Jury Duty - Pain or Privilege
 

I just got notified this weekend that I am to serve Jury Duty in July. Everyone that I talk to, friends neighbors, and even family seem to have a negative response though. I'm not quite figuring this out. My conversations have almost all gone like this.

Me:Guess what? I have jury duty next month.
Friend or neighbor: Oh, Ouch. Do you know how many days you gotta be there yet?

I realize that in my position I could be more negative about it because I am self employed. I don't get paid time off to show up for jury duty. I loose money if I can't get my Mom to help out. Even if I have my neighbor cover for me I'd be paying her to help and loosing my income for that day. The money from the court doesn't even come close to compensating.

Still, The people who've I've talked to who are negative about it seem to think it's a chore. I realize it could be boring to sit there through all the interviews of the lawyers, but still.
I personally see it as exciting. Probably not so the next time I have to go but most of these people have never even had jury duty so it's not old news to them yet. I see it as a chance to watch the law system in action, be a part of it, and do something new and different for a couple days. I must admit that part of my enthusiasm comes from being about to get out of the house without kids but it's only a small part.

Do you view Jury Duty as a chore? Or do you find it interesting, educational, and a privilege? Am I getting a skewed view because my town is half full of rednecks :p or is this a normal attitude?

have you been selected to serve on a jury or just to show up for juror selection? I've been summoned twice, one time I just sat around all day from 8-2 and around 2 we were told to go home, and that we had fulfilled our obligation for the year (so we couldn't be selected for JD again within the year). the second time I called the courthouse line and my juror number (i think around 400) was within the range that did not need to report. My wife has gone twice as well, but was never selected or even spoke with a judge or anyone and never had to go back.

So my advice is to call the number on the postcard you recieved the night before and morning of just to make sure you still have to report. Bring a book and write the day off. Odds are you won't be selected to serve on the jury. You probably won't even speak with anyone except for the person you check in with. - but then again I have no idea how big your county/city is, so who knows if its a lightly populated area you might have a better chance of getting some nice jury action.

A coworker of mine did get selected to serve on a grand jury once. 1 day a month for 6 months I believe...

I wouldn't mind doing it actually. 1 day a month for 6 months wouldn't be too bad. I guess most people are always thinking it's going to be 6 months of prison or something, but how often do these long drawn out cases actually happen?

The one time I've been called, I was really disappointed. My number had to show up for Monday and I made it as far as the courtroom for "questioning", but they filled the jury before they even asked me the 1st question so I didnt get to do anything :(

I always thought it would be really cool to be "sat" (I dont know if thats the correct term or not lol) and watch the goings on

I had a survey to fill out about a month ago. Then I got a letter with prospective dates. I am supposed to call the night before those dates to see if the court date is still set. If I do have to go in I will be interviewed by the lawyers then and may or may not be selected.

Our city population is only about 10,000 and we are the county seat. There is only one other town in our county that is even close to our population and that one is about 8,000 I think. Judging by that I think it's probably pretty likely I would get selected. BUT I have a few strong opinions with regards to drunk driving or child abuse so if there are any cases regarding those issues I may be disqualified quickly. Not that I'd want to be disqualified if I would be able to put my opinions into action.

If I do go in I do plan to workout backup care for my daycare kids for the entire day. I've been in the courtrooms at our county courthouse before so at least I won't have to be anxious about where to go.

I've never had to go, but since I'm both a plantiff's and defendant's attorney nightmare (from a civil standpoint), it's unlikely that I'll ever sit on a civil jury (lawyers don't like people who understand what liability actually is). I'm probably not fit for criminal jury duty since I have so many policeman friends and tend to think that district attorneys don't file charges against people without very good reason.

My greatest fear is that I'd somehow get drafted into duty for something like the Enron or OJ trial and be there for months on end. That would kill my career.

I served on a jury one time. Personal injury case--young black guy hydroplaned while driving the speed limit into an old white guy, sending him down an embankment, rolling his car three times, and breaking his neck. We ended up finding for the defendant because we couldn't see how there was any negligence. It was three days.

