| automatic exemptions from jury duty | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Apr 9 2018, 01:35 AM (3,421 Views) | |
| Wannabe Author | Apr 9 2018, 01:16 PM Post #51 |
![]()
|
Where I am does the 'come in if your number is x-y', so I've dodged two services. I have served twice, once civil. once as an alternate. The civil, I was in the jury room for maybe an hour before being pulled out for voir dire (jury filled before they got to me). After lunch, sat for an hour or so, wound up assigned to a case. The criminal case (different courthouse), I was in the first group pulled. Just got another questionnaire, so I'll probably be called soon. No problem if it's short. I couldn't do an 8-week case because I need to take Mom to doctors and such. I'm probably in the minority, but I like jury duty. I like seeing how the system really works. I bring books and crocheting for down time, so it's not the drudgery most people claim. |
![]() |
|
| MNGal | Apr 9 2018, 01:18 PM Post #52 |
|
my biggest problem is I totally space out and daydream if I'm A) not part of the conversation or B) not interested in the subject being discussed. I was neither during my jury duty so....I spent most of the time daydreaming about being anywhere else or being annoyed by the lawyer's voice and his dumb witnesses who answered every question with "I do not recall". Throat punch. |
![]() |
|
| MNGal | Apr 9 2018, 01:24 PM Post #53 |
|
also our deliberations was a study of the movie "Twelve Angry Men"...except the one guy wasn't right. He just didn't want to go back to work the next day.... |
![]() |
|
| Walternate | Apr 9 2018, 01:28 PM Post #54 |
![]()
Walternate is a fuzzy smurple.
|
Fulton county is no fun for jury duty. It’s unpleasant from start to finish. I have a friend who lives further out on a mountain and jury duty for them is fun. Everyone knows everyone and good humor is found all over. |
![]() |
|
| Aqua | Apr 9 2018, 01:29 PM Post #55 |
|
Sad Sack Puppy
|
I’m afraid I would hear that in the voice of the chicken lawyer from Futurama and not be able to stop laughing. |
![]() |
|
| Romsmom | Apr 9 2018, 01:30 PM Post #56 |
|
I just got called for district court jury duty in June, but I think I'll be excused because I'm the primary caregiver of a child under the age of ten. That was an exclusion that the court provided. I don't have family in town, and to get my kid to family and then get to court it would be over three hours of driving every day. At ten, I'm not convinced I'd leave him home alone for 9 hours a day. Full time child care is not in our budget. And we have a vacation planned with family flying in from the east coast, are booked for scout camp (I am the only adult who volunteered, so the 3 day camp could be cancelled for our den) and I promised the kid swim pass this summer (he can't walk due to distance) so jury duty would seriously rain on our summer. |
![]() |
|
| MNGal | Apr 9 2018, 01:31 PM Post #57 |
|
HAHA! There was a couple times I was daydreaming about something funny and snorted..I tried to make it look like I need to just blow my nose. Everyone looked at me weird.
|
![]() |
|
| marinesgirl | Apr 9 2018, 01:37 PM Post #58 |
|
I have never been called for jury duty. For awhile there, I think I moved too often so it never caught up to me. Dh has been called once for his home state when he was stationed many states away. That wasn't happening. His CO sent a letter I believe and he was excused. |
![]() |
|
| notstillme | Apr 9 2018, 02:01 PM Post #59 |
|
Geek by proxy
|
When we moved here, DH got called I want to say within a year? Pulled right from the license records. DH isn't a citizen so was automatically excused. |
![]() |
|
| Sparkle DNA | Apr 9 2018, 02:08 PM Post #60 |
|
While I was waiting, two of the jury pools were excused when both sides settled before the pools for each case even got up to the room. Both judges for those cases came down to our "jury holding pen" to thank them for their willingness to serve on the jury and to wait it out. Might be naive of me, but I thought it was a nice gesture.
