Jury Duty??

Well it finally happened to me. In yesterday's mail I received a letter from the county clerks office, enclosed was a potential juror survey. I have never in my ahem... 40+ years been selected for jury duty so this will be a new experience. My husband Dave on the other-hand has been chosen numerous times. So many in fact I think they legally can no longer request him.

Help prepare me for this process and please share your jury duty stories.

Well, if your first trip is anything like mine, you'll end up on a case. Spent two days--one of which was my day off--at the courthouse. Only had one car at the time, so that wasn't fun.

Cops were trying to arrest some guy who was allegedly drunk and disorderly at his house. Found him guilty of operating under the influence, as he tried to drive his car to avoid the police. Don't remember what happened to him.

Like Dave, I am called often. I keep all my records so that when they call me within the 3 year time frame I can say, thanks, but I already had my turn.

The last time I asked to be excused from a case because the guy was accused of trying to sell drugs close to a school. I think that was a couple of years ago.

If I remember correctly, my father was called for jury duty within the year after our car accident in 1966. He was in a cast from his toes to his armpits for most of that year and so he couldn't go and serve.
I won't tell ya to "break a leg" but good luck buddy, lol.

I've been called six times over the years, and served on three juries. Those were cases involving arson, assault, and child molestation. Two other times I was seated on the jury, but the cases were settled out of court before the trials started.

The first time I was called was kind of funny. I figured I should dress nicely, so I wore slacks and a sportcoat. Of course, it turned out I was the only one. My fellow jurors had on cut-offs, t-shirts, tank tops, etc. It was a burglary trial, and the defendant was kind of this sleazy-looking hippie guy. Both the defense and the prosecution were allowed to remove one juror each without explanation, and the defense attorney asked that little old me be excused. I assume that the hippie guy didn't want his fate in the hands of some jerk wearing a suit.

Rob wrote:

I figured I should dress nicely, so I wore slacks and a sportcoat. Of course, it turned out I was the only one. My fellow jurors had on cut-offs, t-shirts, tank tops, etc.

LOL Rob, I was called last year and I dressed up too! Same thing---tons of people, no one looking terribly 'presentable', that's for sure. Lorrie, don't worry about it....hopefully you won't be chosen. For me, it was a thing where I got there at 8:30am, and was out by 11:00am. I got as far as being called into the courtroom, but ultimately wasn't chosen. I really dreaded doing this, but I actually learned something being in the courtroom and it was really quite interesting.

What do you do to get a Chance to be Jury Duty? They must really don't like you if they call you to be Jury Duty lol

As far as I know it's a totally random thing. I'm sick of them liking me so much.

I know how you feel, but I suppose yu must not worry about it. Things will turn O.K. Of course, if it is the first time they call you to be a Jury Duty you must be a little scared by the fact...

Vanesa.

My uncle Craig has been on jury duty, what exactly do you do?

You just hear the evidence, listen to the arguments presented by the attorneys on both sides, and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Well I went online and filled out my survey. I am a white female, live only 12 miles from the courthouse, don't have a felony, am over 18 years old and never served on a jury before.

Oh yea... I'm gonna get called.

I've heard stories and whether it's true or not, when you register to vote this is where their jury list is compiled from. Makes sense since they have all your vitals. I'm not scared or nervous about the whole process, I actually think I might enjoy it, but it's just the hassle of missing work and altering your everyday schedule to play by their rules. But it is my patriotic duty and a gift I have been given. I was hoping to skate through life being one of the lucky ones and avoiding the whole process. I'm not sure how they caught up to me.. LOL

We do have a "Big" trial coming up soon, I believe early next year. A bunch of young kids (19 - 22 year olds) were sitting around a campfire celebrating the departure of a fellow classmate whom just joined the marine corp. In the early morning hours the guy shipping off to basic training decided to play marine. He had his girlfriend go in the house and bring out the new pistol he bought months before. Being inebriated he kept loading and unloading the clip. When it was unloaded he would "dry fire" at people placing the laser scope on his friends foreheads. I think you know where this is going...

He lost track of what he was doing and accidentally shot his best friend just above the right temple dropping him to the ground. In a panic and also plotting a fabricated story, they waited 15 minutes before calling 911. Shawn died in transit to the hospital.

Now this is one case I don't hope to be on...


So... you're saying I can wear jeans and a nice blouse or sweater when and if I have to appear?

I only got called once, and I agree, the part I didn't like about it was how it turns your whole schedule upside down. My kids were younger at the time and needed rides back and forth to school (too far to walk, plus I didn't like the idea of them walking alone), and they needed someone home or to care for them. I couldn't get out of it, so I had to beg rides for the kids and they had to go to friends houses until I could get them. It makes me wonder what people do who have no one.

I was also nervous about what kind of trial it may be if I were called to serve. There was a case about a man who murdered and dismembered his wife, and I did not want to be on that case. It was a very high profile case.

As it was, I ended up having to stay the entire day. Near the end of the day, I got called into the courtroom with a pool of jurors, but my number was never called to go into the jury box and be asked questions. Once they got their jury, the rest of us were allowed to go home. This was a case about a father who was allegedly accused of abusing his children. I didn't want to be part of a case like that either. Plus, the idea of having someone else's fate in my hands is just not something I am comfortable with. It was definitely a learning experience though.

