Civic Duty

[Willl]

Who can afford to take that amount of time off from work ?

I know I can't.

 

[2manyrocks]

the Mrs got her jury summons and has been on call for about a month with another month to go. The cases keep getting settled. Very inefficient system of management. I think jury pay is about $10 a day. If judges and lawyers were routinely called for jury service themselves, I think the system would get some needed efficiency. The system is about as efficient as those tests at the hospital--wait, wait, wait.....at least you don't get a bill for your jury service

 

[dave1949]

Who can afford to take that amount of time off from work ?

I know I can't.

Hey, sometimes there is a price for real patriotism. I say that only half joking. If you consider what separates us from places you would never want to be thrown in jail - it is our mostly uncorrupted justice system. If honest people don't participate - you know who will.
Dave.

 

[Big Bri]

i've sat in on a jury and loved it. (not the pay) i really enjoyed the hearing both sides, thinking what i would have done if it was my family (this was a traffic death suit). i liked listening to the "expert witness" and how they analyzed what happened. if and when i get called to jury duty i will gladly go.
brian

 

[Matt_Jr]

I served on the jury of an arson trial 2 years ago. It was a 4 day trial that almost made me late on some bills. 35 dollars a day really set me back. Not only that but it took almost 3 months for the check to come. I don't get any sick days or jury duty days, so if I ain't at work, I ain't gettin' paid.

When I showed up the morning I was to serve, the courtroom was crowded with potential jurors. Only a few people didn't show up. Some of us had to wait in the hallway for seating to be arranged and extra chairs brought in. I know one case ended up being settled, and I think they had expected less of us to show up. It was a week before thanksgiving.

As much as it hurt financially, it helped me learn a lot about what really goes on in a courtroom, and meet some interesting people. I'd do it again if the oppertunity was to present itself again.

 

[tallyho8]

In my Parish of Jefferson, jury summons are hand delivered by an officer with a warning that if you don't show up or file cause why you shouldn't, a warrant will be issued for your arrest.

The jury waiting room is usually filled with potential jurors and they try to make it as comfortable as possible with TV and coffee and soft drinks and many newspapers and magazines. They come out and give you very specific instructions and answer all questions. You get free parking in a secure area. Usually only about 1/4 of those waiting are picked for jury duty and the rest released by lunch time.

Everyone who went is free from serving again for the next 2 years. And you get a small check in a couple of weeks.

When I hear about juries deciding cases the way OJ's was decided, it makes me want to serve on the jury even more.

 

[drgill]

I have been summoned for jury duty four times and served twice. One trial was for 1st degree murder and the other for breaking and entering. I believe everyone, for thier own education, should serve on a jury once. However, after having done it I have no desire to do it again.

Dennis

 

[Bird]

I can remember a time in Dallas when jurors had to show up each day for a week and sit in the central jury room and maybe never be called. And the pay wasn't enough to cover parking expenses, and certainly not lunch, in downtown Dallas. Things may not be "good" for potential jurors now, but certainly better than it used to be. In Dallas county, it's one day or one trial. And the pay is now $6 the first day and $40 a day after that if you're there more than the one day.

 

[cup149]

I went for my jury duty this past Monday. Armstrong County, PA, I would call it rural/suburban, just north of Pittsburgh. About 90% showed up, but that was low as 95% is the norm. The Sheriff checks on those that don't show up, and I noticed a few people coming in late, so they must have received a phone call. 40 persons were selected to go to another courtroom where a trial was scheduled. The balance waited untill back room negotiatons were completed and deals were worked out. Went home about 11:30.

 

[LMTC]

I sat on a jury nearly 30 years ago, and determined a young man's fate for life. Armed robbery. One person already convicted for the crime was sentenced to 20 years, so this was a serious matter. The majority of this jury was people who simply had nothing else to do....their life revolved around soaps, TV talk shows, and who was visiting their neighbor. They tended to be myopic, petty, and absolutely devoid of the will to think critically. It was both a wonderful and a terrible experience. Thanks to the tireless efforts of one of the other two sane persons on the jury we reached a not guilty verdict....after days of deadlock. After court, the judge asked to meet with us. Lyle Castle, a man who went on to a distinguished career (on an appeals court I think), supported by both parties. He asked us our reasoning, why it took us four days (I think it was 4), thanked us, and then told us had it been trial by judge he would have rendered a not guilty verdict in 30 seconds. The three of us felt vindicated.

I will never seek to get out of jury duty for anything other than a family emergency. This jury was "peers" only to those who live their lives via soaps and springer/oprah. It was frightening to think my fate could be in the hands of a group like most of them. Our last holdout---an older woman (probably 60s)---just kept saying that he was probably guilty of something so it was safer to find him guilty than not guilty. What a genius. As I recall, there were only three people (including me) who were working....on a 12 person jury. I think the system is as good as those running it....and when we all bail out on jury duty, we leave the system to be run by whoever is available. Just my $.02 worth.