Jury Duty!

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Jury Duty!; Your experiences?
Tweet Topic Started: Apr 16 2013, 12:56 PM (279 Views)
Kassandra	Apr 16 2013, 12:56 PM Post #1
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,940 Group: Members Member #4,960 Joined: April 13, 2010	So I am serving on my first jury. It's day one of the trial (hopefully of only two) and I am at lunch, so I cannot talk about the case yet. But I can't wait to! What an experience. It's kinda stressful, kinda sad, a lot frustrating, and really enlightening. I have managed to stay out of jury duty for 20+ years so I figured now was my time. It being a 2-3 day case made it do-able without impacting work. So tell me about your jury experiences? Good, bad, funny, sad? I am really glad to finally have this experience, it's so much better than I expected.



Trialbyfire	Apr 16 2013, 01:12 PM Post #2
You're BANNED! Posts: 5,272 Group: Members Member #250 Joined: January 8, 2007	The only time I have been called to sit I was excused. My dh is a lawyer, and the case was a tenant/landlord issue where the landlord was being sued for pain and suffering to a child because of alleged neglect of the building. We also owned a rental property at the time and the plaintiff's attorney definitely did not want me on the jury. The funny part was that he kept trying to get me to ask to be excused so he didn't have to do it (they can only have a certain number they excuse...can't remember what that is called). I knew that is what he wanted to do, and I honestly didn't want to sit on the jury, but I refused to lie and say I was incapable of being fair and unbiased. Naturally, the landlord's attorney would have loved me on the jury, so there was a little bit of back and forth between them until the plaintiff's attorney finally excused me. I was really surprised at how many people just said "nah, I can't be fair" and asked to be excused. I mean, I'm not sure anyone really wants to sit on a jury (except my dad, who is unsure why he's never been called in his entire life), but to blatantly just beg off is sort of embarrassing.



Indy	Apr 16 2013, 01:27 PM Post #3
You're BANNED! Posts: 8,083 Group: Admin Member #326 Joined: January 10, 2007	I served four days of jury duty in the winter of 2010 (we ended the day the horrible winter blizzard hit DC). It was a fascinating process, something I'm very glad I was able to participate in, but it was a parental child molestation case and was by far one of the most difficult and stressful things I've ever done. Given the subject matter and the eventual outcome, it's something that I still think about. Our case was unfortunately not black and white and while I do believe we made the right decision, sometimes I wonder what if we were wrong. The case was made extremly complicated by language barriers and translators. There's nothing like having a witness talk for 15 minutes and the translated answer be "yes" because the lawyer asked her a yes/no question. I still wonder what all grandma really had to say. I'm sure you will, but please take the process seriously. We had one jurror that was just horrible, showed up late and just didn't give a damn. It was so frustrating to the rest of us because we were trying to do a good job and you could tell she just didn't care.



WhySoSerious	Apr 16 2013, 01:40 PM Post #4
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,363 Group: Members Member #5,227 Joined: March 21, 2011	I've been summoned for jury duty once, but didn't serve because I was moving out of state for college. Even if I do get called for jury duty, I will probably be excused since I work in the County Attorney's Office (County prosecutor). I have, however, sat through a few jury trials. Both for the same defendant. I didn't know much about the cases beforehand, even though they belonged to my attorney. However, I was biased because of what I had heard about the cases and I couldn't have looked at the situation objectively. The defendant in these two cases (and many other current cases still going), is a real winner. One good thing, at least until he inevitably goes to jail for one of these cases, he keeps me busy at work. I spend a ridiculous amount of time doing stuff for one of that guy's 5 current cases!!!



leastrock	Apr 16 2013, 02:26 PM Post #5
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision Posts: 100 Group: Members Member #5,409 Joined: December 11, 2011	I've wanted jury duty for as long as I can remember. I always wonder why I can't just volunteer when there are thousands of people summoned who want nothing to do with jury duty! Good luck with the rest of your duty.



vxf111	Apr 16 2013, 02:51 PM Post #6
You're BANNED! Posts: 6,368 Group: Members Member #325 Joined: January 10, 2007	The attorneys have "preemptory strikes" than can be used to preclude jurors.