It was sort of interesting, and sort of depressing. Here was this old guy whose life was unquestionably altered and disrupted by this serious accident, and try as we might (and we did--at one point I was the lone dissenter), we couldn't come up with a way to find for him.

I'm just the opposite and tend to think that prosecutors and police will charge whoever they can conveniently make a case against regardless of innocence or guilt. We would probably get along great on the same jury.:)

I got my first call this January. Fortunately it was during a break, so it didn't interfere with my schedule. I was there for two days of Jury selection, and was eliminated without prejudice right before the end of the second day. It was interesting but incredibly boring and repetitive (jury selection, that is). I have newfound respect for people who make their living in a courtroom.

Privilige and civic duty to the community at large.

We all want the idea that maybe someone could cut someone a break, or maybe be the person to make the difference and secure the conviction ala 12 Angry Men.

I agree that it is both a privilege and a duty.

Nowadays when I think of a jury, I think of senior citizens, people who have no opinions about anything, people not clever enough to get out of jury duty, and a few civic minded non-senior citizens who are doing their duty.


Hardly a jury of your peers.

I always think of 12 Angry Men when I think about jury duty. Actually makes me want to do it. I want to be Juror 10.

I consider it a privilege. I've been called three times and served twice. A total of about four weeks time as a juror. Had I been chosen for the third I would have added about six months to that total (it was multiple homicide charges - and the DA went for death to boot). I guess lawyers like me for some reason.

My company pays 100% of my jury duty time, and I keep the jury duty pay as beer money - so these may be contributing factors.

I've served on 3 juries and returned verdicts on 2 of them.

Yes, it's my civic duty, but for awhile there, I was being called every frickin' year. Finally I told them I knew a prosecutor for the city (true) and guess what, I was never called again.

So go for it, but the downside (besides being there) is the reality doesn't measure up to TV, especially when you get a rape, beating and beating, like I did.

me too but i fear i'd be contrary if my fellow jurors pissed me off for breathin funny just to be contrary and i'd end up letting a mass murderer go free...

I can see why it's a pain, it's not a privilege for you to be on jury duty, it's a privilege for the person being tried to have you there to provide an unbiased view for a verdict.

I would say it's your civic duty as you would want some one to try you fairly. Some people always say "Oh, that could never be me. I would never be on trial because I wouldn't commit a crime," and yeah, that could be true, but the court's there to prove that you're innocent.

Personally I've been called on for jury duty once, but after filling out the application I was denied, which was a shame because I really wanted to do it.

I have never been called in, I'm not sure why. I pay my taxes, have a driver's license, and have a job.

I would probably not be a very good juror though. I am harsh, but I am fair. But there would be certain crimes where I would say people are guilty until proven innocent. And then there would be no way I could give out a huge cash award unless it was proven something really bad happened.

Juror #10: (Ed Begley) A garage owner, who simmers with anger, bitterness, racist bigotry; nasty, repellent, intolerant, reactionary and accusative; segregates the world into 'us' and 'them'; needs the support of others to reinforce his manic rants [10 - tie]

wild

My friend was called and didn't go, even though he was paid salary from his work anyway. That pissed me off as I didn't think he had a very good reason other than he just didn't feel like it (which I admit may be legit for some people, but not me). And then I briefly considered going in his place, since that's about the closest I'll ever come to sitting on a jury.

Then my wife was called in but shortly sent home once she told them she had a degree in criminology. I was annoyed with her (and them) because I thought she was likely the accused best chance at an impartial jurist.

I was served as soon as I moved to a new town, which surprised me for a couple reasons. I didn't bother going down to the courthouse, figured I'd save both their and my time and that they'd eventually realize their mistake. As fucked up as the court beauracracy is, I probably have a warrant. :rolleyes:


So there yah have it:
I want to serve, but can't.
I get annoyed when people can, but don't.
And for reasons you can derive for yourself, people with the most experience with the justice system (regardless of supportive or critical of it) are either formally prevented from participating or shown the door as quickly as their background is found out.

