Uggh. Jury duty!

[Patrick L]

Well they got me. It seems they've missed me for decades. I need to report this morning.


I have mixed feelings. This is a major pain in the butt, even for a retired guy like me. Part of me just wants to get rejected. On the other hand, it's the way our system works, and I'm glad that's the way our system works. If I were ever arrested for something, would I want my jury to be made up of the dregs and leftovers??? I guess we'll just see.

 

[ridewv]

Hopefully it doesn't drag out for you.

I was selected last year for duty, selected as a potential for a trial, but not chosen. As far as the case it was a complete waste of time for all involved. A known crook sold himself as a roofer and took on a roof replacement job, and $6,000 "up front money" from the client. Then never showed up or ordered the material and refused to give the money back. Needless to say he was found guilty. I have no idea how he even found a lawyer to take that case.

 

[djohns6]

I'm retired and wouldn't mind serving . Something to do . My son is a Deputy so that gets me rejected every time .

 

[mtgianni]

I have served on two and was rejected for a third. I am up again for this year. When asked if I could serve on the form I told them I needed plenty of Mt Dew and pee breaks.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Ohio lets the counties determine the specifics of your duty, but only allows $15 a day for your service. Not allowed more than once in two years. I've been in the general pool 4 time in one county and twice in another. The better/easier was Delaware County. Starts on Tuesday or Thursday, one week month for 4 months. You call in the night before and they inform you if report or not this week!

Out of a grand total of possibly being on a jury 16 times, I was seated in the jury box for three trials. On two of those times, it settled without a trial. The one trial I was a jury member, we sent a child molester to prison. It is a minor PITA, but it keeps out streets a lot safer.

Franklin County (where Columbus is located) jury duty for the general pool is: Monday through Thursday for two consecutive weeks. If they don't you by 11:30 then you are free for the rest of that day.

Ohio law only allow the jury commission to pay for one other thing: Parking.

Ivan

 

[Retired W4]

The only time I had to show up I was rejected. I had a hard time hearing one lawyer so out I went. The only time my severe hearing loss was a good thing.

Maybe you should try it Patrick, although you have probably already left for the court house.

 

[TXBryan]

You won't regret doing your "duty." You are correct that if one of "us" ever needed a competent jury we'd sure like to have access to one.

I have been called three times in two states and served on a jury only once but it was a doozy. Capital murder trial in Austin, TX where two drug dealers were robbing a third and the fellow being robbed was shot and killed. Apparently if you bring along a gun and it gets used to kill someone while you are committing a robbery in Texas it is classified as a capital crime.

Six days of education about a slice of life I knew very, very little about. Perpetrator was guilty as could be, we deliberated for about two minutes, and a liberal judge gave him the minimum 20 years sentence. He was out in less than five. The whole thing was an education.

Bryan

 

[mckenney99]

I got my summons to report next Monday. This is the 4th time to be summoned. The first 2 times I was still active duty LE and immediately got excused. Last time I had to report and spent the better part of the day in jury selection and didn't get picked. I wouldn't mind setting a Grand Jury but I have an untreated medical issue that is extremely unpredictable and can flare up 1-3 times a week or not occur for 2 weeks. Not sure how the "untreated" part will play with the judge but there is NO WAY to predict when I will be affected and I could be fleeing the jury box/courtroom multiple times an hour. In my "normal" life of being retired and rarely leaving the house the condition is not much of an issue.

 

[soFlaNative]

The last couple times I had to report I found that simply asking basic questions when permitted was one way to be rejected.

 

[NYlakesider]

If they suspect you know about Jury Nullification you will be Persona None Grata real fast.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Funny (to me) jury story. A scam artist was suing a business owner; long story, all BS.

When being questioned during voire dire, the plaintiff's lawyer went first, and I answered all questions honestly, and he accepted me as a juror. The defense lawyer's first question to me was to ask what I did for a living. At the time I was a claims representative for a federal agency. When I answered, he just smiled and said "no further questions, this juror is acceptable to us".

It took us two minutes of deliberation to find the business owner not at fault. I've never been prouder of my fellow Carolinians.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Did it once. Spent most of a week sitting in the 'pool' room.
Free coffee, soda and water. Also free courthouse parking.
Got called, was rejected and demeaned by Defense Lawyer.
He pissed me off and I got the feeling that the accused folks had more rights in court than I did.
Finally, was selected. Crazy case, 'separated' married couple still living together. Husband accused of threatening Wife. He grabbed his cellphone charge wire with both hands while talking on the phone and glaring at wifey!

