Hi,
Just wondering how everyone else feels about being selected for jury duty service?

I agree it should feel like an honor for me to serve, and I realize that it's my duty to do so as a United States citizen. I also agree that it is better to be judged by a group of "peers" rather than one person. But......................................

What I don't agree with is the selection process. I requested to be excused for the following reasons:

1.) I am the single custodial parent of a minor child (He lives with me). There is no way I can get him off to school, and then get to the court house on time. My son would also get home 1 hr. before court lets out for the day, and the court house is two towns away.

2.) I am self employed, and I am my only employee. This is my only income, and my business is not doing well at all these days. At this point and time, I literally can't afford to take 2 days off even if I'm sick, let alone for 5 days or 1 trial.

I get a response card in the mail stating: "JUROR SERVICE EXCUSE IS DENIED! YOU MUST REPORT".

Okay, technically I could make arrangements for my son, but as for my business I'm screwed!!

The last time I was denied and had to report, I sat next to this lady who had requested to be excused because she was the sole caretaker of her elderly sick mother, had no living relatives, and couldn't afford a nurse. Her excuse was denied, and she had to bring her sick mother with her to report! her mother weighed about 90 lbs., was pale as a ghost, in a wheelchair, and on oxygen! Why do they do this??

I realize a lot of people think it's a hassle, and don't want to be bothered but geez, do they have to resort to that?

I really wouldn't mind serving at all if my business was doing better, but I have no choice in the matter.

 

Hey Kenny, I feel for 'ya man.

But consider the flip side: There are a lot of people who don't have a job or responsibilities and have so much time on their hands that they practicaly beg to get selected for a jury because it would make them feel important.

So if you were on trial, who would you rather have determine your fate...someone who has a life and responsibilities, or someone who doesn't have a clue what goes on in the real world?

California recently went to a one day jury obligation. So if you don't get picked for a jury that day, your obligation is over.

BTW, next Thursday I have to report for jury duty!

Scott

 

I think you can blame all the people who lie to get out of jury duty. These are the same folks who cause honest people to undure those stupid devices that sound off an alarm if something you bought doesn't get neutralized at the register (I keep walking if it goes off because I feel they have no right to hassle me after I just bought something).

I got called a few months ago and I've got my own business to maintain. I was told to not even ask, because it would be denied. I reported for three days. The judge sent a personally signed letter after it was over thanking me for my service and he said he knew it was a hardship but that its a small price to pay for our court system and the freedoms we have. After getting that letter, I tend to agree with him. Three days off work is a small price compared to some who gave their lives....

 

I have been on JD twice in the past few years. They mostly pass me by because I think. I guess. Anyway, got picked for this case, and everyone wanted to vote 30 seconds after we got into the jury room. I said, wait a minute, shouldn't we at least discuss this? and the 'facts'...??? One of the jurors was a lawyer (!?!?!?!?! surprised she wasn't kicked) and she kinda looked at me, after voting to convict this person.. I was the only holdout, and wanted all of them to realize that they were dealing with someones life, for some years, and it should be given some thought........
Was interesting. Dont want to do it again.


BUT: Dont you want all the people picked to at least pay attention to what is going on in the courtroom? I feel that it is very important to do your best. What if it were you accused(wrongly, of course) and depended on that crew to do the right thing? Wouldn't you want to have people like you on the jury???

tom

 

I have received two notices in the mail for jury duty, the first time I sent it back and told them that I couldn't do it due to the fact that I was attending college out of state. So I was off the hook. The second time around I sent form back to them and called in on my dates, but my number was never called. Too bad I was hoping to get called so I could learn something. The company that I work for will pay your regular salary if you are called for jury duty as long as you bring in your slip.... pretty cool in my book!

Anyway Kenny I can see your dilemma, I am sure that you would love to "do the right thing" but at the same time you have to make sure you can put food on your table. Tough situation.... I wish you luck and I hope that the buisness picks up

 

All the civilized countries that we modeled out system on, have gotten rid of the jury system because jurors are basically very stupid and emotional.

Cases in point, OJ Simpson, The Menedez brother, Rodney King, and the list goes on and on. TV shows have been made about the circus called jury pools.

After the Menedez trial a reported interviewed a juror (old lady) that said she voted not guilty because she just didn't think he killed his parents. The newscaster said, he admitted that he did it , the trial was about, was it justified being as they claim they were abused? The juror said, Oh, by the time that testimony came out, we were all so confused that we didn't know what was going on.

How would you like your freedom in the hands of that juror? I think people all try to get out of jury duty because they think it's an unpaid ($5.00) part in an silly tradition that keeps all the lawyers and judges rolling in money and power and many no longer think it's just or fair.

 

I have been a juror more than once. The one I remember the best was the worst. The boyfriend abusing girlfriend's infant son. Our oldest son was just a little older than this girl's baby. I am thankful it wasn't sexuall abuse but it was still very bad.

 

Hey Kenny,

Looks to me like it's time for you to move to Florida. They wouldn't care much about the single parent thing, but self-employed and only employee would have gotten you out of it down here.

