Jury duty

I'm pretty sure that you can be called when you're 18, because I got a jury duty summons last year sometime in November and I won't turn 21 until later this month. I exempted because I was a full-time student attending college, which is one of the allowed exemptions. So I've still yet to sit on a jury and I'm still hearing loads of horror stories from my parents. My dad hates getting jury duty summons because they always decide they don't actually want him on the jury because he's trained in law (apparently they don't like lawyers on juries?) and he just winds up waiting until they dismiss him. We once got a jury duty summons for an exchange student who'd only lived with us for three weeks more than seven years ago. She wasn't even a US citizen. We were baffled and Mom had to call the office (which was a nightmare) to get it all sorted out.

We have quite a different kind of law in my country as it is based in the Roman law. There are no juries, but the accused has a lawyer and there´s a judge to deal with the trial.

You are so lucky! I have been called many times but been rejected by the defendants' attorneys--the last one, I was sympathetic to her client, I wish she would have kept me. I just started watching CSI and my first thought was wow, I wish our legal system had the time, manpower and money to actually do all that! We'd have a better closing rate for cases and justice would be more accurate. Sadly, I bet just one of the cases on CSI can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars in labor and materials not to mention testing and payments on the lab equipment. It's a nice fantasy, though.

I have been called for jury duty. My doctor wrote a note and I was excused from serving for medical reasons. I imagine that jury duty was very interesting. I think I want to serve on a jury the next time that I am selected for jury duty.

I also felt good on jury duty. Like I was serving a purpose for my country. I put a man back behind bars for a while who was already in jail. He had threatened a commissary lady after various problems. We all understood his frustration but knew still what he did was wrong. It is a tense situation on jury duty sometimes. But you feel after usually like justice was served. As long as you stood up and voted for what you believed.

I haven't been called on for jury duty ever so far and I hope that I don't have to go through it either as I wouldn't feel comfortable and competent enough to judge others and make a mistake in judging...

My name has come up in the jury pool a few times. I have actually made it all the way through the process and served two times. One was a domestic violence case, the other was a dui, like you said. I did not want to do it the first time, but as you mentioned, I learned a lot. I did get my duty postponed once because I was working two jobs and taking classes all at the same time. I just served another six months later because I was going to have more free time in the summer.

same here in Canada. it seems like they select people to be on jury duty here through a lottery system. my hubby has been on jury duty several times where as, i have only been on once. i would like to be on again. i think it would be itneresting.

I have been called for jury duty about 5 times in my life. The first 3 I went to and I only made it in to the actual courtroom once, the other two times we were all dismissed before I got that far. The time I made it in to the courtroom the guy right before me was picked as the lat juror so I din't get on the jury that time either. Before I had kids I actually wanted to sit on a jury. The last couple of times I was sent the notice I had to let them know I had young children and didn't have anyone to watch them. My youngest is only 8 and until he is old enough to stay home by himself I will not be able to do it Well maybe once my oldest gets her license and she can pick him up from school for me but that is a couple years away. I actually think it would be really cool to be on a jury.

I did jury service one time, about 20 years ago. I remember there was a lot of sitting around waiting to be called (it's a good idea to take a book). I was called for three trials altogether, none of which lasted more than a couple of days. Like you, I found that they were mostly down to one man's word against another, and judging who you should believe. Not the most exciting experience in the world, and you do feel some pressure to make the right decision, but I didn't resent being called. I take the attitude that if I was ever accused of a crime, I'd want a jury trial, so I owe it to my fellow citizens to be ready to serve on a jury if called.

There's usually no need for a CSI in civil cases, though... I'm not old enough to sit on a jury yet, but I'm currently majoring in criminal justice and yes, experiencing a trial first hand definitely can give you an appreciation of our justice system. I'm glad that you were able to have that experience, and that you put forth your best effort. Did the judge tell you that you must judge the facts, not the law, by any chance? Because I've heard that judges do that.

I would imagine part of your experience to be boring. I don't know how I would cope if I have to sit as one. It looks like you would be call so many more times in the future. Do you think you would sit in a very criminal case like murder....?

I get called about once a year since I moved here. A couple of times I've gone in, but I've only made it into a courtroom once. I wasn't picked for the jury. My husband served several times and he really enjoys it. I think he was even foreman once. I would not make a good juror for a couple of reasons. First, my memory is going and I can't really concentrate on information presented orally. Second, I simply would not be able to serve in a case that had graphic evidence of a murder or other violent crime. I can't even watch a movie with violence. I relate to the pain of others too much and have had to leave hospital rooms when I've visited not-too-sick patients whose roommates were groaning because I would have fainted. I'm just super empathetic. I'm the kid who would faint in school if another kid was called out for a shot (immunization) and then came back and sat next to me. I'd go out like a light. One good thing in our county is that they've improved their system. When you get called, you can call a number or check a website to see if you actually have to go in the next morning. They keep you on call by phone or web so that you have to check at noon, or after 5 at night, to see if your group has to go in. If they don't need you, they will tell you to call or check again at that next time. You may be on call all week or most of it, but you don't actually have to go in until they say they need you. Finally they either tell you to come in or excuse you for the year.

In the UK If you are called for jury duty we also have to do it whether we like it or not, again only dismissed for certain circumstances. I have never been called and I don't know if I would like to be either. I supose the only way to deal with it is not to be emotionally involved and just look at it in black and white facts on paper. We get chosen through the voting register, name pops up then you are serving queen and crown.

I have been called to Jury duty actually a couple of times. I have never had to go due to medical reasons that were able to get me out of them, and it has been quite a while ago. My husband has never been called, and I have heard of others I know who go and sit for like 2-3 days before not being picked, so it can get expensive if you are having to miss work.

I have never done the jury duty. I have a friend that seems to be called in everytime I turn around though. They give interviews to decide who will be on the panel don't they? I know there are people that would be bias based on some of their experiences and situations.

Unlike a lot of people I always wanted to serve on jury duty, but was never called. I am now disabled, and now that I can't serve I was called twice. My doctor had to write something both times stating that I couldn't do it. I was surprised to be called once, but twice? I would think they would keep a record of people that couldn't serve so they wouldn't call them again.

I never have had my number called for jury duty and I hope that I never do. I don't trust myself to be an objective juror to be honest with you. And plus, I would hate to be part of a group that would condemn an innocent person or let a guilty person go free. That is really a rather bad thing as while getting judged by a jury by your peers things like a good thing, people really have their own biases that they brought to the table. And I've heard stories. There are times where people can be hung up from days and when two stubborn forces, when one believes the person is guilty and the other person believes that the person is innocent collides, that can be bad. It is really a shame that there is not a more foolproof way to judge people, then to pick random people for juries, who obviously will have their own opinions and that might not be for the better for the facts of the situation. But that is the system we have.

I've been called twice. The first time we were all excused because the defendent took a plea bargain. I did notice that those who were called and didn't show up were going to get a visit from the districe sherriff. The second time I was excused for medical reasons.

I was once ordered to appear for jury selection. I went and there were many people there and we were asked one or two questions and then some people who chosen and I was not, I have no idea why, but that's o.k. because I'm not sure I would have liked it anyway. It seems you had an interesting experience with jury duty. I think it is an important part of the justice system. Although, I think juries are selected differently in the states than here in Canada because of different laws, I suppose.