Jury Duty...have you served?

[greenbriar]

back in April I got the notice in the mail

I was happy. I guess since I teach history/government the whole process fascinates me


It was a really weird murder case with no actual body


http://www.kwch.com/Global/story.asp?s=10189017

I dressed somewhat conservative a sweater and slacks

others wore jeans and tshirts ect

after 3 days of jury questioning, they sprung the pool of 42 down to 12 I got cut

it seems they kept all the ones who weren't professional

when they cut me, others in the hall were surprised that I didn't get to be on the jury, saying they usually keep teachers...

I was disappointed I wanted to experience the entire process and the case was really intriguing but I guess it wasn't my time

[Xipe Totec]

1. Yes I have

They tend to winnow out anybody in a position of authority.

And nice clothes are a sign of status.

[greenbriar]

4. so next time I should wear ripped jeans and a t-shirt

hummmmmmm

[Xipe Totec]

5. Well, if you go too far, the judge will rip more than the jeans...

I have seen judges "dress down" potential jurors for coming in looking like they slept in a dumpster.

I usually wear jeans and a shirt with a collar. Flannel shirts in the winter.

It's a very fine line.

[bigwillq]

2. Been called a few times

Never actually served though. I kind of want to.

[Kali]

3. yes, twice and turned down for a third

I was on a federal jury (Keating civil trial) and a local drug/paraphernalia possession case.
third case was another local drug case (not much else to do around here in terms of crime I guess. lol)

[KamaAina]

6. I was called once, but they didn't pick me.

I asked too many questions, I guess.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

7. I loved it -

after a lifetime of speaking to juries, I finally got to be on one when the law in Virginia changed, and lawyers were allowed to serve.

I thought I'd get bounced, but both sides liked me, and I ended up as foreman, although I told my fellow jurors they were making a big mistake.

I had always been curious about what went on in those deliberations, but this experience really shocked me. The people disregarded the judge's instructions, and I kept having to steer them back to what was on the table, not their personal experiences, which were not germane.

At the end of the day, we were deadlocked, and I told them that, since I worked at home, on my own, I had no problem coming back for another day. They all had jobs, and they quickly snapped to.

We convicted on one count, acquitted on the others, just as I'd voted from the beginning.

Just reminded me that it's good to stay out of the legal system unless you're working in it..

[Orrex]

12. My case was an interesting deliberation

We all knew that the guy was guilty, but six of us understood that the evidence didn't support conviction on two of the three charges. The whole deliberation involved us six convincing the other six to focus on what had been presented in court.


As it turns out, the guy did commit the crimes, but key evidence was ruled inadmissible, essentially hobbling the prosecution's case.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

17. That's it -

the judge's instructions are vital, and I was so surprised to see how quickly the jurors disregarded them.

I didn't feel one bit guilty for backing them into a corner.................

[rug]

13. At what point in the trial did you make up your mind?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

18. I didn't -

not during the trial.

It was fun, though, because the defense attorney was trying his first case, and the prosecutor was an old hand, so everyone was very polite and very gentle. This is Virginia, after all.

But, I watched it all unfold, and then looked over the evidence that had been presented, applied the rule of law as per the judge's instructions, and concluded that some charges had been proven and others hadn't.

My fellow jurors were all for convicting because they didn't like how he looked, because he didn't take the stand in his own defense, because someone had once had a boyfriend who had done that to her car. I mean, it was SHOCKING.

They learned a little bit, I think. I hope.

But, justice was served...........................

[Initech]

8. Got called twice - didn't make a jury either time.

I would have liked to just to see how the process works but apparently I wasn't what they were looking for.

[jakefrep]

9. Yes - I was the 13th Angry Man

Alternate juror on a DUI case.

[Forkboy]

10. Twice, both for breaking and entering.

Which was handy as I had experience in that area. One came down guilty, the other not guilty.

[Orrex]

11. I was called as the third alternate in a non-capital murder case

After several days of testimony, the case went in to recess for six months. When we reconvened, two of the lead jurors and one of the alternates had legitimate excuses and were dismissed, and through a strange little twist I would up being the foreperson.


I can't say I actually enjoyed it, but it was a very interesting process, and I wouldn't mind serving again if called.

[SoxFan]

14. Nope

Being a lawyer myself, there's virtually no chance that either side wants me up there mucking things up in the jury room. The only time I was ever summoned was in law school, and since the judge was a UA grad himself, he cut me loose.

[Roon]

15. Yeah..a stabbing case

The girl probably stabbed the other girl.but it was in a dark parking lot and everyone was drunk. No witness could say they saw the assailant for sure. So we found her not guilty.

[indypaul]

16. Yes, have served

on grand jury and one for a civil action in suit
over sale of business. Never on a criminal trial
although called but son is police officer and they
did not want me there for that reason. Enjoyed
serving and met some really nice persons also
serving. Can understand ones reluctance to serve on
a jury but think once it is done the experience can
be worthwhile.

[wavesofeuphoria]

19. Twice .. two different states .. one was a DWI, the other Attempted Murder

Both were acquittals.

[driver8]

20. Sat on a murder trial -- Andy Richter from Conan was our foreman.

Found the guy guilty of second degree murder for pouring gas on another guy and setting him on fire.

Pretty heinous crime.

[midnight armadillo]

21. sat on a jury for a rape trial

that wasn't a good time. I did come away with quite a bit of respect for the work that prosecutors, defense lawyers, and judges do.

[Strong Atheist]

22. Recommended,

dammit, though it did not get it to "0", which is where I want all threads to be baseline... x(

[mnhtnbb]

23. Yes. Sat on a jury trial of an African American man being tried

for assault of a white man with a knife(forget the exact charge--degree, intent) in 1991 in St. Joseph, MO (that's the south).

Three of us turned the jury to a not guilty--self defense verdict. It was really interesting
to watch the process. There was no doubt the two got into a fight and the white guy was cut.
Nine people were ready to convict and the three of us turned the verdict based upon raising doubt
about who started the fight and whether the white guy was cut not as a result of attack initiated
by the black man, but in his self defense.

You should have seen the look on the white guy's face (at the back of the courtroom) when we came in with our verdict. He was pissed. Couldn't believe it. The defendant was stunned. His mother (who had come from Los Angeles to give character testimony) was in tears mouthing "thank you" to us.

I've often wondered whether the defendant cleaned up his act after that and avoided getting involved
with white trash.

On edit: And we were an all white jury.

[RebelOne]

24. Yes, was called for jury duty twice when I lived in Florida.

Got picked for one jury where the defendant was charged with assaulting a cop. He made a plea deal, so I didn't serve.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

25. they kicked me out as soon as they heard i was an activist

quite frankly they were right. i wouldnt be impartial. the guy was caught with RESIDUE of crack on a pipe. we wasted so much tax payer money that day.

[old mark]

26. Got called once, years ago, a medical malpractice lawsuit.

I told the lawyer my brother was on the malpractice board for Massachusetts and the doc's 4 lawyers all yelled "EXCUSED!!!"

Last 2 times, I have been automatically excused without even having to report because of medical conditions - the don't want any heart patient/jurors dying and slowing up the trial...

mark

[femmocrat]

27. I've been called twice. If I get called again, I'm getting a doctor's excuse.

I have no desire to sit on a jury. I hated the entire experience.