and one of those was long after I moved from the area, so I got auto-DQed.

I did go to the other though. Three hours waiting before they told me to go home.

I don't look forward to it, but I don't really mind it either, therefore "meh".

too.

I understand it's important, so I go and do the best I can.

I do consider it to be a civic duty for those who are able to serve, so I went and served on a jury when called.

I avoided civilian jury duty for many years due to military obligations. However, I sat on more courts martials than you could shake a stick at--I think I got way more than my "fair share" in a normal career.

I do think all that military CM duty inoculated me against jury duty in civilian life--the minute I put it down on the form, I get the stink-eye from the lawyers on both sides, and I'm in my car going home!

and was dismissed quickly both times. Neither side wanted me on the jury for the auto accident injury case since I was the lead statistician on tort reform at the Department of Insurance and could fairly evaluate the damages.

I'm a lawyer so I tend to know the attorneys for one side or the other.

for a federal case where I didn't know the attorneys. Got named as an alternate and thoroughly enjoyed it. They ended up putting me on the jury and was made foreperson. Incredible experience. Would gladly do it again.

I'd love to do it, but have never been called in my 50 years, so I guess I don't know how I'll respond.

Seems like I get called every year. I know it's not that often, but it seems that way.

and try to scam out of it every time...

I've often wondered what would happen if I showed up in their place

no don't do that, they'll be selecting a jury for you.

You are the voice of reason! Cheers!

They get a list of employees that work at businesses where its not a problem, at least in calif

For many years I could check the exemption (military service) block, but lately I have, as they say, been available. Never been selected, though.

I know that every three years, I have to get up VERY early, pray the car will start, and find a new courthouse! Then I'll fill out a form, sit around for a few hours, and be told my services aren't needed!

I've never been called, despite being a registered voter for twenty-six years. I'd actually like to serve on a jury.

I request to be re-assigned during the summer, when I don't have to deal with daily sub plans and paperwork piling up and my students being left with the last string so I can go sit somewhere for several hours before being told that they don't need me. Over and over.

I can do that during the summer, and they can pay me to do so.

So that's when I go. They never actually call me in for jury selection. I just sit in a room with a tv going and read or do paperwork until they send me home every day until my time has been served.

I always end up wondering why they don't really seem to want teachers to sit on juries.

I'll be back in that room this July.

I find them very interesting and enlightening. I served on my most recent jury back in October. It was the first time I ever saw crack cocaine. Hopefully, it will be my last.

I've been called up five or six times for regular duty, dismissed more often than not, served on two cases. But the real experience was serving on a grand jury.

You get to grill him or her about procedure, what evidence was collected, why was other evidence NOT collected, etc.

In some cases, you may also be able to ask that other evidence be collected, or witnesses/officers be deposed.

they show that on shows like Law&Order, I wasn't sure if that was for tv purposes or it actually happened that way.

That's where the indictments are handed down, right?

In some states, some crimes *require* a grand jury indictment.

Folks would be amazed at some of the crap prosecutors try to indict on. There is nothing quite so 'we the people' as being able to call bullshit on a prosecutor who's over-reaching or a cop who tried to bend the rules.

I've seen enough of our judicial system to know that the game is rigged to favor whoever can afford the best lawyer.

of course I was serving in DOC at the time. sometimes I knew the accused
from previous sentences.

but usually I just showed up in uniform and was told to go home.

all day.

Hope I get another summons. I think I'd actually enjoy being on a jury.

I don't get paid for serving and my employer is too small to do without me.

Which means I would refuse to convict anyone for drug use, prostitution use, "obscentity", victimless crimes, etc. I would also refuse to convict anyone to death. I'd be perfectly honest about that in any pre interviews though. I'm guessing I wouldn't be selected though.

I was chosen to serve, this was a Federal trial, and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

Govt didn't make the case, jurors weren't happy about that as defendant was not a nice person, a manipulator, and essentially guilty. I could tell from judge's expression he understood our quandary, and he appreciated that jury did the right thing under the law.

I worked for the DA's office and in fact ended up prosecuting that exact case on appeal.

so I had to call, explain what was up, etc.

I want to graduate school, but if I was called during the summer or some other convenient time, then I would definitely serve.

but I've long worked nights and find it very difficult to stay awake during the day

It's a duty. I also think it is enjoyable.

