|
Post by ntsf on Apr 5, 2022 22:18:09 GMT
I just wish there was a better system to get out of it permanently. my child has autism and every time she gets a notice, I have to arrange to get a note from her doctor to excuse her from it. its a pain to do it.
I went once and after a hour wait, the clerks went on strike and I had to go home. paid for all day parking and out of there in an hour.
|
|
SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,408
Location: Dallas Texas
Jun 26, 2014 12:16:22 GMT
|
Post by SabrinaP on Apr 5, 2022 22:21:08 GMT
I’m firmly on the side of “It’s your civic duty”
I served this summer for 4 days and found it fascinating. I will admit that it was low stress since it was in the summer and I’m off summers. I’ve been called before a week before state testing and was praying to get off. I would never just not show up though.
|
|
|
Post by sunnyd on Apr 5, 2022 22:21:54 GMT
Civic duty but I understand some people are not able to take time off work and should be excused. I was once called for a murder trial. They just said it was a violent crime but I found out it was for a murder trial. They had it narrowed down to about 30 potential jurors. We were questioned by the prosecutor and the defendant's attorney. They asked us what we liked to do in our free time. I answered honestly and said I like to watch true crime shows on tv. They asked if I often solved the crime before the end of the show. I said yes. The prosecutor eliminated me. So, if you ever want to get out of it, there is your out.
|
|
|
Post by psoccer on Apr 5, 2022 22:27:01 GMT
I’m a teacher and I go since we get paid for the service. I feel like it’s a civic duty. I was picked once for a murder trial, but usually I don’t get that far. The last time I went was another murder trial for 3-4 weeks. This was during Covid and I did ask for to be excused, or deferred, because there were no subs. My husband throws the summons away. I feel like there should be some repercussions for just tossing the summons.
|
|
|
Post by Zee on Apr 5, 2022 22:31:50 GMT
I've gotten a jury summons but never had to actually go in or serve. Your either call a number or, nowadays, fill out a form online and get a text letting you know if you'll be required to appear the next day or not.
I was giddy with the hope that I'd be called to serve on a murder trial or something to get me out of work for a few weeks, but my hopes were dashed each day. I had to be "on call" for a week in GA, just one call on a Friday for the following Monday in IA.
I don't know what happens in my state if you don't answer because I've always been hoping I could serve and get out of work!
|
|
|
Post by myboysnme on Apr 5, 2022 22:32:37 GMT
I just went through this to some extent and I am fairly raw about it. I got a questionnaire in November and I wrote please do not select me and why. So in February I got a summons to jury duty. Not just a day or a week, but 21 weekdays, plus if chosen for a case I must of course stay for the duration. They did not offer any opportunity to schedule myself. They basically told me to block a month of my life with 3 weeks notice. I had 2 medical procedures scheduled, I am the child care for my granddaughters, I respite my brother for my mother's care monthly, and I had out of town plans for the end of the month.
They required me to call each evening at 6 pm to find out if I was to report the next day. If I was to report I would sit isolated without a phone all day in case I was called to be considered. This would go on daily for 4 weeks, basically an entire month take away weekends.
Mercifully because of my mother's care her doctor provided a letter and I was excused.
Here's the thing. If they had asked me for availability I could have worked out something given enough time. If it was a week I could have shuffled things possibly. Obviously they feel they have to play hardball to get people, but I do not respond to tactics like that. I am retired and I no longer answer to demands of that nature. Civic duty yes but consider as a citizen I also have a life. Work with me. Make demands of me like I'm the criminal getting a court dat and I am not going to be happy.
In my state they get names off the voter rolls. It almost makes me want to drop my voter registration. I should not have to even consider that to avoid being forced into civic duty.
Yes, I believe in performing jury duty but I feel all interested and willing people should be exhausted before requesting unwilling people and try to make it work for them.
BTW I think I would likely have been excused from most all trials because of my son working in a prison and my brother having been in prison for many years. But they would only decide that on a case by case basis. But basically, waste of my time.
|
|
|
Post by mollycoddle on Apr 5, 2022 22:34:52 GMT
Civic duty and pain in the ass. Both things can be true.
|
|
|
Post by greendragonlady on Apr 5, 2022 22:37:56 GMT
I just wish there was a better system to get out of it permanently. my child has autism and every time she gets a notice, I have to arrange to get a note from her doctor to excuse her from it. its a pain to do it. I went once and after a hour wait, the clerks went on strike and I had to go home. paid for all day parking and out of there in an hour. That doesn't seem right, does it?
|
|
|
Post by jeremysgirl on Apr 5, 2022 22:54:33 GMT
I think I would like to serve on a jury. I've been called 3 times but never chosen to serve. But, I get paid by my employer during jury service. And I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should be paid their wage while serving on a jury.
With that said, though, I do have a hard time when Jeremy is watching action movies. I'm unnerved by the violence. If I had to serve on a murder trial and view pictures of something, I think it would impact me terribly.
