Jury duty [Archive] - Colorado AR-15 Shooters Club Discussion Forums

Aloha_Shooter

05-10-2016, 19:09

I'd LIKE to get called up. I've been called for jury duty twice, once for a court-martial while on active duty, once as a civilian when I retired. Got dismissed from the court-martial because my O-6 was president of the court and got a phone message that the civilian court didn't need me (they filled their pool before they got to my number).

Snowman78

05-10-2016, 19:27

I have had the honor of sitting on two trials. One was a
Civil matter and one was a criminal matter. I truly
enjoyed both.

Gman

05-10-2016, 19:28

The closest I've been is first alternate. They excused a juror and I was asked to move over into the jury. A soon as my butt hit the chair, I was excused. I doubt I will ever be on a jury in a trial. I think it's apparent that I lack the moral flexibility to suit either side.

I have heard that wearing 'statement' apparel could get you hit with a contempt charge, but that may have just been BS.

Sent from my Galaxy S7 Edge using Tapatalk.

Ridge

05-10-2016, 19:43

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87w655s3xKc

gnihcraes

05-10-2016, 19:48

Go.

I was on a jury back in 2015, two bozo's on the jury couldn't get past the "dumb" law. (DUI case) Let their feelings get in the way of the "law" and what the court told us was on the books.

We gave up. Court had to go for a third jury and attempt at convicting. Waste of time and $.

Batteriesnare

05-10-2016, 19:50

Have a pocket copy of the Constitution sticking out of your shirt pocket.

Also, if you'd prefer not to be called, take a copy of Grossman's "On Killing."

Great-Kazoo

05-10-2016, 21:02

I have had the honor of sitting on two trials. One was a
Civil matter and one was a criminal matter. I truly
enjoyed both.

My wife has been on 3 juries, 1 a very high profile. All 3 were a learning experience.

I understand the want to avoid JD. However how can we as gun owners (ok some of us) complain about a fellow gun owner not getting a fair trial. IF we don't participate.

.455_Hunter

05-10-2016, 21:05

I got called to my first jury duty in Jeffco in my late 20's. I doned my finest grunge- shaggy hair, knit beanie, goatee, assorted hemp necklaces, snowboarder hoodie, worn out jeans and flip flops. Somehow, I ended-up being the foreman, and actually ended-up calling the junior DA and the public defender back into the jury room to ream them both for doing a horrible job and wasting tax payers money. I guess being an engineer and prior service Army O3 got me stuck with the job. Maybe I will just go barefoot next time...

In truth, I actually enjoyed it and would be proud to serve again if called.

Big E3

05-10-2016, 21:33

I've been called three times for jury duty. Every time you tell them you are an engineer they dismiss you. Neither side wants anybody on the jury thinking logically.

vossman

05-10-2016, 22:18

I'll have to try that.

Bailey Guns

05-10-2016, 22:21

I got a jury summons from Park County (Colorado) yesterday. They sent it to my address in Idaho. And it's not a fluke. Wife got one from Park Co about a month ago. SMFH...

kidicarus13

05-10-2016, 22:41

Have a pocket copy of the Constitution sticking out of your shirt pocket.

Cliven Bundy style

BushMasterBoy

05-10-2016, 23:05

Allahu Akbar!

Just say it to everybody there...

StagLefty

05-11-2016, 05:22

Well up early and getting ready for my tribulatiom. I've been on duty 3 times before I just was surprised that at my age I would still be called. I wasn't trying to get out of it but I'm sure my bladder won't be happy today !!!

GilpinGuy

05-11-2016, 05:36

I got a jury summons from Park County (Colorado) yesterday. They sent it to my address in Idaho. And it's not a fluke. Wife got one from Park Co about a month ago. SMFH...

The only time I got a notice it was for Jefferson County. I live in Gilpin County and never lived in Jefferson. Weird.

My wife kept getting them when she wasn't even a US citizen yet. The efficency of government.....

Gman

05-11-2016, 06:21

My wife kept getting them when she wasn't even a US citizen yet. The efficency of government.....
My first wife got one about 3-4 months after she died. I had to contact Douglas County to let them know that she would be unable to attend. [fail]

kidicarus13

05-11-2016, 06:22

The only time I got a notice it was for Jefferson County. I live in Gilpin County and never lived in Jefferson. Weird.