SnackPack	Apr 16 2013, 02:52 PM Post #7
You're BANNED! Posts: 4,570 Group: Members Member #238 Joined: January 8, 2007	I sat in the holding room all day on my 20th birthday. that was fun. I was also called as a possible juror in a double homicide in my area: Mother and unborn child. There were days and days of selections (like 3) but they never ended up getting to me, so thankfully I didn't have to serve. It would've been a long one. I've also been called for possible Grand Jury service. That was a no go from the start. It's a huge deal and I don't see how anyone with any sort of job can actually do it. I wouldn't mind serving on a short type case but never seem to get to that point. I've been called countless times (at least 6, possibly more) but am usually released without having to go in.



gunnar	Apr 16 2013, 03:04 PM Post #8
You're BANNED! Posts: 6,490 Group: Members Member #236 Joined: January 8, 2007	K I have been on 3 juries in Almeda county! I enjoyed the process but be prepared to hear only what the lawyers want you to hear! Listen to the judges instructions at the end! Knowing you, you will speak up in the deliberations. Be prepared for the typical numb minds you will encounter on your jury! You will be outraged at the stupidity that reigns!



Fish Cheeks	Apr 16 2013, 03:23 PM Post #9
You're BANNED! Posts: 5,758 Group: Members Member #211 Joined: January 7, 2007	I've always wanted to sit on a jury but never have gotten to. I get called every year but the night before when I dial in it turns out I don't have to report the next day. I'm interested to hear what yours is about!



gunnar	Apr 16 2013, 03:29 PM Post #10
You're BANNED! Posts: 6,490 Group: Members Member #236 Joined: January 8, 2007	No one ever wants to sit on a jury! The crap I have heard for jurors to be released is outrageous. Do your civic duty peeps!



onwego	Apr 16 2013, 03:42 PM Post #11
You're BANNED! Posts: 3,376 Group: Members Member #603 Joined: January 23, 2007	I served a couple of years ago. Hopefully won't have to again for a while. Did my duty for a fairly boring case, but got it over with. Was even the lead juror or head of the jury or whatever they called it because nobody else would step up and do it. I kept things on track and kept it from going on forever. The things that people would say during the selection process was really surprising. All in order to avoid having to sit on the jury.



JanM	Apr 16 2013, 06:09 PM Post #12
Off visiting Candy Cave, be right back. Posts: 1,143 Group: Members Member #4,549 Joined: October 25, 2008	Snack Pack-Grand Jury terms and how many days you serve varies by the state and location. I was on a Grand Jury years ago in NM, and it was only one day a week for three months. It was interesting to find out how many criminals lived near me, and how many people we indicted more than one time in three months. We also inspected the county jail, and a state prison, and that was very interesting. In fact one of the Assistant District Attorneys (or Deputy, it's been years and it a little vague) was Suzanna Martinez, the current Governor of New Mexico. It was very interesting, and I think everyone who served learned a lot.



Kassandra	Apr 16 2013, 07:07 PM Post #13
Is the meadow on fire? Posts: 1,940 Group: Members Member #4,960 Joined: April 13, 2010	So it's over! The case only lasted today. We were able to deliberate and reach a verdict just in time for 4:30 which was our deadline. I was on the jury with an absolutely wonderful and amazing group of people. Everyone was nice, smart, interesting and very thoughtful. Made me proud to be a resident of Contra Costa County. It was a very sad DUI/BAC case as well as the guy driving with a suspended license. He was in his 50s and caused a very serious accident on I-80 in the mid-afternoon, and 2 hours later at the hospital had his blood drawn and his BAC was .18!! I can only imagine he was trying to fight it because of former convictions, and how high his BAC was. He was so clearly an alcoholic and it was so, so sad. But what can you do? Loved all the expert testimony from the forensics office. I learned so much about alcohol, how it affects you, and the CA state DUI laws. I have certainly driven drunk and it's something that haunts me. I think I needed this. I am glad I had the experience. Edited by Kassandra, Apr 16 2013, 07:08 PM.



RHowell	Apr 20 2013, 07:29 AM Post #14
You're BANNED! Posts: 6,794 Group: Members Member #138 Joined: January 7, 2007	We attorneys are automatically exempt from jury duty in VA. Makes me sad. I wouldn't mind sitting on a jury.



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