Edited by Sparkle DNA, Apr 9 2018, 02:08 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| LahLah | Apr 9 2018, 02:20 PM Post #61 |
![]()
|
To be fair, I only knew the judge. I worked for him in College. We're still friends. I did not know the witnesses directly. Let's say (hypothetically) I worked in the Oncology research office of a large medical school attached to a hospital, the two witnesses were clinic oncologists. I didn't pay their bills or schedule their appointments, but if they ever decided to do research, I would have managed their money. I don't remember exactly - this was probably 10 years ago - but I think only 2 potential jurors were dismissed and both had some weird story about how much they loved paramedics/first responders and they could never find in favor of anyone suing a paramedic (the case was a med mal case where the deceased family/estate was suing the paramedics who responded to his 911 call). The stories were obviously BS (crocodile tears, dramatic heaving and near fainting...from men...over the thought of suing a paramedic), but the lesson I learned was if I need to get out of jury duty...cry.
|
![]() |
|
| 3rd Time's Not So Charming | Apr 9 2018, 02:27 PM Post #62 |
![]()
|
I was summoned for the first time, a couple years ago. It was for a court 50 miles away and I had a serious back injury and couldn't sit for more than 30 minutes, so I was excused. I got another summons, a few months ago. That one was for the court 5 miles down the road, but the case was settled before jury selection ever started. I didn't have to do anything other than make a phone call to see if I needed to show up. |
![]() |
|
| Signora | Apr 9 2018, 02:28 PM Post #63 |
|
If I were ever involved in a jury trial, on either side of prosecution or defense, I would really hope the jurors were fair and reasonable people, and not just whoever couldn’t weasel out. Reasonable exemptions or undue hardships, absolutely should be taken care of, but I have seen so many people over the years treat jury duty like the worst possible thing, and not the important foundation of our justice system it is. Not that the OP said that, of course. Just the general attitude towards jury duty. |
![]() |
|
| DarlingDewey | Apr 9 2018, 02:36 PM Post #64 |
|
Coach
|
I have to agree with Gills here. We all want jurors to participate and rule the way we think they should. Well, best chance of that happening is if we all participate in being jurors. I also have to pee a lot, have a short attention span, get annoyed by people but that doesn't mean I'm not capable of hearing a case and giving it thought. I wasn't able to serve on a jury because I knew from the get go that I'd be biased so I was dismissed. It doesn't mean I wouldn't serve elsewhere. I think tv has really messed with what people think jury duty is. You can pee, or hold it for a reasonable amount of time like you'd do with any client or meeting or you can claim it's a reason for not serving of guess, but just know that's weak. You can eat, even bring snacks if you want just not constantly, the same as most people do at work. I know I would want my family member to been seen by peers and not just people who want to be on jury duty. We want society to run well, part of that is participating in jury duty. |
![]() |
|
| Allday | Apr 9 2018, 02:36 PM Post #65 |
|
Lol. I just wonder because with digestive diseases when you have to go, you have to go NOW, or at least that's what happens in my case. I can serve, I just need a ton of bathroom breaks and be able to take my meds. I've literally had to run out of the room at home before because I had to go to the bathroom. I just wonder how they handle cases like that where someone can otherwise serve but a medical condition requires bathroom frequent bathroom breaks. |
![]() |
|
| Aqua | Apr 9 2018, 02:47 PM Post #66 |
|
Sad Sack Puppy
|
Actually, nobody bats an eye if we are in an important meeting and someone has to briefly excuse themselves. We just do so quietly and make sure the doors opening and closing is kept as quiet as possible. I can also eat anytime I want to at my desk, as frequently as I want. I’m not saying I’d use those things to try to get out of jury duty - it would actually be fascinating to serve - but if I have to go and can’t hold it, I’ll interrupt things to say so as needed. Even it’s in 20-30 minute intervals. They may well not want to deal with me. |
![]() |
|
| Terabethia | Apr 9 2018, 02:49 PM Post #67 |
![]()
~*~Terabeara~*~
|
Same, I have never been called. And neither has DH. We are 35 and 41, so there has been plenty of time to do it. Come to think of it, my mother has never been called either. And I am pretty sure my father hasn't. Apparently we just have a VERY large pool to choose from here. I know a few people who have been called multiple times and I know a lot of people who have never been called once. |
![]() |
|
| Gaping Maw | Apr 9 2018, 02:50 PM Post #68 |
|
I’ve been called a bunch of times. My county has the call-in the night before thing, so have only actually gone in once. Spent the day waiting around, then being marched into 3 different courtrooms, only to have each case settled at the last minute. |
![]() |
|
| MNGal | Apr 9 2018, 02:50 PM Post #69 |
|
Yeah..I wonder why that is? I've been called three times, served once. I know people who have never been called and WANT to do it. WTF? |
![]() |
|
| Terabethia | Apr 9 2018, 02:51 PM Post #70 |
![]()
~*~Terabeara~*~
|
Given my digestive issues, that would seriously suck. Some days I am fine, others I am in the bathroom multiple times. And I rarely have a warning. My body alerts that it is time I have approx 90 seconds to get there. I don't have time to raise my hand and get permission like it's Kindergarten! |
![]() |
|
| Roor | Apr 9 2018, 02:54 PM Post #71 |
|
bad hombre
|
Another here who's never been summoned but would love to. My mom has been called once and did sit in, it was for armed robbery and she said she never wants to do it again. I think it would be neat! Edited by Roor, Apr 9 2018, 02:54 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| Aqua | Apr 9 2018, 02:58 PM Post #72 |
|
Sad Sack Puppy
|
That would be WAY more interesting than something smaller scale. On the other hand, I’ve read or heard interviews with jurors on local high profile murder or manslaughter cases. Serving on those juries sounded incredibly emotionally draining and something from which they were going to need some serious time to decompress. Which isn’t an argument for not doing it, but I didn’t think they had an easy job at all, and they would have faced harsh criticism no matter which way they had swung. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone needed to talk to a professional counselor after a trial like that. I think I would. And I could understand going through that and saying “never again.” |
![]() |
|
| Gaping Maw | Apr 9 2018, 03:15 PM Post #73 |
|
Yeah, I was always a little concerned I’d get on a lengthy sequestered OJ-esque trial. I felt so sorry for those jurors.
