Since I've moved so much in my life, I am constantly getting called for jury duty. I served 4 years ago (but was dismissed after a day.... didn't get picked for the jury) and got another notice this week!
I've always wanted to serve because I think it'd be a cool, interesting experience!
Have you ever served?
wonderful olive / 19353 posts
I was selected to be in a jury pool, but was never selected as a juror. The selection process was interesting as you got to see how some people's minds worked.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
Nope, I was selected once in college but then I never got called in since they found out I was in college and gave me a bye(license was in hometown, wasn't living there.)
coconut / 8681 posts
No. I’ve never even been summoned for jury duty!!!! I’d like to at least have the experience, I’m really bummed that they seem to just ignore me!
grape / 86 posts
Yes, I served once on a civil case - I thought it was interesting that I could see myself being swayed by the more attractive attorney (both were male), but of course I remained objective. ;p
I was called to jury duty another time and was in the jury selection pool, and guess who the judge was ??? Judge Lance Ito, too funny. I was eventually eliminated ....good thing b/c I really didn't want to drive to Downtown LA for 2 months !
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
In San Francisco I got called 4 times, but once I got to cancel because I had already gotten my number drawn that year. I never got selected though, just had to sit around for selections till the had their 14 people, or until I got dismissed (I looked like the defendant!).
One was a really high profile murder case that I'm really glad I didn't get selected for--they didn't issue a verdict until 6 months later!
Everywhere else I have lived I have not gotten a summons. Weird?
grapefruit / 4703 posts
I've been called four times - three state and one federal (which is for three weeks!!)
I've only been on one jury though - it was for a bar fight where the victim hit his head (or it was smashed, allegedly) on the sidewalk, and he was in a coma for weeks. The charges were A&B causing serious bodily injury, A&B with a deadly weapon (his shoe), A&B with intent to kill, and A&B on second victim. It lasted a week and we only found him guilty on one of the four charges.
I expected it to be more like Law & Order (DNA, extensive evidence), but I just don't think the state has the resources to get prove every case. At first I was pissed that I'd gotten chosen, but it was actually pretty interesting.
cantaloupe / 6146 posts
@Mrs. Sunglasses: Really? Are there juries, or are legal matters handled in a different way?
bananas / 9628 posts
I was on one once. It was was for an attempted murder case (among a whole list of other charges). The defendant had just turned 17, and now his whole life is ruined. I left the last day of the trial in tears, the experience was awful for me. I still wonder about that poor kid (the defendant, the 'victim' was a douche that deserved far worse than what happened to him! I don't really mean that, but you know what I mean).
kiwi / 691 posts
I always get called but I have never been chosen. I'm always both relieved and disappointed to not be chosen.
GOLD / pineapple / 12662 posts
@PointyBird: No reason to be disappointed! It is not a selection process - it is a *de*selection process. Attorneys strike jurors for many (many, many) reasons from the available jury pool . . . they don't get to choose jurors (strikes are limited, too). A lot of strikes occur because a juror is believed to be beneficial to the opposing party.
pomegranate / 3503 posts
I've served on a case once. It was interesting. It's really hard to convict someone. My husband was on a case once and the guy got acquitted. My husband took the train afterwards and saw the guy on the subway. How awkward.
pomegranate / 3729 posts
I was on the grand jury last spring every friday for 3 months. It was pretty eye opening, mostly on how prevalant drug abuse is around here. Also, I went to HS with several witnesses in a shooting. That was awkward.
persimmon / 1194 posts
I've been on a jury for a malpractice suit. It was an interesting experience however I would rather not do it again. I've been summoned twice since then however one was on my wedding date and most recently 2 days past my due date, um not gonna happen!
GOLD / wonderful pea / 17697 posts
I've been summoned three times, but I've never served on a jury. The first time I was the very last one cut before they chose the final 14 (12 + two alternates). I was 21 and was scheduled to have a colposcopy the following week...I still think the only reason I was cut was because when I was being interviewed by the lawyers and judge on the stand I started babbling about the procedure (one of the lawyers had never heard of it).
I'm glad I wasn't chosen for that one, it was a case where a woman had shot (but not killed) a police officer, and claimed it was in self-defense. The character witness list alone for the police officer was 3 pages long, single-spaced.
The other two times I was dismissed from the pool without even being called back at all.
I've never minded being summoned...I've always felt it's a civic responsibility...and I've always thought it would be interesting to actually serve (although with the first case, given the extenuating circumstances--i.e. I was convinced I had cervical cancer and would never have children, I'm glad I wasn't chosen).
GOLD / pomelo / 5167 posts
@pastemoo: Okay, my bad. Yes we have jury duty but I don't know anyone in all my life that actually had to do it. So it almost seems in-existant.
persimmon / 1453 posts
I got called for the first time for August. Naturally, the timing couldn't be worse! Any of you fine US citizens are welcome to take my place, I don't want any part of it!
pomelo / 5073 posts
I've been summoned and was even on the jury selection. I wasn't chosen, but it completely messed with my day even though I know it's my civil duty. I was glad to be a part of it, but happy it's almost over. One of the lawyers was super new and I felt so bad for him. He did not do a good job at jury selection.
My mom would love to be called because she doesn't do anything and she would be perfect, but alas, she has not been called.
pomegranate / 3053 posts
I got selected twice when I lived in San Francisco. Got out of the first one (civil case about a guy with brain damage from a work accident that would have lasted a long time); but served for the second one and it was only for a day. It was about an alcoholic peeing in public multiple times. I think we sent him to rehab. I would have stayed on with the civil case except my boss BEGGED me to get out of it b/c we were having our huge product release and she couldn't do without me. I felt pretty guilty and the judge almost didn't let me go... I pretty much just told him I didn't feel comfortable with the case. He had to pull me to the back to have a chat. It was quite embarrassing! But I would do it again. I think it's a great experience that one should go through at least once in their lifetime.
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