Cost of being a good citizen?

[2manyrocks]

If your employer has an in house legal department, you might ask them what they would suggest. Perhaps they could contact the DA and say they are happy to make you available when actually needed, but could the DA try to limit these repeated trips for nothing?

 

[riceski]

This is most likely too late but for reference simply call the D/A and tell them it's a hardship and that you will sign an affidavit but that appearance is impossible. He or she will most likely be glad to work with you.

 

[PILOON]

I've been subpoena a few times with varied outcomes.

Once I drove 300 miles to learn the case was dropped.
I was the plaintiff so I should have been the only person to drop the case.
Turned out the perp was the judges son and I was handed $500 by the clerk 'for my troubles'.
It was filed as a 'hit and run case'.

An other event had me drive about 50 miles to find the perp pled guilty and they told me I was not needed.
For that 1/2 lost day they handed me about $6.00 for mileage but I'd have been held in contempt should I not have appeared.

 

[ultrarunner]

It has been a window into the judicial system...

I asked the Deputy DA specifics and was told any indepth discussion outside what I saw, heard and did could be used by the defense?

Also... calling on a cell gives a lot of information but I am surprised calling 911 DOES NOT show on my call log.

Everyone in the DA office I have met seems relatively young and very well dressed.

When I mentioned my absence from work is leaving us short handed I was told if I have any problem the DA would reach out to my supervisor...

You are right... everyone will know a lot more about me than I know about them...

Who I am, work hours, work duties, location, etc.

Typically I interact with local police several times a week for problems with homeless camps and typically little to no action...

This situation is definitely much different starting with just the large police response from my one call.

 

[plowhog]

If it's any comfort, the civil side can be sometimes worse. Parties involved in a civil action pay their attorneys $350/hr +/- to appear, then sometimes learn nothing will happen that day.

Not long ago I had an out-of-town attorney/specialist drive 2 1/2 hours to attend a hearing for a specialized real estate matter. On arrival, there was a note on the courtroom door that all hearings were canceled because the judge was "ill." No advance notice to any of the parties. Then my attorney drove 2 1/2 hours back home. Cost me about $1,750-- for nothing to happen.

I realize your time has a cost, and maybe lost wages or more. Everyone loses when you appear-- only for nothing to happen.

 

[ultrarunner]

That would hurt...

One thing expending effort yielding result and another for nothing.

Years ago when I was a teen my very good friend had a run in with a lawyer...

Friend is the retired WWII fighter Ace... so fearless would be a good way to describe him.

It had to do with a real estate case where he was on the HOA building committee...

He showed up to court as directed and spent the entire day sitting around.

As he was leaving the lawyer said see you tomorrow and Ted said not on your life buddy and as Ted was leaving the lawyer said you will be here as long as I say you will be here.

I was at his house when the Sheriff showed up the next day as to why he wasn't in court.

He told the deputy he was done with the circus and it's time someone gave the lawyer his come uppance.

Commander Ted told the Deputy we are done here, I have work to do and to leave.

Deputy said he would come back with a warrant and nobody wants that...

About 45 minutes later the phone rings and I answer it... Ted is spray painting fenders on his 36 Ford...

Ted tells me to get his number and he will call back in 20 minutes because he can't stop painting... judge says painting and I say yes spray painting his 1936 Ford.

Judge asked why he was giving the deputy a hard time and Ted says the lawyer is an AH and I fought a war against tyranny...

Anyway the judge asks if I promise to get you in out first thing in the morning will you come... Ted said since you are asking I will.

The next morning was worth the price of admission...

8:30 start and Judge says thank you commander for making time to be with us this morning but before we start I want to speak to council.

The Judge tore into the lawyer saying he is an officer of the court, we do not waste the time of citizens and we do not threaten witnesses... am I clear and should I hear of a repeat I will hold counsel in contempt...

 

[sea2summit]

ultrarunner - I spent a lot of time in Court, as a witness, community corrections supervisor, etc during my Corrections career.

what I am not undestanding is why they would subpoena you as a witness, to appear, for essentially every court date that the offender is required to attend ???
most Court cases have several court dates
I imagine that you are a witness for the Prosecutor (not the Defense)
did you already provide a written witness statement to the police or the prosecutor ?
most witnesses would only be required to attend the trial date(s), IF and when the matter would actually go to trial.

I think that I would discuss your concerns with the Prosecutor directly to determine when (date ?) your witness testimony is actually required. they likely don't require Your appearance for every court date.
- time, and missed work
- driving and gas

I applaud you for being a good citizen.

All of that^

Prosecutor should also be able to work out something where you're on call within a reasonable amount of time.

There's enough bald folks around I sure hope you can continue to provide support in putting one in the garbage, or at least slowing him/her down and being a deterrent to others.

 

[PILOON]

On courts and lawyers.

I was once assigned a young female lawyer to plea a case.

The judge suggested she stay home and change diapers.
Bye-Bye my case!

I was still billed for her time.
To her benefit she suggested that I pay for her lunch as otherwise I'd be billed 3-4 X whatever she ate.

