Jury Duty

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:13 am

Who willingly serves on a jury when called and who tries to get out of it? Be honest. :sneaky:

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:20 am

One time I went and I was not picked because my cousin was one of the attorneys. The other time, I wasn't picked was because I knew the guy. Darn I wanted to so bad to say "guilty". :wah:

I was called for federal jury duty twice when my kids were babies and I asked to be excused because I wouldn't leave them for an unknown amount of time. I was excused both times.

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:25 am

i would have liked to go to see how the process works just once, but i was sick when i was called and had to be excused.

RedGlitter · Post by **RedGlitter** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:26 am

So far I have never been called. I think I would go but I don't know that I'd be a good choice.

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:27 am

here, you cannot get out of it unless you have real proof of some problem.

kazalala · Post by **kazalala** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:02 am

My daughter got called up and was so excited, cos it was crown court so could be something big. She couldnt wait, but when she went she had to go 3 days n a row and wasnt picked,,, she was well cheesed off:wah: I had to keep reminding her if she did get picked she wasnt allowed to talk about it:rolleyes: She cant stand not telling somebody, she even grassed on herself a couple of times when she was younger cos she just couldnt keep the secret any longer:wah::wah:

pinkchick · Post by **pinkchick** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:12 am

i have never been asked

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 10:32 am

I've been called several times, however since I have little kids, I can fill out the paperwork excusing myself from it.

Fibonacci · Post by **Fibonacci** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:06 pm

I've never been called, but i would do it.

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:51 pm

I served on a jury. The defendant was accused of child molestation.After some testimony, we watched a video on which he admitted to the crime. We found him guilty. A sad, sobering experience. I was glad to do my service as a citizen, and received a small wage for missing work.

Chookie · Post by **Chookie** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:56 pm

Here, if you're called for jury duty, you can only get out of it if you have a very good reason (new job, hospitalisation or death).

We are paid expenses, relative to our income.

However, if we are called once (whether we actually serve or not), we cannot be called again.

cars · Post by **cars** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 5:01 pm

Yes I have been called to jury duty around 19 times now, I lost track. :wah:

For whatever reason, maybe they like my last name, (it's supposed to be random, but isn't anyone else's name in the bucket?) it seems like clockwork after every 18 months they call me. If called within 18 months, then can be excused for that fact. The first 5 or 6 times I was excited, as I wanted to see how the system worked. But after about 10th or 11th times, I really got to hate it, & then started to try to get out of JD! Only twice I was able to get out of JD within the last 5 or 6 times I was called! :sneaky: They all know me by my first name at the court house! :rolleyes:

The Rob · Post by **The Rob** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 7:49 pm

I'll always serve when summoned. It's a civic duty.

kayleneaussie · Post by **kayleneaussie** » Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:35 pm

I have been called for Jury Duty but as a foster carer we are excused....dont think I would be any good I would find them guilty:(

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:30 am

Given that they pay you what you earn in your day job I'd go willingly, it's interesting to learn how the courts work. And a change is as good as a rest!

Actually I was called for jury duty once when I was unemployed. And I went. I sat in on 3 cases & was the jury foreman on one. Two cases were for drug use (LSD, I think), & one was a theft of sandwiches from a shop. I was just a bit cross that I was on benefits at the time, it would have been nice to have been paid what some people were getting for doing exactly the same as me, but I suppose that's the fairest way.

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:40 am

Chookie;740900 wrote: Here, if you're called for jury duty, you can only get out of it if you have a very good reason (new job, hospitalisation or death).

We are paid expenses, relative to our income.

However, if we are called once (whether we actually serve or not), we cannot be called again.

It must be different in Scotland from England then because we can be called any number of times, although i believe you can be excused if it is within so many months of the previous time.

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:41 am

Joe;741178 wrote: Given that they pay you what you earn in your day job I'd go willingly, it's interesting to learn how the courts work. And a change is as good as a rest!

Actually I was called for jury duty once when I was unemployed. And I went. I sat in on 3 cases & was the jury foreman on one. Two cases were for drug use (LSD, I think), & one was a theft of sandwiches from a shop. I was just a bit cross that I was on benefits at the time, it would have been nice to have been paid what some people were getting for doing exactly the same as me, but I suppose that's the fairest way.

Do you not find it a little bizarre that so much money is "wasted" in persuing theft of a sandwich?I do.I am afraid I cannot get worked up about it.I guess the person must have really been hungry to do that.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:42 am

On the sandwich theft case I wanted to find him innocent. Well not to let him off, but to see him get help sorting out his life. Not getting a fine or prison (can't remember now what the sentence was), but something that would help him go straight. He didn't seem a case for humilliation or beating down, which is what he got.

He was a very young man, maybe still in his teens, he was simple in the mind too. I felt they were bullying him, he was clearly desparate & out of his depth. While we were deliberating I was the only one feeling sorry for him, all the others semed to be laughing at him. The prosecution team gave that impression too. This made a big lasting impression on me.

I think the shop were keen to show all theft gets the severest punishment possible, that's why they were so keen to prosecute. Yes, I think he was very desparate. He was maybe too simple to know what else to do, he was pitiful, he was perfect to be bullied at the hands of cleverer people. What I think they should have done is get social services to sort him out in a positive way. I don't think justice (in the moral sense) was done that day.

lemon_and_mint · Post by **lemon_and_mint** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:44 am

Joe;741183 wrote: On the sandwich theft case I wanted to find him innocent. Well not to let him off, but to see him get help sorting out his life. Not getting a fine or prison (can't remember now what the sentence was), but something that would help him go straight. He didn't seem a case for humilliation or beating down, which is what he got.

He was a very young man, maybe still in his teens, he was simple in the mind too. I felt they were bullying him, he was clearly desparate & out of his depth. While we were deliberating I was the only one feeling sorry for him, all the others semed to be laughing at him. The prosecution team gave that impression too. This made a big lasting impression on me.

That is a real shame.

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:01 am

Never had the opportunity but would like to experience it, especially as I have a morbid fasination with the whole prison/court/inamte thing.

Patrick · Post by **Patrick** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 6:01 am

I never try to get out jury duty, but if I get the notice during school I get it deferred till summer vacation.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 8:16 am

I was called once, I explained that I was the only worker in my company and that my contract would be unfulfilled if I were taken off it.

They gave me permanent exemption from Jury Service but now my circumstances have changed (I'm now permanent instead of freelance) I would like to do it.

I believe that here they pay fixed expenses of (at the time) £40 / day.

minks · Post by **minks** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 11:20 am

hmmmm I have never been called, and hope never to be. I would not want to do it. I know it's my civil obligation, but would hope being a bit of a paranoid single parent of a teen and a bit fearful of fall out of some sort and worry about her safety just in case and the fact that I am a flake I would be excused

Honestly I would not want to to it, I would hate to have to pass judgement under those kinds of circumstances. I think my ADHD would end up with me saying "well maybe yes guilty but maybe not, but then again who wants a ham sandwich." I assure you my lack of attention span would not be useful during a court session ahahahahaha