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automatic exemptions from jury duty
Topic Started: Apr 9 2018, 01:35 AM (3,419 Views)
Sam
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I've been called twice, but never served. The first time I had to go to my grandmother's funeral overseas and they excused me. The second time, I had to call a number the night before and it said I didn't have to go in.

I am curious and would be interested in serving, if called again. My knowledge of the legal system is based on Law & Order, so I would like to see how real life is different, and how the Canadian system differs from the US tv system.
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Aqua
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Sad Sack Puppy
2anjuliboys
Apr 9 2018, 06:11 PM
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.
I agree with you. People are acting like potential jurors aren’t allowed to not like it if it’s inconvenient, or like just because they aren’t having the time of their lives, they must be incapable of doing a good job.

Personally, I think it’d be fascinating but for reasons covered above, everyone would probably think I was a giant pain in the ass. I could also see work genuinely getting in the way if jury duty hit at the wrong time or went on for a long trial. That could be a world of hurt for anyone who had to cover for me. I would be worried that I couldn’t hold my spot in dog classes if I had to miss too many weeks, and those spots are like GOLD. But it would be interesting to do.

However, not everyone would have an easy time with work or grad school or childcare or other personal obligations and I think it’s fine to be like, “This fucking sucks” if it does. It doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t do a good job or take the task at hand seriously.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer
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Annoying, little twerp.
Who gives a fuck if it’s our civic duty? It doesn’t mean it can’t be a huge, boring, pain in the ass at the same time.

We are allowed to hate things that we are legally required to do. If that’s not American then I don’t know what is.
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Lady Wolf
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I've served on the grand jury in my county over a decade ago. It's a 6 month term but we are only called in for capital cases. Small town at the time so I never had to go in. I was fascinated with the process and would have been proud to serve. I could have easily been excused as primary care taker for two special needs children. I got my Mom to watch them because I wanted to go.
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Cecilia
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DarlingDewey
Apr 9 2018, 04:19 PM
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.
I agree. I have always felt like it was my responsibility. The whole point of 'jury of peers' is to have a diverse group of citizens sitting in judgment, not just a group of people who couldn't figure out how to get out of it. Of course there are situations where people can't serve, but not all of our lives. I couldn't have done it when my kids were babies, but I was able to do it later; where we were you could postpone and I was able to postpone to periods when I could miss work without problems. We had crazy times and slower times.

I also thought it was pretty interesting. The judges who introduced the process to the jury were really good at it. And having a chance to work with a really diverse group of people to decide a case was just quite interesting. I carry a book for the down periods ie. waiting to be empaneled so am not bored, and the trials themselves are interesting.
Edited by Cecilia, Apr 9 2018, 11:46 PM.
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Westtexasgirl
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Last year about this time I got called in for jury duty. My husband apparently got called in too but never got a card in the mail. I was dismissed within two hours. How did the pull us both for the same jury duty?? Lol
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Lightning
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I was excused from federal jury duty by just telling them I didn't have the means to get back and forth on the 90 mile round trip it would take daily to do it.

The next time, five or six years later, I had to go. I left two hours early, couldn't find a place to park so even though I got there in plenty of time I was still late, walked through what I thought was a puddle, only to plunge knee deep into mud where they were doing roadwork (Entire road in front of the courthouse was torn up and muddy) got hosed off by the construction crew who hadn't mentioned the fucking mud was so damned deep, couldn't find the damned door of the courthouse, got yelled at by a mean lawyer for not being able to find the damned door, finally found my way inside, had a book, which was apparently a no no, people kept asking me if my pants were wet, got called back to talk to the judge and the lawyers, found out I can't talk to judges so I made incoherent vowel sounds and stuttered, was consoled by the officer of the court who walked me back to the jury room, and just so many other bad things happened that day, but I was home by 1 and wrote this epic email about my day which I sent to my friends and my sister, who worked in the town where the federal stupid court was and then that sucker got forwarded to fricking everyone in the damned world (or so it seemed) so when I was called back the next month, everyone from the jury coordinator to other potential jurors and the damned judge had read it and the judge told me that "Reading about my jury duty adventures had given him a unique insight" and he then asked "if my pants were wet."
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PolarBearIce
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Wow, Lightning! What an experience!

