Jury duty...I didn't get picked

[ordy]

Got my summons and showed up at the county court house as ordered. There were 250 others in the assembly room and after sitting for an hour and a half, 100 got called (me included) to be interviewed for jury selection. I won't attempt to spell the French term for this process. The case was a young man accused of DUI, vehicular homicide, assault and resisting arrest. During the interview, the judge asked a bunch of questions:
Has anyone read anything about this case? A lot of people stood up. I didn't know anything about it so I remained seated.
Does anyone know the victim?.. Again people stood while I remained seated.
Many more questions and many more people stood while I remained seated.
About this time, I figured I was going to be selected on the basis that I had no check marks next to my name and I was OK with that. I have always thought that doing your civic duty is the price you pay for living in a democracy. Long story short, I was passed by when the jurors were called and I was shocked. After the jurors took their seats in the box, the judge thanked us and said we shouldn't think less of ourselves for not being selected which got a few chuckles. He then stated that we'd get another chance next year which got a few groans.

 

[REM 3200]

Maybe it was when you said, "Bring in the guilty *** and lets have a trial".

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Alltho summoned several times in the last few years, I explain in a timely fashion that I'm perscribed powerful pain medication and don't trust my own judgement at times, let alone deciding someone else's fate.

 

[ordy]

Alltho summoned several times in the last few years, I explain in a timely fashion that I'm perscribed powerful pain medication and don't trust my own judgement at times, let alone deciding someone else's fate.

If that were my situation, I'd do the same thing. It's ironic to me that so many people try to get out of jury duty and wind up serving while I'm more than willing and get passed over.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I've been called for jury duty three times in my life and have never been picked either. As soon as they learn I was a firefighter, and have a brother, son, and father-in-law who are or were in law enforcement, I'm out...

 

[Damn Yankee]

I never get picked either and I always tell them, I can tell if they are "Guilty" just by looking at them.

 

[MasterTech1960]

The phrase " Get a rope " usually gets me removed from the jury pool.

 

[sigp220.45]

I got called for jury duty a couple of months ago, for the first time. As a current LEO I didn't think I'd get picked, but I answered all the questions honestly and didn't try to duck out of it and wound up in the jury box.

It was a short trial - a DV case with some problems but I thought the prosecutor met his burden and wound up the lone vote to convict. It was a lively time in the room for a while and I made no friends at all. It wound up 10-2 to convict, and at that we were deadlocked.

It was a good experience. I've sat with the federal prosecutor during many trials over the years, but it was a whole different deal sitting in the box.

 

[Salty RI]

I thought you were going to say that you were the only one still sitting and didn't get picked.

 

[BB57]

I've been called for jury duty three times in my life and have never been picked either. As soon as they learn I was a firefighter, and have a brother, son, and father-in-law who are or were in law enforcement, I'm out...

I've only been called once, and when I walked in, I was immediately dismissed, given my law enforcement/investigation back ground.

It's unfortunate, as I'm probably better able than most jurors to evaluate evidence and credibility of witnesses and testimony.

 

[ordy]

one of the questions asked was if anyone was (or was related to) a leo or court official. Oddly, no one stood up. I wondered why being a leo or court official made a difference.

 

[DWalt]

"I won't attempt to spell the French term for this process."
It's Voir Dire, which means something like "speak the truth." Both prosecuting attorneys and defense attorneys can strike any juror candidates whom they feel would be likely to vote against their respective interests. It has been my experience from many appearances on selected jury panels the Voir Dire does have a major influence on selection, and also speech and mannerisms. It has also been my observation that any juror candidate who appears to speak well, has any level of higher education, and generally seems to have above-average intelligence WILL NOT have much chance of being selected. I remember one case in which I was called, one of the juror candidates during Voir Dire made a comment which contained the phrase "Scumbag Lawyers". He was dismissed on the spot and told to leave the courtroom immediately. You might keep that phrase in mind if you really want to get out of jury duty.

 

[Engine 21]

So, basically voir dire = speak the truth, which of course the attorneys don't want you to do because it makes their case look bad. scumbag lawyers

 

[Taurus627]

Forgive me for getting a bit nit picky but this great nation we live in is not a democracy but actually is a constitutional republic.
There is a difference.

Back to our regularly scheduled discussion! Thank you.

 

[Jack Flash]

My Dad was called to the jury pool for a case involving some minorities caught shipping cocaine from Detroit to Toledo. The miscreants were stopped in his county, on the freeway not far from his property.

He was an retired farmer / factory worker who had worked hard manual labor 12 to 16 hours a day all his life, a wounded veteran of WWII, who never had a run-in with the law his entire life.

Gosh, I wonder why he was rejected immediately?

 

[DWalt]

Another thing that will get you immediately kicked off during the jury selection. During Voir Dire, just mention something about "Jury Nullification." You will probably leave the courthouse more quickly than the guy who said "Scumbag Lawyers." Seems as though most lawyers and judges do not want jurors to know that the jury's opinion can totally ignore what the law says.

 

[O2Guy]

Alltho summoned several times in the last few years, I explain in a timely fashion that I'm perscribed powerful pain medication and don't trust my own judgement at times, let alone deciding someone else's fate.

Since you are posting on the Smith & Wesson Forum I would expect that you own a firearm or firearms. No matter if your above statement is true or meant to be a joke it does show poor judgement to post it on an open forum.

 

[walkin jack]

I received a jury summons last Monday. THIS TIME I had the distinct pleasure of going on line and filling out the exemption form. I'll be 71 by the time my court date rolls around and folks 70 and older can opt out if they want to.

 

[kantuck]

Even though neither my wife nor I are natives of our rural county we never get picked. Too many careers makes the lawyers worry that we are unpredictable, hard to stereotype,etc..
My wife did serve on a long huge Federal drug case many years ago in Lexington,KY. She drove the 3 hrRT many times too and we had 3 little boys back then. Interestingly, one older guy serving with her was illiterate. My wife an educator took him in hand so to speak, and read the stuff to him. Always bothered us that someone on a very complicated trial serves yet hardly able to comprehend. I did serve once too and many on jury had little real insight into what was actually presented. I'm not trying to say how smart either of us might be-my point is how poor many people read or listen. teaching school helps us understand this. If I ever have to be on trial I hope that works in my favor-I guess?

 

[kantuck]

Since you are posting on the Smith & Wesson Forum I would expect that you own a firearm or firearms. No matter if your above statement is true or meant to be a joke it does show poor judgement to post it on an open forum.

Typical shot taken at a web post here. It's not like most of us are writing a thesis every time we make a comment!
After shoulder surgery i was on OXY-yes, the same **** that has a bad name in my area from much abuse of pills brought back from FL pain pill mills/pharmacies. I probably would not have been a very good shot during the two months I needed the pills to sleep-at all! otherwise i hated them with a passion as they make you feel like ****. Abusers crumble them for more effect, me I tolerated them for what was needed at the time and quit ASAP as they mess with yer bowels something awful!

I could have made that same statement, I suppose is my point.
Maybe some insight is helpful at times but tread lighter huh?