Same judicial district.

Alpha2

05-11-2016, 06:49

I was first called up last year, at the age of 61. I enjoyed the experience. My employer pays your full salary for the whole thing, up to two weeks. So I got that, plus the 50 bucks. There was a bookshelf in the jury room, and one of the novels there was "Kill All The Lawyers", I was amused.

StagLefty

05-11-2016, 07:46

Wow-free wifi !!!

Martinjmpr

05-11-2016, 08:27

I have had the honor of sitting on two trials. One was a
Civil matter and one was a criminal matter. I truly
enjoyed both.

I was summoned for jury duty when I was 22, it was a great experience. Trial took 3 days I think. It was an insurance fraud trial and the defendant was guilty as hell. I ended up being the jury foreman and I enjoyed it a lot. So much so that I decided to study law when I went back to college in 1996.

I understand the want to avoid JD. However how can we as gun owners (ok some of us) complain about a fellow gun owner not getting a fair trial. IF we don't participate.

Yeah, this too. People bitch about jurors being stupid, letting criminals walk, convicting innocent people, outrageous civil awards, etc, but then a lot of those same people do everything they can to get out of jury duty. :rolleyes: So what do you want? A jury of people who are intelligent and who care about what happens in society or a jury of slack-jawed mouth breathers who are only there because they weren't clever enough to get out of it?

If you look around the world, you'll see that "lay juries" (that is, juries made up of people who are ordinary citizens and not legal professionals) are pretty rare. In fact, to my knowledge the only countries that have lay juries are Commonwealth countries (i.e. the UK and its former colonies) and the US.

As a member of the bar I assume I'll never be seated on a jury again, though I wouldn't mind doing so. It really is an interesting experience if you approach it with an open mind.

newracer

05-11-2016, 08:48

I would like to sit on a jury. I have lived in Larimer County for almost 30 years and have only been called once, the defendant took a deal right before selection started.

My wife sat on the jury for a murder trail. She said it was very interesting and really enjoyed it. They found the guy guilty.

GilpinGuy

05-11-2016, 09:26

Same judicial district.

I called them and told them what's up and they said "Ok, disregard".

tmckay2

05-11-2016, 14:09

I would love to be on a jury but the financial situation would be awful for me. My wife stays at home with the kid and while we have a sizeable chunk in savings we couldn't afford to burn through it for nothing. $50 a few? Get real. And I believe my company only pays full pay for 3 days. If it was nothing big it would be fine but a longer case and I would be screwed.

MarkCO

05-11-2016, 14:29

There are only a few on this board I would not encourage to fullfill their civic duty by serving on a jury.

My wife has been called twice and was seated both times.

I was called three times and my number came up once. I was sure I would get rejected...was selected for a criminal trial and was voted to be the jury foreman.

Let's see, best friend is a cop, involved female officer was a partner of my wife's best friend's brother. I had testified in front of the same judge as an expert, have a professional license, NRA member, told the PD I thought most sentences were too lenient during jury questioning. Answered that drugs and alcohol use is no excuse for behavior no matter how "out of it" a person was.

It was a very interesting process and I was happy to do it and would do it again if called.

StagLefty

05-11-2016, 17:51

That was a long day. Seated on criminal assault/harassment. Evidence was pretty straight forward. Guy was guilty but one juror felt he was completely innocent with no good reasoning. Took awhile to convince him he was guilty,guy who was foreman did an outstanding job !
Hopefully that's my last time, bladder was not happy at all. Haha

Irving

05-11-2016, 18:53

Glad to hear it!

mtnrider

05-11-2016, 20:37

Son of a biscuit! I just got a notice today.

This is about the 8th time I have been called up, lucky me. My wife has only been called up once in her life? I'm not sure how they run this but I wish the lottery was run the same, I would be a rich man!

.,

gnihcraes

05-11-2016, 21:36

Jury wheel. Every time you move or change a voting record in some form, it comes back into the pool sooner than others. Selection comes from voter, dmv, county records and various other sources.

I've been called a couple of times, county/district/city and the wife hasn't been called at all.

