’s cousin was the assistant DA in our county…!!!!!
The last time I was called, it conflicted with our family Disney trip last October, so I was able to reschedule. I was told they would send me another summons confirming the new date, but they never did.
I got pulled over not all that long ago for a taillight out, and there was no warrant for my arrest…apparently, it got lost in the mix.
The one time I did end up serving was many years ago, was a fluke, and it lasted an entire week. It was a DWI/DUI case and we ended up voting to convict.
I, by chance, ended up riding down from the courtroom with the defendants lawyer in the elevator after the trial.
I asked him how I got picked, because I knew cops and had a DWI years ago myself. He told me they had indeed eliminated me as a potential juror, but a lady they were gonna’ choose was talkin’ about the case out in the hallway, so was eliminated and fined, and I was the next choice…lucky me…!!!!!
I also asked the lawyer if he thought we made the right call and he said “Yea, he’d (his client) been drinkin’ all day.” …!!!!!
Sorry for the long story, but it brought back memories…!!!
Bottom line, call and reschedule (although that wasn’t an option back in the day), as even what seems like an insignificant case could easily last longer than a coupla’ days.

 

[mjkacmom]

She is there about 8 months out of the year. I’m not sure where the courthouse is, she doesn’t have a car (too expensive to park).

 

[_19disnA]

There is another recent thread discussing jury duty as well. I think the rules/selection process must vary by county/state. I have only been called one time when I lived in a different state. Thought the whole process was hugely inefficient and wasted a lot of people's time. We all sat in a large waiting area and then some administrative person came in to explain how it all worked and what an important job we were doing. They chose a few people for some of the cases that were going on. The rest of us sat around doing nothing until later in the day when they said we could leave and our commitment was over. While I understand the intent to randomly choose people, it seems like the entire process could be setup to be way more efficient for everyone involved.

You can call and reschedule but you can't just say 'I'm busy and don't want to participate'. Apparently how they enforce the rules vary by state as well. I would not wait until you get selected to make an excuse about your vacation. I would let the clerk know that long before you are there in person and simply reschedule you for another time.

 

[gmi3804]

@anniemae Is the vacation to Disney? With the way it's been lately, I might prefer serving on a jury!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I got a notice for jury duty the other day. I am fine going on the day I am scheduled, which is a Tuesday. I am also okay to serve on Wed, if I get picked for a trial. The problem is that I leave for vacation on Thurs. If I got to the point where I get picked, I believe they ask for anyone to go up and talk to the judge if they have an excuse as to why they can't be placed on a jury. Then I would be excused and I believe I would have fulfilled my duty and can't get picked for another 3 or 4 years.

Would you do that or reschedule? I believe I can change the date but I want to get it out of the way and if it I get picked for a one or two day trial I am fine with that. I just can't do longer.

If I hadn't rescheduled yet, I probably would move it. I'm notoriously stressed and busy just before a vacation, and I would not want one more thing to worry about.

Buuuut, I was let out of jury duty once in a similar situation. I went on my scheduled day, knowing the paperwork said most trials were only 1-2 days, but the one I got picked for was expected to last 3-5, and the judge asked if that would change anyone's availability. I had an important appointment on the 4th day, so he excused me.

 

[sam_gordon]

If I hadn't rescheduled yet, I probably would move it. I'm notoriously stressed and busy just before a vacation, and I would not want one more thing to worry about.

Buuuut, I was let out of jury duty once in a similar situation. I went on my scheduled day, knowing the paperwork said most trials were only 1-2 days, but the one I got picked for was expected to last 3-5, and the judge asked if that would change anyone's availability. I had an important appointment on the 4th day, so he excused me.

If you have any documentation showing you have a vacation (plane tickets, hotel reservations, etc), I would still ask for a postponement. The worst they can say is "no".

 

[tvguy]

There is another recent thread discussing jury duty as well. I think the rules/selection process must vary by county/state. I have only been called one time when I lived in a different state. Thought the whole process was hugely inefficient and wasted a lot of people's time. We all sat in a large waiting area and then some administrative person came in to explain how it all worked and what an important job we were doing. They chose a few people for some of the cases that were going on. The rest of us sat around doing nothing until later in the day when they said we could leave and our commitment was over. While I understand the intent to randomly choose people, it seems like the entire process could be setup to be way more efficient for everyone involved.

You can call and reschedule but you can't just say 'I'm busy and don't want to participate'. Apparently how they enforce the rules vary by state as well. I would not wait until you get selected to make an excuse about your vacation. I would let the clerk know that long before you are there in person and simply reschedule you for another time.

