I have been an expert witness in a few malpractice cases, and a witness in a murder trial, however. However, I have merged the discussion of that with another thread that I had started a while back about the Forensic Files episode because this thread is about jury duty.
Have been called about 5 times in 25 years,only heard one case- small traffic violation. Lawyers , do not like me, I have a tendency to aggravate them
I wouldn't say that Jury Duty is a job even though you do receive a small stipend for your inconveniences but in my lifetime I have received notices summoning me for Jury Duty. Twice I didn't have to report and once when I had to report but was dismissed and again on Monday where I will find out if I will be selected or dismissed. My initial experience got my curiousity going. First of all why me? Second, how did I get selected? Third, can I get out of it? lol. So I just went with the flow of things by completing the questionnaire that was included and making the calls to see if I was to report to the courts. For the time period involved I was to do this for I think three maybe four weeks those questions stayed at the back of my thoughts until the recording stated that my service was completed. Back then the computers, internet and the like hadn't come to fruition so my curiousity to follow up dissipated but again resurfaced each time I was to report for Jury Duty. It was when I was called to report to the courts that a bit of my curiousity was satisfied. Of course being one of many waiting I found the process was intense. Listening to the lawyers, watching the judge flip through papers, and freezing throughout. It was almost an hour when the process of selecting jurors suited for case ended and the rest of us were dismissed and directed to the Clerk of Courts to receive a stipend in the amount of $10.00. This stipend was for expenses like gas and lunch. Public transportation was my means of travel and I wasn't hungry so being downtown I decided to see what I could purchase with my duly earned $10,00 Now for the questions that I asked myself at the beginning of this thread they didn't go unanswered. Most of what I found out was guesses by other folk but seemed valid enough. So here they are: Why was I chosen? Because I'm a registered voter. How did I get selected? Name pulled from a pool. Can I get out of it? You have to have a real, real good excuse with proof. I don't know what would happen if you ignored the summons but I would think you wouldn't go unscathed.
We can postpone jury duty and yes, it's hard to get out of it...don't know what they'd accept but I'm sure you need a note from your Dr. As for ignoring the summons, mine comes in the mail so I could say I never got it or got it too late because I don't get my mail every day. If I'm not expecting something, sometimes it can be 2 weeks.
I wonder if my back would be accepted as an excuse...those seats are hard and uncomfortable and by the end of the day, my tailbone would be in terrible pain. I think they'd throw me out after the first day anyway. I'd be rolling my eyes at the defense and fidgeting like I do on an airplane, just can't get comfortable.
Long time ago it used to be like that but it changed because lots of people wont registering to vote so they wouldn't get picked for jury duty. I don't know how true that is but it's what I've always heard. Long ago I always wanted to serve on a jury but with age and aches and pains and everything else...no thanks. Also part of it is having to go to central Fresno where crime is too high. A shooting every day almost...usually gang related but innocents get caught in the crossfire.
I would think that a mention of being selected for jury duty on the voter's registration form for some people would prefer not to get involved. If it is on the voter's registration form I overlooked it. It reminds me of the movie The Hunger Games only for the fact that numbers were drawn and if your number was drawn you had to play the game.
I would only like to be on a famous murder case like OJ, but in reality most of the cases around here would be tedious and boring.
Dunno. I have never served and hope I never do to tell the truth. The fact of the matter is that no matter the innocence or how guilty the defendant might be there are always two people in the courtroom who are definitely guilty: The defending attorney and the prosecutor. The defending attorney will bend, shape, lie, cheat and steal in order to get his/her client look pure as the driven snow and the prosecutor will do the same with the exception of his portrayal of the defendant looking like Satan complete with horns and tail. All that coupled with my mistrust for judges makes me a completely unfavorable juror in any case. Funny how someone with a successful law firm will opt for a judges position which only pays a minuscule amount of what his firm made him. That tells me that a judge will do anything for the prestige.
Usually you can have your Doctor fax a medical excuse saying your medical condition prevents you from serving on a jury and they will excuse you from serving. I got called for jury duty both in Florida and here is Louisiana a few times and each time the medical excuse from my Doctor was all it took to excuse me. Not to long ago they send a jury duty summons to my Honey and I called his Retina Specialist and they faxed a medical excuse to the Courthouse and now my Honey has a permanent "out" on being summed again.
Long ago, when a cousin served on a jury, I was told the payment was to offset the income a person lost while serving. I've had two experiences. The first time 'my presence was requested,' I was told I was automatically disqualified because I had a small child. You know, 'back in the day' when taking care of one's own children was actually considered important. I was willing to go in- as long as I could take my child (around 3 yrs old) with me The second time was a few years ago. I was there in the morning and afternoon, but they had all the people they needed before they got to my name. I was a little disappointed, but the problem was about the payment- when you're told you'll receive $30 for each day you're present, whether you're chosen or not, wouldn't you take that to mean at the time? But when I approached the lady at the desk, she said I could expect to receive a check in the mail in around two weeks. The catch: I had no way to get home. Expecting the $30 that day, I didn't even have bus fare. After trying unsuccessfully for hours to find a ride home, I ended up walking- quite a distance on a 'cold and blustery day.'