Jury duty

[Catfan73]

Well, I finally got the dreaded summons. I've always considered myself lucky to have made it this far (51 years old) without them tracking me down.

Anyone have any advice for me? I talked to a lawyer friend that works for the bankruptcy court and knows everyone; he says there really is no way to get out of it anymore and even he's had to do it. I guess I'll do my civic duty, but I'm just dreading sitting there for two weeks surrounded by God knows what.

I'm also really glad I got that flu shot a couple of months ago.

[CatinIL]

Do you believe in Capital Punishment (death penalty)?

When I lived in the Washington, DC area, I got called for jury duty in Baltimore. They asked me that question and I answered yes, absolutely. I never served a single day on a jury. I was really disappointed because I wanted to SERVE the public.

[Catonahottinroof]

Be opinionated. You'll never be selected

[CitizenBBN]

My issue wasn't even being selected, it was the inability to plan very well. Lexington did OK really. they would sometimes tell me a few days out i would or wouldn't be called.

I dreaded it not b/c I minded serving, but b/c of time and also having to sit and not accomplish anything. I'm not good at that at all. It wasn't nearly as bad as I'd feared if that's any encouragement.

[Doc]

Call the judge a "penis head". Tell them you hate cops. Tell them that you believe if the cops arrest somebody they are probably guilty. Then throw out a few racial epitats. Keep in mind that most of the time cases are not weeks but rather a day or two.


Last time I had JD it was a 3 week case concerning a local banker who molested his step daughter. She repressed it for years but it came out when in college under hypnosis. It was some messed up stuff. He got off (no pun intended) only because I was an alternate. However he is in jail now as he was arrested the next day for child porn (wasn't admitted to our trial). While I was on the jury, my wife was working the federal case--unbeknownst to me.

Since then I've been summoned twice. Both times I got a medical excuse (note from my doctor) as there is no way I can sit for any duration of time due to a back issue.

[CitizenBBN]

Doc I just missed a 3+ week trial when I was called. Cop was killed in a hit and run. The judge excused me during the first day of selection for business. We had a huge auction, thousands spent in advertising, that was the weekend the trial was supposed to end. I would have been completely screwed getting it ready.

Was lucky he let me out. They don't do that for business much but I'm self employed and tanking a big auction like that puts me in a world of hurt.

They probably would have cut me anyway. This defense attorney was already trying to taint the pool and wanted 12 people who were naive enough to not notice her tricks. I'd have been happy to tell her I saw what she was doing and thought it was low, as voir dire isn't where you make your case. I know it's how the system works, I'm not that naive, but doesn't mean I have to be OK with it. Esp. since the prosecutor wasn't doing the same stunts other than objecting to her wording.

[suncat05]

When someone asks you if you know the defendant just say "Yeah, I know the sum'bitch, and he's guilty as hell!". I can almost guarantee you'll never serve a second of jury duty!
Or tell them the defendant borrowed a hundred dollars from you in 1962 & and hasn't paid you back yet.
Or tell them he used to be married to your wife, and she's NEVER said anything good about him.
Or that you saw the guy throw a sack full of kittens in the river.
Or that you saw the guy steal from the offering plate in church.
Or every time he walks by the sheep pen that one of the sheep always calls out to him........."Daaaaaaaaaadd!"
Or the last time you were in jail he was your cellmate and he offered to be your lawyer in court.
Or that you bought a 2nd hand car from him and ended up going to jail because it was stolen and he didn't tell you it was stolen.
Or..............well, I guess you get the idea.

Too bad you can't use my excuse.............."Yes, your Honor, I know the defendant very well. I've arrested him before."

[Doc]

When someone asks you if you know the defendant just say "Yeah, I know the sum'bitch, and he's guilty as hell!". I can almost guarantee you'll never serve a second of jury duty!
Or tell them the defendant borrowed a hundred dollars from you in 1962 & and hasn't paid you back yet.
Or tell them he used to be married to your wife, and she's NEVER said anything good about him.
Or that you saw the guy throw a sack full of kittens in the river.
Or that you saw the guy steal from the offering plate in church.
Or every time he walks by the sheep pen that one of the sheep always calls out to him........."Daaaaaaaaaadd!"
Or the last time you were in jail he was your cellmate and he offered to be your lawyer in court.
Or that you bought a 2nd hand car from him and ended up going to jail because it was stolen and he didn't tell you it was stolen.
Or..............well, I guess you get the idea.

Too bad you can't use my excuse.............."Yes, your Honor, I know the defendant very well. I've arrested him before."

Its a lot easier to just making "oinking" noises when the bailiff walks in.

[suncat05]

Lol!

[Catfan73]

Lots of good advice, lol. I definitely believe in capital punishment and have no sympathy for the dregs of society that live part time in our penal system. I think for some of them the risk of imprisonment for awhile is mostly just a way to get three squares a day and make new contacts. I have no qualms expressing this to a judge but most of them probably would agree with me.

[BigBluePappy]

I have served jury duty three times in 25 years and I am barely twice that old.
It is an educational experience if you can do and have an employer like mine who works with you.

I sat for several "civil" district court settings and one circuit court murder trial. Yes, I believe in the death-penalty and was open about that and still got chose. I will say the murder trial took a toll on me as the victim and the perpetrator were both the age of my son (stepson) and it wore on me - maybe six months before I was out of the funk and I can't say that I haven't been changed by the experience.