Jury duty

I think it does Darwin. Not at least dressing "Clean" and semi-Nice shows contempt for the system

When I was younger I thought it an inconvenience but after serving twice after four calls and experiencing the system play out I don't mind it at all. Trials are most likely never going to be all slam dunk perfect, you maybe won't walk away feeling 100% ... but it does matter and you did your best at the end of the day.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, bring reading material or puzzles, lotta interesting folks to talk to in the halls while waiting too... and if you are picked for a trial... time flies.

I have mixed feelings about jury duty. If I were ever on trial I would want some people just like me in the jury, but no one just like me could ever afford to loose more than a day or two of a work. I know the big multi day trials are uncommon, but they do happen; and it would be a disaster financially for me to have to serve in one.
I used to have a coworker that wound up serving on a grand Jury investigating a corrupt politician. That the took over a year to play out, and the inflexibility of the arrangement caused a lot of stress.

Been called up four or five times..I just consider it a side affect of being registered to vote. Always turns out the same..called up to swear in: "Your Honor, could I Affirm instead?" Both lawyers perk up at that.

If I'm actually called in, I get the "Mr. Roberts, do you believe in a (god/supreme being/etc.)?" When I say no, I'm always dismissed, regardless of whether it's the prosecutor or the defense attorney. Damn shame, really..I always wanted to be like Henry Fonda in "Twelve Angry Men". I guess I'll have to soothe my delusions of grandeur playing Codemasters F1 2010 game (only three points behind Alonzo after 5 races, and I'm in the stinking Lotus!!).

As a first timer, I was jury foreman at a Coroners Inquest. First case was a well to do car guy/ collector who died due to asphyxiation from a Lotus Esprit he left running in his basement garage. Foul play had been eliminated by investigators and the evidence presented was looking between suicide and accidental. The general population may not give a damn to the outcome but to the 15 or so family and friends of the victim in the hearing room it definitely mattered. There was a collective sigh of relief in the room when we returned accidental cause and not suicide.. and maybe the family found their closure. There were four more cases that day... and more families, emotions and closure... good or bad for them.

Maybe I'm different from the general population but looking into the eyes of those families that day a part of me changed forever.

Service on a jury can matter to more unseen people than most may ever think but to many it's still a goddamn inconvenience... get over it.

I was called to duty one day and as they explained the details of the case I realized that it was the same as a case my mother had been a plaintiff in. Basically a HMO had guidelines to avoid certain tests because 95% of these complaints were less severe and not a heart attack as the symptoms indicated. Mom had a second attack before she left the hospital and suffered 40% loss of function while this case was the man had been set back on his cross country road trip and had his second attack while driving, wrecked and died, killing his wife also.

After I explained my bias, the defense guy tried to get the whole room dismissed as my statements had prejudiced the whole room. I was dismissed and wanted to hang to see the rest of the proceedings but was "instructed" that my presence was to be elsewhere.

Dang, 5 a.m. and I have my fightin' dander up just remembering all this!!

Bruce

mad_machine wrote: I think it does Darwin. Not at least dressing "Clean" and semi-Nice shows contempt for the system

I have more contempt for the system than the average bear. I still show up with a shirt that has buttons, tucked into non-shorts.

Is there a requirement to dress up? I hate wearing "nice" clothes, and will avoid doing so at all costs. I don't see how it shows contempt.

I don't know how they select jurors in Michigan, but we've received at least 4 notices in the last decade and we're not citizens ! They can't be using a voters list because we're not on that. I'd serve if I could.

friedgreencorrado wrote: Been called up four or five times..I just consider it a side affect of being registered to vote. Always turns out the same..called up to swear in: "Your Honor, could I Affirm instead?" Both lawyers perk up at that. If I'm actually called in, I get the "Mr. Roberts, do you believe in a (god/supreme being/etc.)?" When I say no, I'm always dismissed

This is very strange to me. I thought every court in the country used: "Do you swear or affirm...?" It seems obviously unconstitutional to inquire.

Edit: Probably one of the lawyers inquires, right? Maybe that's not unconstitutional...just stupid.

DeadSkunk wrote: I don't know how they select jurors in Michigan, but we've received at least 4 notices in the last decade and we're not citizens ! They can't be using a voters list because we're not on that. I'd serve if I could.

they use the license here in NJ

ProDarwin wrote: Is there a requirement to dress up? I hate wearing "nice" clothes, and will avoid doing so at all costs. I don't see how it shows contempt.

Really? Really?? For a couple of days out of the year, its too hard for you to dress moderately nicely (a button up shirt and pants would be fine) to show that you actually take the system seriously?

Ever noticed how lawyers don't wear jeans and t-shirts? It's kind of hard to take someone seriously who comes in dressed like a bum that could be deciding your fate on, oh I don't know, MURDER charges

HiTempguy wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Is there a requirement to dress up? I hate wearing "nice" clothes, and will avoid doing so at all costs. I don't see how it shows contempt.

