The expectation is that nearly all will be dismissed fairly quickly.

"Yes, I followed this case closely and I do not believe I can come into the case with an open mind."

As much as I think it could be interesting, the thought of heading into the city every day and missing so much work is not pleasant.

That would get you excused right away too.

Sid

and you will be knocked off.

because of the text I carried to read during down time, which both attorneys could see.

However, I was too stupid to realize this at the time. (Back in college days...)

---young and easily manipulated. But they would not choose your professor.

reading "The Ascent of Man." Probably 26 years old, give or take a year.

Still stupid and naive compared to myself today, although no one, even with such little knowledge of me, would think I was a shrinking violet.

Intelligence or lack thereof has little to do with it. Look for people likely to be on your side. Use your prememptories against the leaders on the other guy's side. Keep your leaders. At all cost the most important person to pick is your judge.

After trial you can make the media rounds and get $$$, perhaps even write a book.

I had federal jury duty once. They didn't pick me, but it was fun, especially sneaking in to the employee café and getting a really good BLT.

I plan on telling them I ran the marathon in 1996 (true story).

Other than that, I'm getting a lot of custom t-shirt suggestions..

What bumper stickers do you have on your car?

That's a real question asked often of potential jurors.

I used to have one of those WTF stickers (parody of those obnoxious W stickers).

I'm much more of a no bumper sticker kind of guy now.

And the Boston commute.

And frankly, the nature of this case.

...as long as you state that you're philosophically opposed, you should have no problem.

I am assuming that there are a few federal cases going on.

All that said, I can understand your what I see as apprehension. I may be assuming, but I suspect everyone in the region that has to report for jury duty on a federal level is really curious.

in a busy federal district court like Boston.

I would simply answer all the questions posed to you as truthfully as possible. Remember, in federal court the judge conducts voir dire, and they usually can smell bullshit a mile away. In any event, if you're one of the 3000 people called for the bombing trial, there will probably be more than ample truthful responses to the questionnaire to get you promptly dismissed from consideration.

Good luck.

How lovely to be the subject of it.

In fact, I recall from law school that the Latin translation for voir dire means "sit around and wait while presumptuous men and women in suits and robes argue about nothing particularly important to anyone else before sending you home."

Judges in federal court also tend to move the questioning process along far faster that attorneys in state court, at least in high profile matters here in NYC. I doubt Boston is much different.

The experience will be more boring than much else, and you may enjoy the experience if actually selected for a smaller case. Most trials only last a few days, and they often settle before completion.

Again, good luck.

It was the first time that I had every been picked. It was very interesting experience. I wouldn't hesitate to serve again.

that was about a year ago and one of the questions we were asked before selection was
any one over 75 years old. 2 of us raised our hands and we were then dismissed. So, that's that I guess.

jury nullification.

Really? and leave it to the folks who listen to faux news and post at FR?

I'll almost certainly never get selected for a jury (victim of crime x 2; sibling of a (former) death row inmate; attorney; former judicial clerk; lifelong opponent of the death penalty; party in an infamous case (with connections to a number of attorneys who frequently represent one side or the other in juried cases). But I would gladly serve if I made it past voir dire.

Our legal system needs intelligent, compassionate people to serve on the jury.

Jury duty ought to be right up there with voting as an important civil duty.