Jury Duty ... I dodged the bullet.

I was summoned to jury duty this week. In my state you're obliged to report for duty for two days. If you're selected for a trial you must stay on until the trial is concluded. If you're not selected in your two day tour of duty then you're free to go. I was on a juror selection panel for a civil suit that was going to last 2-3 weeks according to His Honor. The plaintiffs were suing five companies, and the defendants each had their own attorney. There were six lawyers in the courtroom, all with their own questions. Just sitting through the juror selection process was painfully boring. But luckily I wasn't selected as a finalist so I was released. I wouldn't have minded a 2-3 day criminal trial, but a 2-3 week civil trial that appeared to be very boring would have been difficult to sit through. So I feel lucky to have dodged the bullet this time.

Anyone ever been a juror on an interesting trial?

Was an alternate on a jury that let a child molester go (mayor of a local very small town). As an alternate, got to see all the evidence, but had no say in the outcome as I wasn't part of the actual deliberation. After seeing the outcome didn't sleep well for a long time.

Asked one of the jurors about it later when I saw her. Her response, "Well, he did it, but we didn't want to ruin his life."

I was a juror on a gang related shooting and it was fascinating. Not only was the case interesting but seeing the process gave insight into how juries come up with verdicts that people don't understand.

There is quite a bit that goes on that the jury cannot be privy to between the lawyers and the judge. Having been on a couple juries and appeared as a witness a few times has been educational. I wish more people would look at it as a positive opportunity rather than something to be dodged.

keethrax wrote: Was an alternate on a jury that let a child molester go (mayor of a local very small town). As an alternate, got to see all the evidence, but had no say in the outcome as I wasn't part of the actual deliberation. After seeing the outcome didn't sleep well for a long time. Asked one of the jurors about it later when I saw her. Her response, "Well, he did it, but we didn't want to ruin his life."

Typed and deleted a few times. I'll just leave this:

They didn't want to ruin his life? Do they realize that he likely ruined multiple lives? That is absolutely despicable.

Just finished my jury duty yesterday. I was selected to sit on a DUI trial, it should have been an easy case - the defendant backed his Escalade into a local tavern...twice...before driving down the alley to the next bar, where the cops found him exiting the vehicle.

Unfortunately the prosecutor was embarrassingly laughable - first, he kept pronouncing it "Ess-ka-La-Day", even after hearing it said a dozen times by others. Next, I'm pretty sure he hadn't spoken to ANY of the witnesses beforehand, because none of them could identify the defendant(I think he was likely a regular patron), and since the cops didn't actually catch the guy driving there was nothing admissible we were given that proved he did - even though we all knew it.

So it came down to the choice of upholding the principles of the law vs. rendering a guilty verdict by taking a few rather large steps to connect the dots.

petegossett wrote: Unfortunately the prosecutor was embarrassingly laughable - first, he kept pronouncing it "Ess-ka-La-Day",

When I first saw the name I thought it was meant to be pronounced "Escalaude" (a decent latinate guess) but I was quickly informed of the "correct" pronunciation

BTW, if you really need to get out of jury duty, the safe-phrase is "I understand jury nullification" - they'll kick your ass right outta there and hope that the other jurors didn't hear what you said.

Wally said "I wish more people would look at it as a positive opportunity rather than something to be dodged."

In my particular case, I am very glad to have dodged the bullet. It was a civil trial where three plaintiffs were suing five contractors for some damage to their homes during a nearby construction project. The judge determined that it would be a 2-3 week trial. That's a lot of time to be sitting through tedious questioning and testimony for something that in my opinion should be settled out of court. That's an extreme hardship to the jurors. Five contractors and five defense lawyers with all their questions, testimony and cross examination when one piece of equipment allegedly caused the damage? I feel sorry for the people who made the cut and will have to sit through all the BS. It's a misuse of the system.

On the other hand, a few years back I was selected for a criminal trial and found the process and the content to be very interesting. And the trial lasted only three days. I was involved in deliberations, and I'm proud to have done my civic duty for a trial-worthy case. I would not have minded doing another of those.