Really? Really?? For a couple of days out of the year, its too hard for you to dress moderately nicely (a button up shirt and pants would be fine) to show that you actually take the system seriously? Ever noticed how lawyers don't wear jeans and t-shirts? It's kind of hard to take someone seriously who comes in dressed like a bum that could be deciding your fate on, oh I don't know, MURDER charges

It's not the duty of the juror to make sure the defendant is happy with them. A lawyer has that duty if they plan to get paid. Jurors are just peoples.

All good comments, but the ones on "dressing up" really kill me.

Last night, I watched Judge Judy and one party had as a witness a young lady wearing something that wouldn't be out of place in a nightclub type setting. The judge asked her where the rest of her outfit was. The way she was sitting, you couldn't be sure she had anything on BELOW her jacket. Then Judge Judy asked her if she would wear something like that outfit to church. She said no. Judge Judy never gave her a chance to speak in court.

These tv judges let a LOT pass when it comes to dress, but lately they are getting stricter, and they should.

In reply to integraguy:

It is their court room. If you're going to court, expect to cover what needs covering including tattoos.

N Sperlo wrote: Jurors are just peoples.

And they can show the system the respect is deserves. Would you go to a wedding dressed like a bum/slob? Doubtful.

If you think jury duty is inconvenient for you, think about how inconvenient the whole thing is for the accused - and for the victim.

I go, answer the questions honestly, and serve on occasion.. I don't particularly like it, but I don't like taking out the trash or mowing the lawn, either. Just another chore.

Did jury duty once.

Wanted to be there, and actually ended up being selected as an alternate. Lucky me. Got to see a guy who was clearly guilty of molesting a minor get off the hoo0k and had no say in the matter. We're talking solid, solid evidence. Enough old people on the jury that don't trust things like science and DNA evidence so they didn't want to "ruin his life if there were no other witnesses". Never-mind that he repeatedly lied and was caught doing it probably a dozen times. And the aforementioned DNA. And the credit card receipts for the booze he used to get her drunk... etc.

"No, I was never there" "Oh, I was there, but just stopped by, there was no alcohol" "Oh, you have the receipt, well there was booze in the truck, but nobody was drinking any" "Well maybe I had a few, but I didn't provide any to her" "She must have gotten the rest out of my truck without me knowing" "You have witnesses to me calling her friend asking what kind of booze she would like?"

etc.

plus DNA evidence where it had no right being if he wasn't full of E36 M3.

But nope. Don't want to ruin this guys life if nobody but him and the young teenager he got so drunk she passed out were there to see it she woke up midway through. Did I mention he's the mayor of a small town up here?

As an alternate I go to see it all, including him getting off without any input. And since she was a minor, the courtroom was basically cleared. So the damage to him was limited to protect her.

That case still keeps me up nights sometimes and it was a year or two ago.

HiTempguy wrote:

N Sperlo wrote: Jurors are just peoples.

And they can show the system the respect is deserves. Would you go to a wedding dressed like a bum/slob? Doubtful.

Never said I would I dress well for myself. I don't give a damn about what anyone else is wearing unless its obscene or offensive. Other than that, the peoples can wear what they want.

BTW I'm getting married next month. Guess who isn't putting a tux on.

David S. Wallens wrote: 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.

I've been called 4-5 times and gone every time. Only been seated once, and the defendant walked in, took one look at us sitting in the box, and immediately whispered something to his lawyer about a plea bargain.

One other time I got put out in voire dire, and the other times I never even got called to a courtroom.

I never mind doing my civic duty.

Duke wrote: I never mind doing my civic duty.

Pun intended? I LOL'd.

About two years ago, I was called and picked for a murder trial. It was a felony murder case and it was somewhat interesting in that you could see how the prosecution was working you through the issues of reasonable doubt--and shutting them down. 1 week later, that dude had 3 life sentences.
Per

Allways wear nice clothes to court , flying ,weddings and funerals . # 1 way to get out of jury duty have huge sideburns .

HiTempguy wrote:

ProDarwin wrote: Is there a requirement to dress up? I hate wearing "nice" clothes, and will avoid doing so at all costs. I don't see how it shows contempt.

Really? Really?? For a couple of days out of the year, its too hard for you to dress moderately nicely (a button up shirt and pants would be fine) to show that you actually take the system seriously? Ever noticed how lawyers don't wear jeans and t-shirts? It's kind of hard to take someone seriously who comes in dressed like a bum that could be deciding your fate on, oh I don't know, MURDER charges

I wore a blue dress shirt and a pair of khaki pants and loafers. I also wore my blue blazer - no tie.

I was waaaaaayyy overdressed. I also got the "what's up with that guy look" quite a bit.

pete240z wrote: I was waaaaaayyy overdressed. I also got the "what's up with that guy look" quite a bit.

I'm saying a simple button up shirt and your nice pair of jeans. Not your long khaki shorts, sandles, and the obligatory "Why am I so thirsty today when I drank so much last night?" shirt (and the sideburns/or hipster beard). That is all. I agree, you sound like you were over dressed. Of course, I always take the advice that it is better to be over dressed then under dressed (take THAT as you will)