Anyone here done this ? Seems a little odd, that members of the public decide the guilt or innocence of another having no credentials or knowledge of certain aspects involved in a case Even DNA - blood splatter evidence is contested by 'experts' Its a tough call on us mere mortals - don't you think ?
I have never been asked to do Jury service..thank Goodness.... My father did Jury service twice...once on a murder case that took 3 weeks ..he had to have all that time off work!! You have to have a very good reason to get out of Jury service if you are summoned...but I couldn't sit there for weeks on end... imagine if it was a case like the OJ case that went on for months.... or the infamous American McMartin Preschool abuse trial that went on for about 7 years.. and with no convictions at the end... *jeez*.... http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/mcmartin/mcmartinaccount.html
I have been called twice. It is a temporary pain and inconvenience, but most folks do their best to be conscientious and do it right. The last thing we need is professional jurors, who would eventually become corrupt.
@Holly Saunders - I agree! I also know me emotions would get in the way, the fella or missus would be hung, drawn and quartered on the first day ! .............
You could be right Joe although I'm sure some jurors have an agenda - I've watched 12 Angry Men ........
I've been summoned a few times but never called for a case. I've noticed it's done differently in different states and counties. When I was called in Illinois, I had to go to the courthouse and sit in a room and wait to see if I'm needed or excused. Here in Fresno, you have to sit at home for a week and call in everyday after 5 to see if you have to report the next morning, this lasts a week and then you are excused. I've been summoned about 3 times here but never needed. I wouldn't be picked for a big trial anyway because when the lawyers did their voir dire, they'd excuse me most likely...I'm pro prosecution and although a person is innocent til proven guilty I'd be going in there with my predjudice.
I knew what you meant, @Patsy Faye but it is called Jury Duty here...I've never heard it called "service". I think I would enjoy a big murder trail like OJ but all the other cases are usually tedious. You can also postpone for 6 months here if you get called and have plans. I've done that once because I had already committed to watching grandsons,
I haven't been called for jury duty since I have been in Maine. Although it's supposed to to be at random, taken from the voter registration lists, there is a rumor that Maine uses the same small group of people over and over, and that seems to be the case. I was called several times while I lived in Texas but, because I was a paramedic, I was always excused early, not because I had other things to do but because there is an assumption that paramedics have close relationships with the police, so the defense usually cuts anyone working in emergency services. I was called for jury duty while I was in California too, but have never sat on a jury in a trial.
Until I moved to California I was only called once and not picked and that was in Illinois. In the 14 years I lived in Fresno I've gotten a jury summons about 5 times. I would have loved to have been on OJ's or Casey Anthony's jury...I would have voted GUILTY!