I haven't been called in years... probably more than 15 (and with that I will probably get a summons today :) The last time I got called, I got to the point where the attorneys were interviewing the potential jurors... the prosecutor gives my name and the judge looks up... Maryellen? he says... Hey, Judge, I say... And the judge goes on for a few minutes asking about my dad... and how i've been what i've been doing since college.. etc... :) the defense attorney is rolling his eyes... the prosecutor says - oh you are.... 's daughter... he sighs... NEXT!!! I got excused...

I called my dad that night... apparantly my dad bested him on more than one occassion and pretty much thought he was a putz... the judge however... had known my dad since their law school days... :D

I got a card to appear for jury duty about a month after I moved off to college. I thought it was odd that I would be summoned to jury duty in my college town instead of my hometown, but when I called the night before my scheduled date I did not have to go. If I did get selected I probably wouldn't get picked for the reason above.

PRIVILEGE!!!

While I realize that I am usually the only one on the jury who wants to be there, or who gives a crap, I love the idea that I can study and listen and think and make an informed decision that can positively effect society.

I wouldn't mind. I've been called 3 times, but every time it has been for someplace that I wasn't (home while attending college out of state, MA after moving to CT, and another that I don't recall), so I haven't served yet.

interesting thread. My wife is currently on her second day of Jury Duty. While we both view it as a duty, it's hardly a priviledge. After a day of sitting in the jury pool, she has not yet been interviewed or selected.

She is crossing her fingers that she will not be selected for any of the trials as the only opening in our daycare schedule is (coincidentally) this week. What she has noticed though that for drug trials, the lawyers are accepting black t-shirted younger men over middle aged professionals.

Anybody notice a trend as to the type of juror that is selected from the pool?

Priveledge and Duty.

Been called 3 or 4 times, served once (murder trial). I was pretty impressed. 12 people off the street doing their level best to apply the law. It was a difficult case and we deliberated for over a week before returning our verdicts.

I'd serve again, but would be suprised if I'd get through voire dire, as I would nullify under the right set of circumstances (and would so state).

Ya, I recognize and Know that it should be priviledge as well, but the one time I had to go to court was because the two punks who stole my van were claiming to be 'not guilty' so I had to leave work, confront his indignant mother (whom I dressed down as being a non-commital parent - long story, but basically she took offense to me showing up and ensuring that her son would get convicted AND wasting her time because she had to show up too) all so that this waste of time and money would get his just desserts.

From what my wife says, the trials are clogged with these people gumming up the process by playing the system. Mostly drug charges. One guy from yesterday was pleading not guilty to possession even though he had pot, heroin & crack, as well as $4 grand (American!!) in his pocket.

She's so jaded, that when she went before the judge for the selection, she said that 'where's there's smoke, there's fire'. The defense challenged her.

We had to juggle daycare, delay a business conferance, and expend transit costs just so that these guys can play the system.

I see this as a duty.

Yeah, forget 'Pain or Privilege' - it's called a 'duty' for a reason.

That said, I enjoyed the time I went for jury duty. It was interesting, and sort-of fun. Missing work did suck, and of course months-at-a-time would be a nightmare, professionally.

Ditto, although I admit serving is a pain in the ass for many people.

I was called about 10 years ago. I was questioned for three sepratate juries, but all 3 cases were dismissed or settled prior to opening arguments. Thought it would be interesting, but my god I've never been so bored in my life. The daily pace at which the judges and barristers work was excruciatingly slow. I had worked retail for several years, and then moved on to customer service in a call center. It drove me nuts waiting around and not being able to keep busy.

I was called to Jury Duty just last month. I didn't have to go. I checked in online requesting exemption as a student and recieved it.

Shit. I knew that when I got my driver's license in the Spring that a jury summons would soon follow. It arrived today and I no longer have an excuse due to lack of transportation.

I have a strong sense of civic duty, but I fear I will go ptsd if I have to walk into that courthouse again. It's been ten years and I am still not "over" the murder of my employee by my step-daughter's boyfriend.