Civic Duty

[Bird]

Not long ago, I read a newspaper article about the small percentage of the people who show up after they are sent a jury summons in Dallas. I hadn't thought that much about it in the past and had no idea so few people show up. Even though a person is subject to a fine for failing to show, I guess they'd have a hard time proving you actually received the summons in the mail, and there hasn't been much effort to enforce that law.

On the 23rd of last month, my wife received a jury summons for today for municipal court in our little town about 35 miles north of Dallas. Not many people request a jury trial in city court. I looked at the docket for today and there were 103 cases on the docket with 2 "public intoxication" cases scheduled for jury trials. As it turned out, the city court had sent jury summons to 30 people and my wife was one of the 7 who showed up; less than 24%.

Now I know most of us don't want to serve on a jury, but someone has to do it, and I wonder if the response is that bad in other parts of the country.

 

[dave1949]

That's pretty sad Bird. I have no idea what the reporting percentage is here. I don't recall any newspaper articles about it as an issue locally. I have read about sheriffs rounding up people called to jury duty, was even a case not so long ago, the very frustrated judge (somewhere I also don't recall - there is a developing theme here) sent the deputies out into the streets and told them to come back with a jury!
Dave.

 

[Bird]

I went back and found that story in the Dallas Morning News on September 14, 2009. It said about 20% of those summoned show up in Dallas County. They hoped a new computer system and better updating of addresses would help, but I don't know whether it has or not. I knew some people ignore the summons, but was really surprised by the low numbers. I wouldn't have thought more than 10-20% would fail to show.

 

[20 20]

I understand what your saying.

My question is what type of folks would be on a jury? If I had to go in front of a jury I would not want half the dim witted people I see, passing judgement on me. I know they go through stages of questions etc, but how well does this system work? Sorry not saying your post is bad infact I think it is interesting. I just don't have that much faith left in what this country calls a "justice system". I know there is the old argument it's the best we got...........well IMO that's sad.

I know up here most of the summons go unanswered,.,.,.,. maybe that's a good thing?

 

[QRTRHRS]

Pretty pathetic but to not get to political, for some, it may be a reflection on how hard it is just to get by for many these days. Even minimum wage is better than jury pay. I can also reflect on spending two days listening to a really BS case that boiled down to a case of sour grapes that resulted in a not guilty verdict.

Though, having served a couple of times, it was a good experiance overall and I learned alot. Years ago I lived in NJ where I served on petit jury (handing down indictments) once a week for about 8 weeks as I recall. Luckily, I worked for a big company at the time and was paid for my days on duty even with the miniscule jury duty pay. The first day was one of educating us. We heard from the judges, the prosecuter, the state and local police, undercover, detectives, etc., etc. Very enlightening.

 

[dave1949]

This is the story I was recalling:

From the Mariposa Gazette, Mariposa,CA:

October 28, 2009
By Jill Ballinger
Gazette Editor

Those who didn稚 show up for jury duty will have to face the judge this week. Mariposa County Superior Court Judge Dana Walton was set to hold an informal hearing with about a dozen people on Wednesday afternoon.

The hearing stems from the failure to appear of 42 jurors in the murder case of Christopher McCurdy. When not enough potential jurors showed up, Walton ordered bailiffs to go to the post office and summon people to the Courthouse to serve. The action caused quite an uproar.

Now, Walton will deal with the cause of the problem. Already, he said the court has been contacted by 22 of those who didn稚 show that day. All of them have committed to service on the next two juries. Ten more of those have been found to be ineligible to serve because they have moved, died or are convicted felons.

For more on this story, see this week's Mariposa Gazette.

Dave.

 

[dave1949]

I understand what your saying.

My question is what type of folks would be on a jury? If I had to go in front of a jury I would not want half the dim witted people I see, passing judgement on me. I know they go through stages of questions etc, but how well does this system work? Sorry not saying your post is bad infact I think it is interesting. I just don't have that much faith left in what this country calls a "justice system". I know there is the old argument it's the best we got...........well IMO that's sad.

I know up here most of the summons go unanswered,.,.,.,. maybe that's a good thing?

This has long been a topic - you don't really get a jury of 'your peers'. You get a jury of people who had no good excuse to avoid jury duty.

I have never been called for jury duty, so I have no experiences to relate.

There is an old Persian saying 'There is no justice in justice'.
Dave.

 

[CurlyDave]

The one time I was called for jury duty, I showed up at the courthouse and there were no instructions, no deputy or bailiff to explain the procedure to us, nothing but benches in a large lobby outside the 6 or 8 courtrooms.

I sat down on a bench and waited, wondering if I was even in the right place, until about 11 AM when someone, certainly not the judge, came out and told us the case had settled and we were dismissed.

I asked to speak to the judge for a minute and waited until he could see me. I told him about the lack of instructions, the lack of direction, and that the next time he needed his waiting room bench ballasted I would send him a sack of sand to use instead of a live person.

He actually apologized to me and said he would improve things for prospective jurors.

I never found out if he did, but I can completely understand why people don't show up for jury duty.

 

[Bird]

I just don't have that much faith left in what this country calls a "justice system".

Unfortunately, I agree.

I served on petit jury (handing down indictments) once a week for about 8 weeks as I recall.

Some states call it a petit jury and others, such as Texas, call it a grand jury. I've never served on a grand jury, although I've testified before both state and federal grand juries a number of times.

I think it was about 1975 when I served on a 6 man county court jury; civil case of a mechanic suing a couple of young truckers for his bill.

And in 1998, I served on a capital murder trial. That one really surprised me because defense attorneys normally do not want a police officer, retired officer, or even an officer's family and friends on a jury in a criminal trial.

I guess things are always changing. Last year, my wife served on a criminal case in state court.

 

[Bird]

The one time I was called for jury duty, I showed up at the courthouse and there were no instructions, no deputy or bailiff to explain the procedure to us, nothing but benches in a large lobby outside the 6 or 8 courtrooms.

I sat down on a bench and waited, wondering if I was even in the right place, until about 11 AM when someone, certainly not the judge, came out and told us the case had settled and we were dismissed.

I asked to speak to the judge for a minute and waited until he could see me. I told him about the lack of instructions, the lack of direction, and that the next time he needed his waiting room bench ballasted I would send him a sack of sand to use instead of a live person.

He actually apologized to me and said he would improve things for prospective jurors.

I never found out if he did, but I can completely understand why people don't show up for jury duty.

In my experience, there has been adequate instructions, but sitting and waiting and being bored is normal. Those who are familiar with the system know to carry a good book to read. In addition to the two times I actually served on a jury, I've gotten summons at least 4 other times, showed up of course, and sat half a day to nearly all day before being dismissed.