Never been on a jury. Was called once but I was playing in the sandbox at the time and mail was slow so I didn't even get my notice until after the report date.

I've been called twice and sat once. The one I sat on was a pretty cut and dry drug case but we weren't sat until late Friday, trial took all day Monday, and deliberation took 1/2 the day on Tuesday. The defendant's witnesses were the best example of why drugs are bad, mkay. Turns out that guy was a like a local king pin and went to jail for a very long time. The other involved a medical malpractice case and one of the defendant's was the nurse who delivered one of my daughters (and did a wonderful job). They were able to select the first 16 people interviewed and I was number 20-something. I work in a civil firm so seeing the criminal side was very interesting.

I just tick the box that says I'm not a US citizen, although now that I'm retired I would go serve.

I've been called about 3-4 times. The last time I blew it off as I would have to travel downtown Chicago and I was working at the time in a job that wasn't going to compensate me for lost wages. The two time I did go one time was for 1 day or 1 trial and that ended up as one day. The first time was way back when I was in college and it was in the summer time so I didn't even miss school. I did work part time but I was able to just adjust my hours so I didn't miss any work.

The jury duty was to last 2 weeks! The first week I just sat around and read a book. On Friday I got called to go to a court room and by 4 PM I was seated on a jury to hear a murder trial. It started the following Monday and lasted until Thrusday. Closing arguments were made Friday morning and we then went to the jury room to decide the guys fate.

I ended up being chosen for jury foreman, don't know why perhaps as I was one of the youngest persons there. Anyway, we had one vote just to see where we were at and it came up 10-2 for guilty. The two innocent votes expressed they opinions on why they voted that way and we discussed it for a few minutes. Took another vote and came up 12-0 for guilty. We let the court know that we had a verdict. We were gone all of 60 minutes from the time we left the court to the time we returned. Talk about swift justice!

Got called once. Went through the selection process. The trial was a murder/manslaughter trial. Guy answered the door carrying a shotgun. Something about the 2 guys had an on-going feud and the other guy was "accidently" shot and killed. We were asked about weapon knowledge. Replied I grew up around guns, dad shot competition. Spent 20 years in the army and ran numerous weapon ranges for pistols, M-16, M-2 and LAW. And own numerous weapons. No such thing as "accident". Myself and a retired Special Forces guy were the first released.

Never been called, but I share Wally's sentiments. I'd dig the crap out of it if I got picked. It seems the general sentiment is "the only people on jury duty are the ones too stupid to get out of it". I think it'd be a better place if less people thought that way. I'd also like to sit in a seat and find out why people regard it so negatively. and I'm 33 years old! why haven't they picked me yet? (it's ok really, I was usually the last one to get picked for football too)

good times

My dad had to sit on a jury for a rape case where abusive husband beat up and raped his at-the-time wife. There was one old guy who would not vote guilty with DNA evidence, because he argued "you can't rape your own wife" like she was his property. They deliberated for 2 days and could not get the guy to come around to see that yes, you can.

I am not looking forward to getting the letter, as I'm a self employed contractor and can't easily tell a customer who's been scheduled for weeks or months that they need to wait, and screw up my schedule for the rest of the year trying to move things or catch up.

Hungary Bill wrote: Never been called, but I share Wally's sentiments. I'd dig the crap out of it if I got picked. It seems the general sentiment is "the only people on jury duty are the ones too stupid to get out of it". I think it'd be a better place if less people thought that way.

Really? I don't read that sentiment in these postings. The civil cases can be boring and maybe even unnecessary in frivolous suits, which can be a monumental waste of jurors' time. But criminal cases can be very entertaining, interesting, enlightening, etc. Imagine being on the Aaron Hernandez trial, or the Boston Marathon Bomber's trial that are both currently going on in Massachusetts?

Also, selection is by lottery. Eventually you'll be called.

