[Lemmy]

I got a notice to appear for jury duty when I was an undergrad. I was actually keen to do it, but the trial would have conflicted with my exam schedule so I went down to the court office beforehand and the judge dismissed me. I wish I'd had the experience of serving on a jury. I understand that academics are unoffically-automatically excused from juries, so I doubt I'll have another chance.

[Gunnair]

Guy_Fawkes wrote:

I cant be called, my job keeps me from being selected

Ditto!

[Thanos]

I did it once back around '88 or so. It was a real hoot of an open-and-shut assault case. Some drunk chick in a bar tried to smash a glass into the face of her troglodyte ex-boyfriend* but missed and gouged one of the bouncers instead. We found her guilty in about 30 minutes. The funny part was when she tried to fire the defense lawyer about half-way through the witness testimony. Between her goofiness, the boyfriend's thuggery, and the defense lawyer's all-around dickishness, it was kind of hard to decide who was the most despicable person involved in the whole sordid white-trash mess.

*Apparently the highlight of their relationship was him lifting her up by her ankles one night and dipping her head in the toilet a la the opening scene of 'The Great Santini'. Ooooh, classy! [/homer]

[Hyack]

I had just read in the newspaper they were going to be selecting the jury for the Picton trial, two days later my summons shows up.....I ended up getting a medical deferral because of my back.

[wildrosegirl]

DrCaleb wrote:

I'm told because it numbs your outlook towards death. And it does.

Huh.. wonder if I'd be disqualified as well. Wouldn't hurt my feelings anyway. It's not something I've ever had a yearning to do.

Hyack wrote:

I had just read in the newspaper they were going to be selecting the jury for the Picton trial, two days later my summons shows up.....I ended up getting a medical deferral because of my back.

That is NOT a trial I would want to be selected to serve jury duty on.

[Gunnair]

wildrosegirl wrote:

DrCaleb wrote:

I'm told because it numbs your outlook towards death. And it does.

Huh.. wonder if I'd be disqualified as well. Wouldn't hurt my feelings anyway. It's not something I've ever had a yearning to do.

Hyack wrote:

I had just read in the newspaper they were going to be selecting the jury for the Picton trial, two days later my summons shows up.....I ended up getting a medical deferral because of my back.

That is NOT a trial I would want to be selected to serve jury duty on.

I kinda agree. I like to be able to sleep at night.

[Sapio]

I have never been called before. I do not know if I would get by.

It's kind of annoying, but at the same time it's nice to see that the process is still in place and they in theory you have the chance for a far trail by peers.

[Freakinoldguy]

Guy_Fawkes wrote:

I cant be called, my job keeps me from being selected

Don't count on it. You've gotta retire sometime.

The best bet is to stay in till your 65 then your exempt from Jury duty.

[Unsound]

Speaking of jury duty...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... le1704674/

i think the case has now been dismissed, but wow... the straws lawyers will grasp at...

[rickc]

I was called for jury duty when I was living in Boston,but I was not selected to serve on the jury. In Mass. your employer has to pay you up to three days wages if you serve on a jury. Since the first day was paid for, I stuck around to watch the trial even though I was not selected. The defendant was an 80 year old woman. Her husband had died a year earlier, and the state was evicting her from her home for back taxes. She was in the home holding a hatchet.There were 30 law enforcement officers,and government officials outside the home. The cops broke in and arrested her. The charge was 30 counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

I was working 5am to 1pm back in those days. Every day after work,I would call the courthouse to see what was going on with the case.The trial lasted for one week. On Friday I was told the jury was deliberating. I drove to the court to see the outcome. She was found guilty on all 30 counts.The judge sentenced her to 2 years in jail, suspended all of it but 90 days. I lost a lot of faith in the criminal justice system. All these people that missed a whole week of work for this case. An 80 year old woman who has lost everything had to spend 90 days in jail. With all the real criminals in Boston,and my tax dollars had to pay to incarcerate an 80 year old woman for 90 days.

[stratos]

xerxes wrote:

You probably won't get called Derby. You're obviously well read and very opinionated; two big strikes against any potential juror.