Jury Duty

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I would really love to serve! I think it would be so interesting and my job would still pay me. I have only had to go in once and did make it to the court room but not into the box. I'm not sure I would be chosen though, I've been the victim of a crime so that might not work.

 

[disneychrista]

I've been the victim of a crime so that might not work.

It would really be if it is the same, similar type crime. I made it to the box twice, but have never been chosen. The first time I claimed hardship - due to being in school. The second was a something that hit way to close to home and I flat out told them I didn't know if I could be impartial.

 

[Skippy918]

I got notice a few months back. I did the online questionnaire and got selected for the grand jury pool. Luckily when we all showed up they asked for volunteers and got enough people and I was glad to be done. Grand jury would have been a 3 half days per week for 3 months commitment. It would have been too disruptive to my job to serve.

 

[snapppyd]

I understand the hassles for those of you who work. I don't work, my anxiety about the whole situation is what keeps me up. I get nervous around strangers, don't like to talk in public, etc. I wouldn't go out and eat lunch by myself. I guess I lack confidence in being able to present my views if I made it onto a case.

 

[Lilacs4Me]

I was chosen for a 4-day civil trial downtown once, and it was actually kind of fun.

I would want to do it again for a civil trial, but around here the courthouse for criminal trials is very scary. I live in the same county as the city of Chicago, so we are assigned to the same criminal courthouse as big gang-related trials and other high-profile cases.

I have had friends and coworkers that have served jury duty at that courthouse and they all say that they had to park in the same parking lot as family and friends of the defendant/plaintiffs. They have all said they have been scared they would be followed. My boss actually just told me yesterday that she was called for jury duty there once on a day a high-profile judgement was supposed to he handed down, and all of the people in her jury pool were escorted into a secure hallway with no windows and locked doors while police stood guard with rifles. The potential jurors (that weren't even involved in that case!) were told to stand against the walls of the hallways and not to talk until the building was cleared of all families/friends of the person on trial. They stood there for about 30 minutes, she said.

Not a juror, but in the same courthouse - a few years ago, a resident of my very safe and nothing-really-happens-here town was a witness (he was a security guard at the place and time of the incident) to a crime committed by some gang members. He spent the morning testifying at the same criminal court, then drove home and pulled up in front of his house in time to see his wife and 18 month old son for lunch. A car had followed him from the courthouse, pulled up next to him and shot him point blank in the head and chest. He died in his car in front of his house. His wife heard the gunshots and ran out to find her husband dead. It took almost a year for our police to find the murderers, but they eventually did. They were allies/friends/fellow gang members with the defendant, and had followed the security guard back to his house from the courthouse parking lot.

They have a long way to go in terms of security at that place.

 

[dominiondad]

Jury Duty is a frustrating day for me. I'm in law enforcement, so no defense attorney will ever allow me on a jury. As a result, I have to report to the courthouse, sit around all day, and then wait to be dismissed. I'd love to be in the jury box to see that perspective, but I suspect it will just be a lot of waiting rooms for me.

I can tell you from the criminal justice side of the house, those of you who do participate in juries are greatly appreciated, regardless of the outcome. The sacrifice of sitting thru a trial is not missed on the attornies, judges, and everybody else involved. To those of you who have reported for jury duty - thank you!!!!

 

[Gigantor7287]

I have to go next month, I already postponed it once and to get out of it, I have to be either dead and/or in jail!

 

[kaytieeldr]

So what minir crime can you think of to commit, then gst arrested for, and nit be able come up with bail money until September?

Although truly, I don't get the aversion to jury duty.

 

[L&Lfan]

I hate it but I know what biographical answers to give to be dismissed. Never fails. . It does waste a whole day, though.

 

[dominiondad]

Annoyed. I'm career law enforcement. There is no way a defense attorney will ever let me sit on a jury. Regardless, I have to go in and sit around, waiting to be rejected.

 

[cedricandsophie]

It’s an honor that we have the opportunity to be called to jury duty. I live just outside Chicago and have been called to both state and federal jury duty. The lack of understanding from most Americans about the legal system and being jurors is pretty shocking.

 

[rajak73]

It’s an honor that we have the opportunity to be called to jury duty. I live just outside Chicago and have been called to both state and federal jury duty. The lack of understanding from most Americans about the legal system and being jurors is pretty shocking.