 

[ultrarunner]

On courts and lawyers.

I was once assigned a young female to plea a case.
The judge suggested she stay home and change diapers.
Bye-Bye my case!

I was still billed for here time.

Ouch...

 

[lman]

All of that^

Prosecutor should also be able to work out something where you're on call within a reasonable amount of time.

There's enough bald folks around I sure hope you can continue to provide support in putting one in the garbage, or at least slowing him/her down and being a deterrent to others.

Why should bald people be in jail? I'm half bald, so I guess I better wear a hat at all times. That sounds discriminatory.

 

[sea2summit]

Why should bald people be in jail? I'm half bald, so I guess I better wear a hat at all times. That sounds discriminatory.

Stupid phone.....you got me good though

 

[/pine]

What we need is harsher punishments and zero tolerance for certain crimes...
Forget the mamby pamby laws of incarceration...criminals should lose all rights and get nothing but bread and water along with hard labor...no TV, no air conditioning...no nothing...prison should be so bad that once time is served nobody would ever do something that would cause them to go back to prison...

There should be zero tolerance for gang type crimes...gang members should have domestic terrorist status and lose all rights for life...
America could have the lowest crime rate in the world if the bleeding heart, liberal powers that be just had the cajones to make it so...!

 

[Citydude]

That would hurt...

One thing expending effort yielding result and another for nothing.

Years ago when I was a teen my very good friend had a run in with a lawyer...

Friend is the retired WWII fighter Ace... so fearless would be a good way to describe him.

It had to do with a real estate case where he was on the HOA building committee...

He showed up to court as directed and spent the entire day sitting around.

As he was leaving the lawyer said see you tomorrow and Ted said not on your life buddy and as Ted was leaving the lawyer said you will be here as long as I say you will be here.

I was at his house when the Sheriff showed up the next day as to why he wasn't in court.

He told the deputy he was done with the circus and it's time someone gave the lawyer his come uppance.

Commander Ted told the Deputy we are done here, I have work to do and to leave.

Deputy said he would come back with a warrant and nobody wants that...

About 45 minutes later the phone rings and I answer it... Ted is spray painting fenders on his 36 Ford...

Ted tells me to get his number and he will call back in 20 minutes because he can't stop painting... judge says painting and I say yes spray painting his 1936 Ford.

Judge asked why he was giving the deputy a hard time and Ted says the lawyer is an AH and I fought a war against tyranny...

Anyway the judge asks if I promise to get you in out first thing in the morning will you come... Ted said since you are asking I will.

The next morning was worth the price of admission...

8:30 start and Judge says thank you commander for making time to be with us this morning but before we start I want to speak to council.

The Judge tore into the lawyer saying he is an officer of the court, we do not waste the time of citizens and we do not threaten witnesses... am I clear and should I hear of a repeat I will hold counsel in contempt...

My wife's a judge. Her trigger is lazy lawyers. The poor slobs get a crash course on how things work real fast.

 

[MossRoad]

All of that^

Prosecutor should also be able to work out something where you're on call within a reasonable amount of time.

There's enough bald folks around I sure hope you can continue to provide support in putting one in the garbage, or at least slowing him/her down and being a deterrent to others.

What do you have against bald people?

 

[Jstpssng]

What do you have against bald people?

I suspect that he's the nationwide representative for the ACME hat company.

 

[tacticalturnip]

Years ago when I was a teen my very good friend had a run in with a lawyer...

...

The Judge tore into the lawyer saying he is an officer of the court, we do not waste the time of citizens and we do not threaten witnesses... am I clear and should I hear of a repeat I will hold counsel in contempt...

I really appreciate your story, I needed the chuckle.

 

[scaredychicken]

I was called for jury duty 4x, 4 different cases.

Had to be turned down each time, because I was an Officer of The Court, Expert Witness, Peace Officer (all of that) ... so they said that I had a bias, or was it attitude ??? LOL
correct, either way
I just had to flash my card

 

[ultrarunner]

Ive had one time actually serving on a jury...

Every other time I was dismissed because my deputy uncle died in the line of duty...

 

[Halftrack]

My solution to situations similar to yours. Should that day arrive when you actually get to testify, hopefully before a jury, and when the defense attorney asks if you are sure of your recollections, you proceed to explain to the jury, (ignore the attorney, talk to them) that you have been subpoenaed to court x many times on these dates and times, pulling you away from important surgeries and have dutifully reviewed your notes each time. So that now your memory is even clearer today and that you remember things not even mentioned in your notes. He will immediately pass you as a witness and when you are dismissed, thank the jury for listening to your testimony and taking into consideration the difficulty endured by you and others to be there.

 

[MossRoad]

I’ve been called for jury duty 3 times. Got picked once.

One was a woman suing her dentist. I had bad dentist experiences as a kid, so I got the boot.
Two was a guy suing a woman for injuries form a traffic accident. He was not injured by his bored courtroom antics while jury selection was going on. I didn’t even get questioned for that one and was dismissed.
Three was an armed (knife) robbery attempt. Served on that one. Guilty, guilty, guilty.