Each year, the Judicial Branch receives lists of names including registered voter records, drivers’ licenses, non-driver ids, and state income tax records.

BladesNBarrels

05-12-2016, 09:12

As a member of the bar I assume I'll never be seated on a jury again, though I wouldn't mind doing so. It really is an interesting experience if you approach it with an open mind.

I thought this was true also. The last time I was called in JeffCo, the Judge relayed that he had been called and served on a jury. It totally surprised him. He admitted that he gained a lot of insight being on the other side as a Juror. Jury Duty is a responsibility of citizenship.

Circuits

05-12-2016, 10:13

As a member of the bar I assume I'll never be seated on a jury again, though I wouldn't mind doing so. It really is an interesting experience if you approach it with an open mind.

My dad and I were having this same conversation just yesterday - being a lawyer does not disqualify you from jury participation in most jurisdictions, and may come down to an individual trial issue, as to whether a lawyer will 'unduly influence' other members of the jury, through their knowledge of the law, or training related to court procedures.

There are places and instances in which simply being a lawyer will excuse you from jury duty, but it is by no means universal, or even (in CO) likely - totally up to the trial judge. Dad even mentioned instances of judges and former judges being called to serve as jurors.

Martinjmpr

05-12-2016, 13:57

My dad and I were having this same conversation just yesterday - being a lawyer does not disqualify you from jury participation in most jurisdictions, and may come down to an individual trial issue, as to whether a lawyer will 'unduly influence' other members of the jury, through their knowledge of the law, or training related to court procedures.

There are places and instances in which simply being a lawyer will excuse you from jury duty, but it is by no means universal, or even (in CO) likely - totally up to the trial judge. Dad even mentioned instances of judges and former judges being called to serve as jurors.

I agree but my assumption has always been that one side or the other would use a peremptory challenge to remove a lawyer from the jury for fear that the lawyer might unduly influence the rest of the jurors or might apply his or her own knowledge of the law vs the explanation of the law that the court wants the jury to apply.

Richard K

05-12-2016, 16:33

I've been summoned three times but never got on a jury. As a retired LEO I don't think I ever will unless it's for a civil trial. My big fear is being sequestered for a 3 or 4 month trial. Can you imagine being a juror on the OJ Simpson trial and being sequestered for over a year?

Limited GM

05-12-2016, 22:09

I've been called and they cancelled both times. I'd like the experience. Knowledge is power and all that.

my mom was on a high profile case and one juror, read a book the whole time they were discussing in the back room, just told them she'd go with whatever they thought. Scary stuff right there.c

jhood001

05-12-2016, 22:59

I understand the want to avoid JD. However how can we as gun owners (ok some of us) complain about a fellow gun owner not getting a fair trial. IF we don't participate.

Exactly. We all piss and moan about the system and then when given the chance, *some* of us try to find a way out.

Do it. Do it long and do it hard. And reap the satisfaction that comes with actually doing it.

rfizzle

05-13-2016, 12:13

Got a summons for this week as well, drove up to Greeley on Wednesday. They looked at the "occupation" box and pulled me aside to excuse me.

About 8 years ago I sat on an attempted murder case, took a week and half. I still can't believe I was selected, I was in the hiring process with two LE agencies at the time and I disclosed that information to the court. Really interesting to be a part of it, has given me a lot of insight now on this side of things.

I'd do it again, but I'll never selected.

Jeffrey Lebowski

05-14-2016, 07:43

I was called several times in college, but was excused because I was in college 90 minutes (and many counties) away. My DL, voter reg, etc was kept "home" because my dad wanted my vote in local politics.

I've only been called once to JeffCo in 12 years here. My wife has been called a few times early on when she was registered D (go figure, and she's not anymore). Much like with the engineer, I've been told physicians and pharmacists are often booted quickly too, but they wanted to keep her badly one time and she had a pharmacy student.
"What does your husband do?"
Pharmacist as well.
"Why can't he take your student?"
[facepalm]

She got out for that, although she would've been fine staying if it didn't cause so much interruption because of the student. I had the nastiest cold on the day I was called. Sat in the room snotting everywhere and luckily ALL cases settled early without court so they sent everyone home.

