I just got my summons today to report for jury duty--in about a month.  I don't know anybody else but my parents to ask about this, and I'm not too sure they'll tell me all the "scary details" if there are any-- ???--so, have any of you ladies ever been a juror?  I would be REALLY interested in your experiences/advice!  I can't imagine myself sitting in a courtroom, in the jury box, but........ ::) ::) ::)

Oh well, stranger things have happened!

I don't think there are many scary details. I hear it's just extremely BORING and TIME-CONSUMING and you should bring some knitting, or crochet, or some sort of activity that you can do while talking.

Knitting, crochet, cross-stitch, things like that.

Anais

Definately bring a book, knitting or SOMETHING to occupy your time.  There shouldn't be anything to be afraid of - you will be told everything you need to know.

What kind of jury duty have you been called for?  I served on a murder case back in the late 70's.  I spent 8 weeks in the court house.  I had small cross stitch projects to work on.  Some days we would spend only 20 minutes in the court room - the rest of the time we sat in the juror waiting area or a sequestured area.  I managed to make ALL my Christmas presents during those 8 weeks.  

I found the experience to be an interesting one, but I would not want to serve on another murder trial (and I probably would never be picked for one again).  Seeing how the "system" works (and doesn't work) was very enlightening.

If you really want to serve on a jury - try to NOT pay attention to the news between now and when you have to show up.  That way you would not be infuenced by the news media if there is a trial that has media attention.

Good luck!  

Thank you Anais and Bikerbraid!  Those are great ideas--I just recently took up knitting, so that should help pass the time if I do indeed get chosen to be on the jury.

(Though I'm hoping for an exemption........ ::))

Bikerbraid--you were a juror for a murder trial???  Oh my!!!!!!!!  I'm pretty sure my trial is a criminal one, but not murder.  (From what I've seen on the news, anyway...)    And for you to have been there for 8 weeks!!!  That must have REALLY been AN EXPERIENCE.  I can only imagine.  But at least you got your Christmas presents made!  :)   I hope my knitting needles can make it through courthouse security!

wrote on Dec 13^th, 2005 at 12:28am:

I hope my knitting needles can make it through courthouse security!

I have no idea how courhouse security might work, but airport security has allowed circular and wooden knitting needles for quite a while.  I'm sure there is someone you could call to make sure they would let them through.

I was called for jury duty this summer, but I didn't have to serve.  I was at the bottom of the list and they filled up the jury before I got called. (oh, darn.  :D)

We had to show up at 8:30 and I was a little early.  We sat on hard wooden benches in the courtroom for over an hour while the lawyers and the judge talked.  The judge came in, we all stood and swore to tell the truth, yadda, yadda, yadda.  Then they called 12 people and started asking questions.  Occasionally they let one go and called the next on the list.  

Listening to the questions you can tell what the lawyers are looking for and you might be able to tailor your answers so you can be struck.   8)  There was an off-duty policeman and he told them that he had no faith in the system and would believe everything a police witness said over a non-police witness.  He got to leave.   ;)  They let one man go because he'd just gotten off night shift and dismissed one woman who was hard of hearing.  

The jury was finally chosen by 11:30 and I was free!  Free!  I took my crocheting which kept me from going crazy.   A book would have been fantastic but they get cranky if you aren't paying attention.   ::)

Overall it wasn't bad and they were very nice to us, but I'm glad I didn't have to stay.  

Whoaaaaaaaaoh!  Maybe I'll get struck, too...I have a big # so maybe I will be at the bottom of the list!  That is interesting how the lawyers will ask you questions like that....I cannot fathom myself in that situation, actually, and I even mailed a request today for an exemption... ::) ::) ::)  Now whether it will be granted via mail or if I will still have to show up, and then be dismissed in front of everyone, I have no idea...

But it is indeed good to know that others have survived this ordeal!!!

My dad is finishing up jury duty right now, actually.  He came home with a check for 85 dollars today.  If I could get permanently hired for jury duty, I think I'd take it... ;D

I have heard it was boring too.  I've been summoned 3 times, but I never made it past the first selection phase.