Two murders and one manslaughter. When I became an attorney I continued to be called but excused after the occupation question. Attorneys don't want other attorneys critiquing their work.

I ended up serving on a civil case for three days. It was on my scheduled days off too, which really made it a pain. I can't say I enjoyed it, but I do believe that it's a civic duty that should be taken seriously.

I live outside the US. I'd think that would be a suitable excuse.

They struck me off the roles since I used to be a paralegal anyway. They never want anyone that is or used to be in law or law enforcement.

.....usually case dismissed, or settled, or just not chosen; but I did actually serve on a jury once. It was a very interesting experience, not a major case, a DWI charge (which are usually settled out of court, but not in this case.)

Registered voter since the age of 18 - 35 years - and I've never been called. Been at the same address for 30 of those years.
I'd be honored to serve. My husband says he thinks they don't call many democrats for service in our county.

both times I wound up sitting in the waiting room until I was sent home.

Awarded damages to an electrician who got zapped on a job. Excused from the second call because my bro-in-law was a cop.

Very stressful situation. We were told that we would probably never be called again.

So far, so good. Wouldn't want to do that a second time.

been called 4-5 times. served twice. let go once because i knew one of the witnesses, a sheriff's deputy. however, i had to sit through most of the voir dire even though they knew up front they weren't going to keep me. i would mind a lot less if the courthouse was not geographically inconvenient for me.

Every time I go to serve, I am excused because of what my career was.

been called 4 or 5 times, served twice. one was a local drug case the other was the Keating civil trial. that was a federal case and since I lived more than an hour away the per diem really made it worth the time - plus staying with family so I got to keep most of it. paid better than my real life.

but once the case settled prior to trial, and the other time the defendant turned out to be a former student of mine, so I was excused.

I have the following issues with the NJ Courts:


1) If a person doesn't want to serve, forcing them does not benefit the Defendant.

What defense attorney wants a hostile juror... unless the true goal is that the prosecution wants a conviction?
Would you want someone judging you if they are angry/worried about missing out on wages or spending on daycare?


2) The courts should be flexible with the jury body.

I was issued a summons to appear in court a month or so from now for petit jury duty. I am a single parent with three kids in local school and one in college. I work full-time and I am attending college for continuing education, taking two classes a semester. My jury date is days before two major college tests. I sent in a reply, politely asking for a deferment until May 15 or after. This way, the college term would have ended - since I'm only allowed to miss 2 days in a class per semester. Deferment Denied! I must attend just prior to my Mid-Terms. If it's a 2-4 day trial, I'll even miss both exam dates.


Granted, if you don't get a good cross-section of the population, you might face a bunch of Fox News-type seniors or those who thing the sun revolves around the earth, but the courts needs to be sensitive to juror issues.

If the courts worked with the jurors, they might actually reduce the amount of people who try to get out of the trials when they are screened, saving valuable court time and money.

but never served. Once the parties settled right before trial, and the other one was a retrial on appeal of a guy we had represented in his original case. I knew all about him so was dismissed. I haven't been called for years, although I'd be a great juror now that I'm retired and have no other obligations.

Right now, I'm all for it because I get paid for 5 days. At my previous job I was also all for it, even though they didn't pay; but I hated the job so much that taking a week off and burning vacation days for jury duty was a blessing. When unemployed, I'm usually against it, unless I'm so desperate that the $15 per day actually sounds good, which did happen once.

Why do they need so many?? For each jury selection, they send 100 people to the courtroom. They seat the first 12 in the jury box. Those 12 are the jury, unless there is a challenge to one or another for some reason. Why do they waste the time of 100 people when 50 would be more than enough?! I'm not talking high-publicity trials. They do this for little civil suits. It's a waste of public funds, waste of time for everyone, waste of livelihood for those called.

didn't get picked but wound up sitting through almost the entire selection process. I was excused because we were leaving on vacation in two days.

I would love to serve, and don't quite understand why I never am called, when others get called more or less all the time.

It would cost me pay, so I'm kind of relieved.

to by either a trip already planned and then i serve a few months later, was pregnant once and morning sick bad every day, but now that i am older i try to go every time unless trip i can't get out of is planned.