Ever been sequestered?

[dwc1970]

I recently received a summons for jury duty. I won't know until next week if I will be selected to serve on a trial. I ran a search on the boards and I read various posts on jury duty, so from this I have a fairly good idea on what to expect. One thing I didn't see mentioned in any threads, however, is sequestration. I realize sequestration is rare and my chances for being sequestered are unlikely. However, it's always possible, and in case I am for any reason sequestered, I'd like to know what it would be like. To me it would almost seem like imprisonment, though in much more hospitable surroundings and for a lesser time.

Has anyone here ever been sequestered as a juror, or know of a family member or friend who has? What was it like to be isolated from the rest of society and not being able to see your friends/family/co-workers, etc.? How much time do you have to prepare for sequestration before you go? Do you have any contact with the people you know? How much access do you have to the news or other sources of information? What is there to do when you are not sitting in on the trial? For how long did it last?

[CRorex]

Simply say, "I don't believe in mitigating circumstances. Regardless of the circumstances or your mental condition there are simply some things you DO not do."

Once those words come out of your mouth you get to go home.

[Kalhoun]

CRorex, I'd consider it an honor to serve on a jury. I don't believe in the death penalty, but other than that, I wouldn't want to get out of it. Why don't you want to serve?

[NYR407]

I am with you Kalhoun.

dwc1970 I was sequestered a few years ago for two nights. Basically I was told the day before the closing arguments to bring enough close for two days in case we were unable to reach an agreement on the verdict.

From what I remember, we stayed at pretty decent hotels (never knew where we were going), roomed with a fellow juror, were told not to watch certain programs (can't remember now which ones) and ate free breakfast, lunch and dinner.

IIRC you can contact your family by phone as long as you do not discuss the case. This is the same as dutring the trial.

The toughest part was trying to come to an agreement between 12 strangers.

I hope this makes sense becasue I am getting ready to leave work and typed this pretty fast. I'll check later in case I forgot something.

[Scylla]

I got sequestered as a witness in a domestic violence dispute I reported at 10:am. Spent all day sitting on a bench in a closet, and late in the afternoon I got to testify to the fact that I had absolutely no knowledge of anything whatsoever.

[CRorex]

Originally posted by Kalhoun
CRorex, I'd consider it an honor to serve on a jury. I don't believe in the death penalty, but other than that, I wouldn't want to get out of it. Why don't you want to serve?

It's annoying. Trials are long and boring... You get treated like a 3 year old with severe learning disabilities when they explain evidence to you, you are forced to spend a lot of time in close proximity to people who don't know. I can't stay awake for more than 15 min in a jury box.

I'm not allowed to laugh at an 'expert' with less understanding about the scientific matter they are talking about than a piece of year old roadkill. I resent the implications that I can't remain objective on a case if I happen to see some idiot's opinion on the matter.

The fact that you get less jail time for getting drunk and running someone over in a car than you'd get if you just decided one day it'd be fun to run over a pedestrian sickens me.

And I could really go on quite a long time about it.

Between my personality and my fundamental belief system I make a VERY poor juror. Thank god, I'm never repeating that experience if I can help it.