Jury Duty

[CaptSquid]

Well, it finally happened. I got my very first summons to Jury Duty yesterday. Wonder if I'll actually be called to serve or is this just a placement in a possible pool?

[Rebel]

I've never been called either but think it may be because I was in the Seabees and they know I'm wound fairly loose. Would also apply to "Boat Peeps"

[phr1$k37]

Well that is gonna be some fun. Do you know for what case? I know the way they do things in Canada vs USA is different. Ours is more closed circuit locked away ^_^
I got my slip but it was during a time where my parents were around to take care of my special needs brother. So I just stated my case and they took me off the duty right away. Very understanding folks.

[HPbyStan]

I showed up all the time but never got picked.

[CaptSquid]

Right now, they're just getting a pool together. It's only for a month that I'm on levy, so we'll see what happens. If I get selected, I get paid a minimum of $12.00 per day plus free parking! Wheeeee!

[phr1$k37]

If I get selected, I get paid a minimum of $12.00 per day plus free parking! Wheeeee!

Are you being sarcastic? Or are you missing a "0" there?

[CaptSquid]

No sarcasm; there is NO missing 0 in there.

$12.00 for being called and appearing but not actually selected to serve on the jury panel.
$25.00 for being called, appearing, and serving on a jury panel.

[Jim in Indy]

BTDT.

If you are picked, the best I can say is, both attorneys & the judge gotta 'approve' you and check your personal opinions & prejudices at the door. Concentrate on the applications of the legal rights of both sides, that legal procedures were followed, and pay no attention to the flamboyance of the mouth-pieces. Like Joe Friday always said; "Just the facts..."

I found it interesting on how the legal maneuvers game is played, and how a person, (in jury I was on, the defense attorney), can just sell their core beliefs to make a buck, and how down the road it still bothers me, yet I see the value of the system. The one I sat on was a child molestation/abuse case. Even for a hardened, ex-military person like myself, it was rough.

Hope the food is good, ours was great!

[justice]

i got my first "real" jury summons earlier this year, it was for Febuary. Believe it or not, i actually WANTED to be on the jury, no matter what the case was..hehe.

So i go down to the courthouse, they get everybody in and tells us that although they usually seat 4 juries out of the 300+ people that are called for the pool, since some ofthe cases are not ready to go, they will only be seating one jury today.

I wanted to stand up and say "pick me, pick me!!!"

they pulled 60 people (including me yay!) from the pool and took us to the courtroom and gave us numbers (i was 26). we were then questioned by the different lawyer types. The prosecuters seemed to be pretty straight forward, the defense made me feel sorry for the defendant.

I was asked one question by the prosecutors, and it was "what did the company I work for do?" that was it, i answered and prettymuch stayed quiet the rest of the time. (they say that prospected jurors who stay quiet and don't talk much are more likely to be chosen, so I was trying to increase my chances)

So, it worked and I got picked (yay!). they picked all the jurors from the first 35 of the 60 people, and real loud and opinionated people did not get picked. It was funny because whaile we were waiting to go into the courtroom, one guy told me that I probably would not get picked since I had long hair (ponytail).

Anyway, trial started that afternoon (tuesday) and ended Friday, we found the guy guilty and gave him 20 years.

Things learned. The prosecutors were smart, the defense guys were idiots, the judge was addicted to M&M's, the courthouse cafeteria sucked and we got $40 a day and won't be called for another jury pool for at least 3 years.