Summoned for jury duty (1 Viewer)

[NutterButter]

Been called, and actually served on a jury, twice in 4 years or so. 2 for 2.

First time I enjoyed it. This past time was ridiculous and I wanted to punch about half of the jury while we were in deliberations.

  I think I'd enjoy the experience, but no way am I doing it unpaid.  Something to throw on the bucket list.  

 

[Walking Boot]

Sitting here, I wonder if you can show up, check in and then leave.   There's been a few times now when they're calling people to line up to go to a courtroom that the person they call isn't in the room; could be because they're in the bathroom or taking a smoke break.   At that point the lady doing the calling seems to just move on to the next person.  Now maybe that lady puts your name back in the queue to be called again.  

Another scenario is when you go into the courtroom for jury selection and you get out of that via hardship, you're supposed to go back to the room and put your self back into the queue. I wonder if you'd get lost in the system if you just went home instead.   

I'd like to test this out but I don't want to go to jail.  I'm really just bored as he'll. 

Anecdotally, you can claim you were in the bathroom the first time they call your name. They'll mark you absent and move on. But if a second round of names gets called, they'll put you on that list. Being missing twice can result in a contempt citation. 

As far as getting excused from voir dire, the clerk will notify the jury room that a jury has been enpaneled and everyone else is heading back. Obviously if you were excused before they were finished, you could walk back pretty slowly, as long as you get there by the time the big group of people that weren't picked arrived. Doubt they'd be able to notice. 

 

[NutterButter]

Anecdotally, you can claim you were in the bathroom the first time they call your name. They'll mark you absent and move on. But if a second round of names gets called, they'll put you on that list. Being missing twice can result in a contempt citation. 

As far as getting excused from voir dire, the clerk will notify the jury room that a jury has been enpaneled and everyone else is heading back. Obviously if you were excused before they were finished, you could walk back pretty slowly, ask long as you get there by the time the big group of people that weren't picked arrived. 

Ok, so I'd go to jail.  You never know with government.  It seems logical that they'd have processes in place to prevent what I mentioned, but it is government.  

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Been called, and actually served on a jury, twice in 4 years or so. 2 for 2.

First time I enjoyed it. This past time was ridiculous and I wanted to punch about half of the jury while we were in deliberations.

I served once in a civil case, it was an interesting experience but was 5 days for what probably could have been covered in 5 hours (or 5 minutes).

Did get to serve with a hot chick though and hit up some food trucks every day

 

[Zow]

I had someone tell me once they said they were staunch proponents of jury nullification, and that's apparently toxic if you mention it so they tell you to go home. or true? I have no law background at all so I wasn't able to throw a flag on this, but it seems too good to be true.

The general rule is whether a juror can be fair and impartial and follow the law as instructed. Since jury nullification by definition contradicts the latter, a person saying such probably would be excused. But all the courtroom actors would likely be calling the potential juror a ##### in their minds. 

 

[Zow]

Sitting here, I wonder if you can show up, check in and then leave.   There's been a few times now when they're calling people to line up to go to a courtroom that the person they call isn't in the room; could be because they're in the bathroom or taking a smoke break.   At that point the lady doing the calling seems to just move on to the next person.  Now maybe that lady puts your name back in the queue to be called again.  

Another scenario is when you go into the courtroom for jury selection and you get out of that via hardship, you're supposed to go back to the room and put your self back into the queue. I wonder if you'd get lost in the system if you just went home instead.   

I'd like to test this out but I don't want to go to jail.  I'm really just bored as he'll. 

Just do your civic duty and answer the questions honestly. 

 

[Worm]

I served once in a civil case, it was an interesting experience but was 5 days for what probably could have been covered in 5 hours (or 5 minutes).

Did get to serve with a hot chick though and hit up some food trucks every day

First case was a civil contractual law case. It was boring info but it was my first exposure and found the process pretty fascinating.

