How not to avoid jury duty

[bookworm_020]

I thought all you has to say was "shoot them all and let god sort them out!" After mentioning religion, it would be enough to get you excluded!

[Schöneboom]

My problem with the whole "jury duty" concept is that the state plays us for suckers when it uses the term "duty" -- implying there must be something wrong with you if you don't want to be exploited. If the system had any respect for the individual and actually cared about justice, it would call for volunteers, give them legal training and professional compensation (at least what paralegals earn). These folks would still be your "peers" -- but they would be better prepared and better paid for their time. (I wonder if lawyers would actually want smart jurors, though!)

I don't see how justice is served when the only people in a courtroom who get slave wages are the jurors. The attorneys and the judges rake in the dough, yet the jurors, who have the biggest responsibility of all, are treated like peons! That's what I call an injustice system!

[Aramike]

Originally Posted by August

How incredibly selfish of this guy (and the rest of you). Perhaps y'all would prefer a system where the state judges your innocence or guilt? Because that is what you are asking for when you duck your duty as a citizen.

Absolutely, 100%, wholeheartedly agree!

Jury duty sucks - no doubt about it. But when the HELL did we become a society of people who can't think 1 inch beyond ourselves?

When you use the garbage excuse about missing work, just remember that most people can use it to. If most people end up doing so, don't get mad when some pay-for-play jury locks you up just because.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by CastleBravo

I'm suprised that wasn't revealed in the jury questioneer, but every state is different.

i have never been that far into the selection process.

its very convoluted.

the elimination process is as follows:

1. show up in a huge room with about 200-300 people

2. wait about an hour

3. judge walks in and we all rise and go through all that BS

4. judge says "secretary... how many people showed up?"

5. secretary says "278 your honor"

6. judge excuses himself for 30 more minutes

7. judge re enters and says "if your name starts with A, B, C or D you may leave"

8. numerous people leave and now we are down to about 180 people

9. judge says "if your last name starts with L, M, or N you may leave"

10. more people leave now we are down to 130 people

11. then they start calling random names... "John Doe... you stay... Jake Doe you leave... Jerrod Doe you leave.... Jason Doe you stay.

12. finally out of 278 people we have selected 12 people AND IT ONLY TOOK 2 1/2 HOURS

W T F

from there - before dismissing everyone he asks the 12 if they have a good reason they cant serve on this jury.

all 12 come up with something usually... and 11 usually end up staying, calling one unlucky bastard out of the ranks to replace him - he gets his chance to come up with an excuse - if he fails - everyone else leaves and its over.

there are a few problems i have with it.

I had to take off work for 3 days once because of this mess.

the jury payment is $5.00 per day, the cafe across the street from the court house has a jury duty special lunch where you can get a ham or turkey sandwich, chips, a pickle and a drink for $4.95

at work i could have made $250 for the day if not more.

its stupid