I was called many times and eventually sat for 3 weeks in a criminal trial. Haven't received a summons since!
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Designing Craft Maven
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Designing Craft Maven
Gills
Apr 9 2018, 01:02 PM
I promise you, jury duty isn't close to the horrific experience most of you are making it out to be in your minds.

Attorneys and judges have to pee, too. We also need food. All my judges give at least one pee break during the morning session, an hour-plus for lunch, and at least one pee break during the afternoon session. Jurors are free to bring snacks with them and eat in the jury room during breaks. They can go wherever they want for lunch *or* have the free county-provided meal. I've very rarely seen a judge keep a jury in the box for more than two hours without some type of break, even if it's just to stand and stretch.

My god, you'd think from reading this thread that the attorneys/judges/parties WANT jurors to be uncomfortable. Are you crazy?
The more pissed off you are, the less likely you are to be reasonable and rational during deliberations.
I don't really mind doing my civic duty. I take a book to read while I wait. I met some nice people to luncheon with most of the times.

The only thing I didn't like was how some of my bosses were asses about me getting called.

I did what they asked. " My boss wants me to ask if you can dismiss me."
" No."
" That works for me. I brought my book."

Calls boss " I asked to be dismissed. They said no. Sorry. "

Not sorry. I didn't even try to get out of it when I was running my own daycare. They pull a lot of people for jury duty here every time. A lot get let go by mid day if they think they have enough juries pulled.


I was glad my husband could drop me off as I don't like driving into the city all that much.
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Ellerles
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I have been called 3-4 times. I had to serve once when I was in college. I did not mind at all because I was taking a judicial process course that semester and my jury duty experience counted towards a homework assignment.

I was called a few years ago and never even made it to the court house as when I called the number, I was not needed.

Two years ago, I missed the summons because I had moved. I found out I had jury duty when an acquaintance of mine told me my name had been called and I was not there. I called the Clerk's office and was told to report a week or so later. I never even made it up to be questioned. I did know the defense attorney and the district attorney. I also knew 3 people on the jury. Got to love life in a small town.
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TulipWorthy
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Happily dancing in the tulips
Lightning
Apr 10 2018, 12:39 AM
I was excused from federal jury duty by just telling them I didn't have the means to get back and forth on the 90 mile round trip it would take daily to do it.

The next time, five or six years later, I had to go. I left two hours early, couldn't find a place to park so even though I got there in plenty of time I was still late, walked through what I thought was a puddle, only to plunge knee deep into mud where they were doing roadwork (Entire road in front of the courthouse was torn up and muddy) got hosed off by the construction crew who hadn't mentioned the fucking mud was so damned deep, couldn't find the damned door of the courthouse, got yelled at by a mean lawyer for not being able to find the damned door, finally found my way inside, had a book, which was apparently a no no, people kept asking me if my pants were wet, got called back to talk to the judge and the lawyers, found out I can't talk to judges so I made incoherent vowel sounds and stuttered, was consoled by the officer of the court who walked me back to the jury room, and just so many other bad things happened that day, but I was home by 1 and wrote this epic email about my day which I sent to my friends and my sister, who worked in the town where the federal stupid court was and then that sucker got forwarded to fricking everyone in the damned world (or so it seemed) so when I was called back the next month, everyone from the jury coordinator to other potential jurors and the damned judge had read it and the judge told me that "Reading about my jury duty adventures had given him a unique insight" and he then asked "if my pants were wet."
I know your experience wasn't fun for you, but your narrative did make me laugh.
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sfm

I did federal this year the welcome to jury duty video featured Justice O' Conner who said that in the year she was apointed ( 1981) insome places women just by virtue of gender could opt out, and a young black woman whoi said s he was happy to serve b/c she remembered all her forebearers who wanted to but were not allowed brought a diuferent perspective.
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sfm

someone asked about a oreplanned vacation, I thnk that would work for a posephonement but likelyhave to porve it,
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samcro73
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Timely subject. My coworker got called for jury duty. She is throwing a fit that she will not serve. She will throw a fit and say what ever she has to to get out of it. Claiming that the thugs and drug dealers will track jurors down and she wants nothing to do with it in our county. ^o)

I am secretly hoping that she gets chosen and the trial last awhile. Of course, it that happens we will never hear the end of her complaining.

