Jury Duty

[girlggc]

I'm scheduled to go for jury duty on December 1st. I've never been called up for jury duty before. What should I expect?

[gwenshack]

You may or may not get picked. Every jurisdiction does it differently. Out here you report, they bring you and a lot of other people into a room and they ask general questions of everyone. Then they pull some people into the jury box and the lawyers can decide whether or not they want to exempt certain jurors - for whatever reason - until they have an agreed upon group that will proceed on into the trial. They are looking for the average reasonable person so they might excuse people for strong beliefs, if they have legal knowledge or if they are of a similar demographic to a victim. But they can and will excuse people for the silliest reasons.

Good luck. I've never had to serve, even though I've been called, but I have legal education that has probably been what has gotten me out of it. :winktongue:

[girlggc]

Thanks Gwen!

[Dani]

OMG..I would do it again!

I was on a jury for a murder case! Let's just say my eyes were as big as saucers! It was a very neat experience and like I said, I would do it again!

[Smurfette]

OMG..I would do it again!

I was on a jury for a murder case! Let's just say my eyes were as big as saucers! It was a very neat experience and like I said, I would do it again!

Lucky! I've only responded twice to my jury duty summons. The rest I've
thrown away. The first time I reported I had to reveal that I had dated the
DA and they dismissed me on the spot. The 2nd time the defendant was my
delinquent cousin. That got some giggles. :purplex:

[DanDanNoodleBowl]

Random Jury Duty question..do you have to be registered to vote to be called to Jury Duty? I heard that somewhere but I have no idea

[gwenshack]

Random Jury Duty question..do you have to be registered to vote to be called to Jury Duty? I heard that somewhere but I have no idea
Depends on the state. In Virginia, where I used to live, yes, you had to be registered to vote. Here in California they go by your DMV records, so no.

[DanDanNoodleBowl]

Depends on the state. In Virginia, where I used to live, yes, you had to be registered to vote. Here in California they go by your DMV records, so no.
Interesting! Thanks Gwen :)

[girlggc]

Lucky! I've only responded twice to my jury duty summons. The rest I've
thrown away. The first time I reported I had to reveal that I had dated the
DA and they dismissed me on the spot. The 2nd time the defendant was my
delinquent cousin. That got some giggles. :purplex:

Isn't it illegal not to respond to your jury summons?

[Danielle9608]

Isn't it illegal not to respond to your jury summons?

Yes. And just curious, what court are you going to?

[Fishlips]

Bring a book or sodoku...There is a lot of waiting around and boring parts.

[girlggc]

Yes. And just curious, what court are you going to?

The one in Woburn. I would prefer Concord or Lowell for convenience, and the jury summons says you can transfer courts if you have a hardship, but it also says in big, bold letters that inconvenience/distance is not a hardship.

[Danielle9608]

The one in Woburn. I would prefer Concord or Lowell for convenience, and the jury summons says you can transfer courts if you have a hardship, but it also says in big, bold letters that inconvenience/distance is not a hardship.

Ah I've been to Cambridge and Worcester. I actually postponed the last time I got called for a year because it was right after I had Averi. Good luck!

[Smurfette]

Isn't it illegal not to respond to your jury summons?
Yes it is. But the last time I went the court clerk told me NO county has the resources to follow up on a bench warrant over a jury summons. So I stopped responding. Clearly I'm shirking my civil responsibilities to my community but my actions are justified because I was no longer residing in the count(ies) that had summoned me.

[girlggc]

Ah I've been to Cambridge and Worcester. I actually postponed the last time I got called for a year because it was right after I had Averi. Good luck!

My summons were actually for November 14th, but I postponed it to December 1st because November 14th is only 5 days before my cousin's wedding in NY and if I'm picked to be on a big trial, then I won't be able to leave for NY before Saturday, the day of the wedding.

[brendalin]

Good luck, hope you don't end up getting picked!

[SkippyNXC]

but if u have a bench warrant and get pulled over, doesn't the cop see that and have to then arrest you??

you're much braver than me... i'd never risk it

[gwenshack]

but if u have a bench warrant and get pulled over, doesn't the cop see that and have to then arrest you??

you're much braver than me... i'd never risk it
Yep. That's why Ron used to not be allowed to drive when visiting in Arizona - bench warrant from an unpaid ticket resulting from a wild weekend in Havasu. lol

[SkippyNXC]

Yep. That's why Ron used to not be allowed to drive when visiting in Arizona - bench warrant from an unpaid ticket resulting from a wild weekend in Havasu. lol

ugh too scary... i can't imagine risking that, esp if i were driving w/alex in the car... no spanks, i'll just suck it up and do my civic duty when the time comes... (which will hopefully happen when i'm breastfeeding so there's no way i could be away from my baby for more than 2 hrs :rofl:)

[amisteratwisterandme]

ugh too scary... i can't imagine risking that, esp if i were driving w/alex in the car... no spanks, i'll just suck it up and do my civic duty when the time comes... (which will hopefully happen when i'm breastfeeding so there's no way i could be away from my baby for more than 2 hrs :rofl:)

I take it one step forward, I carry my jury summons in my car, with the name of the clerk who dismissed me.

[Smurfette]

but if u have a bench warrant and get pulled over, doesn't the cop see that and have to then arrest you??

you're much braver than me... i'd never risk it
Hmm... never thought about it like that. I suppose you're right.
However, how does the county know I even received my summons?
Perhaps I moved (which I did) or maybe my mail was stolen (which
it has been). They'd have to prove I received my warrant and the
burden would fall on them to prove it, not me. Besides, I've tried
serving twice and was dismissed. I wanna be on a good case. I'd
love to get out of work for a while. And plus, the times I've thrown
my summons away, I was a single parent. In my county if you are
the sole provider for your family - you're excused. At least when I
was in LA County. It's been a while.

I think I believe the clerk when she said that California doesn't have
the resources to track down jury summons and issue bench warrants.
Hell, we can't even track the red-light camera violators which is why
the whole red-light camera operation is void and defunct in LA County.

[SkippyNXC]

Well if they use DMV records then the burden falls to you to keep your address current... i know i once got yelled at by a cop for not changing my address on my license even tho my change of address was temporary for school...

idk how cali works but personally i wouldn't risk it. I've had friends get arrested when trying to board planes b/c they had bench warrants out for them that they had no knowledge of...

[Smurfette]

Well if they use DMV records then the burden falls to you to keep your address current... i know i once got yelled at by a cop for not changing my address on my license even tho my change of address was temporary for school....

You're right. Thing is, those addresses are still valid for me (divorce house hasn't sold) but I don't physically live there. I haven't changed my mailing address in over 20 years. Even when I went to college. I'm not hard to find and I'm certainly not hiding. I'm pretty sure you have to be notified that you have a bench warrant issued for your arrest.

[scarymary48]

I'm a bit jealous Rachel, I'm the only person I know who has never been called for jury duty!

[WebLady]

DH and I both got called at the same time a couple of years ago. I was able to get out of it (Dr excuse for my stress migraines), but he had to go. He was there for 3 days, but didn't get picked for the jury.

[amisteratwisterandme]

DH and I both got called at the same time a couple of years ago. I was able to get out of it (Dr excuse for my stress migraines), but he had to go. He was there for 3 days, but didn't get picked for the jury.

I think that is the only advantage to having panic attacks. I would get a Doc note in a heart beat!

Not that I don't want to do my "duty" but judging and sending/freeing someone is not something I could do.

[f77g4]

I'm a bit jealous Rachel, I'm the only person I know who has never been called for jury duty!

Neither DH or myself have been either.