I have jury duty in the morning. I have a plan.
The local DA is a friend. Hunting, fishing, cigars. He's also up for re-election.
I'm going to wear one of his T-shirts to court.
" Re-elect RXX MXXXX, DA" (didn't want to put his name on line)
If you don't hear from me, the Judge didn't think it was funny.
Before you start screaming CIVIC DUTY, I will have another shirt with me. I may be crazy, but I'm not that stupid.

thats funny, i think you'll be there about 10 min...

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George Jamison

Would you want to be judged by 12 people who couldn't think of a way to get out of jury duty?

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WALSTIB

Or just get a t-shirt made up that says "HANG 'EM HIGH" in huge block letters.

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"... shall not be infringed."

My Wife likes jury duty. However she keeps getting excused? ( her husband and five sons are LEOs and only daughter is married to a LEO)

I simply dont understand why people try to duck jury duty. I hope they never find themselves needing a fair and impartial jury to judge them....but karma can be a tricky thing.

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Nothing to see here,move along

My wife gets called quite often for jury duty. The fact that I'm a retired LEO seems to make no difference. She even got called when I was active.

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... ed ...

i was recently called up for jury duty but because of my disability i had to write a letter asking to be excused to be honest it really upset me to do that because i wanted so badly to go to jury duty

I got called once and served; I was the foreman in an auto accident case. It was pretty interesting and I think we did a good job. But... It takes you out of your "life" for at least a few days and you loose a bunch of money for missing work (what they pay you is a joke). The people on the jury I served with were mostly students (like myself at the time) or teachers (nothing to do during the summer). There weren't any daily workers. It's a giant PITA to do it and they don't do anything to mitigate the pain for jurors. We actually had made our ruling and were ready just before noon, but told them we weren't ready so they'd have to feed us. Got a nice lunch at a local Italian place.

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"... shall not be infringed."

Last time I was called for jury duty I checked the docket to see what cases were coming up. There was one trial for improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle and one trial for 57 counts of gross sexual imposition on a minor. Guess which trial I wanted, guess which trial I got.

The jury was an interesting mix, about half retirees (professional) a couple housewives, a horse trainer, a couple salaried employees like me. All in All it was not a bad mix for our rural county though the jury members were probably somewhat better educated than the average resident. Trial took 15 days.

Now a friend once got out of jury duty because one of the Lawyers asked "Do you consider the testimony of a police officer more reliable than that of the average citizen?". My friend raided his hand and asked "What about the opposite?". "I have friends and relatives who are LOEs and I suspect some would lie through their teeth if they thought a questionable bust was going south at the trial.".

I wouldnt mind actualy being on a trial. However I have been called for jury duty a number of times and every time was just sitting in a boreing, hot, crowded waiting room for days on end when I would have rather been working or playing! This was in california and it looked to me that the world stops for about 60 people to put their lives on hold when some idiot gets a speeding ticket he wants to fight! I know I sat for days to always be sent home at the last minuet when someone would cave in. I really think the system is a overkill to the power of 10!

Yeah, we had a guy who did something like that a while back. He spent the next few days in jail.

I hope that God forbid you find yourseld in need of a Jury for whatever reason you get a room full of people from which to choose that think exactly like you think. . Jury duty is perhaps the most important thing a citizen can do outside of serving in the armed services. It is a duty. Duties are sometimes unpleasant, and take out of both out time and pocket, but it's part of the price you pay to be an American. I am constantly amazed at people who shirk this duty. How many of you would want to be on the policy writing board of the ATF???? How many of you would want to be in Congress writing poicy & laws??? How many would want to have the power to say "This is how it should be done" "You are guilty" "You are not Guilty-what the state did was wrong", You have been wronged by the government-you are to be recompensed" "The government has no right to do........" or any other grievance that comes into the Courts?
Everyone rails at government-but when given the chance to participate-they whine because it's not convenient for them.
I hope you wear that shirt and I hope the Judge throws you in jail

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Forum consigliere

I'm one who would enjoy jury duty. I guess that's why I've never been called.

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Misty

This guy got arrested for horse stealing. The judge asked him if he wanted a jury trial, or just take his chances with him. The guy wanted to know what happened in a jury trial. The judge told him his fate would be up to 12 of his peers. He wanted to know what peers are. Judge told him they were people just like him. The guy said I want just you judge. You dont think I would want a bunch of horse thiefs judgeing me, do ya?

I've been called several times but have as of yet to serve.

