Juries are chosen from the following (at least in Illinois):

1. Voter registration
2. Drivers licenses
3. Telephone listings provided by phone company (so "unlisted" doesn't keep you off)

So unless you drop away from voting, driving, and having a phone, you're a potential juror.

Besides it's your civic duty.

 

So true! Too bad it can't be made to be not be such a financial burden to those working folks (especially seelf-employed) who want to/could otherwise serve.

As far as those who want to get out no matter what...if I were wrongly accused I certainly wouldn' want somone on my jury who didn't want to be there! Couldn' trust 'em to be fair, they being so self-interested.

 

I was called to duty once.They had us all sitting in the court room waiting on the judge.As soon as he walked in I started yellin,hea come da judge,hea come da judge.Well that didnt work,they just said shut up and sit down!Then they quized us one by one.The prosecutor came up to me and asked if I knew what the woman was there for.I said yes solicitation.He asked how I felt about that.I said well,I think you should let her go,he asked why.I said because she does the same thing to her clients that you lawyers do,the only difference,with her, the client leaves happy!He said YOUR DISMISSED leave this court room NOW!I asked,can I at least get her number first?

 

I had Federal jury duty in Philly many years ago. I was fortunate enough to actually make money on the deal as well as have a great time. They paid for me to stay in a hotel and go out on the town every night. My work contract provides paid leave for jury duty so that made a big difference.

I enjoyed it due to the fact it wasn't taking money out of my pocket. If they compensated jurors better for their time, I think there would be much less resistance to the whole process.

 

I got one of them forms to fill out once. When they asked if I was a U.S. Citizen, I just filled in No (I am Canadian) and I heard from them again.

 

True Story
I am sitting at a red light on Michigan Ave,the road is a divided type with a median in the middle,three lanes in both directions.I look to my right,and out of the corner of my eye I see a car coming up behind me at a high rate of speed,he was in the middle lane,I was in the fast lane(of course)Well anyway this guy blows by me just flying.I turn back and check,the light is still red,he didnt even slow down!Ran the red light like it wasnt even there.Luckily nobody was coming.But there is another red light about 2 blocks up the road,This time he didnt make it,he hit a datsun 280z in the passengers door so hard,the driver came flying out the passengers window and flew about 15 ft hitting a telephone pole with his chest.I sat in horror and watched it happen like it was in slow motion.I immediately stopped my car in front of this poor guy to prevent anybody else from running him over.I gave him first aid,but there was not much I could do for him other than clear the debris from his mouth so he could breath better,I then went to check on the idiot who ran the red light.He was stoned and barely even scratched,he said,wow dude what happened.Man I wanted to punch him right then and there!He trys to start his car,bad move,I reach in and take his keys,telling him,if you even try to get out before the cops get here,I am going to beat your (fanny).I then go back to the guy on the ground,now I notice he is a Wayne Co.Sheriff deputy,still in uniform.I dont know why,but this made me even madder.By this time a couple of more people show up and the moron starts shouting he took my keys.I am glad those people were there.I think they could see in my eyes that I was going to hurt that jerk and they stopped me.Well,the ambulance shows up,they ask if anybody moved the guy on the ground.The moron starts screaming that yeah he saw me doing something.The medic asked me what I did,I told him,I cleaned the debris from his mouth,he was gagging.A cop behind me starts getting all huffy wanting to know if I am a doctor and if not I am going to be arrested!I think he was friends with the guy on the ground,so I can understand that he was getting emotional.Before I can say anything,the Medic looks at the cop and says,he might have just saved his life,So the cop calms down and asks me what happened.I tell him the whole story,then I get a summons to court.I take time off from work,testify against this moron,lose a half a days pay,and do you want to know the thanks I got from Wayne County!A check for $14.

 

Round here they use both voting AND motor vehicle records to call you. I did 3 months of grand jury duty the fall of 2003. Thought they'd kick me off when the DA asked if there any police or ex-police there. I raised my hand and got appointed assistant foreman!!!! We indicted almost everyone that term. Actually I enjoyed it, especially when the state attorney general office "borrowed" us for an organized crime investigation into horse race tracks. I'll never bet at one again.