Second case was a DUI case that I can't believe even made it to jury trial. Have no idea why the guy appealed the case. Waste of time for everyone involved.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Got pulled for federal jury duty back in September. (would have had to drive down to Trenton every day....)  I was told I needed to be available for 2 weeks.  Obviously I couldn't schedule any meetings for those 2 weeks (knowing I could be out) and didn't schedule any meetings for the 2 weeks prior (knowing I wanted to be all caught up on work in case I had to go out)

In the end, I never had to go in. Had to call in 4 times over the course of those 2 weeks and my number was never pulled. But even so, it was a decent sized inconvenience.

This will be me in February.  It's annoying having to tell everyone I work for that I have no idea whether I'll be completely available or completely out of pocket for three weeks.  At least it's not much more annoying a commute.  

 

[Dan Lambskin]

First case was a civil contractual law case. It was boring info but it was my first exposure and found the process pretty fascinating.

Second case was a DUI case that I can't believe even made it to jury trial. Have no idea why the guy appealed the case. Waste of time for everyone involved.

Mine was auto insurance / injury scam.  Guy was hit at what appeared to be 5 MPH, neck and wrist pain.  Of course he documented the wrong wrist and turns out that was from a previous work injury 

Had him on tape driving and bringing in groceries despite requiring transportation and max amount of replacement services (provided by his sister, even on days that didn't exist like April 31st)

Most of it was arguing between insurance companies and shady MRI companies and Dr Nick type medical experts that couldn't agree how to measure a vertebrae 

I think deliberation took less than an hour and that was because we had to wait for clarification on a few points.  Basically came down to if we thought he lied at any point his policy was void and that was it

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I had someone tell me once they said they were staunch proponents of jury nullification, and that's apparently toxic if you mention it so they tell you to go home. or true? I have no law background at all so I wasn't able to throw a flag on this, but it seems too good to be true.

It would probably depend on how hard they wanted to probe you on it.  I'm not a "staunch proponent" of jury nullification, but I'm also not an opponent of the practice.  I could probably be convinced to do it if I thought the law was particularly unjust (such as a kid with a small amount of crack cocaine if I knew he'd likely be sentenced as if he had all the cocaine in Bolivia).  I think that, in theory, jury nullification could be a valuable check on unjust lawmaking.  

 

[Dan Lambskin]

This will be me in February.  It's annoying having to tell everyone I work for that I have no idea whether I'll be completely available or completely out of pocket for three weeks.  At least it's not much more annoying a commute.  

Not sure how all jurisdictions are but since ours was civil we could have phones in jury room and at lunch, just not during court 

 

[sbonomo]

Mine was auto insurance / injury scam.  Guy was hit at what appeared to be 5 MPH, neck and wrist pain.  Of course he documented the wrong wrist and turns out that was from a previous work injury 

Had him on tape driving and bringing in groceries despite requiring transportation and max amount of replacement services (provided by his sister, even on days that didn't exist like April 31st)

Most of it was arguing between insurance companies and shady MRI companies and Dr Nick type medical experts that couldn't agree how to measure a vertebrae 

I think deliberation took less than an hour and that was because we had to wait for clarification on a few points.  Basically came down to if we thought he lied at any point his policy was void and that was it

Please tell me there was a counter suit where he had to pay through the nose...

 

[Scoresman]

Just do your civic duty and answer the questions honestly. 

Personally, I'll do my civic duty and stop trying to get out of it as soon as it doesn't potentially cost me thousands in missed paychecks to serve on a jury.  I'd actually love to serve on a jury one day but not until they either start requiring companies to pay people while on a jury or I move to a company that does.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Please tell me there was a counter suit where he had to pay through the nose...

Not sure but he did have another pending case for another accident that was accidentally mentioned 

 

[Zow]

Personally, I'll do my civic duty and stop trying to get out of it as soon as it doesn't potentially cost me thousands in missed paychecks to serve on a jury.  I'd actually love to serve on a jury one day but not until they either start requiring companies to pay people while on a jury or I move to a company that does.

Then you’d be honestly answering regarding your hardship. I was not implying that your civic duty mandates that you serve. There are many that shouldn’t for legitimate reasons. 