Sorry: General sentiment amongst the general population (not here specifically)

I sat once on a child molestation case. I was the juror who showed the other jurors exactly where he admitted his guilt in court.. even though I did the right thing, I was sick for a week for having to make such a decision.

Called once, picked to the jury first round and released on the second string of dismissals. I wouldn't mind if not for I was going on vacation the next week.

It was a civil suit between a teacher/fh coach and a school district over wrongful termination and slander. The super intendant was a teacher of mine and my wife and M-I-L ref the sport the plaintiff coached.

I was called and sat as juror #11. I ended up being selected as Jury Foreman. It was an attempted murder case. We had to let the scumbag off. The victim even said that it wasn't him, even though he originally confessed. Also the crime happened during the day and in his confession he said it happened at night. Too many holes in the prosecution's story.

The defendant claimed he wanted the charge on his rap sheet so that he wouldn't get beaten up in jail.

We had decided in about 45 minutes but held out for a while so that we got the free lunch!

[Soapbox rant on] In a democracy, serving on a jury is your duty. You should be glad to have the right to be judged by a jury of your peers. Chances are you may only do it once or twice in your life. If you aren't big on jury duty, you can skip it by heading out to North Korea or somewhere like that.[Soapbox rant off]

mtn wrote:

keethrax wrote: Was an alternate on a jury that let a child molester go (mayor of a local very small town). As an alternate, got to see all the evidence, but had no say in the outcome as I wasn't part of the actual deliberation. After seeing the outcome didn't sleep well for a long time. Asked one of the jurors about it later when I saw her. Her response, "Well, he did it, but we didn't want to ruin his life."

Typed and deleted a few times. I'll just leave this: They didn't want to ruin his life? Do they realize that he likely ruined multiple lives? That is absolutely despicable.

You'll get no argument from me, that's why I lost so much sleep (Hell, years later it still keeps me up sometimes).

It was two counts (same incident, two aspects of the relevant law.) One of the counts was at least in reasonable doubt territory as it involved believing the testimony of some pretty unreliable people. On the other hand, the other count was pretty much slam dunk as in DNA evidence and the works. If they had convicted him on one of the counts and not the other I'd have no issue. The prosecuting attorney was an absolute schmuck, I blame him almost as much as the jurors.

Saw the guy walking the street a few months later and it took actual effort not to accidentally run him over.

Seriously, got an underage girl (way underage, not high teens) drunk, and then molested her while she was passed out, and they didn't want to ruin his berkeleying life? They convicted him of providing alcohol to a minor, and let him off on the rest.

Wally wrote: There is quite a bit that goes on that the jury cannot be privy to between the lawyers and the judge. Having been on a couple juries and appeared as a witness a few times has been educational. I wish more people would look at it as a positive opportunity rather than something to be dodged.

I did until I served (as related already). If called again on anything non-trivial, I'm doing my damndest to not serve next time. And quite frankly legitimately so. Not sure I could separate my experiences of the last time sufficiently to be a good juror.

GameboyRMH wrote: BTW, if you really need to get out of jury duty, the safe-phrase is "I understand jury nullification" - they'll kick your ass right outta there and hope that the other jurors didn't hear what you said.

Would that work on a civil case, or only criminal?

Been called up for jury duty 3 times now. Never served on a jury, I keep getting kicked out early in the selection process.

First thing the judge does is introduce the defendant, arresting officer, etc. and ask if any of us in the pool know any of them. I raise my hand and go before the judge to explain. And have always been dismissed.

Worst case was when the defendant, defense lawyer, arresting officer, and the states attorney were all former students of mine. Guess that comes with teaching in the community for 30 years!

I have been called more times than I can count. The county I grew up in has a small pool of potential jurors (it seems) and every 6 months for a few years, I got the summons.

What was weird.. none of my friends got summoned, nobody in my family, nor any of our neighbors. They just had a thing for me.

I even got called up when I moved to PA.. had not been legally in state more than 3 months..