Jury duty

What did I do today? I had jury duty, thanks for asking. Personally, I find it ironic that no one wants to serve on a jury, yet everyone wants to see justice carried out--especially if they're personally involved. I think you need one to have the other. (And as the judge said today, if anyone has an idea for a better system, let's hear it.)

I was picked to go through voir dire but didn't make the jury itself. Either way, it was enlightening to go through the process again. Also, the staff at the DeLand, Florida, courthouse could not have been nicer, from the lady who checked me in to the judges who took the time to explain the importance of jury service to the entire jury pool. Even the man-mountain of the bailiff was pleasant.

I am surprised how many people just didn't want to be there. The guy next to me in the jury pool room seemed pleased with himself when explaining that he managed to put this off for two and a half years. The lady next to me during voir dire never looked up from her Sudoku book. An older gentleman wore shorts to the court. One guy never removed his hat--and it was an old, greasy ball cap.

The first person named to the jury was young mom who had recently gone back to school. When they announced her name, she let out a little squeal of delight.

I like jury duty. I convicted a psychopath who tried to shoot a flare gun at a dude with a real .22 during a road rage incident. I kinda wish they'd make everybody do it 1 week a year. It's definitely an experience, a great civic duty, and most of the time is insightful.

Unfortunately, time is money and it costs me about $80 an hour to sit in a court room. I know my duty, and am willing to perform it properly, but I would rather not.

I've never been called, but I want to.

My father has been brought in a few times for grand jury, but being in corrections he was the first dismised.

My oldest sister has served twice.

3 years ago my family would have starved if I was forced to do jury duty. Every dollar I made was barely enough to scrape by. Now Boeing will pay my regular wage in exchange for the paltry check that is offered for my services. In this arrangement I can't hardly wait for jury duty.

I was called, but it was right after I had moved out to Harrisburg, and had just officially changed my address with PennDOT and the Post Office and all that, so I didn't have to do it. Oh well.

I like it. Gotten as close as the courtroom, but never served. A buddy of mine from work served, which showed the rumor that engineers never get agreed to by both sides to be wrong.... He said it was interesting, but far, far from clear cut. Lots of stuff to think about.

I served jury duty in Jan 1991. I was in jury pool for two weeks. Served as alternate juror on a robery case. Desert Storm started on third day. Watched CNN all day while wating for my turn in jury pool. Never heard of CNN before that.

I only dislike jury duty because of how many times I have been called.

living in the least populated and smallest county in NJ.. I used to get called up every 6 months to a year.. my parents never got notices.. neither did my sister, friends, or people I worked with.. but I wound up serving all the time..

the $5/day they give you did not even cover gas

alfadriver wrote: A buddy of mine from work served, which showed the rumor that engineers never get agreed to by both sides to be wrong....

I wonder who they use as juries in Huntsville since I swear 75% of this town is engineers.

Every time I have the time and want to do it all they do is waste my day. When it's a major inconvenience I get called. I have only served on traffic duty juries, but been called for several that settled just as the parties were entering the court room.

And don't call it justice. We have a legal system and justice is rarely served.

I got called up once. I was looking forward to serving on a jury. After sitting there for 3 days I was finally called in for jury selection.

Judge introduced all the people involved in the case and then asked if anyone in the jury pool knew any of them. I had to raise my hand.

The arresting officer, the defense attorney, and the defendant were all former students of mine!! Needless to say i was dismissed immediately.

I do feel it's important to do, and I don't have a better idea. I'm thankful that right now I'm sure my employer would be okay, and it's not the financial hardship it would've been a few years ago.

Unfortunately, my only experience where I did more than go in and get sent home was to spend six days on a jury deciding the finer points of whether a restaurant owner could enforce any particular arrangement for the distribution of tips between floor staff and kitchen. It was slightly more involved than that, but not by much. Twelve of us heard this for six days. The lost wages of the jury dwarfed the money involved in the case.

