I’ve been called for the fourth fucking time in 13 years. This time it’s federal court, so it’s 50 miles from home. Court starts at 7:00.
January is going to suck.
Grr.
And no, I’m not looking for lies to tell that will get me out of serving, and no, I’m not going to view this as a privilege and an honor or whatever. Maybe it was the first three times. It’s a pain in my ass the fourth.
I was called without fail every two years and was never able to serve as I couldn’t afford to take the time from work.
Now, 6 1/2 years on disability and not one call.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been called. I lost count a decade or so ago.
The last time I went, I actually got to serve. It was kind of cool.
I want to get jury duty, but have never been called. Now if I ever do, I will get off’ed immediately… I am a lawyer. 
I was called over the summer. Even though I never sat on a jury during my week, I had to show up and sit there every day, just in case I was called to sit on one.
Oddly, it strongly reminded me of being in the hospital.
I was confined to a small area
Confined with a lot of people I didn’t know, nor want to be with
Not a lot to do, very boring.
Public place with all the smells of many people, strong disinfectants and public buildings
My day was strongly regimented by others
I hated it.
My wife’s a lawyer; been one for 30-ish years now. Last year she got called for jury duty here. Much to her surprise, she did NOT get challenged off. Ended up hearing a 2-day case over liability for medical costs following a traffic accident with significant injuries.
Her only comment was that the deliberation process in the jury room was far scarier than what she’d ever heard about in law school or experienced during all her days as a trial attorney. Jury instructions? We don’t need to abide by no steenkin’ jury instructions. Nor pay much attention to the evidence.
Me? I’ve been a voter for 30+ years across several states & been notified of jury duty twice, but never actually called to show up, much less been empaneled.
Been registered to vote for 13 years now, and I’ve never gotten called. I totally want to get called!!
Not necessarily. I think New York State eliminated many of the automatic exemptions about fifteen years ago, including the exemptions for lawyers, judges, elected officials, members of the armed services, etc.
I always thought that once you serve once you can’t get called again? Or is that just in Canada? (Or am I even wrong about that?)
It varies by state. In Massachusetts you can’t get called for another 3 years. I get called pretty much every 3 years. I know people who have never been called.
In 32 years I’ve only been called once, this past June. Sat around a room for about 5 hours and never got called to be on a jury. I’m supposed to be good for another year now. I wonder if it will take another 32 years?
The last time I got called, I wasn’t chosen because I’d partied with the prosecuting attorney. He’s BFFs (and now business partners) with my BFF’s nephew (also a lawyer). It was truly a case of “who you know” that totally got me off from having to sit there all day and listen to this kid’s public intox/acting like an asshole/vandalism charge.
And no, I wasn’t about to be impartial. The defendant looked like a total douchebag. Even if he was innocent, he still probably had it comin’ for something else that he didn’t get caught doing. Meh.
My husband did Federal jury duty a few years ago. He just had to call in on a certain day to see if he had to appear in the future. He never had to.
In Texas, they can call you all they want but you can only be on a jury once every two or three years.
I’ve been called 6 times now and been on two juries. I think it’s kinda fun. If the pay were better I would do it professionally.
I’d like to be on a jury, but have never been called.
My mom got called several times. My dad wanted to be called, but never did. He finally recieved a jury summons… a week after he died. It was such a Dad thing to happen.
I’ve been called three times in three different counties, came in for jury selection twice, never actually went through selection.
I hope to be on a panel some day. And I hope the case isn’t strong enough to invoke jury nullification.
Wow, it took longer than I thought it would to get here.
Called to “audition” lots but I’ll never be picked.
A couple times ago I was called; the first pool I was in I knew the attorney for the defense. The second I knew the judge and court reporter (I had worked her campaign). The third time I almost got seated when I was asked if I knew anyone in the legal profession. I told the attorney (defense) that I knew more lawyers than he did and after a couple dozen names he admitted that I probably did and bumped me. Four involved the firm my wife works at. At that point they decided it was four balls and I could walk.
Why knowing lawyers is such a strike I don’t know but around here it really is the death blow to getting on a jury.
That happened to my dad too! The same week he died!
I’m another one who would love to serve but haven’t been called in decades.