Saw an interview with a Judge once that kind of summed it up well. "If you are the type of Juror the attorneys want, they will make it hard for the Judge to dismiss you except in the case of extreme hardship".
My first jury duty, I knew the Plaintiff's attorney, he was at my wedding, my MIL was the office manager at his previous firm. I disclosed it, and one of the two defense attorneys did ask if I could be impartial, and when I said yes that ended it. I was in the first 12 called up, and the only one of those 12 to be seated. And they went through 50+ other people to fill those 11 other seats and 3 alternates.
We even had two Attorneys on our jury, although they both worked for public agencies, not private practice and did not have anything to do with criminal or civil litigation in their jobs. And when we got into the Jury Deliberation room, they were the two we had the most trouble accepting what the Judge said the laws were that applied to our case. They felt the Judge got it wrong, but did finally realize that both the Plaintiff and Defense Attorneys had signed off on the Judge's instructions as being correct.

 

[Skippy918]

I’ve only gotten called once (knock on wood) where I currently live and I’ve lived here 20 years.
I was called for grand jury. Thank goodness there were enough people in the pool who volunteered. It would have been 3 half days each week for 3 months. That’s impossible when working full time.

My former home state called me for jury duty after I had already relocated and been living in my current city for 15+ years. They finally took me off their jury duty list.

 

[dcassetta]

There is another recent thread discussing jury duty as well. I think the rules/selection process must vary by county/state. I have only been called one time when I lived in a different state. Thought the whole process was hugely inefficient and wasted a lot of people's time. We all sat in a large waiting area and then some administrative person came in to explain how it all worked and what an important job we were doing. They chose a few people for some of the cases that were going on. The rest of us sat around doing nothing until later in the day when they said we could leave and our commitment was over. While I understand the intent to randomly choose people, it seems like the entire process could be setup to be way more efficient for everyone involved.

You can call and reschedule but you can't just say 'I'm busy and don't want to participate'. Apparently how they enforce the rules vary by state as well. I would not wait until you get selected to make an excuse about your vacation. I would let the clerk know that long before you are there in person and simply reschedule you for another time.

Part of the challenge is that they may not know exactly how many jurors they will need.

I served on a jury where they originally called 60 of us from the main pool. That was not enough to get us to 12 plus alternates due to a variety of factors. So, more people had to be called from the main pool later in the afternoon.

 

[tvguy]

Part of the challenge is that they may not know exactly how many jurors they will need.

I served on a jury where they originally called 60 of us from the main pool. That was not enough to get us to 12 plus alternates due to a variety of factors. So, more people had to be called from the main pool later in the afternoon.

And as the cliche goes....."The Wheels of Justice Roll Slowly". One of the first things someone said when we started deliberations was that the JURY needed their own lawyer to OBJECT to objections raised. The worst was when an attorney would object to a question because it "lacked foundation". The other attorney would then spend the next 30 minutes asking unnecessary questions to "lay the foundation" to ask the question that sparked the objection. To use the legal term....."the jury stipulates to foundation having been laid". Our case went 6 1/2 weeks and we could have cut at least two weeks off the case if the lack of foundation objections had been eliminated.

 

[jimmymc]

I would try to reschedule it now. You might get lucky and they cancel it.

 

[soccerdad72]

Bumping this up...

If you're going to get jury duty, as it turns out, Thanksgiving week is the perfect time for it.

Our county finally upgraded their system so you just have to check a website (or call) the night before each day's service to see if you need to show up. My 'draw number' was 532. On Sunday night, they said only 1-97 needed to show up. Monday night and last night, they said they needed no additional jurors. And the court is closed tomorrow and Friday. Jury duty completed.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Bumping this up...

If you're going to get jury duty, as it turns out, Thanksgiving week is the perfect time for it.

Our county finally upgraded their system so you just have to check a website (or call) the night before each day's service to see if you need to show up. My 'draw number' was 532. On Sunday night, they said only 1-97 needed to show up. Monday night and last night, they said they needed no additional jurors. And the court is closed tomorrow and Friday. Jury duty completed.

I always reschedule my jury duty like this. It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving, just any week where the court has an official holiday. I haven't been called in in years.

 

[soccerdad72]

I always reschedule my jury duty like this. It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving, just any week where the court has an official holiday. I haven't been called in in years.

