Jury Duty
 

Got a summons to jury duty in the mail today. I won't complain (much) as I'm 57 and this is the first time and it's only two days. Hopefully, as I'm an ex-cop and a retired IRS agent, no defense attorney will want me on their jury.

I'd say as an ex-cop you will be dismissed quickly. I wonder if you can take hand work along to kill time until they dismiss you?

When I've been called into jury duty it's been because of drunk drivers having done bodily injury I get dismissed early because I've lost two family member to drunk drivers and the one's daughter was badly injured and unable to go to her mother's funeral. My husband has no tolerance for domestic violence and has been called to jury duty only to be let go also. He tells them he has a rope in his truck and will let them use it. One attorney actually said "This is a serious matter and not to make joke of it. " DH told them he wasn't joking. He came from an abusive domestic violence background and had absolutely no tolerance for batterers of any species. He has no children because of what his father did to him. He has never raised his hand toward me. My first husband swung at me with a broken beer bottle and missed. I didn't miss with my rolling pin. After that incident I filed for divorce. Luckily, our son didn't see it.

I have served several times.

I served one time as an alternate juror in a shaken baby case. It was very sad and very difficult to listen to the extent of the baby's injuries and the effect it had on the entire family.
Got out of jury duty another time in a kidnap/rape case...thank gosh.

I would think you would be a GOOD person to have on the jury!

I've only been called once, and was excused because I had recently moved out of that county.

i get a summons every year.

I got a summons a couple of months ago. I had to ask to be relieved of jury duty due to my hip issues and blood clots. I can't sit for long length of times.

I did get called to jury duty years ago in Dallas, Tx. when I lived there. I was dismissed to due the fact I told the attorneys
drunk drivers should be locked up.

I was on a jury once....pedophile case. He was 18 and we had to decide to let him out of prison or institutionalize him since it was proven that he could NOT be cured. One juror was sympathetic to the pedophile since he was "so young" . I asked the juror (male) if HE had young grandsons....yes he did. I REMINDED him that the pedophile had a sleazy girlfriend with THREE boys under the age of 12. There was "inventory" waiting for him if released.....it was unanimous to institutionalize the pedophile. I was the only one to step up in defense of the kids. Good grief!
sandy

My first jury duty, going back into the 70s, lasted 2 1/2 months. It was a very big drug trial. As much as it disrupted our daily lives, it was very interesting to be part of it.

My DH has never been called up and I have been 4 times. What's with that!
peace

Thanks for all the responses. I'm retired so it's not as if I have much else to do, but I do live alone with a dog and 4 cats with no one to step in long term to take care of them. I'm also one of those people who gets anxious in new situations with new people, so I'll spend the next 3 weeks worrying myself sick. Oh well, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?

Never got to serve (I wanted to), but
was called 4 times in the same year.

Last time I was summoned it was for a drunk driving case. I think the reason I was dismissed is because I have a nephew who's a police officer. I'd guess that you'll be going home in a hurry.

I've been summoned once, and was dismissed because so many members of my family are in law enforcement. I was so disappointed. I really want to be on a jury, I think it's our civic duty to serve if chosen.

TOTALLY agree with you there! I worked as a bookkeeper for a law firm for a while. One of the things that really bugged me was when people would get upset or offended by legal jargon. You almost have to think of the terminology as another language. There were so many rumors flying around when Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney got divorced and the term "fraud" was used.

I have never been called, but my two daughters have when both of them turned 18 and both of them ended up on a case.

Being an excorrectional officer they always automatically excuse me

I was called up two years ago for a "high profile" murder case. Unfortunately, I had read too much about it online, and in newspapers, so I was dismissed. (She was found guilty!)

I also just got a notice for a three month term. I am very nervous as I simply can not afford to be off of work !

I've received notices every four years, get placed on telephone stand-by, but have never had to physically report. Now that I'm retired, I'd love to actually serve....but being very outspoken, I'd probably be asked to leave!

Probably not,but you'll still have to sit there until they dismiss the whole pool for that week. I had jury duty several years ago, didn't get called to a jury,but spent a week in the jury room waiting. I do think they let me bring hand sewing.