We of course can't ignore cases just because they don't involve high enough stakes (money and justice are already too tangled). But it really was frustrating for me in terms of viewing the system as it stands. I think this was one of those ones where the lawyers were the only ones who profited, but I think the blame lies somewhere between the restauranteur and the employees. Some combination of communication skills and suspension of greed (on both sides) would have seen everybody in better stead.

I'll be 39 years old in about 3 weeks, never been called once. I wouldn't mind since my employer will pay for up to a week. But seriously, if it's our duty (I believe that it is) and if it's that important (I believe that it is) then how do they expect someone to do it? My buddy just served. The first day I think he got $45, the second $35. It was only a 2-day case. Who can take that kind of financial hit?
I'm not one of the 44% that pull in 6-figures a year, so my family of 5 on one income would seriously feel the hurt.

I am with you, Dr. they only pay $5 a day here in NJ... and as I do not work in a traditional sense (Casual, "on call") if I do not work, I do not get paid. I do not get reimbersed.. so a day out of work hurts.. a week is unimaginable

I did it and would do it again, but it was horrible. There wasn't enough evidence to convict him, even though it was obvious something bad had happened. After the case was over, the judge came in and explained that the 10 year break in the relationship between the defendant and his rape victim/girlfriend was from when he was in jail for pedophilia. It was nice that the jury wasn't prejudiced, I guess, but sure did leave us all with a bad taste in our mouths.

One of the judges we saw today raised an interesting point, too: The fact that there's a group of people down the hall waiting to serve on a jury pushes many parties to settle. His point was that even if you don't get into the courtroom, you're still part of the system.

My buddy has been on the grand jury for some time now. Makes for some good stories on bar night.

I actually got called on a jury where the Plaintiff was the company I had just been laid off from about two weeks before and I knew the corporate counsel. The defendant was represented by a law firm I had just interviewed with and I recognized one of the associates from the interview. The judge couldn't stop laughing about it, and yes, I got to go home.

Got called once but had just moved across the county line. Then I got called 3 more times to night court, all 3 times I got off work early etc, showed up, signed in and then they announced the case had been settled.

I hate going. I roll my eyes when I get the letter in the mail. I say a little prayer that I'll be excused, and, especially as a business owner, I really want to wipe my ass with that check and stick it on the judge's window.

Then I see the schmoe who the goverment is trying to prosecute. They've wasted 2 or 3 days of mine and the rest of the jury's time, not to mention the unfathomable amount of dough that the cops, judge, DA, court-appointed defense attorney, clerk, etc, etc, etc, are sucking down - all to convict a guy who got pulled over THREE FREAKING YEARS ago for a dui.

The guy had driven his truck & tow dolly 40 miles south to Atl to pick up his drunk ass brother, and his drunk-ass brother's van. Had a couple beers while he was down there. Loaded the van, drove 40 miles back. 1/2 mile away from home, the dolly and van wag a little.

Cops pull him over, brother is unruly, and the poor sob submits to a field sobriety test.

I'm suddenly really glad I'm on the jury, and will NEVER try to weasel my way out, as I hope that if I were in homeboy's shoes, there would be 12 of my people like me going to bat for my ass.

I have been a registered voter for 31 years (that's how Illinois selects you) and was finally called last fall.

The point I liked was that everyone is wanting to get out of jury duty and sent home but if you were in a case on the other side; you would be hoping that a group of serious people had an interest in handling the case with an open and fair mind.

I was sent home early on 2 days and had to burn up 2 vacation days but I did enjoy the entire process.

I really, REALLY want to get on in a case where the guy/chick is guilty as sin as far as the law is concerned, but morally, logically innocent. It'd be fun to be the dick who drags out the trial...even better to convince the rest of the jury not to convict.

neon4891 wrote: I've never been called, but I want to. My father has been brought in a few times for grand jury, but being in corrections he was the first dismised. My oldest sister has served twice.

I have never been called, either

David S. Wallens wrote: An older gentleman wore shorts to the court. One guy never removed his hat--and it was an old, greasy ball cap.

I follow your post, but this part seems odd.... who cares what they wore? Does their dress have any impact on their ability or any correlation to their desire to perform as a juror?