Get out of Jury Duty

[cav58d]

As a dude moving closer and closer to becoming a Liberterian, it is a little crazy to think that I should be forced to make judgement on someone.

At any rate, what I am going to do is print out a copy of my schedule from school, as well as my flight schedule...Like I said, I don't mind doing it in the summer, or at another point...It's just the timing right now.

[x0847Marine]

Tell them you aspire to be a police officer and feel cops only arrest "scum" who deserve it, or that you're a racist.

[Halo]

Sad how one of the legal bedrocks of a free society sometimes becomes regarded as a burden to be evaded.  

Through challenges to more senior officers, I once wound up being judge at an Air Force court-martial.  Not something I sought, but duty called.  

I understand judges are pretty good about working around extenuating circumstances.  But to just dodge jury duty for inconvenience is not good citizenship.

[majic]

They let me defer until the summer when I had some paid time off built up.  

And, for the record I did report then.  I wanted to.  I was questioned and dismissed, and to be honest, I was disapointed that I did not get selected.

You should serve.

[john9001]

go to jury duty, you will find it very enlightening, you will see how the system really works not like the "trials" you see on some TV show.

the first thing the judge said to us (the jury pool) was "i know that non of you want to be here"

it is very educating, you will learn about the justice system, i was very surprised on my jury there was a wide cross section of people. but we were all very intelligent.

the way the jury is picked in florida, the judge, prosecutor, defense lawyer and the defendant all have input into who will on the jury.

the odds of being picked are not good, out of a pool of 52 they picked 7, (6 jurors, 1 alternate). mine was a felony charge, attempted first degree murder.

[Charon]

I have went in for a couple -- not called once and dismissed the other, but It's gotten dammed irritating. Out of a metropolitan area of over 3 million for some reason I was getting the call about every 3 years or so. I guess it's that voter thing. The last time they wanted me to drive into the city and pay non-covered city of Chicago public parking. I had since moved to the suburbs so I asked for a change of venue and never heard back from them -- yet.

Why can't somebody else take a turn for once?

Charon

[flakbait]

I work with a lady who's 56 years old and never served on a jury. Her boss, however, has been picked at least once a year for the past four! Definitely a "go figure" on that one.

My own experience wasn't much to talk about. We walked in, signed in, sat down, and got the usual speech from the judge. What was expected of us, how we were to conduct ourselves, what all was going to happen. During the Q&A by the plaintiff's attorney (disability case, dude suing WA State L&I) a lot of folks gave simple and honest answers. Until they came to me. See, I never went to juror orientation; they had no background on me. And attorney's HATE a wildcard when cash is on the line. Ten minutes later I was out the door with a half-dozen other people, having stayed about two hours.

My second round went much the same as the first, only it was a criminal trial. I didn't get picked then, either. Probably due to one question raised by the defense. "Sir, what magazines or groups do you have a membership with?"

"Well, that would include Field & Stream, Guns & Ammo, Shooting Times, and the NRA. Why?"

That defense attorney looked somewhat shocked and promptly moved on. Again, about ten minutes later I split with a dozen other folks to head back home or to work. Nothing terribly exciting.

One person I work with got picked for a criminal trial where shots were fired at officers from a moving vehicle. The driver who fired was high on three different narcotics, plus drunk, and tried for an insanity plea. He said it took them about twenty minutes to convict the guy on nine different charges. Stuffing him in the meat locker with Bubba for 25+ years. When I asked him what it was like to actually be on a working jury, he put it thus:

"It's kinda like working at a fast-foot joint. Interesting experience, but I wouldn't want to repeat it."





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Flakbait [Delta6]

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Charon
I have went in for a couple -- not called once and dismissed the other, but It's gotten dammed irritating. Out of a metropolitan area of over 3 million for some reason I was getting the call about every 3 years or so. I guess it's that voter thing. The last time they wanted me to drive into the city and pay non-covered city of Chicago public parking. I had since moved to the suburbs so I asked for a change of venue and never heard back from them -- yet.

Why can't somebody else take a turn for once?

Charon

Do you think it had anything to do with being located around a high crime rate area?

[VWE]

Sad how one of the legal bedrocks of a free society sometimes becomes regarded as a burden to be evaded.

I agree, I think its part of your civil duty to serve in what little manner that this presents. Its not like you've chosen to serve your country and are currently in thick of all that is nasty in the middle of Baghdad wondering if that next car coming toward you is loaded with 500 lbs of HE. I honorably serve my country, and if after I come home from a year or longer deployment and I'm sent jury duty I'll honorably serve there too. If being an AMERICAN is too much of a bother why not move?

[Mightytboy]

I've only been called in once but I proudly went in with no complaints and was willing to spend whatever time was needed for the trial. I was not picked and I was disappointed.

I think jury duty is something everyone should do.

[Curval]

Cav does not in any way strike me as the kind of guy who is just trying to evade his civic responsibility.  If you look at many of his posts I'd say quite the opposite.

The guy is busy and can't afford to miss school or work.  

If I was you Cav though, I'd listen to Myelo on this one.  Don't try any silliness, the judge will see right through it.  Just be honest.

[lazs2]

I have been called more often than most and it does seem kind of uneven.

I think it is our duty to serve on a jury.   I think that it is a way to make sure that justice is done.  

Having said that... if you don't want to....

Why bother to show up?  Did you get a registered letter for your summons?

 Hell... you are not even required to open your mail in the U.S. so far as I know.   Some people pay all their bills on line and get nothing but junk mail which they throw away.

lazs

[Charon]

Do you think it had anything to do with being located around a high crime rate area?

Not really --- there's not THAT much crime. I think it's like telemarketing or an e-mail scam. I vote, and then I show up, which puts me on a sucker list

Charon

[Dichotomy]

An attorney friend of mine said that when he picked juries he tried to avoid independent thinkers and choose people who could be lead to a conclusion.  The last time I got called I made sure that both attorneys saw me as such and boom.. goodbye by 1:00 pm.  

Not that I would mind serving jury duty it would give me a chance to catch up on a couple of books I've been wanting to read and I somewhat enjoy watching the legal process (well when I'm not explaining to the judge why I was doing 20 over).

[john9001]

the reason you were not picked is not because you are a "independent thinker", you were not picked because they knew you would not make a good juror. Not worthy to judge another.

many are called, few are chosen.