I'm on the civic duty side of the argument.
|
|
johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,684
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
|
Post by johnnysmom on Apr 5, 2022 22:56:14 GMT
Civic duty. I was called twice as a young adult but never got any further than the main waiting room. Was called up again about 8 years ago but I had a preschooler in a half day spec Ed preschool program and a dh who travelled so I applied for (and was granted) a deferment.
I think serving on a jury would be an eye opening experience, if nothing else.
|
|
frankiegirl
Full Member
Posts: 183
Dec 22, 2020 12:42:01 GMT
|
Post by frankiegirl on Apr 5, 2022 22:59:21 GMT
The only time I got a summons was when I was living in OK. It was sent to my parents' home in Michigan. I had to send them proof that ex was stationed in OK. I haven't been called since. My cousin has been summoned several times. She was dismissed every time because she is a social worker. Potentially too biased against the defendant? I consider it to be a civic duty. If I get summoned, I'll go. DH would go. He'd complain but he'd go. (he hates leaving the house) I've been summoned more times than I can count. I've been called to serve 4 times. I am a social worker and I think that's why I get chosen. They think I'm going to be impartial and non judgmental. Neither which is true . In the past 6 months I've been summoned for Grand Jury twice. Both times I had to ask for a deferment. For Grand Jury you are on call for 30 days. The first time was over Thanksgiving and we already booked our flights for Florida to see my dd. The second time just occurred and I am covering for a coworker who is on medical leave. Our dept is already short staffed and my employer wrote a letter that she could not have another employee out for 30 days. We have a vacation planned in July and I just know they are going to summons me for that time! I have no problem serving and think the Grand Jury would be fascinating. However 30 days is a long time to be on call and to possibly serve.
|
|
|
Post by mnmloveli on Apr 5, 2022 23:00:40 GMT
I would never ignore; too much of a rule follower plus too scared of being arrested.
I was first called in my mid-thirties and served on a murder trial which lasted 2 weeks and even was sequestered (and it even happened to be my first wedding anniversary!) The final day when we reached our verdict was scary; never seen so many police in one room. We were all escorted to our homes and given special codes and telephone numbers if we had any issues.
Next summons was 20 years later and was a call-in only; my number never got chosen.
|
|
|
Post by epeanymous on Apr 5, 2022 23:11:57 GMT
As a former trial attorney I could not feel more strongly that it is a civic duty. It is also a civic privilege—my former clients do not get to serve, often. I would love to serve. I always get cut because they know me .
|
|
twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,087
Jun 26, 2014 13:42:47 GMT
|
Post by twinsmomfla99 on Apr 5, 2022 23:13:53 GMT
I’ve been called once in all my 42 legal adult years. I was teaching at the time, and my principal signed a deferral request because of the severe sub shortage that would have caused a hardship to my middle school. I never got the deferral summons because I moved about a year later.
Personally, I would love to be on a jury. I’ve been told I would most likely be dismissed because I have a law degree, although I’m not sure that would be true today since I haven’t practiced in almost 30 years.
|
|
casii
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,517
Jun 29, 2014 14:40:44 GMT
|
Post by casii on Apr 5, 2022 23:25:42 GMT
I've been called a few times, but never selected. The last time, I had to call in each day to see if I needed to go in and by Wednesday, they said they had met their requirements for the week.
|
|
|
Post by padresfan619 on Apr 5, 2022 23:27:00 GMT
I used to always show up until I had a baby that was exclusively breastfed. Then I tossed the summons in the trash and forgot about it until this very moment.
|
|
|
Post by 950nancy on Apr 5, 2022 23:30:09 GMT
I've only had two summons and both times I was picked out of a room of hundreds of people (number 3 and maybe 10). Both times I was taken back and put in the jury box. Both times lawyers asked questions and both times I was tossed out of there. First one tossed for one trial and probably third for the second. They pulled back between 30-35 people per trial. I've never made it all the way to a trial.
|
|
|
Post by monklady123 on Apr 5, 2022 23:32:19 GMT
I would never ignore; too much of a rule follower plus too scared of being arrested. I was first called in my mid-thirties and served on a murder trial which lasted 2 weeks and even was sequestered (and it even happened to be my first wedding anniversary!) The final day when we reached our verdict was scary; never seen so many police in one room. We were all escorted to our homes and given special codes and telephone numbers if we had any issues. Next summons was 20 years later and was a call-in only; my number never got chosen. That right there is my biggest fear about jury duty. I watch "Criminal Minds" and that type of show, and there is no way I could be on a murder trial jury like that.
|
|
AllieC
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,087
Jul 4, 2014 6:57:02 GMT
|
Post by AllieC on Apr 5, 2022 23:35:59 GMT
Civic duty - I've been called a few times but never actually made it to a jury. In my state in Australia (and I think it is the same in others) Juries Victoria pays you a jury payment of $40 per day for the first 6 days, and $80 per day thereafter.
Your employer is legally obligated to pay you the difference between this amount and what you would reasonably have expected to have earned had you worked instead of attended jury service.