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A closed mouth gathers no foot

I just served on my first jury in my 63 years. Called many times but never made it to the stage where I had to go to the court house. Our trial covered 4 weeks. The 2 defendants were were part of a Mexican drug cartel (they were not Mexicans) that was bringing/selling marijuana from Mexico to Phoenix. 60 people had been rounded up by DEA and local LEOs in the bust. The 2 we were concerned with had 132 pounds and $70K found with them. Guilty on all charges with aggravating circumstances. I don't know what their sentence will be.

After this experience, I fully agree with CAJUNLAWYER regarding jury DUTY!.

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Bill - SWCA #2327

Once in Tampa, Personal injury case..
Once in Illinois, two cases there.. For some reason I was tapped as foreman in all three. It was interesting to work through the process of guilty or innocent and reasonable doubt, etc. Two were cut and dried. One we decided so fast that we hardly got the seats warmed, but we waited because it was lunch time and we thought a "free meal" was worth a slight wait.

I will say that sitting in court is always cheap entertainment.

I agree with you, it is a PITA. I was once called for jury duty and put in a group to be selected for a capital murder case that was to be sequestered for the trial in a county a couple of hours away. I was an auto mechanic making commission only. No paid vacation and no paid sick leave. You dont work, you dont get paid. I was willing, but not selected. Got called again the next year, got put in a group but never used. Only went 1 day and had to phone in the next 2. Have not been called back since. Did see some warrants issued for folks that just didnt show up. Also saw 1 guy get a contempt charge for making a smart alecky comment about hang em all or something like that.

I dont get it. We fly our flags and beat our chest over how great our country is, but when we need to do something thats a bit inconvenient that makes our system and country great, some of us complain and try to get out of their responsibility. Personally I regret never serving in the military. My generation was one of the first to not have to serve and not be drafted. In retrospect, I think that has been a mistake. I think it would have done me and a bunch of my friends a whole lot of good to serve for 2 or 3 years when we turned 18. The least I can do now is serve my community when needed.

YMMV

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Nothing to see here,move along

I'm in my 60's and have never been called. I did several dozen trials as an expert witness and have two kids and a son-in law who are attorneys and enjoy watching the legal system work even when I was being grilled by hostile attorneys. I would be more than willing to be a juror. My wife has been a foreperson twice ...once for a domestic abuse case ... big mistake for the defendant.

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I like Ike.

I've been called three times... twice while I was serving overseas and once while I was home. The time I was home I got a letter or phone call saying it was canceled. I'd go...

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- The Federalist #46 -

Heeeyyy..... aren't jurors supposed to be impartial?

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- The Federalist #46 -

Regarding CAJUNLAWYER's comment about serving on jury duty and serving in the military as the most important things a citizen can do...I often wonder why law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs aren't included at the same "level" as military. In today's world, I consider these three comparable to the military, except for pay. Firemen, LEOs and to a degree, EMT's put their lives on the line every day. Sure, some sit at desks out of the line of fire, but that happens in the military also. I went into IHOP recently and saw their 15% Off sign for military and wondered why not LEOs. Is it because of the numbers of servicemen and women, thus the public experience and resulting recognition? There are fewer LEO/FF/EMT numbers for sure. I'd like to hear your thoughtful comments.

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Term limits!

Like many things, I complain and gripe, but I served. I think I only got one other summons, but I was on official TDY duty at the time (away for 9 weeks for training), so my wife filled out the post card and returned it; they didn't reply afterwards.

It was a good experience that one time back in college. I just think that the court system itself could do a little bit better job in trying to mitigate the pain to the jurors. The first two days I showed up early and sat there in a hot room all day without being called. They could at least air condition the room and provide a TV. Perhaps they could also figure out things so you could standby at home and come in if needed? I'd have been happy to sit at home by the phone instead. I could have driven down to the courthouse in about 15 minutes, so I don't see why we had to sit there all that time in misery.

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"... shall not be infringed."

I never served in the military, the least I can do is vote and serve on jury duty. I always wear clothes that are respectful of the court. Same way with going to church. God doesn't ask for much, but he does want your best, so when I go,(and that's not often) I wear a coat and tie. I may be old fashioned, but I look GOOD!

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

I saw the smiley face and I realize you're not really serious about what you said. Problem is, some people ARE serious about acting like that, like the guy I mentioned. And they think it's funny. It's not funny. I'm the guy who sits on the bench and has to deal with that kind of "stuff" and I just don't find it amusing. Like Caj says, this is serious business that involves serious consequences for a lot of people, and I have no tolerance at all for those who take this duty so lightly. Nothing personal as far as you're concerned - I understand you're joking, but this whole topic of "how to avoid jury duty" always strikes a nerve with me.

They won't pick me in this county for a criminal trial; the badge takes care of that. Don't know about a civil trial in the county, but I did get picked to sit in a medical malpractice civil trial in U.S. District Court a few years back. That was interesting.