I've served three times including foreman once. Two were drug cases and the third a neighbor dispute which was very interesting. I was the foreman on that one. A retired police officer was on that jury and was able to really give interesting background on property law. I really learned so much in each case and don't mind serving at all. I was called for an animal cruelty case, but thankfully was not even interviewed. A friend was on the jury and said it was horrid and lasted five days. She said it just made her sick. One juror was dismissed because she got so upset.

Was called for jury duty a year or so ago and had to serve, didn't think I would because I not only worked in the county jail for 17years, but also knew the officers working in the courtroom. Was glad I did as I picked up on testimony that perhaps saved a 18 year old from having his whole life ruined. Just saying if you serve that it is meant to be. Good luck.

I had to laugh at this as I came from a first destructive relationship. Swing away for all of us who have survived and are stronger for it!!

LO I agree .. I was called up on a abusive/physical and sexual abuse trial-at that time I was a in home day care person and I told the attorney: Lorena Bobbit scissors would do a fine job; then after that turn him loose with a bunch of PMSing women who had been sexually abused when they were little and see how he turns out. Needless to say I was dismissed. Imagine that <saracasm there> LOL

No doubt you will be dismissed, but its a shame that your occupation can make that much difference

I was not dismissed for a DUI trial even though I am a former police officer, friends with the arresting officer and worked in a jail for 10 years. I told them I could not be unbiased about DUIs due to my background and having 2 teenage drivers but they still made me an alternate juror. Sometimes, it doesn't matter about your background I guess.

On my soap box here: I know that jury duty is often inconvenient and can be disturbing BUT what if we didn't have juries? And, if we did have the jury, what if the jury was made up of people who didn't care or were not interested enough to really listen and make educated decisions? What if that jury was hearing a case that involved a family member, either as the defendant or as the person that the crime was committed against? And what if YOU were the defendant? Wouldn't you want the best people possible on that jury?
I am a retired teacher and usually got called up 1-2 times a year. I am fortunate to live in Houston where we can reschedule jury duty if we have a conflict (and I had to, usually due to a planned field trip or program involving my students) but I was always proud to serve. When our constitution was written, this was an important part of it after what our forefathers had experienced. I may not always like what I have to hear and see but I listen and try to make the very best decision that I can with God's help.
It is ironic that now that I have been retired for 7 years, I have only gotten 1 jury summons. But I answered it proudly!

Check with your HR department at work. When I was called up, I still got paid for the day because I had a voucher from the clerk.

In my opinion, it isn't the fact that we have to serve that is annoying. It's the fact that you often have to sit around for an entire week doing nothing, and usually end up not getting called into an actual trial. This has happened to my husband 4 times and it's such a huge waste of time. I wish they'd make the system a little more efficient.

I was on jury duty years ago. I tried to get the weeks changes but they wouldn't. My kids were just old enough to leave home alone. It was the last week before school started and the first week of school. Nightmare time to have to go. I was the first juror called and was on a case within 30 minutes. The case lasted a week and a half. It was an attempted rape case. I was jury foreman. It was really interesting. If I ever needed a defense attorney I would hire the one at this trial.

I've served on both a custody case jury and a grand jury. The grand jury especially was quite interesting and fortunately we were able to conclude in only one day each time. The custody case was more of a formality than a decision since only the one requesting custody showed up! The grand jury we voted to go on and stay late instead of coming back the next day since many of us were missing time from work in order to serve.

Guess not!!! I've only been called 3 times (I'm 69). Most memorable: in court house on morning of 9/11. Then the following Dec, my beloved hubby passed, then 1 week later my Dad passed. So end of 2001 was a very bad time....We couldn't hear any news that am, so when let go that afternoon, heard on radio & had tv on rest of day. Next day, drove to downtown, noticed all parking meters were covered. Later that day, we were asked to quitely & orderly manner to leave the bldg. When back inside, we were dismissed. The other 2 times, we were dismissed...

Thanks to all of you! You really have helped me be a lot less anxious about this. I will take my Kindle (I love to read and my hand is broken so I can't hand sew) and just go with the flow. I asked my neighbors if they could take my dog out during the day, and, turns out, they're both off that week and are happy to help.

I have been notified that I am on the Federal list for next year. I do not mind serving, but the Federal Court is in downtown Orlando, close to 30 miles away and you have to be there at some ridiculous hour like 8AM. I usually haven't even had my morning tea by then.

JanieH makes very good points, I'd just rather be at my local courthouse.

Lucky you! Mine is 3 hours away! I'd have to get up at 4 am!