Jury Duty

musikbx

I just found out today that I will be performing jury duty for the next 4 weeks! Some people seemed annoyed to be chosen, I'd rather look at it as an educational experience. I'm actually quite excited to be a part of this process, though I'm a little anxious about what it will be like.

Has anyone else been called to perform jury duty? Was it stressful? Boring? Did you enjoy it?

Wrkn925

I've never been called to jury duty.  I'd be ticked cause I'd lose hours at work and they don't really pay you enough for lost wages, but I'd survive.

GreenPepperBurger

I got called for a very disturbing murder case last year. I told the judge I was going to vomit and I got let off.

skyler1108

I have never been called to jury duty before so I am not really sure what you should expect.

sparkles88

I was called for jury duty four times in one year. Luckily, the first two times I didn't have to go, but I ended up being on a jury the third time. The case really was nothing big. Two friends got into a fight, but then they didn't want to press charges. The over zealous DA took it to court though. The jury selection and trial lasted all of the first day, we heard closing arguments the second day and reached a verdict in half an hour. It really was a waste of time and money. I got called again shortly after that, even though there is a two year period of the courts not being able to call you after you have served. I couldn't go anyway, because I was overseas.

musikbx

You're right, Wrkn. As a member of the jury, the state will pay me $40 a day. I guess I am lucky though, because as a member of the teachers union I am entitled to serve on jury duty for as long as necessary with full pay. I apparently have to give the $40 a day back to my school, though.

Right now, I'm feeling really stressed about missing that much work! My boss didn't seem concerned though, so I guess it's just me.

GPB, did that really work? Was the case already in progress, or was this during the selection process beforehand?

Four times, Sparkles? That's insane!

GreenPepperBurger

This was during the selection process. I couldn't have served on that case. Afterwards, I read in the newspaper that the defendent was found guilty and was sentenced to 27 years to life.

tuarceatha

I've been called a couple of times, but both while I was 3 hours away at college.  So my parents declined for me.... But I've always wanted to participate in a jury, plus right now I am watching lots of Ally McBeal reruns and as dumb as some of those cases are, I would loooove to be in a jury for one!

Hope this case is worth the stress of being away from work!

[Deleted User]

I've been called to jury duty, but wasn't selected to be a juror. It was actually pretty boring, but had I been selected I think it would have been interesting to see it all first hand. My work pays for just days, so that part would have been no biggie for me.

jemmini6

I was called to jury duty, but didn't get selected as a juror.  It was only a DUI case...they did juror selection in the morning and the case in the afternoon and it was done.

I didn't get selected because I didn't live in the city the case was for.  My 'permanent' address (as far as the courts were concerned) was still listed as my parent's Phoenix address because I was still in college and moved around a lot.  At the time of the trial, my actual mailing address was in a suburb of Phoenix, not actually in Phoenix, so I couldn't be a juror on a Phoenix case.

I wouldn't want to be on an extended trial though.  I don't get paid at work for jury duty and they don't pay for $hit to be a juror here.

heyimbren

I've never done it, but I want to sometime in the next few years. Since I want to be a lawyer, I won't be able to serve on a jury once I do that.

We don't seem to have very many cases that go to a jury here though.

loves2shop4shoes

I've never been summoned.  But now that I'm in law school, any time I get summoned, they'll never take me.  

misikes

I was called to be on jury duty about a year or so ago. Of course, I knew I would be let off, because at the time, I was a full-time student. Unfortunately, I still had to go through the whole 2-hour reading of "what your duties will be should you be selected", and only afterwards did they say "If, for any reason, you are unable to do this, please see me at the podium after we're finished".

I was bored to tears, but only because I knew I wouldn't be able to serve. I think (as a criminal justice student), I would have enjoyed it.

bsidebella

I've never done it. I don't want to, either.

On a related note, I was taking a media law class a few years ago and my professor told us a sure-fire way not to get selected for jury duty is to tell them you watch "CSI", "Law & Order", or any other sort of crime-solving television shows. I can't remember the exact reason why, though.

hp100827

My boyfriend is a lawyer. If you act like you will be a leader (to the rest of the jury), you will probably get special attention from the attorneys so they can persuade you to voice what they want.