I wrote the Jury selection Software for a parish in Louisiana so I see all of the excuses for not serving. I also see what I feel is an abuse of the jury system. Often for criminal trials, the jury is seated and then the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge. The jurors just wasted their time being there and it costs the parish to have them there. I think that there should be a reasonable time limit for accepting a plea so that this could be avoided. It would save a lot of money for the parish.

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Corripe Cervisiam

I got selected for the Grand Jury which meets once a week for three months and then another Jury is picked. I wanted to do that because I thought it would be interesting. On the way to the jury box I approached the Judge and mentioned that I was a Deputy Sheriff and she said it would be a conflict of interest and to return to my seat.

For those of you who think that they shouldn't have to serve, do your civic duty and use some of your education let me offer this suggestion.

Let the county go to the welfare office and pick the first hundred people and put them to work on the jury's. There not doing anything,have no jobs so the public ought to get something for their Tax's. I have observed and listen to some of the answers given to the lawyer's during questioning on pre trials and glad I wasn't on trial. Maybe that is why they ask for 100 people every week so they can get a couple of jury's.

Another thing I have noticed it is usually 3-1 women picked.

If you really don't want to get on a jury, just tell the court that you can tell if the person is guilty just by looking at them.

I served on the county Grand Jury; 1 day per week (looonnng hours) for two months. It was an eye-opening experience that I enjoyed. We processed over 350 cases, probably 75% of which were cocaine related. There was a high-profile murder that had just occurred and the DA would greet us every morning and give us an update on the case. Very early on, he told us "There's something not right about the victim's husband. I don't know what it is, but we WILL find out." They found out. He had hired two hit men to kill his wife since she had discovered his money-laundering operation.

I've been called 3 times. Never got picked to serve. Never even got to the part where the lawyers ask questions. Just sat around a hr. or so, then some clerk came in and said Jones, Smith, Green, White, etc. stay everyone else can go home.

Wouldn't mind doing it once, just to see what it's like.

My hearing is so poor that I cannot serve, too much of a chance I might miss or misinterpret something with someones life hanging in the balance. The last time I was called (many years ago), the case was a gang banger for felony assault. I was asked if any friends or relatives had been the victim of a violent crime. I answered truthfully yes, my daughters boyfriend, who was good friend of mine before meeting her, had been murdered, beaten to death with a baseball bat my multiple assailants. The next question, "What was the outcome of that crime?" I explained that after 10 years the case was still open as no one had been apprehended. The defense attorney immediately excused me.

Would this experience have colored my ability to be impartial, perhaps. Would like to think I could be impartial but to be honest I'll never know. I have performed many a civic duty, Army to volunteer work in the community not to mention voting in every election since my 18th birthday. I urge folks to serve with an open mind, if possible, but understand the economic hardships imposed by this service on many. Taking care of your family has got to come first.

Thank you. The same goes for voting.

sounds like Fred Tokars....

I just finished my jury duty for September, its my third time in 25 years of living in Kentucky, wife complains that she has never been called. The cost of living needs to be added to the jury pay, its been $12.50 per day for 25 years.

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Mike in SouthCentral Kentucky

I am still at liberty.
Went in at 08:30.
Sat in the jury lounge till 14:30,when they marched us in to the court room. DUI case.
No one paid any attention to the shirt.
Judge, ADA, and Defense Attorney asked me questions.
The Judge liked me.
The ADA liked me.
The Defense, not so much.
14 people were bounced before they got to me. 10 by the Defense.
One went to the same church as the DA. One is a Fed. Attorney.4 were related to LEOs. 3 had served on juries before.And one had been in an accident involving a drunk driver.
Me? I hang out with riff-raff. Judges, DAs, lawyers, Cops, retired Cops. And, I paid attention to the ADA when he explained the rules of evidence. The Defense decided I was unsuitable.

