Jury Duty

[Glengoyne]

Well they caught up to me somehow. I had managed to duck jury duty for close to 15 years, but today I had to report. As luck would have it, I may now be stuck on the actual jury for two to three weeks. The attorneys are rapidly using up all of their challenges, and I am still seated. I tried to talk as much as I could when asked questions. It is my belief that the more the attorneys know about you, the more likely they will come across something they don't like. I must be becoming just too damn reasonable as I get older.


I just wanna go back to work, and there is no telling what this is going to do to posts per day number here at FOFC.

[SackAttack]

Eh, just tell them "No, counsel, I cannot impartially hear the evidence, because every day I'm here is a day that I'm away from more important things. The fucker is obviously guilty as hell. Let him burn."

[NoMyths]

Or you could do your civic duty and help uphold ethics for eternity. Or something. ;)

[CamEdwards]

I suggest rubbing your crotch while the lawyers are talking. If that doesn't work... rub the crotch of the individual to your immediate right.

[gstelmack]

Originally posted by NoMyths
Or you could do your civic duty...

Yup. I actually enjoyed the one jury duty I did, although it was just 2-1/2 days. If you're not willing to pull jury duty, then you lose your right to complain about the justice system and stupid verdicts...

[ice4277]

Originally posted by CamEdwards
I suggest rubbing your crotch

This is sound advice regardless of whether or not you have jury duty.

[Taur]

Suckers.......That will teach you to be a registered voter.

[Samdari]

With declining voter registration, many places now get their list of potential jurors from the DMV. Getting a driver's license could get you called for jury duty. After all, being a reg'd voter is not a requirement for being on a jury, just citizenship.

[Nyarlahotep]

Jury dury is way better than testifying. I spent two days in a room without even the entertainment of a trial all for the pleasure of spending about 10-15 minutes talking about stuff that probably neither helped nor hurt the case against that now oft butt raped bastard.

[finkenst]

gstelmack said:
Yup. I actually enjoyed the one jury duty I did, although it was just 2-1/2 days. If you're not willing to pull jury duty, then you lose your right to complain about the justice system and stupid verdicts...


Amen.

Besides most employers will pay you while you are at jury duty.

I've been summoned twice in the 5.5 years at my current residence. Missed serving on a jury the first time and was an alternate this past summer.

[Glengoyne]

Originally posted by CamEdwards
...rub the crotch of the individual to your immediate right.


For nearly two full days, the person to my immediate right was the hottest chick in the jury pool. Unfortuneately she was challenged late this afternoon. She was promptly replaced, in rapid succession, by a string of people I have collectively dubbed as 'the replacements'. Individually I call them "B.O. Bob", "the Stomper", and "the Stud". The stud actually did play the "fry the guy now" routine, so he is gone without even using up one of the preemptory challenges that count, the bastard. In truth it was actually a variation on the the fry him now routine. He laid down the "even your apparent defense of him makes him a pretty sick fuck in my book" card. He was immediately admonished for his language, and excused in the same sentence.

[Maple Leafs]

Three words: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

[Glengoyne]

Originally posted by Maple Leafs
Three words: Irritable Bowel Syndrome


I forgot to mention that "Gassy lady" sits behind me

[kcchief19]

Three words: obstruction of justice. "The Stud" should have spent the night in the whole for lying to get out of jury duty.

I am well aware that jury duty can be a PITA, and our legal systems has done things that have contributed to making doing one's civic duty overly burdensome. But juries are what separate us from places that most of you seem to dislike, such as Iraq. If you don't want to serve on a jury and you don't vote, I suggest that you keep your pie hole shut or ship your ass to a county where you don't have to worry about either one.

But that's just me.

The jury selection process in Missouri is odd. They use some sort of formula in that each time you are selected for jury duty, you are more likely to be selected again. I knew someone who had been summoned for jury duty more than 10 times and had been on about a half dozen juries.

[Glengoyne]

Originally posted by kcchief19
Three words: obstruction of justice. "The Stud" should have spent the night in the whole for lying to get out of jury duty.

I am well aware that jury duty can be a PITA, and our legal systems has done things that have contributed to making doing one's civic duty overly burdensome. But juries are what separate us from places that most of you seem to dislike, such as Iraq. If you don't want to serve on a jury and you don't vote, I suggest that you keep your pie hole shut or ship your ass to a county where you don't have to worry about either one.

But that's just me.

The jury selection process in Missouri is odd. They use some sort of formula in that each time you are selected for jury duty, you are more likely to be selected again. I knew someone who had been summoned for jury duty more than 10 times and had been on about a half dozen juries.