 

[Worm]

Not sure how all jurisdictions are but since ours was civil we could have phones in jury room and at lunch, just not during court 

AND the court process is ridiculous (at least here) in that you you are available almost as much as you are unavailable during a standard 8 hour (not even!) court day sitting on a jury. It's crazy inefficient.

Show up for jury duty at 9:20 for a 9:30 start

In courtroom from 9:30-10:15

15 minute break

In courtroom from 10:30-12

HOUR AND A HALF LUNCH

In courtroom from 1:30-3

15 minute break

In courtroom from 3:15-5

Go home

You are actually in court and unavailable max 5.5 hours out of a 7.5 hour day.

This doesn't even count all the time you are shuffled back to the jury room while they hash out stuff outside your presence.

 

[Scoresman]

Then you’d be honestly answering regarding your hardship. I was not implying that your civic duty mandates that you serve. There are many that shouldn’t for legitimate reasons. 

Problem around here is that every time I've had to go, not being paid was not considered a hardship unless extreme like you couldn't pay your rent or something.  It's ridiculous.  We have some real ####### judges around here.  I'm glad I never got far enough to ever have to claim it a hardship. I just watched others get shot down.  

 

[NutterButter]

Problem around here is that every time I've had to go, not being paid was not considered a hardship unless extreme like you couldn't pay your rent or something.  It's ridiculous.  We have some real ####### judges around here.  I'm glad I never got far enough to ever have to claim it a hardship. I just watched others get shot down.  

Damn, I was afraid that was going to be the case, but once the first guy gave that reason and the judge was totally cool with it, I knew I was in the clear.     

 

[Da Guru]

Never been before.  This sucks.  I have no interest in this at all.  I dont even know if I will get paid by my work because of the way the schedule works. 

GUILTY!!!

Been summoned at least 7-8 times and have never responded.

 

[NutterButter]

Been summoned at least 7-8 times and have never responded.

That's crazy.  I'd be a wreck wondering if I ever got pulled over, there'd be a warrant out for my arrest for contempt of court.

 

[Scoresman]

I used to get called twice a year pretty much every year when I was a college student.  I'd always request the 6 month postponement marking down the date I'd be out of classes for both spring and fall semesters so that it lined up nicely, but without fail they would always still call me in the middle of a semester.  Must've postponed about a dozen times altogether despite it saying you can only do so twice or so.  

 

[Walking Boot]

I used to get called twice a year pretty much every year when I was a college student.  I'd always request the 6 month postponement marking down the date I'd be out of classes for both spring and fall semesters so that it lined up nicely, but without fail they would always still call me in the middle of a semester.  Must've postponed about a dozen times altogether despite it saying you can only do so twice or so.  

Shark move is to postpone to a holiday week. There's only 4 days you could potentially be called in, instead of 5, and, no one wants to start a trial on July 2nd or 3rd, for example, then lose attention over a three day weekend. 

 

[Zow]

That's crazy.  I'd be a wreck wondering if I ever got pulled over, there'd be a warrant out for my arrest for contempt of court.

A local judge here recently got tired of people not showing and issued a bunch of summons for those who didn't and fined them . 

 

[The General]

I went for the first time last year at age 43, never asked until then. Interesting process. Got dismissed from the alternate pool. If work weren't blowing up at the time I would have liked to have sat on the jury. Guy was guilty as hell though.

 

[Walking Boot]

Been called in every year, but never made it to voir dire. Been in the courtroom twice, but other than that, no further. 

Once time I got called in was for some sort of massive federal court, they only had one case going and called in 40 of the 80 people that were requested for the day. Those 40 got to the courtroom, picked up a questionnaire to take home, then left. They let the rest of us leave right after. We were told that the odds of getting called for jury duty in this court again were pretty slim, one of those "most people never get this summons, those that do only get it once" deals. Pretty good day off work.