That happens But and I mean this-thank you for your time and effort. To be honest you have no idea what a valuable service you do just by showing up. Many defendants do not plead guilty until they see the whites of the jury's eyes. One day we had 12 trials set up-all bad and all hardcore. For that reason the DA's were offering very harsh plea bargans and nobody was budging. One by one as they sat at the table to pick a jury, they changed their mind and we went to another Courtroom to take the plea. The jury pool was getting absolutely bersrk with the waiting around and doing nothing.. After all 12 had plead-around 3 in the afternoon, the judge made the lawyers sit in the Coourtfroom with the jury and he explained what had just happened. The ONLY reason those 12 individuals plead, and I mean the ONLY reason was that there wat 100 jury membes sitting there waiting to be chosen to stand in judgement. That panel did more good for the state than had they just done one trial. And those were not fire sale pleads, the pleas were either open ended plea to guilty as charged with the only promise being not to file a habitual offender bill, or a harsh (over 15 years) determinant sentence. Y'all think there is a lot of wasted time-well there's not-you just sitting in the Courtroom does more than you can ever possibly imagine. As they say showing up is 90% of the job. So even though you think you are doing nothing and your time is being wasted, let me assure you that it is most decidedly not. As I told one of my clients charged with selling crack-"You see all those old white guys out there? Do you think they are going to buy your story? Your call, I'll give it my best but there's the people who are going to decide your fate. If you think they'll buy it-let's tee it up".
That's why I am so passionate about jury duty.

To Louisiana Joe
I hear you. When they plead them out to lesser charges-it's because either something has happened that just made the state's case go south, or more likely it plead out to what is should have plead out months prior but you have a hard headed DA. My usual experience in the 16th is that the Judges really are serious about not wasting Juror's time and they get really angry when the guy decides to accept the plea tendered a month earlier on the morning of trial. In the 16th 7 out of the 8 judges will not accept a plea bargain bargan the morning or trial, it's an open plea or tee it up.

To Damn Yankee
I would kill to be on a grand jury. For those who don't know, it is the investigative body that decides whether or not to indict. In Louisiana the grand juries are usually spoon fed by the DA's office, but my research indicates that once a grand jury is sworn their power to investigate and indict is damn near unlimited-no matter what the DA wants them to do. this is one reason why they try not to let lawyers on a grand jury . I can tell you this-if I am ever selected to be on a grand jury, first thing I am going to do is issue subpoenas to several people (they vcan do that) kick the ADA out of the room and get to indicting some people that need indicting
I will tell you this, if eve I am chosen for the grand jury pool and the Judge bumps me for a comflict because I am a lawyer-we WILL be in Federal Court. As far as there being a conflict with serving because you are an LEO-thqat's bravo sierra. As long as you are not the one actively investigating the crime-you can serve-I've litigated this-I had an LEO on a grand jury that indicted two of my clients.

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Forum consigliere

I've never been selected to serve but about a dozen years ago my Wife was in the pool for a murder case. Guy went to an adult movie house, stabbed and killed the clerk and stole money and videos. Was apprehended a short time later with the money, videos and blood on his clothes. (He said it was BBQ sauce). This was all reported in the media. My Wife obviously had some pre-conceived notions about the suspects guilt. I know in jury selection the attorneys ask potential jurors if they have any knowledge of the case. They are then asked if they would be able to set aside what they know and make their judgments based ONLY on the evidence presented in court. I understand that, but in a case like that, I don't really see how most people could just put aside all of that damning evidence. I know I couldn't. How would the judge deal with someone who said they couldn't do that?
By the way, Caj, who are you sending the bill for all this excellent legal advice?

Great post Caj, you have shown a side of the legal system that most of us never were aware of. Plea bargains have always reeked of how much can the miscreants get away with, obviously that is not always the case. I've been involved in criminal cases as a witness and/or victim and even spent an hour on the hot seat testifying before the Grand Jury in San Diego (representing the title company I worked for), in a forgery case. I would never want to be guilty of anything and sitting in front of a grand jury as it is a very intimidating experience. Thanks again for sharing.

They would be excused with thanks and rightfully so. Thee are enough people out there whio didn't see the news reports-or if not a venue change would be in order. You would be absolutely amazed at the amount of people who don't read the local papers or watch the local news. In our case-if it appears in the local paper, most people will say-and rightfully so-that the paper has never gotten anything rihgt before so why would they believe them now. But pre trial publicity is a problem. Some people can honestly put it aside and concentrate on what is oresented in Court-others can't. I tell people-you are not here to judge-you are here to objectively state whether or not the state has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that my client did X based solely on the evidence presented. If they can truthfully answer yes to that question-I'm gonna take them- cause if I am trying a case-it's either because my client is truly innocent or guilty of a lesser crime-or most often is guilty as sin and won't accept a plea in which case my job is to hold the state to their burden of proof and ensure a fair trial. Either way, I want jurors who can follow the law with no pre concieved notions or hidden agendas. I want my client to get a fair shake-that's it. It really isn't rocket science people .

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Forum consigliere

I just got a letter summoning me to lay aside all business and appear in Superior Court........

I've never been on a jury before, so I don't know what to expect. Most of my co-workers are tellling me that I'll get cut loose and sent back to work before lunchtime.

