# Doesn't anyone else in this godforsaken place ever get jury duty? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 8, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418 "2010-12-08T15:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/1 "2010-12-08T15:31:32Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/2 "2010-12-08T15:35:06Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/3 "2010-12-08T15:36:47Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![llcoolbj77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb9ed0/32.png) [@llcoolbj77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/llcoolbj77)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/4 "2010-12-08T15:46:22Z")
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. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/5 "2010-12-08T15:57:41Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/6 "2010-12-08T16:11:11Z")
> [@llcoolbj77](#): > > 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. ☹ 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. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/7 "2010-12-08T16:13:11Z")
Been registered to vote for 13 years now, and I’ve never gotten called. I _totally_ want to get called!! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/8 "2010-12-08T16:14:28Z")
> [@llcoolbj77](#): > > 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. ☹ 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. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/9 "2010-12-08T16:23:30Z")
😕 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?) ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/10 "2010-12-08T16:27:18Z")
> [@dhkendall](#): > > 😕 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. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/11 "2010-12-08T16:33:50Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Dogzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@Dogzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dogzilla)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/12 "2010-12-08T16:34:03Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/13 "2010-12-08T16:34:26Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/14 "2010-12-08T16:37:51Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > 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 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. ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/15 "2010-12-08T16:45:08Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/16 "2010-12-08T16:45:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/17 "2010-12-08T16:47:21Z")
> [@Scuba\_Ben](#): > > jury nullification. Wow, it took longer than I thought it would to get here. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/18 "2010-12-08T17:00:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/19 "2010-12-08T17:03:47Z")
> [@Zyada](#): > > 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. That happened to my dad too! The same week he died! ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2010, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418/20 "2010-12-08T17:03:52Z")
I’m another one who would love to serve but haven’t been called in decades. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/doesnt-anyone-else-in-this-godforsaken-place-ever-get-jury-duty/563418.md?page=2)