That Duty...

[Irmi]

I hope things are more simple in FL than in MD. When hubby was chosen for the jury when he was on over the road truck driver, I contacted the court and explained the fact that he isn't home during the week because he drove all over the country. I was told that since they gave him ample notice for this particular date, he had to be there, so he lost a weeks worth of work. I understand it's our duty to do this, but sometimes I really wonder about the system.

[dayspring39]

The last summons I got was when I was driving school bus. I called and explained the situation and said I would be more than happy to serve during the summer so she changed me to summer.
I served that time on a drug case. In Michigan I was on a murder trial.
It is all so very interesting and am glad to serve if I am able.
Kathy Kathleen

[Cudedog]

I have served on more than one jury, and have always found it interesting.

One time I was called for Jury Duty when my daughter was 3 months old. I phoned in to see if I could be excused, or my service at least postponed (there was no child care available in my rural area), and was told "No. And if you don't show up you will be held in contempt, and liable for jail time".

Oh. Right.

So I popped my daughter in her backpack and we both showed up for jury duty. They tried to convince me that serving on a jury was more important than caring for my infant daughter (!) and that surely there was someone who could take care of her for me for the duration of the trial (!). I said if I was to be on jury duty, my daughter would be with me.

I was excused.

A few years later I was again called to serve, and was happy to do so at that time.

Anne

[snowball]

Never been contacted since being a residence of SD hmmm but then I can't recall ever being contacted other that perhaps once and think I
didn't have to go in...but that is a distance memory
sheila

[grammynmaggie]

I can be postponed for 30 days.. So that is when I applied for
I also find out when your 71 into order You can be excused permanently
donna

[SoCalGalcas]

When I was "registered" in TX, I was excused because of being 72 years old. When I was called here in San Diego recently, I told them I am much too hard of hearing! Which I am!
Many years ago I was called for a Federal Grand Jury. That was a case of sumgulling

[SoCalGalcas]

OH Heavens, I hit the wrong button....smuggling dope from MX to Los Angeles. Absolutely fascinating!!! I will never forget the details. However, I "felt" throughout the trial that the police had only caught the "little guys", not the brains behind the process.lyn

[MelissaD]

The last time I was summoned a "gentleman" was accused of trying to run some officers over with his car. He was also representing himself. Judge tried to get him to accept council's help. The "gentleman" was his own worst enemy. When the lawyer asked "if a police officer arrested someone do you think they are probably guilty" I said yes. They thanked me for my time and it was the last time I was called. I understand presumption of innocence but I have to believe there is at least a good reason before the police arrest someone and bring them before the judge in a trial.

[Liz]

Last time I was called, I didn't ask to be excused, but told them I would need audio assist due to my deafness. (Did that once when I served. The lawyers and witnesses wear mikes that feed to earphones that I wore.) I was excused and haven't been called since.

[Acadianmom]

I served on a jury for a case of manslaughter. The man on trial had about the worst lawyer. He must have been about 90 and hard of hearing. Thank goodness every one on the jury thought the trial was a big waste of everyones time. When the juriors were being picked I kept thinking the man on trial sure looked familial. That night when I told my DH that I had been picked and who was on trial he told me the man had been to our house to work his horse several times. We use to have a lot of people come to the house with horses. I told the judge that the next day but I still had to serve. Guess he thought that if I didn't recognize the man I didn't know him very well. The man that had died was the "town drunk" in a small town near here. He had been in 3 bars and 2 fights the night he died. The police finally picked him up, had someone drive his car to his house, they put him in his car and left him. He died from a subdural hematoma from either hitting his head or being hit in the head. The man's family was accusing the man on trial of causing his death when he threw him out of his bar. I'm just glad I didn't have to send anyone to jail.

Martha

[etexlady]

Years ago I was called to serve on a Grand Jury. The session lasted about six weeks and we met one day a week. The County Attorney brought information about cases and we decided whether to send the case to trial or not. There was no formal testimony but the plaintiffs sometimes appeared and were questioned. We heard every kind of case from murder to drug dealing to fraud. It was really interesting to learn what happens before a case is tried in a court. I've since been summoned for jury duty but have never been selected to serve.

[dpf]

I’ve never received a jury summons. But chances are if I ever am called I would not be chosen….I guess defense attorneys aren’t overly fond of prison employees on a jury. I can’t remember one person who works at the prison who has ever reported for jury duty who has had to serve. I’ve had to be a witness twice. Once for a child abuse case when I was teaching. Another time because I was on city council and a bar owner was suing the city because we refused to renew his liquor license. I am not impressed with most lawyers, I think they are legal bandits.

I’d never intentionally try to get out of serving because I once heard the statement “I was convicted by twelve people who weren’t smart enough to come up with a reason to get out of jury duty.” That’s kind of stuck with me.

[TABaker]

Petit and grand juries are completely different. In our circuit in IL, it's completely up to the judge assigned to the case as to whether you get service excused or postponed. Some are good about working with you, and some are not. Rarely, if ever, though is anyone is serious trouble for not attending. Actually, it's becoming quite a problem. You wouldn't believe the number of people that want "out" completely. That puts a lot of additional work on public officials to call in additional panels, not to mention expense. I'm a court reporter, so work with this issue fairly often. It shouldn't be an issue to move the time period. Also, most of the people who have to appear aren't actually chosen for that particular case for a ton of different reasons.

[JudyJB]

Last time I was called, it was 7 weeks after a knee replacement. I didn't think I could get an extension because I had already done that 3 months earlier because I was sick with the flu then. (I had gone back to work at 5 weeks because I had no sick time and could not afford the lost income.) I went in and really tried. I was put in a jury pool, but it took forever to even get us in to go through the selection process. About halfway through the second day of sitting on hard benches and not being able to prop my leg up comfortably, I told the judge I was in a lot of pain and on pain meds. He asked what kind, and I pulled out my prescription for Vicodin. It was an immediate dismissal.

Frankly, it was dumb of me to even try.