Jury Duty

[robbiev]

just sat in the big waiting room and read a book and drank Coke... My boss told me to get out of it. I told him I wouldn't get out of it even if I could. In Shelby County, nobody gets out of it,...

Had the same experience here about 9 years ago (including my boss telling me to get out of it, which I did not try to do). We were told at the initial meeting that there were a few reasons you could get out of jury duty: if you had served within 10 years, if you had been found mentally incompetent, if you were addicted to drugs or alcohol, and maybe one or two others. Then he added, "Don't bother trying to get out for any other reason. It won't happen." He mentioned a few specific reasons that would not get you out, including financial hardship and/or owning your own business.

I was called into one courtroom, but was not picked for the jury. I was simply sent back to the jury waiting room. On Thursday morning of that week, we were told the juries were full for the week and we could go home.

I had a permit, but I didn't take my gun with me. I had someone drop me off each morning at the front door of the jury building. Interestingly enough, when we did go over to the courthouse, we were escorted around the metal detectors. If I had carried a gun, it probably woudn't have been an issue since we didn't have to go through the detectors.

Edited May 28, 2008 by robbiev

[Guest Phantom6]

I would love to serve but no one has ever asked yet. I would have to keep my mind on the facts presented though because watching two or three good attorneys work is a thing of beauty, seeing them set their traps and watching the other guy or gal snake through them .... or not (unfortunately for their clients). The more you understand about the technical aspects of trial the more fun it is. Watching a good 1-2 day jury trial is fun. I would highly recommend it as a form of entertainment.

[Guest kwikrnu]

I served on a jury back in 1993 in California. A prisoner was charged with aggrevated assault on a prison guard. The prisoner defended himself. We were jurors for about a week. The guy was a nut and I laughed at something he said ( I couldn't help it). He turned to me and threatened to kill me when he gets out...

[deerslayer]

I would have to keep my mind on the facts presented though because watching two or three good attorneys work is a thing of beauty, seeing them set their traps and watching the other guy or gal snake through them .... or not (unfortunately for their clients).

You give lawyers more credit than I do--back when I was about 14 or 15, a lawyer tried to set one of his "traps" for me while I was on the witness stand, but I made him look like the fool he was. My friend's dad especially got a kick out of this, since this defense attorney couldn't outwit a teenager. The guy who defended the thug who shot my dad five years ago is fairly well known around here, but his efforts were laughable. In my experience, the intelligence of many lawyers is somewhat overrated.

[Marswolf]

He turned to me and threatened to kill me when he gets out...

That was my wife's only problem with jury duty. The defendant sits there and you are asked your name and where you live during voir dire. If you had a bad-ass defendant, they know who to look for when they get out.

[keeterbird]

The problem is that every time I am called (2x) I go and fill out a form. Sit around for hours and then at 4:00PM- or 2:00PM, am told, "Thank you"; I go home. I figured that I would never be chosen for an actual jury, but I just wish they could do some screening early. Civic duty is important but defense and prosecution attorney's know who they do NOT want. I know they can't advertise it, but it wastes so much time for so many people.

[deerslayer]

That was my wife's only problem with jury duty. The defendant sits there and you are asked your name and where you live during voir dire. If you had a bad-ass defendant, they know who to look for when they get out.

a very legitimate concern around here, too.

[Guest strelcevina]

got a letter today, have to report at courthouse 06/16/08

got a Juror Parking ticket to:cool:

[DaveTN]

I have only got a notice once in my life and they told me not to report because I was a Police Officer at the time. What kind of crap is that?

[Guest Phantom6]

You give lawyers more credit than I do--back when I was about 14 or 15, a lawyer tried to set one of his "traps" for me while I was on the witness stand, but I made him look like the fool he was. My friend's dad especially got a kick out of this, since this defense attorney couldn't outwit a teenager. The guy who defended the thug who shot my dad five years ago is fairly well known around here, but his efforts were laughable. In my experience, the intelligence of many lawyers is somewhat overrated.

You'll notice that I qualified my statement by saying GOOD attorneys. Just like any other profession, some attorneys have 20 years experience while others have one year's experience 20 times. I'll take the former over the latter each and every day.

