slo’s MONDAY 10/23 poll - Jury Duty

[AppleDumpling]

I’ve been called three times in my life. Once I was excused as the primary caregiver of a young child. Two other times, I used the call-in system for our county and was dismissed both times after several days, without having to ever show up at court. I wouldn’t mind serving now, but haven’t been summoned in over 20 years.

 

[antmaril]

I have been called for jury duty twice. The first time, I was chosen and served as jury foreman. The second time, we went into the courtroom, but my number was not called by the time they had seated a jury.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I was summoned last year but I'm very happy that I wasn't picked as my jury duty day was the exact same day that I was supposed to be starting my new job. The case wasn't interesting at all so glad I didn't have to serve.

 

[jimmymc]

I got the letter, but wrote to the clerk explaining I already had some trips booked at the time, so they dismissed it.

 

[Moliphino]

I have jury duty coming up next month. I rescheduled to the last open day before Thanksgiving break in the hopes that they cancel or at least release everyone early.

I've been called a couple times before, never have served on a jury.

 

[Disneychick75]

I've been called twice and dismissed twice. I worked in my Dad's law office. My son, father-in-law, and brother-in-law are all lawyers. One lawyer interviewing me said I knew too much law, lol. Funny though I always wanted to serve on a jury and I will never be chosen.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I've never been summoned and will probably never serve. I'm an attorney, and while that's not automatic grounds for excusal in my state, neither attorney in the case is going to want a lawyer as a juror so one of them will use a challenge on me.

Too bad, because I'd love to sit on a jury and see it from the inside. I have great respect for our jury system.

 

[disneychrista]

I am shocked at how infrequently some areas call people in for jury duty. Around here it is almost an annual thing, skipping a year if you actually have to serve. So few people actually come in when called they have discussed adapting fines for non compliance. They summoned 1000 people for a murder trial and less than 50 showed up.

The last time I was called I was selected for voir dire as an alternate but ended up being dismissed by the defense. The defendant ultimately was found guilty.

 

[nw6675]

I was summoned about 20 years ago, but I had moved from the county.

I got the questionnaire last month. I have a reason not to serve so I put that on there so we will see if they ever actually summon me.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Cook County Grand Jury duty about 45 years ago, for one month. Most interesting aspect was the required monthy 'inspection' of the county jail, Cook County Jail, by the currently sitting Grand Jury. The concept goes back to the early premise to make sure the government was not abusing or taking advantage of prisoners. That inspection/tour would be enough to have any person make sure they never have to go to jail.

Summoned several other times over the years, selected once. Now, over 70 years old, taken off the summons list. .

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We preregister here. I always get medically excused with a doctors note.
Last time I accidentally pushed a wrong response that said I was a felon. Omg! They gave me a code and number to call.
When I called that person she said I had too many numbers in the code. After a few tries she finally said, don’t worry dear I’ll take care of this for you and I haven’t heard since but I think it’s usually a 6 year cycle here.
Dh got called for federal grand jury during covid. He got out of it.
Ds2 just got the questionnaire the other week.

 

[SandyinMonterey]

I think it was 2017. I moved across country and wasn't living where I am now very long. It's a real pain going to jury duty where I live in. It's in the city. Commute by car not an option so I took the train. Had to get up at 5 a.m. Very small parking lot and doesn't nearly hold enough cars. Had to switch trains, etc. Once checked in at courthouse, many were dismissed by number ranges. Not me. Had to go downstairs to the judge where the accused and both sets of lawyers were there. They each had turns asking questions and then final jurors selected. Thankfully not me.

 

[SM1992]

Been summoned a number of times. Dismissed several times when the needs were met or a plea deal was agreed on. Once made it to the question session at a murder trial but was dismissed when they found out I lived two blocks from where it happened. Most recently was dismissed from a drug case when I'm guessing they didn't like my responses to the defense lawyers questions.
DW actually sat on a jury once in a drug case. Sat through 2 day trial but then was made an alternate so never got to participate in deliberations.

 

[LadybugsMum]

I served on a jury in 2003. Moved states in 2004, called in one county in 2006 but no one was ever called back to be chosen and we were all let go at the end of the day. Called in a different county in 2014, but was dismissed an hour later as they only needed a pool of 50 instead of 75. Have not been called again yet.

My mom and dad moved around a lot and they have lived in 8 states. My mom has been callled up in every place they have lived except for this last one when they moved to my state to be near me.

 

[1420Elexismc]

I've only been actually gone once and we were dismissed before the interviews took place..every other time it got canceled the night before

 

[soccerdad72]

Last time was maybe 8-10 years ago. Spent 3 days in the "bullpen", didn't get called, and got sent home.

 

[_19disnA]

Called up once for jury duty when I used to live in a different state several years ago don't remember what year. The whole process seemed terribly inefficient and a huge waste of everyone's time. You had to call some phone number for the 3 days or so I was part of the group chosen to see if your number came up (somewhat like a lottery you hope you DON'T win). Two of the days it did and a large group of us sat around in a waiting area to see if we would be needed. Someone from the courthouse (maybe some kind of clerk or assistant) made a long/rambly/boring speech telling us how important this job was and reminded me of a civics class in high school. Never got chosen and got to leave in the early afternoon. Everyone got paid a few dollars for our time or to help defer the cost of lunch. Don't recall how much but it was a trivial amount.

While I think the theory of it all being random is great, seems like they could setup a way more efficient system for those who actually want to be involved. I think some states choose people from those who have a driver's license while other states use voting records. No idea what method they use when I now live.

 

[JLTraveling]

I've been called 3 times. Two, I never had to show up, just called the number the night before and my group didn't come up. Once I had to go to the courthouse, right in the middle of finals my senior year of college. Fortunately there were way more people than needed, and about an hour in, they said if anyone was a student and needed out due to finals, we were free to leave. About 20 or so of us gladly took off.

Now I'm sole caregiver for my disabled father, which means I have an exception and won't be summoned.

 

[jo-jo]

I've been called about 6 -8 times at the county level. Once I was called and a few days later my sister died. I asked to be excused , and was, but was called about 6 weeks later. Never put on a trial.

Called once to Federal in Philly. You had to called and put in your number. Machine said don't come. I called back again to make sure I heard right (didn't want an officer on my doorstep). This time a human said come in. I said I had just called and was calling back to be sure. She said they have instructions to pick up every 10th call and tell the person to come in. I never called back a second time again.

Now it's check in online etc.

I was recently called and either they didn't like some of the answers I gave or it was I asked to be excused because I don't leave my DH alone for more than a few mins. (he has fallen several times) I was excused.

 

[newski_mom]

I received the notice one time and my boss wrote a letter requesting my dismissal due to some things going on at work.

DH has received notice one time so he called in every evening and there was never an active trial that he needed to go in for.

We live in a relatively small county and there are very rarely jury trials - as in maybe one a year, so the chances of having to sit on a local jury trial are very slim.

My sister got called for federal jury duty one time and she was so sad. It was the last week of her maternity leave. She didn't have to serve possibly because her husband was a state policeman at the time.