 

[Rob613]

I've never had to report, have always got the don't report message when calling in.

My work pays my full salary as long as I turn in the jury pay…I'd take a nice two week trial.

 

[WardenRoss]

The irate judge read the following to our 250 person jury pool waiting to be assigned to a docket...

Who can be excused from jury duty?

You are entitled to be exempted from jury duty if you:

- Are 70 years of age or older and you have submitted a signed request asking to be permanently exempt (located on the reverse side of your summons)

- Have a permanent physical/mental medical disability and you have submitted a signed medical excuse from your physician to jury services (located on the reverse side of your summons)

- Are a full-time student

In other words...I don't want to hear any other excuses!


I'm a retired Peace Officer and the dude beside me is a city PD Officer currently working. We both know that we were going to be cut. We look at each other and shrugged our shoulders. We don't dare raise our hands after hearing the judge's tirade.

Two days later, being assigned to an aggravated assault case, the judge interviews each of us perspective jurors.

"Stand and tell me about yourself and if you are related to anyone associated with anyone in this room."

At his turn, the city PD Officer rose and said "I'm Police and..."

"What?" yells the judge. Then he proceeds to chew-out the DA. Big time.

"Anyone else in law enforcement?" shouts the judge.

I stand and explain that I'm a 30 year, now retired from service, still certified peace officer. Also, that I put a note on the summons before responding.

The judge then again chastises the DA.

"Sir, you may depart and the court recognizes an apology is due you."

I made haste and flew the coop.

I heard that jury only debated 20 minutes and returned a guilty verdict.

The ex-convict offender had unloaded his Glock 17 at his girlfriend's Honda Accord as she sped away. Her infant was in the carseat in the back seat. They both miraculously were missed.

Lord knows, I've spent too many days in a court room. I'm glad to be through with all that.


,

 

[fordson]

Had a work colleague who was called to jury duty. During jury vetting, he was asked by the defense attorney if he thought the defendant was guilty of the charges. His reply: "He (the defendant) wouldn't have been arrested if he wasn't".
He was excused from serving……..

 

[jeffrefrig]

Now, I think I could enjoy the entertainment value of that case THE PILGRIM was on. Especially if the couple lived in a trailer park. When I got the letter to serve over in Beaver County, I sent in the reply paper saying I would be proud to serve on a jury as long as the fact that I'm on probation in Butler County doesn't matter. I wasn't asked to report. When I was invited to jury duty here in Allegheny County, I was going to be interviewed next but we were already late for lunch. After lunch break they decided they had enough bodies so they let us go home. I wouldn't mind serving now since I'm retired, but I don't think I could honestly hold someone's fate in my hands if they looked like some dirtbag.

 

[Krogen]

I will serve when called. I am duty-bound. My personal opinion, perhaps not everyone's.

I served on a civil case one time that stretched a couple of weeks. That one taught me that one can be sued for darn near anything, and that "feelings" not logic can rule in the jury room. It certainly underlined that I never want to be the defendant in a jury trial.

Despite its flaws, I'll take our system over those in a number of other countries.

 

[dave1918a2]

Here in S.D. Jury duty is for 6 months. Not a lot of trials in the Black hills so I may not even be called.

 

[lihpster]

We had a problem here awhile back, maybe 20 years now, where people wouldn't show up for jury duty. Enforcement was lax and people just ignored the summons. Finally, one of the judges got sick of it. When told they didn't have enough jurors to seat a panel, he called the bailiff to the bench and ordered him to go out on the street and bring the first 12 people he saw back to serve as a jury. So, that was done, and it made the news and suddenly there were Deputies tracking down those who ignored the summons. Contempt of court charges and some overnight stays in the greybar hotel convinced people that it was not only their civic duty but, in their interest, to follow the law.

 

[WCCPHD]

In my county in NC they don't care if you are current or retired law enforcement. Here they use a "One day, one trial" method. You are put into a very large jury pool and can be called for a District (misdemeanor) Court Civil case, a Superior (felony) Court Civil or Criminal case. IF you are not seated on a jury then you only stay there one day. IF you are seated, then there for the duration of the trial.