The questionaire asks several strange questions...
Have I ever been the victim of a crime?
Who has my car insurance? homeowners?
Have I ever filed a suit? Had one filed against me? Etc, etc.

I think it could be very interesting, but the more I think about it, the more I find myself dreading it. If the defendant is obviously guilty, I'm going to vote guilty with a clean conscience. If it's an 80 year old granny who gets nabbed for felony habitual violator jaywalking and they're pushing for 30 years hard labor...no way, no how.

I'm afraid it'll be a weak case and marginal evidence against a really bad criminal. No matter how you vote in a situation like that, you can never be sure you've done the right thing.

In the last several years, we have had notable trials for Tonya Craft and Brent Marsh. Being dragged into the middle of something like that can instill a deep sense of dread.

I don't think I have ever seen CajunLawyer so serious before. I agree jury duty is very important. I have been called 3 times but never served. Twice I never had to go to Court, just call every evening to see if they needed me the next day. Boss was not happy, not knowing if I was going to be at work the next day or not. But he lived with it. One time I went to Court and got has far as the jury selection process. It was a worker's comp case for a guy with a bad back. I am an Ironworker so I know lots of people who have been injured or killed on the job. They asked me if I knew anyone who had ever had a back injury, been hurt on the job, or had collected workers comp. I said yes to all of those. They decided I was not needed. The Judge thanked me for coming and sent me back to the jury room. They let us go home about 11:00 A.M. The rest of my time I just had to call in the evening. Cajunlaywer, I would be curious what you think about jury nullification?
Thanks, Waldo.

That's the way it is in my courtroom. I set a drop dead date in the case scheduling order that's a couple of weeks prior to the trial date. If they haven't done the plea agreement by that date, it's too late to do it later. I will take a cold guilty plea on all counts or nothing at all.

Louisiana Joe has a good point and, while Caj is absolutely correct about plea deals coming when Defendants see the whites of the jurors eyes, it has been my experience that the drop dead date generally avoids that problem. Believe me, those of us that work in the system really are aware of how inconvenient jury duty can be, and we really do try hard to make it as painless as possible.

As to the question posed by P@R Fan, if I get an answer like that from a potential juror, and if I believe he/she is sincere and not just jerking us around to try to get out of jury duty, he or she will be excused with my thanks. We don't ask that jurors be perfect or that they check their common sense at the courtroom door. We do ask that they answer the questions honestly and frankly and that they do the best they can, just like the rest of us.

Well said, Caj!

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Richard Gillespie
FBINA 102

I have never been selected and the one I did want to get on the jury I was rejected. probably for arguing with both attorneys. It was a murder trial that got plead to manslaughter. An uncle and nephew were burglarizing houses and at some point the nephew killed the uncle. The defense attorney most likely didn't want me because the maximum sentence was 99 years and I asked why not the death penalty? The prosecutor probably didnt want me because apparently self defense was going to be brought up and at that time the law in TX was you had to exit the house if possible. I claimed that was a stupid law. The judge did encourage jurors to ask questions and give feedback, so I did.

very first words out of my mouth would be to thank the judge for inviting me and it's about time I get a chance to display my very special talent in front of others.

Judge would then ask, "What talent?"

i would answer. I have the talent to tell if a man is guilty right off the bat. Just by the space between his eyes!!

I've been notified for jury duty four times. The first time was federal court. I sat around for two weeks with two hundered of my best friends and never even got selected to go to jury selection. The second time was state court. I was selected the first day from the jury pool. Got a murder trial, sequestered for over two weeks. He was guilty as sin and we convicted him on 1st degree murder charges. Third time was state court. Got selected for a jury on a B & E, resisting official detention and theft of property above $60,000.00. The trial should have been over in about two days, but the defence wanted an "Expert Witness" regarding the cost of replacement glass for the curtain wall glass that was broken out during the break-in that was caught on five different video cameras. When the defence asked for a sequestered jury and a three day continuance the judge refused, thank GOD. We found the defendant guilty on all charges. The fourth time I was notified was for Shelby County circuit court. I no longer lived in Shelby County, TN and got to tell them to shove it, after I faxed them copies of my DL, HCP, mortgage papers and utilities bill proving that I no longer lived in the county. As stated above by Caj, it is a DUTY to serve and I would gladly serve again if ever notified.

Class III

Take a good book to jury duty.

Jury duty is fine. I've been on 4 trials. (Berks County)
My wife got picked for Federal duty in Philadelphia (Grand Jury Duty)

Every Thursday for 18 months (50+ miles one way)

She's 8 months into it

She's also the forman or whatever they call it, so she stays later than the others and delivers the inditments to judges.

My wife actually really likes it! And, I think she feels proud that she's serving her country.