I just lucked out into this week - the notice came a couple weeks ago and I briefly thought of deferring to a different week, then thought about it and realized it would be a good week to "serve".

 

[Dznypal]

I had to reschedule a jury duty since we had a big family vacation also our son was getting married while we were there
I could picture getting stuck on a long case
Another time I was picked and sent to the courtroom and I sat there thinking I can do this let’s just see how far I can make it. We’ll my heart felt like it was going pop out of my chest. When the judge mentioned anxiety I raised my hand he called me up and said I didn’t look good and sent me back to the waiting area
The next and last time I actually talked my dr and she wrote me an excuse with my anxiety. Court approved it but said if I get called again I’d have to get another letter
I’m fine with that as long as I don’t have to go anymore.

 

[NotUrsula]

Doesn't bother me to do jury service now; I used to absolute hate it when smoking was allowed in the courthouses; the jury room was a literal smoke-filled room, and tobacco smoke makes me wheeze and gives me a migraine. On 3 different occasions back in the bad old days, I ended up being excused sick and an alternate had to take my place because of this.

I was supposed to have served last week, but I had to postpone because we were out of town, so now I'll be going in mid-Jan. The first time my number was 060, so let's hope I get a higher number this time. IME in this county, any number above 300 is almost a sure bet to get released after quietly sitting in the jury assembly room for a full day. Of course, any number under 100 means you are going to end up serving unless you're dismissed for cause. In this county your name goes back into the pool upon dismissal if you don't actually get seated on a jury, but if you do get seated, even as an alternate, you're exempt for 4 years.

Trying the "holiday week" rescheduling trick won't work here; you can either reschedule online or on the phone, but they generate a list of 6 alternate dates you can pick from; it's not the whole calendar. They have updated the process of cancellation, though; you are supposed to call or check in online the night prior to your scheduled appearance, and if they no longer need you (usually because most of the cases on the docket have been settled), you don't have to go in.

 

[tvguy]

The first time my number was 060, so let's hope I get a higher number this time. IME in this county, any number above 300 is almost a sure bet to get released after quietly sitting in the jury assembly room for a full day. Of course, any number under 100 means you are going to end up serving unless you're dismissed for cause. In this county your name goes back into the pool upon dismissal if you don't actually get seated on a jury, but if you do get seated, even as an alternate, you're exempt for 4 years.

Your number means nothing here when it comes to if and when you will get picked for a jury pool. A computer program randomly picks names from all the groups that have been called in that day. They don't start with group one, number one. And if you get sent to a court room, a computer program randomly decides who will be potential juror 1, 2, 3 etc. So if you make it into the jury box as a potential you have been through two random drawings. Only then will the Judge and Lawyers begin the voir dire questioning to weed out people they don't want on the jury. A friend was on the same jury panel I was on last month. There were 6 groups called in that day, he was in group 6. I was in group 3. Once we got to the courtroom, he was the FIRST one called into the Jury box. I was the 18th. After questioning he remained number 1, and I got bumped up to number 16. I figured I was going to be sent back to the jury assembly room because once they picked their 12 jurors, they said they were going to have 2 alternates. I figured they would keep number 13 and 14 as the alternates. But the Judge and the attorneys did a side bag, and after a few minutes, the Judge said "Juror 16 and 19, you are our alternates. Jurors 13, 14, 15, 17 and 18, please go to the Jury Assembly room and check out, your jury service is complete" Our county has a one day, or one trial rule for jury duty. Jury selection had taken 2 days, so their obligation had been fulfilled.

 

[hertamaniac]

I was selected to show up to the jury selection room earlier this year at our courthouse. A couple of observations:

1) A judge appeared first thing in the AM and sworn in everybody in the waiting room and then asked if anyone wanted to be dismissed for good cause, etc. Quite a few folks took advantage of that offer.
2) They explained the random computer selection process and told us we would probably be dismissed for lunch around 11:15 AM or so and lunch was not provided (although someone asked if it was); this was factually accurate.
3) My previous time being in the waiting room had about 40-50 of us. This past year, I can attest to the population explosion in central Florida. The new waiting room had "only" 300 seats with many potential jurors sitting on the floor just outside the room (probably another 40-50).
4) I never got selected and had to wait until 4 PM to get dismissed. It was a brutally long day.
5) I thought I would have to dress business casual (collared shirt, slacks and dress shoes). That was a big mistake as many men were wearing comfortable t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops. On a day when it was in the upper 90's and high humidity, the courthouse A/C for a room holding 300+ folks was not holding it's own.