I'm indifferent to it for the reasons noted. I'd probably rather not be around "my peers" but at the same time very much agree with what Martinjmpr and Jim note.

TennVol

05-16-2016, 12:00

I was called for jury duty several years ago. The jury selection process took over two days & I was the last person who was excused. After seeing the room full of people who were there, I would be terrified to be on trial and have to trust my fate to a jury. You wouldn't believe the stories these people had and all the reasons they said they couldn't serve on that jury. I would not consider 80% of those people in that room to be my peers. If you have to be on trial and you have to trust your fate to a jury of your "peers", good luck to you (especially if you are innocent)!

Limited GM

05-16-2016, 13:35

Exactly. We all piss and moan about the system and then when given the chance, *some* of us try to find a way out.

Do it. Do it long and do it hard. And reap the satisfaction that comes with actually doing it.

Exactly. Can you imagine being in a justified shooting, find yourself on trial, look at the jury and only see mouth breathers? Scary stuff.

Guylee

05-16-2016, 14:34

this thread reminds me that I had jury duty today, and completely forgot. Uh...oops?

Great-Kazoo

05-16-2016, 14:48

Exactly. Can you imagine being in a justified shooting, find yourself on trial, look at the jury and only see mouth breathers? Scary stuff.

Or look like this forums avatars.

hurley842002

05-16-2016, 15:44

this thread reminds me that I had jury duty today, and completely forgot. Uh...oops?

Don't tell me you are one of those members who shun technology? Calendar reminder on your phone perhaps?

Gman

05-16-2016, 18:22

Don't tell me you are one of those members who shun technology? Calendar reminder on your phone perhaps?
What is this technology you speak of...what the hell is a calendar?

Rooskibar03

05-16-2016, 18:52

this thread reminds me that I had jury duty today, and completely forgot. Uh...oops?

I did that last time too. Got the summons and spaced it until that day. Remembered @ around noon and called clerk and told her i forgot to appear. Her response "well I guess we will be seeing you tomorrow then"

Martinjmpr

05-16-2016, 19:41

I did that last time too. Got the summons and spaced it until that day. Remembered @ around noon and called clerk and told her i forgot to appear. Her response "well I guess we will be seeing you tomorrow then"

"...in HANDCUFFS!" [ROFL2]

alan0269

05-16-2016, 19:57

I'm not sure why jury duty is looked on as a bad thing. I've served on a couple juries, and found both cases rather interesting. [Dunno]

gnihcraes

05-16-2016, 20:26

"...in HANDCUFFS!" [ROFL2]

Nope, but they will make ever effort for you to serve your time. Then you're off the hook for a year. I'm a bit puzzled that they just didn't give you a new date a few weeks out.

Guylee

05-17-2016, 20:43

Nope, but they will make ever effort for you to serve your time. Then you're off the hook for a year. I'm a bit puzzled that they just didn't give you a new date a few weeks out.

They called back today and rescheduled for next Wednesday. No harm, no foul I guess.

gnihcraes

05-17-2016, 22:26

They called back today and rescheduled for next Wednesday. No harm, no foul I guess.

sounds more like what they should have done.

kwando

06-10-2016, 07:59

Going today to Arapahoe County, even though I just moved to Elbert. Let's see how my day pans out

CO Hugh

06-10-2016, 10:29

Going today to Arapahoe County, even though I just moved to Elbert. Let's see how my day pans out
Call and check with the jury commissioner. I don't think you are eligible if you don't reside in the county.

kwando

06-10-2016, 12:56

Call and check with the jury commissioner. I don't think you are eligible if you don't reside in the county.

Yea I was dismissed. Said I will get another call for Elbert.

yz9890

06-10-2016, 14:44

One of my brothers is an attorney. He's seen lots of funny stuff people do to get out of jury duty. Had a guy show up for the voir dire in a storm trooper costume once. Others prefaced their responses with "according to the prophecy" or "according to Starfleet regulations". Unfortunately for many of them, they find out that there is no real due process for a finding of contempt. No conviction needed for 5 days in jail and a $1000 fine.

I don't mind it though. I've asked for postponement a couple of times. Once was granted and the other was just excused. I've been summoned 5 times and have yet to even make it to the selection process and see the judge and attorneys. They always find enough jurors before they get to me.