I absolutely concur. I dont' really like the idea of spending two weeks listening to evidence on the alleged rape of a woman in a convalescent hospital, but I am not going to lie to get out of it. Oh and here in California the Jury pool comes from the DMV database. It used to be voter registration, and I can only surmise that when I changed counties something was missed because I have always voted, but went 15 years without being called to jury duty. With only 4 preemptory challenges left, and two people who the defense will definately not leave on the panel left to go, I think my streak has ended in a big way.

[Calis]

Ah, good 'ole Jury Duty.

I recently almost had a warrant put out for my arrest for "dodging jury duty". They were sending letters back to Kansas telling me I was picked.

For obvious job related reasons, I couldn't attend..luckily I found about it just in time to stop them from putting out the warrant. Would've been a bit more of a hassle then I'm sure.

[thrym]

Here its based on the list of property owner (i.e., county property tax payers).

I recently got out by being in college, just told the school, the school sent me a letter, I forwarded it to the authorities and then didn't even have to report, got an email and then a letter excusing me.

If all else fails ask the judge, "...why would they want someone who doesn't even believe in the jury trial system to be here?"

When he asks if YOU believe in it, answer, "No, any system where a single person can screwup the work of 11 other good intentioned people simply by voting opposite of the majority on every issue, is wrong."

Don't forget to <wink> when you say that last part...and be prepared to either be ushered out by the bailiff and kicked out of the courthouse OR thrown in the 'hole' for contempt...its a 50/50 shot and worth it if you REALLY don't want to be there.

Just a thought...and good luck!

[Simms]

Originally posted by Calis
Ah, good 'ole Jury Duty.

I recently almost had a warrant put out for my arrest for "dodging jury duty". They were sending letters back to Kansas telling me I was picked.


I had a very similar experience a couple of years ago. I'd moved back to Kansas from Virginia and had been at my job for a couple of months when I got a call from my old supervisor in VA. Apparently, they were trying to track me down for jury duty in Alexandria and were none too pleased that I hadn't responded yet.

I did finally get a hold of the guy from the Federal Courts, but it took about 20 minutes of conversation to get him to believe I didn't actually live there anymore. I had to get a signed letter from my employer in KS and fax it to them to get them to leave me alone.

Bummer of it is, I would have actually *liked* to serve on a jury. That's the only time I've ever been called, and I couldn't go.

[Calis]

Originally posted by Simms
Bummer of it is, I would have actually *liked* to serve on a jury. That's the only time I've ever been called, and I couldn't go.

Heh, exact same thing with me, I wish I could've went.

Didn't take very long to get mine straightened out when I finally heard about it though, I just found it funny that the Federal Government didn't where I was and I work for them. :) Granted, I realize they don't do checks beforehand, but I still got a chuckle.

[Craptacular]

I got notice a few months ago, for a two week period. You were supposed to call on Friday afternoon to see if your number was up for the following Monday, but then also call on Sunday night just to be sure. The second Friday, my number was in the range, but when I called Sunday night, I was out.


By one spot.

[tucker342]

A couple of years ago, my dad got called for jury duty. The charge was possession of Marijuna I think. They asked the jury if anyone was for the legalization of Marijuna, and my dad raised his hand to say that it should he legalized. Needless to say, they didn't believe him, and forced him to come to a different trial a couple of weeks later

[ice4277]

Originally posted by tucker342
A couple of years ago, my dad got called for jury duty. The charge was possession of Marijuna I think. They asked the jury if anyone was for the legalization of Marijuna, and my dad raised his hand to say that it should he legalized. Needless to say, they didn't believe him, and forced him to come to a different trial a couple of weeks later

Why would they not believe him? I thought I heard that at least 25% of people in the U.S. think it should be legalized.

[JeeberD]

I've been slected for jury duty twice, but I couldn't serve either time. The first time I was selected for duty in Colorado, but I was in El Paso going to school, and the second time I was selected for duty in Texas, but I had moved back to Colorado for a few months.

I think it would be an interesting experience, but it would really suck to have to miss school and work for that...

[Glengoyne]

Originally posted by ice4277
Why would they not believe him? I thought I heard that at least 25% of people in the U.S. think it should be legalized.

More than likely he hadn't thought his point of view out in advance. If you claim to feel strongly about something, but can't rattle off your rationale, some would disbelieve.

That circumstance can also arise if a city/county has strict jury duty laws. Back in my home town if you were excused from a jury with cause, meaning you actually claimed that you could NOT set aside your prejudice and make a decision based on the evidence presented and the judges instructions, you had not met your jury duty requirement. That could also have been what happened in that case. The county where I am now at uses the one day/one trial method. Meaning if you sit in the jury assembly room all day long, and do not get sent to a court room as part of a jury pool, you can go home. If any time during that one day, you are assigned to the jury pool for a trial, you have to return until that jury has been completely selected or you are excused(with or without cause).

[Ryan S]

"Getting out of jury duty is easy. The trick is to say you're prejudiced against all races."

Homer Simpson