I don't know if it's different everywhere else, but the way they do it here is you get a post card that tells you to call a recording everyday for a week.  Your group number may or may not be called.  Mine never was.  If you are not called, they put you back into the queue, and you can't be selected for another year.

If you make it past the first phase, you go to the court house, and sit in a room, for a long long time, bored out of your skull.  Then they MAY or MAY NOT call you for the next group.

In the next phase, your group is asked a bunch of moral questions.  You are deemed fit to be a juror or not based on your answers.  At this point, if you want to get out of the selection process, sputter things like "I HATE short people!" and shake your fists a lot.

I think there is yet a phase after this but I'm not sure.  A very inefficient system as you can imagine since at any time you are not chosen, you can't be called back for another year.  They run out of a lot of potential jurors that way.

I've always wondered what it'd be like to be a juror.  But not at the time I got my notice!  It was around the time of the Michael Jackson trials.   :o  

Cynde

I just have to throw my 2 cents in here.  Part of the problem with the US judicial system is the jury.  The jury is supposed to be made up of your peers.  But when all the intelligent, professionals get exemptions, or say things to be excluded, the jury is NOT your peers.  It is going to be made up of retirees, housewives and the unemployed.  These are good people, but they may not have the educational background that you would want deciding your life.  

If you were the defendent, who would you want deciding your case?  Please, don't try to get out of jury duty just because you think it will be boring.  Some need to be excused because of the financial issues, and that is understandable (thank goodness my employer paid my full salary during my jury duty).  Jury duty can be a very educational, interesting experience. Take advantage of the opportunity.  

wrote on Dec 14^th, 2005 at 11:06am:

I just have to throw my 2 cents in here.  Part of the problem with the US judicial system is the jury.  The jury is supposed to be made up of your peers.  But when all the intelligent, professionals get exemptions, or say things to be excluded, the jury is NOT your peers.  It is going to be made up of retirees, housewives and the unemployed.  These are good people, but they may not have the educational background that you would want deciding your life.

I agree.  And I hope you guys didn't take me seriously about how to get out of a selection process!  I was just joking.  I don't think being a juror is boring - I think the waiting around for your name to be called is.   ;)

I think the selection process does need to he revamped.  Like I mentioned, in our city a lot of people get passed up and they haven't even set a foot in the courthouse.  The system is being wasteful with it's resources.  I would like to serve as a juror because I think it would be an interesting experience, and I think I have a knack of taking in all the information and making a sound and fair decision.   Unfortunately, there is no way to just volunteer.  

Cynde

wrote on Dec 14^th, 2005 at 11:06am:

If you were the defendent, who would you want deciding your case?  Please, don't try to get out of jury duty just because you think it will be boring.  Some need to be excused because of the financial issues, and that is understandable (thank goodness my employer paid my full salary during my jury duty).  Jury duty can be a very educational, interesting experience. Take advantage of the opportunity.

Thanks, Bikerbraid--I never even thought of it that way.  Your wisdom is much appreciated!  I see it much differently now--really. :)

Cynde--thanks for sharing your experience!  This is all very interesting and helpful to me.  
Quote:

I've always wondered what it'd be like to be a juror.  But not at the time I got my notice!  It was around the time of the Michael Jackson trials.

That thing stretched on forevvvvvvvvvvvver... ::)

wrote on Dec 14^th, 2005 at 6:52am:

At this point, if you want to get out of the selection process, sputter things like "I HATE short people!" and shake your fists a lot.

http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/happy/072.gif


wrote on Dec 14^th, 2005 at 11:06am:

If you were the defendent, who would you want deciding your case?  Please, don't try to get out of jury duty just because you think it will be boring.  Some need to be excused because of the financial issues, and that is understandable (thank goodness my employer paid my full salary during my jury duty).

If I don't work, I don't get paid.  Period.  I wasted an entire morning for nothing and was reimbursed a whopping $15.00 which is nothing compared to what I'd have made if I worked.