I've been called for civil jury duty 3x but only got selected for 2 trials. The first was many years ago, the other 2 have been within the last 3 years. Luckily both trials were 1 dayers. The year between the civil jury duty things, I got called in for federal jury duty. (I sure hope I'm not on their mailing list now!) Anyway, the federal trial was a white collar insurance investment fraud and was going to last "3" months. When they guadiered us, they seemed to be asking me more questions than anyone else. The two people next to me said that I was sure to be one picked with what all they were asking me. It's the start of tax season so this was the last thing I needed. The judge, who knows my boss since we do alot of litigation work, was even asking me questions. He wanted to know if I was familiar with the type of business they were doing and I'm like sure, one of our biggest clients is an insurance agency. The defense attorney then asked me the name of the company and I told them. I was one of the first to be let go. Thank you client!

 

I got called for jury duty one time, but due to the nature of the case I was excused from serving. The suit was a civil one. An insurance company sued a bulldozer operator on behalf of a farmer. The farmer said that the dozer guy had ruined some of his farmland by improper building of a pond. The lawyer for the dozer guy found out I was a farmer and it was "Thank you, you are excused." I honestly think that I could have been impartial, but the lawyers are always looking for jurors who will lean their way. I also was summoned for a criminal trial for a guy who set fire to his house and burned his 8 year old kid to death. That one got plea-bargained on the night before the trial was to begin. He had planned to plead "diminished responsibility", claimed he was whacked out on meth when he did it. I'm glad I did'nt have to be part of that one.

I agree about the business hardship aspect, and in fact was going to use it in the above criminal case, as it was spring planting time. Not sure if it would have gotten me excused, though.

At my job in town, if you get called for jury duty and have to miss work, they will pay you the difference between what you would have made working there and what you get paid for jury duty. And depending on your postion there, they might be able to have you declared a vital employee. I don't think I would have qualified on that account... I'm just a lowly yard driver there, and I'm pretty sure that the company could find a replacement in a pinch.

 

Hi everybody,
Thanks for all the great and very understanding replies! Things said here made a lot of sense to me. I guess if I put my self in the juror selector's shoes, it wouldn't be an easy job to tell who is lying to be excused, or who is a true hardship case.

I know my post probably sounded like a rant, but the truth is I was not angry. I was only upset about my circumstances, and very worried about making ends meet.

Worrying won't help any, so I'm gonna stop it. I'll just go in there, and do my duty. Whatever happens, will happen.

When I show up, there's still a chance I might not even be picked.
Not to worry though, I would absolutely do the right thing if picked!

It really angered me when I saw on the news that a jury decided a mans fate by flipping a coin!
I also saw the movie "12 angry men", and thought it really sucked how people conducted themselves because they didn't want to be there!
I always try to put myself in other's shoes and look at the whole picture.
Ken, you're right! This is a small sacrifice compared to the sacrifice others have made for our country, including their lives. Thanks for the eye opener!

 

Jury duty can be interesting and also a PITA. The first time I went, I found it very interesting. The trial lasted 6 days. The second time I went, two days max. No prob.
Two years later, I'm called again. I believe that there is normally a three year buffer between times of duty but that doesn't matter here. I had to push it off because I was scheduled to be out of town that peticular week. No prob.
They re-schedule me three months later. The same time my wife was due to give birth to my son.
I re-schedule again, no prob. I go and it lasts two day's. Cool.
Three months later I'm hit up for duty again. I had to go but they released me after they realized I was there previously.

You could always do what my wife did. Just bring the kid's. Not much we could do, daycare was not happening on those peticular dates...

 

I don't know why but I have been called to jury duty 5 or 6 times in the past 15 years. My wife hasn't been called even once. But that's besides the point other than I am a jury magnet I guess.

I think the lawyers choose jurists who may or may not have experience with the subject at hand. The two times I actually was in the final selection process(didn't get called in the other 4 times) they seemed to key in on life experience with whatever we were there for. In my case, one was drug experience(I worked in a liquor store in Hollywood, what can I say) and the other was being a parent(that was a molestation case).

In the drug case I was tossed out since I had a pretty good eye for people high on dope. The moelstation case I was selected for since I had two kids.

The jurists I was with on the molestation case came from all walks of life, and in my opinion were all of good character and reasonably intelligent. We debated the case quite a bit for a couple days and attacked from various angles. I was proud of the debate we carried on. Our decision would affect the life of the defendent, the victim and their families for years to come. Bot something to be tossed off lightly or by a bunch of sterotypical morons.

So yes jury duty can be an inconvenience, but the one time I was on a case and the couple times I actually got to be in the selection process or at least the orientation, I learned a lot and was thoroughly involved in the process. I would not like to make it a regular habit but I would say doing it a few times in your life is worthwhile if you can afford the time.

I do believe that all too often the advantages are on the side of the defendent, but if the system works, it works well. It is the media circuses that give the legal system a bad name and ther are all kinds of flaming hoops put up before the courts can bring a perp to trial.

The one day service or one trial makes it much easier than a few years ago where I was on call for a month.

Jim Henderson