topic Jury Duty in Community Chat

Jury Duty

SydneyH — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 04:25:04 GMT

How often has anyone been called? I just received a notice for a courthouse that is on the other side of my county. Soo not feelin' the call to serve.

Re: Jury Duty

Kachina624 — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 04:31:59 GMT

I've been called once in the 18 years I've lived here. When I lived in Houston I got called fairly often but never chosen for a jury because DH was a cop.

Re: Jury Duty

CatLoverDogsToo — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 06:05:55 GMT

@SydneyH I was called in 2013 and again just this month. Both times, I sat for 2 hours and then was let go for the week. 500 "cases" settled the first time. Same thing this month.

Re: Jury Duty

Trix — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 06:30:42 GMT

I've been summoned a few times. One case I was selected to be a juror was settled before the trial began. I'm one who feels it is one of the privileges of being a citizen of the United States of America that "we, the people" are a part of the judicial process. I've never felt inconvenienced to be summoned.

Re: Jury Duty

missy1 — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:18:53 GMT

Lately every 2 years. I like to go.

Re: Jury Duty

Desertdi — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:46:15 GMT

In Illinois, never. Once in California in 25 years. Every 3 years since I've lived in Arizona.

Re: Jury Duty

qualitygal — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 09:33:24 GMT

@Trix wrote:
I've been summoned a few times. One case I was selected to be a juror was settled before the trial began. I'm one who feels it is one of the privileges of being a citizen of the United States of America that "we, the people" are a part of the judicial process. I've never felt inconvenienced to be summoned.

In the past times, I'd get a bit irked, but I never actually had to set on a jury. Once I was able to be excused due to taking care of my father. But all in all I agree, it's a right and a duty we all need to be a part of. It is an experience. Not horrible. Only the cases you might have to set in on can be.

Re: Jury Duty

gidgetgh — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 10:11:48 GMT

I'm 61 and have only been called once, probably about 15 years ago. It was for an arson case. I figured that I wouldn't get picked because my husband was a firefighter in the same county.

Wrong. I was picked. Trial lasted two days. We deliberated for a few hours.

Re: Jury Duty

Karie2022 — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 10:14:36 GMT

Once, several years ago...my almost 90 year old dad has never been called.

Re: Jury Duty

Nataliesgramma — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 10:37:25 GMT

Once and I hope never again....was not a good experience....Hubby on the other hand 3 times and he loves it.

Re: Jury Duty

Grade1Teach — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 10:48:41 GMT

I have been called two times in the last 7 or 8 years. The first time was simple - I was let go by 11 AM since they had found all the jurors they needed for the day. The most recent time was last year. It was a pretty awful time. A group of us kept getting transferred from room to room and building to building. I have two very young children that I am responsible for in terms of picking up/dropping off from their school/daycare. I am also the parent who must care for them when my husband works late, which is at least 3 nights a week. I work full-time as well. They wanted me for a trial that was expected to last 3 weeks, full-time, until 5:00 PM each day. It just wasn't possible for me to do it. They didn't want to hear any excuses, which I think was terrible of them. I know they have a hard time finding willing jurors, but I really found it upsetting that they expected me to make other plans for my children (and pay someone to do it!), while I served as a juror.

I stood my ground and ended up not serving, but I was kept there ALL day and my husband had to leave work early to get my girls. I'm sure that was done on purpose.

Re: Jury Duty

AuntG — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:03:59 GMT

Just once and there were no cases that week. What a relief, I like to do my judging on these boards, not in real life.😉

Re: Jury Duty

SXMGirl — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:20:34 GMT

I have been called for jury duty several times and served on a jury this past November. What should have been an easy case turned into a hung jury after one week, and I really believe that justice was not served. I am still not happy (read angry) over how things worked out. We had two jurors who would not even look at the evidence. One made up his own evidence, and the other was a confused young woman. Fortunately, the defendant was in prison for life for a heinous crime, and when that young woman found out what he did in a previous case, she said that she felt that she held out for the wrong reasons.

The public defender was excellent, and the district attorney was not. The judge told us that people feel good about serving. I think they only feel good when they know that they have done their best.

Re: Jury Duty

Cats3000 — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:24:29 GMT

I assume you received a written notice to appear. Whether or not you "feel the call to serve" is irrelevant. You appear or the local "constabulary" will come after you. Most Jury Duty notices contain a place where you can request exemption by giving a reason. But it's up to the judge as to whether or not to grant the request.

If you just got a phone call, I'd call the court and find out if the call was legit. As far as I know, notices to appear are always in writing and always mailed.

I was called twice in FL and served once. I was called in NH and requested an exemption based on health concerns and the exemption was granted.

Re: Jury Duty

CelticCrafter — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:43:27 GMT

@Grade1Teach wrote:
I have been called two times in the last 7 or 8 years. The first time was simple - I was let go by 11 AM since they had found all the jurors they needed for the day. The most recent time was last year. It was a pretty awful time. A group of us kept getting transferred from room to room and building to building. I have two very young children that I am responsible for in terms of picking up/dropping off from their school/daycare. I am also the parent who must care for them when my husband works late, which is at least 3 nights a week. I work full-time as well. They wanted me for a trial that was expected to last 3 weeks, full-time, until 5:00 PM each day. It just wasn't possible for me to do it. They didn't want to hear any excuses, which I think was terrible of them. I know they have a hard time finding willing jurors, but I really found it upsetting that they expected me to make other plans for my children (and pay someone to do it!), while I served as a juror.

I stood my ground and ended up not serving, but I was kept there ALL day and my husband had to leave work early to get my girls. I'm sure that was done on purpose.

We must have been called at the same time for the same cases.

From windowless room to windowless room, packed in like sardines, with recess after recess for whatever reasons through the questioning process.

I left the house at 7AM and never got home until after 6PM. I didn't even get voir dired.

Never again. If I can't get excused then I will make sure I don't make it through the vetting process. I don't care if it's a civic duty or a privilege or an honor, they won't want me on their jury.....

Re: Jury Duty

Allegheny — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:29:06 GMT

Never. Same for my husband.

Re: Jury Duty

gmkb — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:30:21 GMT

I served once on a criminal trial. It was an upsetting experience because we were so divided on the decision. Eventually we came to an agreement of guilty. The judge was so kind and said he knew we were having difficulty, but we made the right decision. He told us this person had been before him before several times and there was no doubt

that our guilty decision was correct. We all felt so relieved.

I was called again but was sole caretaker for an elderly person and was excused. About six weeks later I got another notice, but was excused again because he was still alive and I was still the caretaker. After that I was never called again.

Re: Jury Duty

TaylorBrown — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:46:11 GMT

I received a letter from the courts last week. This is the secodn time I have gotten one. The first time I was never on the list to attend. No word this tme yet.

Re: Jury Duty

Peaches McPhee — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 11:47:30 GMT

I've been called maybe 4 times in since I became an adult in early 1980s. I had to serve (show up to the courthouse) maybe twice. One time I made it to the jury questioning process, but was dismissed.

While the process is disrupting to your normal life, it really is interesting to serve. I am kinda half-hoping to get called to sit on a jury in a few years once I am retired.,

Re: Jury Duty

Pook — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 12:04:05 GMT

I did only once and it was for a huge case against a large company. Due to my union affiliation (officer and steward), I was not required to even show up after filling out a 25 page questionaire. My mother was used several times and loved it.