I've had jury duty twice, but I've only had to show up at the courthouse two times. I was called to the jury box but I didn't end up doing it since I had no one to watch Kara when Gary went to work. The other time they made a deal before the trial so we all got to go home.

Lorrie wrote:

I've heard stories and whether it's true or not, when you register to vote this is where their jury list is compiled from.

As I understand it, they used to get jurors from pools of registered voters. Then they realized that, in order to avoid jury duty, people weren't registering to vote. So now they get jurors from the rolls of licensed drivers. I guess they figure people won't quit driving just to stay off the jury.

Then Lorrie wrote:

So... you're saying I can wear jeans and a nice blouse or sweater when and if I have to appear?

Judging by my experience, if it's a nice blouse or sweater, you'll probably be overdressed.

Lorrie wrote:

Being inebriated he kept loading and unloading the clip. When it was unloaded he would "dry fire" at people placing the laser scope on his friends foreheads. I think you know where this is going...

I've sentenced myself to three Our Fathers and five Hail Marys for laughing at this.

never been asked..

Ours is close to Robs, except when you register your license, you're asked if you'd like to register to vote.
I don't worry about jury duty though. I used to be a little....wild, so I generally know the defendant;

"Hey Roy"
"Hey Larry"

I'm generally excused after that.

In Australia, registration to vote is compulsory once you're over 18, but I'm not sure about jury duty registration...

I HATE IT!!!!! I HATE JURY DUTY!!! I hate it SO much!! I have had it twice now. I always said that the 2 things I don't want to do is die and end up on a jury. And so far I have done one of those things! I just think it is horrible. You don't know whether or not you will get chosen for anything and then Heaven only knows what trial you will be on if you are chosen.


If some people like it, OK. I hate it. I live in fear of jury duty. So much so that when I was first called, I actually never voted again because I was afraid they would call me again and they still did! I kind of figured, though, that once they get you, they've GOT you for as long as they want you. I just hate the idea of living in fear of this every 4-5 years (they aren't supposed to call you here for 4 years and I was called again 5 years later).


My first time I was a reserve. I always thought a reserve was to fill in for someone who was sick or something. My mother and sister-in-law were both reserves but they never had to go in (my mother had jury duty 4 times and I think my brother had it 6 times). They only had to call to see if they were needed and they weren't. Well, I had to call twice a day for that week to see if I would be needed. I still had to go to work. Then I had to work that Wednesday evening. That is when I found out that I had to go in. I had to be at Children's Court in the morning. It was supposed to be some sort of case where the child was divorcing his parents. So we sat there for a very long time waiting for them to call someone into the courtroom for jury selection. Suddenly they announced that the case was settled and they didn't need us. We all thought that was it until they said "Be downtown at the courthouse by 1:30". I just wanted to cry and one big moan came from everyone else there. So I get downtown and I just KNEW they would call my name - that is my luck. They did. I then knew, especially the way that the one lawyer kept smiing at me, that they were going to choose me after they asked their questions. I just knew it. I got stuck on some civil trial. And I was with some really self-centered, obnoxious people. A couple of them were morons. And it is a little difficult being in a situation like jury duty with people like that.


Then I had it again this September. I was a reserve again. That week was torturous. I had to call twice a day for the week. Luckily I didn't get called in this time. I know if I did I would get picked again. I am just so worried to be on some sort of murder trial. I don't want to be a part of that.

Rob wrote:

Lorrie wrote:

I've heard stories and whether it's true or not, when you register to vote this is where their jury list is compiled from.

As I understand it, they used to get jurors from pools of registered voters. Then they realized that, in order to avoid jury duty, people weren't registering to vote. So now they get jurors from the rolls of licensed drivers. I guess they figure people won't quit driving just to stay off the jury.

That is what I was wondering. To me, that almost makes more sense if they want to get people to go to jury duty.

They must call people based on drivers license because I am not registered to vote and I got a summons before. Luckily I did not have to go down to the court house because they called and said the group I was in was passed up. I was in group A but they called group B and C. Thank God!

Larry....you crack me up!

So my sister is out of the country and she got this Jury Duty thing in the mail and i am responsible for her mail, How do i get out of it? She will probably be back by the time she is suppose to appear, I am hoping to use its against our Religion which is true but will that excuse work?

I don't think you can do anything Jacob, it is your sister being called to jury duty, not you.  You need to get in touch with your sister and she can get in touch with them and let them know she is out of the country.  She doesn't need to let them know she will be back in time, if she calls now, she is telling the truth, she is out of the country....

Thanks Rhonda, I'll try and get a hold of her and have her call them

They send me a Jury Duty in the mail, long time ago. My mom called and told them, I have mild cerebral palsy and closed head injury. I wouldn't understand the case. They haven't bother me since.


Wear something nice. Make sure your on time. Get their early. Wait for your turn, until they called you. If, they want you has jury duty. Ask them a lot of questions, How long is the trial & etc... If, they don't ask you for Jury Duty, you go home.