Even though it can be a nuisance we aren't out of pocket here and employers generally grin and bear it.
|
|
|
Post by bc2ca on Apr 5, 2022 23:46:43 GMT
Civic Duty. DH and I got inundated with summons when we bought our first house in the US. It was crazy how many came to us, but we just kept checking "not a citizen" and sending them back. Then we never heard anything until a couple years ago. I was lucky to get assigned the courthouse with lots of free parking, hung around while they called 2 sets of jurors and then dismissed the rest of us with a thank you. DH deferred his for a few months and then squeaked in as Juror #12 on a domestic violence case. It was torture to not say anything about the case, even that was a DV case, for my very chatty DH. I thought he was going to explode at one point. The judge at his trial talked to them about applying to be members of the County Grand Jury for the next year. I had no idea there was an application process.
|
|
|
Post by gillyp on Apr 5, 2022 23:59:20 GMT
I have no interest in serving but would not ignore a summons. I've been called twice; the first time I knew both the defendants and would have been heavily against them so I was allowed to leave and the second time was too close to the first and I was told not to attend. Only a few more years and I'll be too old to be called! There can be a fine for not turning up.
Employers here do not have to pay wages for someone serving but jurors can claim an allowance for partial loss of income, the cost of childcare or a carer for a dependent adult, transport to court, subsistence for meals.
|
|
|
Post by sabrinae on Apr 6, 2022 0:09:02 GMT
I’ve been called once in all my 42 legal adult years. I was teaching at the time, and my principal signed a deferral request because of the severe sub shortage that would have caused a hardship to my middle school. I never got the deferral summons because I moved about a year later. Personally, I would love to be on a jury. I’ve been told I would most likely be dismissed because I have a law degree, although I’m not sure that would be true today since I haven’t practiced in almost 30 years. You wouldn’t necessarily be dismissed. A few years ago a recently retired common pleas judge served on a jury in our municipal court. Both attorneys had practiced and appeared before him often and left him on the jury.
|
|
|
Post by lisae on Apr 6, 2022 0:12:30 GMT
It's a civic duty and you should show up regardless of whether there is a penalty. I've been called twice and served on a jury both times. The first time I was working full-time and my employer gave us the time off with pay. We just had to reimburse the company for the paltry sum we were paid by the county. The last time was just before the pandemic and I was not working so I've never faced a hardship in serving.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 9:34:53 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2022 0:13:59 GMT
I just wish there was a better system to get out of it permanently. my child has autism and every time she gets a notice, I have to arrange to get a note from her doctor to excuse her from it. its a pain to do it. I went once and after a hour wait, the clerks went on strike and I had to go home. paid for all day parking and out of there in an hour. Maybe it depends on the state? I had a deaf co worker and she was permanently excused because it meant having an interpreter or at least live transcribing. They didn't want to accommodate that.
|
|
|
Post by katlady on Apr 6, 2022 0:16:12 GMT
I just wish there was a better system to get out of it permanently. my child has autism and every time she gets a notice, I have to arrange to get a note from her doctor to excuse her from it. its a pain to do it. I went once and after a hour wait, the clerks went on strike and I had to go home. paid for all day parking and out of there in an hour. Maybe it depends on the state? I had a deaf co worker and she was permanently excused because it meant having an interpreter or at least live transcribing. They didn't want to accommodate that. I was wondering about that too. I know in my county you can get a permanent exemption if you have health issues.
|
|
ellen
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,751
Jun 30, 2014 12:52:45 GMT
|
Post by ellen on Apr 6, 2022 0:29:35 GMT
The first time I reported for jury duty I was put on a trial that lasted three days. It was one of the most interesting things I've done in my life. The case was not creepy and I felt very comfortable with the verdicts. I got a summons a few years ago and was never called in - that was just fine with me.
|
|
Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
|
Post by Dalai Mama on Apr 6, 2022 0:36:16 GMT
I’m over 50 and I’ve been called once. I went up to the jury selection room and ran into a friend in the hallway. I’m a volunteer coordinator for a children’s choir and she was my volunteer stage manager for all of our performances. She was also the Crown Prosecutor on the case they were selecting for. So I went home.
|
|
|
Post by Crack-a-lackin on Apr 6, 2022 0:44:35 GMT
Civic duty, for sure. I have never received a summons and have always wanted to. I do not believe summons are random based on the number of friends who have been called more than once.
|
|
janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,202
Location: Alabama
Jan 29, 2015 16:24:49 GMT
|
Post by janeinbama on Apr 6, 2022 0:44:42 GMT
I have been called twice once for Jury duty of one week 80's and once for Grand Jury duty which was two weeks in consecutive months. During regular jury duty I sat on 2 cases and both settled. Grand Jury was truly eye opening we heard cases from 8-5 all 5 days. I just never realized how much went on around our city - this was in the 90's. I would report if called as it is my civic duty.
|
|
pudgygroundhog
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,648
Location: The Grand Canyon
Jun 25, 2014 20:18:39 GMT
|
Post by pudgygroundhog on Apr 6, 2022 1:34:59 GMT
I haven't read the rest of the responses, but I say civic duty. Our system depends on having good jurors and I always tell people they should serve (as long as it isn't a huge burden in terms of job or family). I have served twice - once as an alternate on a civil case and once on a district grand jury. Both were good experiences and I think it is important to serve. I would do so again.
|
|