Jury Duty

[Scott P]

I answered a Grand Jury Summons today and am very upset at what is required of me for this great 'duty'. Unlike trial jury, I would be expected to serve for a period of one month. I have to show up and listen to cases every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. I was able to get out of this term because I have travel related to work next week. However, they were kind enough to re-schedule me for service in August.

How exactly do they expect people with normal jobs (8-5 or some derivation of that) to financially be able to afford this? I can't think of any employers willing to pay for a whole month's worth of work. In that case, the state is willing to pay me $40 per day for my time. Of course, I do have to pay $6.00 per day for parking alone at the courthouse.

I know that jury duty is a great honor a just a small price to pay for our freedom, yada yada yada. But I think they are asking way too much. I work in a small office and taking me out for a month just isn’t a feasible option. I handle several different duties here that aren’t easily handled by others. Plus, I run my own side business that requires me to take calls and answer questions. This one month term is just not right for me.

I didn’t get a chance to actually discuss any of these problems with the court as they simply rescheduled me and called the next person. Maybe they will make some sort of exception (or maybe not as many people probably claim the same thing) or maybe I’ll get stuck in court for a month at a net rate of $34 per day. I’m sure that they will be willing to buy my groceries, make my car payment and my mortgage payment while I’m there.

Am I out of line with these thoughts? I almost feel like I’m being punished with this task. I almost feel like making myself out to be so bad that they don’t select me. It sounds bad, but I do have a living to make. Am I that wrong/selfish/un-American to believe so?

 

[Bob Woods]

I think you have covered the downfall to our system.

 

[The_Jeff]

In "regular jury" duty I had last summer, they'd often cop pleas on the courthouse steps and we'd be done at 9:15. That was a waste of time.

The cases were mostly OUI's.

 

[XS650]

Interesting, Grand Juries must vary a lot from state to state and county to county. Here they are voluntary and run for terms of one year (which obviosuly doen't help you, but I learned something).

http://www.placercourts.org/grandjury.htm

Google might help you find out more about Grand Jury Duty in your state and county. Google is your friend.

 

[williar]

Yeah, that is kinda severe; one of the counties near me has it that way; it really makes for a skewed jury.

Our county has us serve for one week. I had jury duty last week but only heard one day-long case. BTW, of the, say, 100 jurors that are called only a small fraction, 10% - 30% around here, actually hear a case. The rest are dismissed by counsel for various reasons such as personal belifs. That's why sometimes it takes all day to select a jury.

 

[ALS]

Last jury duty I pulled I figured I could get out of easily. I figured if I took a Rush Limbaugh book with me that would easily get me out of Jury duty. Bad idea both sides wanted me on the Jury. I found out later the defense was most interested in me. Needless to say the two gang bangers got off because the ADA prosecuting the case was a complete idiot. She is now a Judge for the county if that says anything. The Judge hearing the case sat up on her pedestal reading travel magazine during the whole case.

[ April 26, 2004, 06:35 PM: Message edited by: ALS ]

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by ALS:
Last jury duty I pulled I figured I could get out of easily. I figured if I took a Rush Limbaugh book with me that would easily get me out of Jury duty. ....

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Reading a Limbaugh book indicated that you are not a deep thinker (whether true or not). Both attorneys were egotistical enough to believe they could out manipulate you.

 

[Chris142]

I live in san bernardino county in ca. It's the biggest county in the state.

Last year I got a jury summons for a court in Needles ca.

Although Needles is in the same county it is over 200 miles ONE WAY from here!

I wrote them a letter telling them I couldn't afford to drive 400+ miles a day for free since my employer wont pay for JD and I did not have reliable transportation to drive that far daily, got excused.

I couldn't imagine driving my 1973 International pickup with 4.30 gears, a 6mpg 392 cu in engine and no overdrive that much.

 

[Scott P]

I have no idea how they select jurors. I figure to show up and if they ask me a question, I'll just tell them if I'm going to be stuck here, every one of the cases I hear will be an indictment vote from me. If I have to suffer, everyone I get to have a decision on will. I can be a very bitter man when I have to.

 

[labman]

I got called for jury duty once after I had moved out of the state, excused.

This spring both my son and daughter received questionnaires. Neither has lived here for several years. One is registered to vote elsewhere in the state, but still has not been removed form the list here.

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by labman:
I got called for jury duty once after I had moved out of the state, excused.

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I've been called a few time and always considered it a duty and an honor to respond, even if it was inconvenient.

I made it as far as the jury box once when I was a university student. The defense dismissed me, I'm sure it was because I was an -engineering- student. I expect the prosecution would have dismissed me because I was a university student.

I made it to the jury box last December and got selected for a DUI trial. I was very favorably impressed with the process, except for two lying SOBS that got on the jury.

During the selection process, they said they had no preconcieved notions of guilt or innocence like the rest of us did.

Later, during jury deliberations, they both openly stated that if the police officer said the accused was guilty, he was guilty.

The accused had three charges against him. On the two main chaeges he was obviously guilty. On the third, and trivial charge, The prosecution didn't make an adequate case and the police officers testimony didn't support the case at all. Didn't matter to the two neo-fascist though. So the jury hung on the third charge. The judge dismissed the third charge. It was obvious it was bogus.

Those two morons weren't even perceptive enough to observe that the police officers testimony didn't support the third charge. The police officer did not even support the charges when questioned by the prosecuting attorney.

What is wrong with some of these neo-fascists?