How not to avoid jury duty

[UnderseaLcpl]

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.

Don't lump me in, I love jury duty. I'd be a professional juror if I could. I love all that legal stuff.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by CastleBravo

That is correct. Some consider it a civil duty. it can however be a hardship for some, sinse the monetary allowances are very low.

I have a better way of removing myself from duty. Jury Nulification.

Thank you very much.

Here you must have education, before you can be in a jury
Only in freedom of the press cases, we have the same as you have.

Markus

[Task Force]

Cause some bosses aint nice and that one day could get you in trouble.

[UnderseaLcpl]

Originally Posted by Task Force

Cause some bosses aint nice and that one day could get you in trouble.

Pray that it does. Obstructing an employee from reporting for jury duty is not only a criminal act, but a ripe suit target. You could get all you lost wages back and more, and also get rid of that boss.

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.

You have a good point there August. However the legal system in the US is certainly stacked against those who are presumed innocent. Not every case is of as much note as O J Simpson, and many are railroaded by the system (the Duke lacross players) because of the way prosecuters and the system is manipulated. Using the words jury nulification is but one example. Although it is the right of the jury to judge the case at hand it is also its right to judge the law under which the case is presented.

The lawyers of either side nor the judge will tell you that. So in my opinion they are already being unjust.

[Task Force]

I hope I get a a**hole as a boss... and juryduty.

[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

[August]

Originally Posted by CastleBravo

The lawyers of either side nor the judge will tell you that. So in my opinion they are already being unjust.

Maybe so CB but none of that matters compared to the evil of a system where people do not have the right to trial by jury.

Originally Posted by August

Maybe so CB but none of that matters compared to the evil of a system where people do not have the right to trial by jury.

Like I said you make a very good point August.

[Onkel Neal]

Yeah, everyone makes a big deal out of trying to get out of jury duty. I was lucky, my job continued my pay if I were to serve (never did). It should be the standard, you go to jury duty, your job still has to pay you...at least 1/2 wages. Spread that civil duty out some.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by August

Maybe so CB but none of that matters compared to the evil of a system where people do not have the right to trial by jury.

yes indeed this is a correct statement with which i think we can all agree.

however there is no argument in that the system has its imperfections and inconveniences.

Am i to lose $900 of work over a 3 day period so that i can sit on a jury for a DUI case for $15.. $14.85 of which is to be spent on lunch?

ridiculous and insulting

if you ask me the compensation should be such that you are not at a total loss professionally.

say $100 per day?

the state wonders why more people dont show up for jury duty summons

its because they can make more $ at work, even after paying the fine for not showing up they are further ahead that $5 - give me a break!

furthermore - i see little point in calling in over 500 people when you only need 12 - 24 jurors

it was explained to me that they call in so many people because there is a high no show rate.

im not buying it, i have never gone to jury selection with less than 150 other individuals... 80% of which were casually dismissed simply because of the side of the room they were sitting on.

quite a foolish childish bunch of nonsense... i once showed up at 8:00 am and sat there until 9:30 for a judge to even show up... there was whispering between the judge and secretary for a moment - the judge disappeared for about an hour... came back around 10:30 am and just arbitrarily told half the room they were dismissed.

after sitting there twiddling our thumbs for another hour or so, the rest of us left after they selected 24 individuals out of the remaining 100+ people in attendance.

there has to be a reform here

better compensation and better selection processes

for God's sake - it cost me more than $5 to drive to the county court house from where i live

[kiwi_2005]

At least he was honest about it.

[nikimcbee]

Afew years ago, I got drafted into grand jury duty. I was basically paid detention. Actually, I got out of a lot of work. But on a serious not, I saw some really bad cases.

[August]

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

there has to be a reform here

I have to agree but it's a sad commentary on our social system that we can't afford to take time off to do the most basic of civic duties.

[GoldenRivet]

Originally Posted by August

I have to agree but it's a sad commentary on our social system that we can't afford to take time off to do the most basic of civic duties.

i figure - they are going to FORCE some poor schmuck to do it anyway - i might as well show up... but it will always piss me off to have to go sit in that big room for 3 hours while the judicial system makes a game show out of picking 12 randoms out of a room full of 230 people.

its retarded.