I’m not sure if that’s even a thing in this state. I don’t ever remember having to answer the question. Being that 1 in 11 people in this city is a lawyer (or so I’ve heard), that would be a tough requirement to fulfill.
I got summoned 3 times before my mother ever got summoned in her entire life. And that was 3 times in about 6 years. Only had to actually show up once. I haven’t been called in 10-15 years though.
I’ve been called 4 times in the past 10 years. Only once did I get to serve, and I wish the asshole hadn’t gotten off, but we didn’t have a choice… there wasn’t enough evidence.
I just finished grand jury a couple of weeks ago. Personally, I found it fascinating.
About to go for the 3rd time in ten years next week. I look at it as a day of reading in a room that has one TV blaring daytime shows.
I usually get called every 3 years, I sort of look forward to it because I get out of work and I get to read a lot. They let us leave in the early afternoon if we haven’t been picked for a jury. So far I haven’t been picked for a jury. Last time I almost got picked for a case about a mugging in Jersey City; I had myself excused because I was a victim of a similar crime in the same area.
This is Pepper Mill’s constant complaint. She seems to perpetually get jury duty, while I don’t. Most of my life I got jury summonses just as I left a community, so I didn’t have to serve. They’ve only caught up with me once, here in Massachusetts, and I only lost half a day – circumstances made the trial unnecessary, so we were all dismissed.
we still don’t know why Pepper Mill keeps getting them. I think she’s just an outlier on the Bell Curve, myself.
Did she feel that the jury arrived at a fair verdict?
I’ve been in NYC 21 years :eek: and I think I’ve been called 5 times and served on 1 jury (I think you get bonus time off if you serve on a jury). Once I get over the inconvenience I kind of look forward to just sitting around and reading all day, since I never get to do it otherwise. Plus I get to sample some nice Chinatown food offerings. The one federal case I was called for was a drug case that they predicted would take months. That’s just a bit longer than I can afford to take off. Nice courtroom and suits on the lawyers, though.
I got the letter for Federal court a while back. Called the number the night before and was told I wasn’t needed.
I served on a Federal jury 15-20 years ago. It wasn’t a bad experience, except that the frakking defendant put us through the entire trial before deciding to cop a plea. Cocksucker.
I’m one of the many who get called but never get to serve. I think it’s because the courthouse is within walking distance and getting there is far too easy for me.
For most of my adult life in California, I’d get summoned like clockwork - the day my 18 months was up (or however long it was), I’d get a summons. I always either managed to get out of it, or would call in and be told I didn’t have to go. I’ve never made it as far as the courthouse.
Since leaving California six years ago, I haven’t gotten a single summons.
I totally agree with this, but I wouldn’t consider it a “privilege” or “honor” even the first time. I’d consider it the government forcing me to do something against my will. People who tell me I’m “doing my civic duty” and should be happy about it can kiss my ass.
I’ve been a registered voter for almost 10 years, but have never received a summons. I assume being registered in a small town, which itself is part of a small county, which is in a small state, that has a low crime rate, all helps contribute to that.
My wife gets frequent summons to show up. She has actually served twice. One trial was several days but not sequestered.
I got called 3 times but they did not want me. I was an alternate once though.
Massachusetts here too. I was on a jury (well an alternate, which is worse in my opinion) in Dec 2007, so I’m due to get called again soon. Hubby has never been.
As a weird aside: What would happen if a jury decided to flip a coin? I would hope that someone would bust in and arrest the a-holes, but I’m not sure what the rules actually are.
What if a jury explicitly showed racial bias?
I wasn’t aware of any cameras in the deliberation room. I don’t think anyone would have found out.
But I was surprised at how seriously everyone took the matter. It took us an hour to decide, which was a long time considering the facts of the case. It took us that long to go from “probably guilty” to “reasonable doubt.”
I once got one for a trial in my hometown, think I was 19. Let me off due to the fact I was out of state for college.
OP, why not say you can’t afford to take off of work? Or are you currently unemployed (I ask cause so many people are).
Why don’t they attempt to draw from the ranks of retired/disability people? Seriously, they have the time on their hands and the will to serve. My grandmother was called seemingly yearly in her 40’s and 50’s, always too busy to serve. But now for the past 20 years she’s been more than able - and not a peep.
I don’t think I’d want to be judged by a bunch of crotchety old people with nothing better to do than go to jury duty.
I’m only half joking.
I am called on a regular basis. About 10 years ago I served on a civil (asbestos) case, and this March I served on a first degree murder case. Although it is hard to juggle my work schedule, I enjoy serving on a jury and have found the experience to be enlightening.
Part of the jury instructions in my most recent case were that we were not allowed to flip a coin to make a decision. I’m not sure how they would have known if we had all agreed to do it, but we took our responsibilities pretty seriously and would not have disobeyed the judge’s instructions.
I wish. I’m in a very low population county with a very low crime rate. Bah.
In Michigan you can get off for being over 65. I don’t have to worry about it anymore.