Edited by Gaping Maw, Apr 9 2018, 03:15 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| Terabethia | Apr 9 2018, 03:17 PM Post #74 |
![]()
~*~Terabeara~*~
|
I understand it is my civic duty and honestly, I would love to do it. Assuming I actually got on and it was an interesting case I'd be annoyed at sitting around for days and then sent home, but I guess I'd live.I could even deal with my tummy issues (assuming the judge and lawyers would tolerate it). Partially because I simply have no shame. I once jogged halfway through an extremely crowded mall yelling out "excuse me, excuse me, please get out of the way before I shit myself!" and I didn't had a shred of embarrassment about it. Shit happens But for real, if someone legitimately does not want to be on jury duty, regardless of the reason, I wouldn't want them on my jury. Pissed off and hangry people are not the peers I want in charge of my fate! Wasn't there recently a case (national attention) where they talked to jurors afterward and a bunch mentioned that they were so hungry they just all agreed to a verdict? I think it was one of the police shooting cases. I feel like that happened last year or so, but maybe my brain is confusing reality with Law & Order or something
Edited by Terabethia, Apr 9 2018, 03:22 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| Terabethia | Apr 9 2018, 03:21 PM Post #75 |
![]()
~*~Terabeara~*~
|
That would suck but I probably wouldn't mind something like that. Maybe I am weird. Assuming of course my job wasn't at risk for being gone for so long.... Unless there was a threat to my life. Maybe it only happens in movies, but I would seriously do everything possible to get out of jury duty for a mob case or something like that. |
![]() |
|
| Aqua | Apr 9 2018, 03:31 PM Post #76 |
|
Sad Sack Puppy
|
Now I’m quoting Clueless: “I think I remember Hamlet accurately.” “Well I remember Mel Gibson accurately, and he didn’t say that.” All that to say, I don’t remember if there was news coverage but I’m fairly certain it wasn’t Law and Order. |
![]() |
|
| sfm | Apr 9 2018, 03:32 PM Post #77 |
|
are yo talkign abot exempt forever or excused now have to serve lkater because no inNY atleast there are almost none of the former due to occupation. The klater is fairly easy tho, the first one is a get out free all youhave to say is idonot want now Iwant to or imight be abloe to in X number of months from now. ithnk up to 6 . |
![]() |
|
| Dilly | Apr 9 2018, 03:32 PM Post #78 |
|
I had jury duty just a few weeks ago. They did a roll call and one person hadn't shown up. The Judge, Justice of the Peace in this case, issued a warrant for his arrest with a $75.00 bond. This was city court. I don't know what they do in District court. |
![]() |
|
| Terabethia | Apr 9 2018, 03:35 PM Post #79 |
![]()
~*~Terabeara~*~
|
Hahahha! I seem to recall that it was discussed here (as opposed to something I just saw on the news). I need to do some googling because now it is going to bug me! |
![]() |
|
| LahLah | Apr 9 2018, 03:48 PM Post #80 |
![]()
|
The trial I was on was 6 days. It was a civil case. A guy with a trach tube choked on a tuna sandwich and eventually died (suffocated? is that what happens when you choke to death and can't breathe?). I remember having a lot of breaks. Not starting until 9:30 or 10, lunch for 1.5-2 hours, dismissed at 4:30. Our judge actually got injured - slipped and fell in the stairwell and we had to delay the trial for a few days. I don't remember anyone having to raise their hand to be excused for bathroom or snack breaks, but I do remember the judge telling the bailiff (I think it is a bailiff? - the guy who escorts us to and from the jury room) to check on us regularly to make sure we didn't need anything. |
![]() |
|
| 2anjuliboys | Apr 9 2018, 04:00 PM Post #81 |
|
Yeah, when I had jury duty, we had regular breaks, every 2 hours for so. It wasn't horrible, just super boring. |
![]() |
|
| Saucy Minx | Apr 9 2018, 04:03 PM Post #82 |
|
Duchess of Dark Chocolate
|
I have a vague notion that in Oregon, where I lived for 25 years, once you have shown up for jury duty you are taken out of the jury pool for 12 years. Here in Washington State, they have called on me twice (or was it three times?) in the past eight years to serve in different jurisdictions, if that's the correct phrasing. The maddening thing to me was fellow jurors who did not want to follow the judge's explicit instructions to us. |