[Varmint]

"99 percent of Attorneys give the rest of them a bad name"

[Guest v3bahumut]

Went in on the 2nd, they talked to us, told us how important of a job we were going to be doing, made us watch a tape about the jury system (7th grade civics class flashbacks) took out little questionnaire sheets and gave us all a phone number to call.

They told us to call past 4:30 and there would be a recording of who had to report for jury duty.

I called that evening and the message said that they didn't need any jurors and to call back next Monday, so I called again today, and the message said to call back on Friday, that they didn't need any Jurors again.

I was kinda looking forward to being a Juror, but the way it looks No one may even be called this month.

[deerslayer]

"99 percent of Attorneys give the rest of them a bad name"

[Marswolf]

They told us to call past 4:30 and there would be a recording of who had to report for jury duty.

I called that evening and the message said that they didn't need any jurors and to call back next Monday, so I called again today, and the message said to call back on Friday, that they didn't need any Jurors again.

That's the way it works in Sullivan County. There is an excellent possibility that you won't sit on any juries. Sometimes, they call you in but the defendant just agrees to a plea at the last minute.

[Guest db99wj]

Come to Memphis, we have enough people on trial for all of ya to be put on a jury!

[Tim Nunan]

Who here has been called to jury duty since being issued their carry permit?

Selected for two juries, one a murder case. No questions asked concerning firearms or any groups to which I may be member.

[Guest Grout]

Guess I'm just flying under the radar .That's how I like it.

[mrming]

Weird. v3bahumut got called in the same batch I did. Still on 'call' till the 7th of July.. only pulled one set in so far.

[Guest v3bahumut]

I was juror number 23 out of 30 on a civil case, one chick rear ended another chick....never made it to the jury box.

I was juror number 9 out of 30 yesterday for the Melissa Atkins murder trial O_O

I was the first person to be asked to step down during Voir Dire, I answered all the questions completely truthfully.

I guess I wasn't someones idea of a good Juror.

[Guest GUTTERbOY]

I was juror number 23 out of 30 on a civil case, one chick rear ended another chick....never made it to the jury box.

I was juror number 9 out of 30 yesterday for the Melissa Atkins murder trial O_O

I was the first person to be asked to step down during Voir Dire, I answered all the questions completely truthfully.

I guess I wasn't someones idea of a good Juror.

Is that even possible?

[Guest Ranger Rick]

Who here has been called to jury duty since being issued their carry permit?

Just got my HCP, so not sure if that will make a difference.

25 years ago you served in Civil or Criminal. I got Criminal. Had to serve 10 day. We went in every morning at 9. Played cards till about 10:30 when the court clerk would come in and tell us that every case had plea bargined "out" and we could go home.

On the last day, I was called to be on a jury for a murder case. During pretrial questioning... the defense did not like my response when asked if "I could convict someone and give him/her a death sentence." I responded with "sure could, no problem!" Guess I was a little too truthful . I got bumped.

The poor Civil juries, however, had to set thru all-day session. It was tougher, but less boring. (I do understand why sales people don't want to do it. They take a big hit without fair compensation.) Would love to serve again. Waiting for the call.

[Guest v3bahumut]

Is that even possible?

Um, rear ended in a car.........get your mind out of the gutter

[Guest strelcevina]

just finished today. thanks god.

it was big$$$ civil case, and i had to sit there since 16th up to today.

11 days of jury duty has effects on my bladder. at least i know now that i can hold on more than 2h.

civil duty- check:D

[Guest ProguninTN]

I've never been called.

[Volzfan]

The only time that I have been called was back in the early 90's and that is long before I got my HCP. At that time I was in a Ch 13 bankrupcy from a failed business. I was working on a salary + commission with a company. They would pay the salary but I would have gotten no commission while on JD. The judge had already told us that he almost never granted hardship excuses fom serving. Fortunately for me, they had called in more potential jurors that they needed so I was dismissed for that reason. Had I had to serve as a juror on a long, time consuming case I would not have been able to make the payments on my bankrupcy. I would hope that this judge would have let me off with my reasons. I had all of my paperwork in case I had to present it to him.

I too believe that JD is something that you should do if called and since I have been in better position to serve I have not been called. Even so, I would doubt that I would make it through the lawyers interviews.