Thank you, you are so right. I was called once, ended up on the Jury. Can't believe that some people that were on call just didn't show up. Judge made the comment when he called names and no one answered that they would be getting contacted by the court. It was unreal the lame excuses some tried to use to get out of jury duty. Judge asked if anyone would be a hardship? Some of the answers, "Yes, our softball team is in the tournament and I coach" LOL, "Yes, I have to pump my breasts every 2 hours for my baby" Needless to say, neither were dismissed from the jury pool. It was a civil case, very interesting, was happy to do my duty!

 

[RangerPooh]

Honestly I'd like to experience it at least once. The last (and possibly only) time that I my service was requested was when I was early in my college years, so probably 19 or 20 years ago.

 

[wgeo]

I have no aversion to jury duty, think its very important.

I do have an aversion to losing pay and having definite issues with getting my children to/from school. I can lean on people to help me with the kids, but there is no way to make up for my lost income.

 

[rajak73]

I do have an aversion to losing pay

That varies from state to state, In our state "Yes, any employee. Regular wages, minus compensation for jury service."

 

[wgeo]

That varies from state to state, In our state "Yes, any employee. Regular wages, minus compensation for jury service."

I am self employed, if I don't work I don't get paid. There are a very large pool of people that don't have the benefit of getting paid their regular wages while serving jury duty.

 

[Dznypal]

Ive been called twice--first time I sat for 2 days and the only time I got called was for lunch which was fine with me

the last time I called to be questioned--I kept thinking I can do this--(I just wanted to see how far I could get to)

the judge mentioned if anyone has any anxietys my heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to pop out of my chest--but I kept thinking I can do this

finally it got the best of me and I raised my hand and spoke up about the anxiety the judge called me up and said I didnt look very good and was going to dismiss me!!!

I was so relieved--still had to sit and didnt get called except for lunch but I was very happy just to sit

both my son and daughter are police officers and had dealing with this judge--my daughter loves him-she says hes easy to deal with

my son on the other hand doenst really like him--one time he and his partner really worked to bring some guy in

the judge gave him a slap on the hand and sent him back out--after all the effort the officers put into bringing this guy in thats all he got out of it

I hope I never get called again

that just makes me sick about what a PP said about the guy being followed and then shot these people are sick

 

[wgeo]

Bumping this old thread because here I sit on jury duty again lol. I think it’s my 4 th time in 6 years. Just sitting here in the freezing jury pool room for almost 8 hours but they keep saying they may need us. So we sit Jury duty wouldn’t be so bad if you actually got to do something.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Hate it. They call WWAAYYY to many people for the pool. The last two times I got called my butt didn't leave the Jury Assembly room seat (except for lunch break) - WHY? Just call like 100 fewer people and let us get on with our lives. We have dome nothing wrong and don't deserve to be imprisoned this way.

TIP FOR GETTING OUT!
This really works. Say you get called, get called to a courtroom, and get seated for voir dire - BUT, you really can't be there - just too much going on in real life. You could play stupid, you could tell the judge you can't be impartial - none of that really works. Your best friend at that point is the LAWYERS! Just pick a side - Ultra-liberal, won't convict anybody, don't see guilt - play to the defense attorney. Or, my choice, everything is black-and-white, dispassionate, play to the prosecuting attorney. Be uber polite to one side, not both. The opposite side would be stupid to keep you and they won't.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hate it. They call WWAAYYY to many people for the pool. The last two times I got called my butt didn't leave the Jury Assembly room seat (except for lunch break) - WHY? Just call like 100 fewer people and let us get on with our lives. We have dome nothing wrong and don't deserve to be imprisoned this way.

TIP FOR GETTING OUT!
This really works. Say you get called, get called to a courtroom, and get seated for voir dire - BUT, you really can't be there - just too much going on in real life. You could play stupid, you could tell the judge you can't be impartial - none of that really works. Your best friend at that point is the LAWYERS! Just pick a side - Ultra-liberal, won't convict anybody, don't see guilt - play to the defense attorney. Or, my choice, everything is black-and-white, dispassionate, play to the prosecuting attorney. Be uber polite to one side, not both. The opposite side would be stupid to keep you and they won't.