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living revived
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DH gets called at least once a year. They use driver's licenses in CA, not voter registration, or they would see that we're out of country.

I've been called once that I actually could serve, but I was told to call each evening prior and never got chosen to go in. I've gotten a couple since then, but again... not in the country.
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Southernbelle
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I've been called once. I was a week away from starting an class that I needed for my degree. If I was not able to take the course, I would have had to wait a year more to graduate. The judge called me up and when I explained, he asked if Dr. Boring was still teaching that class (he was). The judge excused me but promised I would rather serve than take the class. He was right.
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jewels
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I've only been called once and I ended up on a jury. I actually enjoyed it but I was pissed when, after we reached a verdict, one woman changed her opinion when the judge polled the jury. The verdict was "not guilty" because the Prosecution didn't prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt (even though we all thought he was actually guilty). The woman said she "just couldn't lie". It wasn't a lie, lady! The Prosecutors barely tried!! I guess I'm still bitter.
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Koalabella
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I am so happy to be living a mile or two from the county seat. I am no longer worried about being chased down for jury duty.
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TAZ
I gerenukked my neck
Allday
Apr 9 2018, 10:00 AM
MNGal
Apr 9 2018, 09:58 AM
Allday
Apr 9 2018, 09:49 AM
I kind of wonder about that. Also, of you're serving on a jury, what do you do if you have to go to the bathroom during court?
Raise your hand and ask the judge if you can go. It's really effing embarrassing. Says the girl who ended up having tummy troubles while on jury duty once. Everyone laughed. I wanted to die. I hated every moment of jury duty. :$
Oh man, that would suck! I'd be raising my hand every hour unfortunately!
joining back in late. With talking to family, and friends, and co-workers and jury duty was mentioned, none were professionals that any of us had heard of, other than nurses. At least here in our small town. Don't know what goes on in bigger cities. That's why I was just curious if the professionals were exempt or not.

My first jury duty was so many years ago, that I don't remember if was cancelled or settled as to why we didn't have to go. Second time, sat for 2 1/2 days, questioning each of us (pool) to determine who would serve on jury. That was settled out of court. Third time, I decided that I didn't think the judge and lawyers would feel I would be a responsible juror if I was having to jump up every 5 to 15 minutes for a good 3 hours or so to be in bathroom due to blood pressure med mixed with a diuretic. So I got a doctor's excuse.

Now, if age limit is 65, I'm past that age. And if 70, am sort of looking at that fairly close...LOL.
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Sparkle DNA
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samcro73
Apr 10 2018, 03:08 PM
Timely subject. My coworker got called for jury duty. She is throwing a fit that she will not serve. She will throw a fit and say what ever she has to to get out of it. Claiming that the thugs and drug dealers will track jurors down and she wants nothing to do with it in our county. ^o)

I am secretly hoping that she gets chosen and the trial last awhile. Of course, it that happens we will never hear the end of her complaining.

She's the kind of person I want to need an unbiased and knowledgeable jury deciding her fate in the near future....she should know exactly what she's spouting off about.
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TAZ
I gerenukked my neck
Sparkle DNA
Apr 11 2018, 01:14 AM
samcro73
Apr 10 2018, 03:08 PM
Timely subject. My coworker got called for jury duty. She is throwing a fit that she will not serve. She will throw a fit and say what ever she has to to get out of it. Claiming that the thugs and drug dealers will track jurors down and she wants nothing to do with it in our county. ^o)

I am secretly hoping that she gets chosen and the trial last awhile. Of course, it that happens we will never hear the end of her complaining.

She's the kind of person I want to need an unbiased and knowledgeable jury deciding her fate in the near future....she should know exactly what she's spouting off about.
Sparkle, my family always said (and maybe others have too)...'there's always, ALWAYS, an asshole in the crowd.' And I always added to it in my mind, do we need to meet each and everyone of them?.... :ermm:
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MrsPott
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sfm
Apr 10 2018, 12:20 PM
someone asked about a oreplanned vacation, I thnk that would work for a posephonement but likelyhave to porve it,
In my state, they'll give you a postponement once for any reason. But if you try to postpone a second time, you need a valid reason and documentation. Non-refundable airline tickets are considered a valid reason for postponement, though.
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sfm