 

Unless you enjoy it jury duty is a pain. Listening to lawyers and witness's lie all day is not my idea of enjoyment. As retired Law Enforcement I never have a problem being excused, they assume that I am biased in favor of the officers that testify. If a person does not want to serve on jury duty then they probably would not pay enough attention to make a good decision. The comment earlier about believing that they would not be there if they were not guilty will usually work in criminal cases. In civil cases that probably would not be germane to the case. Your best choice there is to say you believe that people should be responsible for their actions, not going to court. I am an advocate of professional jurors who would be payed reasonably for their time and trained to have an understanding of law and how courts function. This hopefully would negtae decisions like the infamous Simpson fiasco.

 

Sorry KT, but to do one's civic duty then complain about not getting paid hit a sore spot with me. You obviously did the right thing, both at the accident and in testifying, be proud. I too testified in court a few years ago for an accident I witnessed, lost a half days wages. Difference being I feel I made a difference and am proud I did. The accident I witnessed was nothing more than a minor fender-bender. I got involved because the local police ticketed the girl who was hit by the car in the wrong! Long story, I talked the girl and her family into fighting the ticket, and they did in fact win. The girls dad did offer some free meals at their restaurant for the help, but I turned those down too as it could be taken wrong legally.

I guess I should complain because I enlisted in the Navy 29 years ago and was paid such a meager wage by my country that as a family we qualified (though we did not ever apply) for food stamps?

Now, to those that want nothing other than to get out of jury duty. Yes, it is an inconvenience, a few people should be excused, but the majority sound more like a bunch of cheap so and so's. You like living here in this country with it's flaws, but our system is far better than anything else the world offers. What a small price to pay............ My guess, those that are giving the advice on how to get out of jury duty; never spent a day in the military. If I am wrong, I apologize right now, but I thinks me ain't! My point; you could be living where the jury is a machete, firing squad, short rope tied to a tall tree, or better(not) living through chemistry, no judge, lawyer, or help!

I rest my case. I now stand down off my soapbox. Send it to the jury!

 

Well rikfish,i guess I overlooked the most important part of the story,sorry,The deputy died when he got to the hospital.The moron,,,,He lost his license for a year and had to do community service.needless to say,after hearing that they just slapped him on the wrist,I felt that they had just wasted my time.And then a month later getting that whopping $14 proved it!


One other thing,When I was in the Navy,I was single,they paid for my food,they paid for my clothes,they paid for my rack (bed)They paid for my training,I thought,Man this is great!They are even paying me to be here!So,I cant say anything bad about Navy life,but I know what you mean.We should do better for our military people with families.

 

When I was younger Mom said she was babysittin for alot of my older cousins walked in and we all fallowed.Since we was so loud they told her they didn't need her.So maybe you can just drag along a few loud ones.

 

my moms friend in tulsa was on jury duty for htat dude that , hung his whole family then tried to kill himself
id have a problem with going to sleep

 

Last week i had joury duty.
Sat on my butt for 8 hours and then the case is settled. What a waste of time.
Got to love wyane county MI

 

reguardless of dumb or not i think it is everyone's responsibilty to try and provide a fair trial to those that want it. If you are biased say so but I really don't like people that have common sence going back to their job just because they don't feel like it and boohoo if you aren't getting paid for the time you spent there. It is a cheap price to pay to live in America and I feel if you can't give up a days wages then I really feel sorry for you CHEAP PEOPLE!

 

KT,

I can see your frustration with a case like this. I have only been called twice now for jury duty, the last time just last month. My juror number wasn't called on, I didn't even have to report to the court house. Here we can call in to a recorded message the evening before to find out if we have to show up. First time I was in the process of jury selection for a child sexual abuse case, never got called for the selection. I was very happy not to have to sit on a case like this as I had one friend unjustly accused by an ex whif, and an ex boss had been convicted of sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust (adopted daughter). What I could see of the case I almost served on was a bitter ex trying to get even with her ex....just my opinion.

As for military pay, I agree, our people are grossly underpaid. As you and I are about the same age, I remember our starting pay was very low, and I went in as an E3, 6 year enlistment (DUH!). I had a car & insurance payment that took most of my pay. Yea, we got our housing, training, and meals for free. I absolutely hated standing in line for everything though, especially meals. I fought and fought to get comrats and BAQ for quite a while, finally got approved one week before I got married! We were supposed to get comrats because of the jobs I was doing at the time, internal security where we ate meals at ungodly hours, and that was IF they were available. Midrats was not a regular thing where I was stationed at that time, only if the boys were flying. For a while, we weren't even allowed to eat in the dining area of the chow hall because we made the others uncomfortable! How's that for makin' a happy sailor?

OK, I will stand down again, I have high-jacked this thread to rant............sorry.