If I had to spend 8 weeks with no income I might lose my house, and how would I sneak 4 big, loud cats into an apartment?   ::)  

You do make a good point about wanting smart people on the jury, but I wouldn't want smart, seriously irritated people deciding my fate.   8)

Maybe JURI can substitute for you.

::) :::runs away quickly::::::::

*groans and runs after Anais with a batch of tomatoes*  ;D

Hahaha, yes, Juri should serve on the jury!...But this is why I decided not to spell my name with a "y".  ^^

I've been summoned twice in my life for jury duty and never got called. Man, what an utter waste of time! It's sad when I'd rather work compared to anything...

The first time, they were picking jurors for the Charles Andy Williams case in Santee (you may have heard news of the Maryland transplant who shot up Santana High School). I was half-hoping that they would pick me so I could stand up & scream, "FRY THE LITTLE #&$%!!!!!!!!!!!"
 Wouldn't have had an ounce of regret, either, seeing as the high school he shot up used to be mine and he nearly hit my younger sister. She knew both of the victims who died.

The 2nd time, the waiting room had a copy of "Phantom Of The Opera" on the bookshelf, so I passed the time. Interesting read.

There's really nothing to be worried about. Like bikerbraid said, they'll explain everything to you when you get there. Just show up on time & bring a book or a magazine or something.  :-/

wrote on Dec 14^th, 2005 at 8:31pm:

If I don't work, I don't get paid.  Period.  I wasted an entire morning for nothing and was reimbursed a whopping $15.00 which is nothing compared to what I'd have made if I worked. If I had to spend 8 weeks with no income I might lose my house, and how would I sneak 4 big, loud cats into an apartment?   ::)

You would be in a good position to be excused if you cannot afford to be out of work.  Many employers, however, do pay people for their jury service.  It is always worth asking.  

wrote on Dec 15^th, 2005 at 12:10am:

he first time, they were picking jurors for the Charles Andy Williams case in Santee (you may have heard news of the Maryland transplant who shot up Santana High School). I was half-hoping that they would pick me so I could stand up & scream, "FRY THE LITTLE #&$%!!!!!!!!!!!"  Wouldn't have had an ounce of regret, either, seeing as the high school he shot up used to be mine and he nearly hit my younger sister. She knew both of the victims who died.

Ohmygoodness, that is SOOOOOOOO scary.  And sad. I'm glad your younger sister was safe....


This is another topic, but: That violent story just reminded me of what happened in the courthouse in Atlanta, Georgia a few months back.  I pray that the courthouse in my city is spared from such violence and horror...I don't know if you all remember, but the guy on trial broke free and stole a deputy's gun, and killed I -don't-know how many people. And then he escaped.  But of course he was caught after a while...

The trial that is set for my court date involves a police officer who attacked firefighters and other police officers when they responded to a call at his home.  My brother tried to scare me, I think, by telling me that if I'm on a police trial it will drag on forever and that the guy will try to get back at the jurors on his trial by doing all these cruel things to them, like writing them enormous parking tickets for the rest of their lives, etc. ???  Maybe that's why I'm a leeeeetle apprehensive?

wrote on Dec 15^th, 2005 at 12:54am:

You would be in a good position to be excused if you cannot afford to be out of work.  Many employers, however, do pay people for their jury service.  It is always worth asking.

I was in a position that didn't pay if I was called. My plan was to file for an exemption due to financial reasons. In my current position, I think they pay if you are called, but in my case, they would probably ask the court for an exemption for business reasons. Heck, I can't take three DAYS off for vacation much less eight weeks for this!

If they would fail, (the court is getting much tougher on this exemption) I fear I would be replaced at work since they could not operate without someone in my position. When duty was finished, what do they do with the person that replaced me? One of us would have to go. They need one person, can't afford two. I hope I never get sick and need time off for the same reason.

On the other hand, I wonder if they allow laptops. I could do a lot of writing during this boring down time. (Robin, maybe get chapters 8-12 done?) If the case was vandalism or stealing, I would probably be thrown out due to the fact I have successfully prosecuted idiots three times for crimes against my property recently.