mine also once for any reason, after that i meant I doubt youcan jsut sayvacation,after all any one can. The OP question was abot automatic erxemptions I am X therefore Inever have to serve. I think the only ones NY still has are not a citizen nto an NY resident age ,and emergency workers attorneys are automaticallyexempt any mroe.
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miss jojo
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I've postponed jury duty two separate times, due to my employers insisting on it. The first time, I thought it was kind of funny because they told me I would be called again and I knew that my coworker was quitting and my boss would be a little screwed. I enjoyed that, as she had become a real bitch. I started the jury duty on Monday and she was off Friday so she kept asking if I would be back by then. I knew I probably would be back by then but I didn't tell her till Thursday afternoon, so she could sweat just a little.

The second time, it was a different job and our busy season, but it was still busy when the second summons came. But my number wasn't in the group that had to show up.

I've served on one jury and got called for another, but they didn't get to me, in small town where they call you in for a specific trial. In Cleveland, you sit there for a few days and can get called for a variety of trials. I got selected for one trial but it was settled out of court. The other times, I haven't been in the group that was called so didn't have to go at all.
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Strawberry Blondie
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Gills
Apr 9 2018, 09:48 AM
Nikki8174
Apr 9 2018, 08:07 AM
when they interviewed him as a candidate, they excused him presumably because he is a white upper-middle-class educated citizen.
That’s bullshit. He’s the kind of person I would want on my jury. Not every case is the same. I’ve kept nursing mothers, doctors, caregivers, and my last jury had a judge on it.
Automatic exemptions are limited and jury duty is everyone’s civic duty.
I got a postponement because I was short staffed at work a few months ago. And several years before that I was exempted because I worked in sales and was 100% commission.

Both the postponement and exemption were granted over the phone without even having to go down to the courthouse. I’d guess that exemptions depend a lot on where you are and who you ask.
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sfm

that is oen thig NY has also elimianted, your employer insisting, the last time Iserved they said put away thosde notes from your boss. Youcan go your choice up to 6 mos on the firt get out free one. Iguyes they fiogure absent true emerency 6 mos is plernty of tyime to figure out work child care etc.
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Strawberry Blondie
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When I postponed I was able to pick a week that worked for me, which was really helpful.
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Nikki
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I have been called one time and it was when I had moved out of state. I would not mind being called and would enjoy the experience. My DH was called and then did not have to report.
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Cecilia
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Strawberry Blondie
Apr 11 2018, 08:44 AM
When I postponed I was able to pick a week that worked for me, which was really helpful.
I had a job with very different burdens different weeks. I was able to postpone serving to a time when I didn't have a lot of work pressure. My experience in two states is that they are very accommodating when you are trying to adjust things not avoid them.
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sfm

If you are trying to adjust and if it really cahnges your life like I doubt infant that exclusively breast feeds works ( as an excuse) if you do ( work at job) youf igured it out for that youcan for this I remember that one tiem iserved the clerk said had to be home for school age kids some folks stod up,then he said not if youwork almost all of them sat back down.
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DeeDee303
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When I get called it tends to start a chain reaction: I end up with a series of summons (in variable order) for federal, state, county, city over the next 18 months or so. But that only happens every few years. I've been on at least 4 juries. It isn't good or bad--it just is.

In my experience here, the bailiff has you give a discreet signal if you need a break for any reason--no need to embarrass yourself. There are facilities in the jury rooms just off the courtrooms. Books, snacks, etc are allowed in the jury room. Meals are provided or otherwise paid for. Some courthouses even have drinks and snacks available in the jury room.

So far, most juries run pretty much the same (keeping in mind that I do not have a significant sample): Everyone will pretty much agree by the end--except for 1-2 people who decide that having heard the same testimony and examining the same evidence, believe the exact opposite of everyone else on at least one point. I have no idea why that happens, however it has been the case every single time. Typically ends up with that juror either in tears or throwing a hissy fit at being over-ruled because the rest of the jurors don't change their mind (not for lack of trying on the outlier's part). That's the part I find annoying. Act like grown ups already! ^o)

I have had at least one employer try to tell that I had to get out of it. :-/ I respond to questions truthfully. I'm not going to lie to get out of it. DH has never been called. He'd like to be--he is very civic minded.
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