![]() |
|
| DarlingDewey | Apr 9 2018, 04:11 PM Post #83 |
|
Coach
|
At the same time, I don't want someone (and I'm not talking about people here who just think it'd be interesting) who really wants to be on a jury just because they want to be in some sort of authority position. My FIL is like this and I think he would vote guilty for just about anyone for the sake of saying he did it. I'll take "inconvenienced and has to pee," over " bored, retired and was wondering if they could help with the death part of the death penalty. " |
![]() |
|
| Cecilia | Apr 9 2018, 04:13 PM Post #84 |
|
they use the driver's license pool where we are. I have been called 3 times; two in my previous state where I was foreperson of the jury on one and dismissed on the other (I think the defense attorney took one look at me and knew he didn't want me on a domestic violence case.). I was an alternate in the current state; this is the worst. |
![]() |
|
| DarlingDewey | Apr 9 2018, 04:19 PM Post #85 |
|
Coach
|
I'm going to be honest here, someone very close to me was a defendant of a potential death penalty trial and I guess that experience changed the way I see jury duty. I don't like it anymore than the next person, but when it's someone you love, you realize how important it is. Twelve people are deciding if your loved one lives or dies, spends their life behind bars or not. You really want those people to be thoughtful, and able to listen to the story told. It really did change the way I see things. |
![]() |
|
| Dilly | Apr 9 2018, 04:20 PM Post #86 |
|
I've been in the jury pool multiple times, but I don't think my husband has been even once and we've been married 37 years. I've served on two juries and called, but not picked, for a couple. |
![]() |
|
| Saturn | Apr 9 2018, 04:21 PM Post #87 |
|
I have been called a few times and served on a jury once. It wasn't bad at all, I would totally do it again. Hell, I would love to serve right now just to get out of work. I'm sure my boss would be unhappy, but I have to do my civic duty! The worst part for me besides uncomfortable chairs was a bit of boredom (during the trial, otherwise a kindle kept me engaged). I also didn't make any friends so ate lunch by myself. That sounded really sad after I typed it out but it was just that I didn't "click" with anyone there, no one else near my age, I was too shy to start any conversations - you know. I would totally do it a little different next time, make a few friends to commiserate with lol. Also - I also require lots of caffeine and pee a lot. I don't even remember using the restroom while I was there (and I must have, several times) so that says to me that it was not an issue. I do remember the jury chairs though, I have sciatica and they flared it up. Had I known, I would have brought a cushion, lol. (I wonder if that is allowed?) |
![]() |
|
| Terabethia | Apr 9 2018, 04:25 PM Post #88 |
![]()
~*~Terabeara~*~
|
Also true. I don't want some asshole on a power trip deciding my fate either! |
![]() |
|
| Gills | Apr 9 2018, 04:34 PM Post #89 |
![]()
AssFish
|
I can't do my job without jurors. I take cases to trial (all civil, no criminal) between six and ten times per year. There are literally millions of dollars at stake every time we walk into a jury trial room. Yeah, I get it, nobody really wants to be there, but imagine yourself as a plaintiff seeking money, or a defendant being asked to pay large sums of money, and reading some of the responses here. |
![]() |
|
| mogar123 | Apr 9 2018, 04:35 PM Post #90 |
|
I kept wanting to say that this was a waste of time and that everyone was an idiot. Hard to keep a straight face when you want to do that. |
![]() |
|
| Parsnip | Apr 9 2018, 04:43 PM Post #91 |
|
I've been a juror on two trials. One was a big deal locally. I loved the experience and would happily participate again. It's part of the legal system that we all benefit from. Even if I didn't find it fascinating I'd still do it. |
![]() |
|
| monica | Apr 9 2018, 04:46 PM Post #92 |
|
I don't take that many to trial, but I do 100% civil litigation. The responses here are exactly why I urge my clients to settle. I'd rather have a known outcome of settlement rather than risk putting hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, in the hands of a jury after I spent 2-5 years putting my life into a case. |