Once I actually did get into the courtroom, and the case was described as a 1-day deal. The judge basically said "You can try to get out of this one if you want, but, if you get sent to another courtroom, Lord knows how long that case is going to be. This one is going to be tomorrow afternoon and that's it. Up to you if you want to gamble."  They seated the 12 jurors and a couple of alternates after going through about 20 of the 40 of us that were called in. I was #35 and got out of it. Coincidentally a friend of mine was called in and she had to serve. She confirmed it was over in an afternoon. (And, yes, after being excused, we walked back amazingly slowly to the jury room before checking in to be potentially called for any other trials. Was like 3:30 by the time we were all processed back, and no other calls came in.) The most interesting voir dire exchange was potential juror #3, when asked if he recognized the defendant, prosecutor, or anyone else in the courtroom, said "Only you, judge". The judge didn't recognize him, though, until they went through six or seven rounds of carefully worded questions and answers, without potentially saying anything that would reveal or create bias, and got around to asking him what his occupation was. The potential juror replied he was an LA County medical examiner, and had testified before the judge on several cases. He was eventually excused.

Another time I got called into the courtroom for what was described as a medical malpractice case. We were told to expect a six-week trial. Everyone claimed hardship. I was able to get out of it because I was young (like 22), working my first real job, and had documented income below the threshold on my summons papers--so I had no idea why they even called me in in the first place. I pretty much explained that my work was seasonal (TV business) and that I'd be fired for missing six weeks of it. When asked why I hadn't rescheduled my jury duty for a better time, I said I had... but I get off weeks here and there but not six week stretches. Anyway, they let me go due to the income limit, and I have no idea what the result was.

However, the craziest day may have been the day I got called to the big courthouse in downtown LA and the place was a madhouse. Like a 40-minute wait to get through security. The crowd in the jury room was spilling out into the hallways, and then the side-hallways. It was crazy. I fought my way through the crowd to check-in to discover that the computer system had screwed up and summoned every potential juror for the month to show up on the same day. I got checked in and told I was one of the legitimate jurors who was supposed to be there, and let into the waiting room. Most everyone else was turned away and told they'd have to continue to call in and see if they were supposed to be there on any of the other days. People were livid. People were actually fighting to get in to the jury room. Saying "I took time off work to be here, I'm here, this is my day. Use me or don't... but I ain't coming back!" about a hundred different ways. You've never seen people so upset they weren't being called for jury duty. I would much rather have gone home and played hooky from work and rolled the dice on being called in later. 

 

[johnnycakes]

I don't think the employer can make you use PTO for jury duty, but if they did, wouldn't you get paid? In any event, if it's really a problem for you, just call in and get it rescheduled. 

Here in MA we can reschedule up to one year in the future.  I always pick the day before a major holiday and then the obligation invariably gets canceled.  

 

[NutterButter]

A local judge here recently got tired of people not showing and issued a bunch of summons for those who didn't and fined them . 

I'm a little surprised this isn't standard operating procedure.

 

[NutterButter]

Overall, being my first time getting called in, it wasn't bad.   Paid a bunch of money to be there from 9-2:30 browsing the web, listening to tunes and drinking coffee.  Had to go before the judge once to state my hardship.   

 

[Da Guru]

That's crazy.  I'd be a wreck wondering if I ever got pulled over, there'd be a warrant out for my arrest for contempt of court.

Have not got summoned in the last 4 years.  My friend is a State Trooper. 

I ask him once a year to run my plate to make sure I don`t have any warrants for that or parking tickets. Always comes back clean.

 

[NutterButter]

Have not got summoned in the last 4 years.  My friend is a State Trooper. 

I ask him once a year to run my plate to make sure I don`t have any warrants for that or parking tickets. Always comes back clean.

Someone should really come up with a yearly package for guys that includes that feature; something like "prostrate exam, credit check and warrant search all for $29.99".   

 

[Scoresman]

Someone should really come up with a yearly package for guys that includes that feature; something like "prostrate exam, credit check and warrant search all for $29.99".   

Pretty sure I know of an Asian massage parlor in San Francisco that offers a similar package.  

 

[the rover]

Summoned for the week of my daughter's winter break (I work from home and my ex works full time).   Shooting for excusal for financial hardship, but postponement would be ok.  I think it would be kind of fun.

 

[the rover]

Got excused after sending an email request to the court.