View Full Version : So I had Jury Duty today...
RYAN50BMG
10-08-2008, 17:53
Actually it started yesterday, but I had to go back today. I was not seated on a jury but had to stay until one was. I wanted to share a few thoughts. I have been summoned before, but this is the first time I have had to show up. As soon as most people get a summons, they think " Damn, how do I get out of it?" I have learned that's not the right answer. Jury Duty is as much a responsability as voting.Give it the respect that it is due. The future of MANY people hang on the decision that you have been entrusted to make. Do not take it lightly. If you were the defendant, or any party in the case, you would want the folks in the jury box to take the matter seriously ,too. If you have never been to jury duty, I have a few pointers. One: Show up, don't think that you will slip thru the cracks and no one will care, they will. Two: Be early, If it says show up at 0830, be in your seat at 0815. Not parking your car, not waiting to get thru security. Three: Listen to and follow instructions. Because one crusty old individual decided to sit in a different chair than the one assigned, two OTHER people that were there were reported as absent. Phone calls were made to their homes and places of work, chaos ensued. Four:Bring a pen and a book, or if your like me, "Black Hawk Down" on your Ipod. Ryan
HunterCO
10-08-2008, 20:27
I might have jury duty on the 17th I have to call the night before to find out if I need to show up. This will be my fourth time only had to actually show up twice so far. Once I was dismissed before I made it to a court room they had all they needed. The other time the public defender did not like my answer to a question and I was let go.
Chief_of_Scouts
10-08-2008, 20:55
Ryan, that is great advice, and I appreciate your sense of civil duty.
I was summoned to jury duty while I was deployed "overseas". Ironically, my date to be at the courthouse was the Monday after the weekend I arrived home on my leave. So obviously I was pissed that with just a limited amount of time home to do all the things I need and want to do, "they" were making me come in for jury duty. I even considered not going, since as far as they knew, I was deployed and they could not touch me.
In the end, I did my duty, went to the courthouse as ordered, was selected for a case and ended up as the jury foreman on a civil suit case.
I only sacrificed one day of my leave and when I got back overseas, I had an interesting story to tell my fellow soldiers about how I spent my leave.
The moral of the story is, do your duty...some people are doing "double" duty.
Chief
I've been sent 2 summons, but wasn't in the draw. Was selected back in Dallas, TX. We were taken from court room to court room where plea bargains were accepted as the jury showed up.
pickenup
10-08-2008, 22:42
Last time I went, I took a newspaper.
Next time it will be a book.
robsterclaw
10-08-2008, 22:44
Been called 3 times but only had to show up once. That once sucked donkey balls. Not the system, not the spending 4 days in a courtroom. The donkey ball sucking part was the complete morons on the jury with me. 2 other men which would go along with anything suggested if they could just go home. And 3 woman who had no common sense and had watched to many episodes of Judge Judy.
If I ever have to do it again, I hope they pick 5 other people who aren't wither stupid, or overly eager to get out of there.
Amen Brother!
When I received a Jury Summons a couple months ago. I gladly went. When all the prospective jurors sat down, the first thing the lady talking to all of us asked was; "Who is glad to be here?" Only 3 of us raised our hand.
I thought to myself how lucky we are to live in a country where we have a jury of our peers, not just some judge with an agenda. Our judicial, while not perfect is better than 99% of the other countries out there....
Yeah, so I gladly serve...
Actually it started yesterday, but I had to go back today. I was not seated on a jury but had to stay until one was. I wanted to share a few thoughts. I have been summoned before, but this is the first time I have had to show up. As soon as most people get a summons, they think " Damn, how do I get out of it?" I have learned that's not the right answer. Jury Duty is as much a responsability as voting.Give it the respect that it is due. The future of MANY people hang on the decision that you have been entrusted to make. Do not take it lightly. If you were the defendant, or any party in the case, you would want the folks in the jury box to take the matter seriously ,too. If you have never been to jury duty, I have a few pointers. One: Show up, don't think that you will slip thru the cracks and no one will care, they will. Two: Be early, If it says show up at 0830, be in your seat at 0815. Not parking your car, not waiting to get thru security. Three: Listen to and follow instructions. Because one crusty old individual decided to sit in a different chair than the one assigned, two OTHER people that were there were reported as absent. Phone calls were made to their homes and places of work, chaos ensued. Four:Bring a pen and a book, or if your like me, "Black Hawk Down" on your Ipod. Ryan
agreed that it's important
however, just from my few experiences with jury duty.. I've been called several times and only made it to selection 1x.
the process is totally hosed. its more of a joke, really. If they could streamline the selection process, it would be better. (ie- the lawyers and court could have more respect for our time)
with our economy being as f'd up as it is, they certainly need to ensure you're paid a full days wages for every day you miss.. it could ruin some house holds to miss a couple days from work.
I haven't been called in years. I have no friends and am a white male heterosexual.. certainly a minority w/o too many peers [;)]
The last time I was called. I showed up on time ready to go. I got called to Juror #1 and I thought I was in. Then came the questions regarding what I do for work. Then I immediately got kicked off. I really wanted to do it and I don't think I would have been biased. It was a domestic abuse case.
It still amazes me how many people are so against jury duty. Last time I was summoned I got annoyed because it turned out I was one seat away from even being an alternate.
Of course I'm come to find out I'm more in a minority. If I ever end up in court I want a group of people who take jury duty seriously and so each time I've been called I've gone ready to do my civic duty. So far not been on a jury.
roman gnome
10-09-2008, 21:00
The last time I had to show up was 9-11-01, took about 2 hrs to get everybody screened in and led upstairs. Shortly after that the first tower came down, they told us we were done and to leave the building in an orderly fashion.
The only time I was seated on a jury we showed up the next morning, the first witness called to the stand was a policewoman who after a couple minutes held up a mug-shot of the defendant,his lawyer turned red and asked for a sidebar with the Judge, he then proclaimed we had a mistrial,thanked us and sent us packing! [Coffee]
I was bummed!
The one time I showed up for jury duty i sat in a large room, hungover, for about 5 hours. I never talked to a single person, it was a complete waste of time. As i recall it, there wasn't a single person that day used for any trial.
I got another notice about 2 months ago, but it was for San Diego County, obviously i had to send the summons back stating i couldn't attend. I've since registered here in Colorado and will do my duty as i'm called upon. I understand my civic duty and all, but i'm the last person you want on your trial. I've worked as a medic for 7 years prior to my move out here, and my faith in people is gone. Everyone is a shithead as far as i'm concerned unless i know them...lol. That probably sounds harsh, but when you come across as many people as i have in my career, you develop that type of attitude.
RYAN50BMG
10-10-2008, 17:53
Sucka, I hear you screamin' brother. I posted my experience in the hopes that some one with the same feelings as you might look at jury duty in a little different light.
Everyone is a shithead as far as i'm concerned unless i know them...
Let me know when I've graduated beyond shithead status. [Sofa]
Let me know when I've graduated beyond shithead status. [Sofa]
You most certainly have [ROFL2][Beer]
I'm one-year retired .mil, and now registered to vote in my native CO... My jury summons showed up before my voter registration! [ROFL1]
Anyhow, it will be interesting and I've never done jury duty before. However, I suspect with my "history" I'll NEVER be picked, but I'm happy to be called.
B2
Did I say, HANG 'em all? [Beer]
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