![]() |
|
| Parsnip | Apr 9 2018, 04:48 PM Post #93 |
|
This is exactly what I was thinking. My only personal tether to the legal system is my jury experience, but my significant other is a retired attorney and law professor. Listening to his circle talk about the jury proccess flips me between feeling grateful and terrified as a citizen that might someday be a plaintiff/defendent. Edited by Parsnip, Apr 9 2018, 04:49 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| Yvonne 2 | Apr 9 2018, 05:50 PM Post #94 |
|
Been called 3 times. Never went because I was either out of state at college or had a newborn who only breastfed. |
![]() |
|
| Fluffy Pumpkin | Apr 9 2018, 05:59 PM Post #95 |
|
I'd hope a pre planned vacation would be an exemption. I've been called once, went and sat in a room and played on my phone for 3 hrs before being told we could all leave. It wasn't bad, boring as hell, but I've had worse. I'd be happy to serve, as long as I don't have to cancel my vacation. I plan my vacation time very carefully and months in advance. I'd vote for the death penalty on a traffic ticket if that happened. Otherwise if I've nothing better to do, sure! It'dmake some good stories later if nothing else. Edited by Fluffy Pumpkin, Apr 9 2018, 05:59 PM.
|
![]() |
|
| bigbosslady | Apr 9 2018, 06:03 PM Post #96 |
|
DH was called in December, but was dismissed after a half day. I don't mind going, but it does make things difficult at work, given that we are a very small firm and there's no way to replace DH or myself for the space of a few days. We do try to work ahead as much as possible, or at night, to keep things going. |
![]() |
|
| 2anjuliboys | Apr 9 2018, 06:11 PM Post #97 |
|
When I served on a jury, I took it seriously and so did everyone else on that jury. We spent two hours just discussing the nature of reasonable doubt before we even went over the evidence. If I were to serve on another trial, I would take it seriously. That doesn't mean that it's an experience I look forward to or would particularly enjoy. If my personal life interferes, it interferes and I'm not going to be happy about the effects on my own life. I'm allowed to complain about that and point out that there are just times in life when I simply cannot serve. I mean, there are a lot of civic responsibilities that I do, without question, that I don't particularly enjoy. I pay taxes ever year and every year I find it an annoying process; some years it's more annoying than others. I still do it and still understand the importance of doing it. Jury duty is the same. Just because I complain about it and have had to get out of it, doesn't mean that I'm blowing it off and dismissing it. |
![]() |
|
| ft12 | Apr 9 2018, 06:12 PM Post #98 |
|
Yeeeesh
|
I've been called a few times, every time I send a letter explaining my anxiety disorder with my doctor contact for verification and they excuse me. |
![]() |
|
| candygirl11 | Apr 9 2018, 06:15 PM Post #99 |
|
I have been called 4 times. I am permanently exempt so I should not be getting called at all. I had to fight for my exemption and it was a long process. I mean sure, if you want a deaf person on your jury, who hearing aids won't help, someone who at the time had no ASL and is going to mistake every 4th word, then I'm your girl!! |
![]() |
|
| Potatochiplady | Apr 9 2018, 06:31 PM Post #100 |
|
I got a summons every year up until 2016 when I actually made it through to the end of voir dire for a criminal trial (defendant was a child sex offender, case was locally newsworthy, jury selection had been going on for a month and the pool was getting low). I enjoyed the entire process and seeing how jury selection works. If I had been picked to serve it would have been rough getting childcare for my 4 year old, but family would have helped. I offered to pay whoever did it all of my jury pay plus extra. Because I made it that far into the process, I am now exempt until 2021 but the clerk said I could call at the 4 year mark and tell them to put me back in the pool early if I really wanted to (which I do). 4 years is the earliest they will let me back in for a criminal trial. I could still be called up for a grand jury though. |
![]() |
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · Very Serious Work Related Site · Next Topic » |












10:16 AM Jul 11