May 2nd. If I am not selected for a jury, this will probably my last chance, because I’ll turn 70 before I get another summons. 49 years and numerous summons to various courts in various counties, and I have yet to be selected. Came close a couple of times, but no dice.
Let’s see what happens.
Oh, Jury Duty in Houston. Fond memories.
The last time I had Jury Duty in Houston, the presiding Judge in the Jury Room was no other than the honorable Ted Cruz. He made a joke about how people confused him with Harry Stone. Yeah, this was in the late '80s. I moved out of Harris County in 1990, so no more cattle call.
Clothahump, I’ve had several summonses, and once got as far as the jury examination process. But a jury was seated before they got around to me I once was on a federal grand jury, but that’s a whole different story.
I’m up for May 7, a one and done deal in the court pretty close to my house.
Was up for a federal jury for two weeks in March, but never had to report.
Being on a jury is interesting. I’d recommend it for a reasonable case. I’ve been in the pool for multi-month murder cases but luckily never even got examined. That I could live without.
I’ve been on two juries and became the foreman both times.
Once, I read the verdict of guilty to a man who received 25 years no parole.
Once, I read the verdict of not guilty to a man who walked out the door.
I kind of enjoy it, actually.
All I had to do to get out of jury duty was to ask two questions during the first half hour of the jury selection process. Granted, they were pointed questions that the prosecutor didn’t really want to answer, but she asked me my name… and dismissed me immediately.
I’m not sure they want an opinionated, independant, probing mind on the jury. Sorry, Clothy, you’re out, unless you can disguise yourself as someone with a plain vanilla personality.
I was on a jury a couple of years ago. The trial turned out to be a farce – the defense attorneys wanted them to take a plea, but they refused. The defense had nothing and once it was found that one of the defendants had confessed to the crime on a jail telephone (you know, the ones with the big signs by them saying, “Your call may be monitored”), they finally took a plea. That was four days into the trial proper; the judge had the attorneys talk to the jury sort of as a bonus for wasting our time.
How weak was the defense case? The told me they put me on the jury because I admitted I read and wrote science fiction and hoped that would make me willing to accept it.
It will come out in voir dire that I used to be a peace officer. Usually, that’s enough for the defense to boot me. However, this was a summons to JP court, so it might be a civil case or traffic, and I might stand a chance.
You want to be on a jury? 
Attempted jury tampering reported.
I have served on 2 juries. Back then you were called up for a week of jury duty. So, I was put on a case the first day. We completed it the second day, and I was back in the waiting room. Then I was put on a second case. They have since changed the policy so that if you serve on 1 jury, you are completed, you don’t go back in the pool.
It was a fascinating experience, very different than on the TV shows. On the first case, the jury felt that the guy clearly did it, but we also felt that the prosecution did not meet the standard for finding guilt, so we acquitted. I was impressed that the entire variety of humanity that made up the jury was thoughtful enough to reach that conclusion. The prosecutor was frankly surprised at the result. Come to find out the suspect was currently incarcerated, so we weren’t setting them free by our verdict.
I recommend the experience.
I served on a jury about ten years ago. The defendant was found, literally red-handed, stabbing his estranged wife to death with a pair of kitchen shears. Really obviously first-degree murder The district attorney told us after it was all over that his goal was to ensure that his children would never have to deal with him out of prison, so the verdict ensured he would never get parole.
And then a few months ago, I was called in for jury selection for a trial that we were told would take six to eight weeks. I was not looking forward to that, but my employer would pay me my regular salary the whole time, so I could not claim that I would experience financial hardship.
But once we found out the circumstances of the case, I really, really wanted to be able to claim financial hardship. Because this guy was accused of sexual abuse of prepubescent children. I had no interest in listening to the testimony, nor did I want for those kids to have to testify. So I was glad when he agreed to a negotiated plea that would keep him in prison for many decades, and those of us in the jury pool could all go home.
I made it to the jury interview stage in a lawsuit case where a woman was badly burned in one of those tanning booths. She had horrific scarring. The defendant’s case hinged on him being not liable because she signed an agreement that had an “acceptable risk” clause in it.
Most candidates had standard politically correct answers to the questions asked of them. When the defendant’s attorney asked me, however, I answered: “Look, I’ll be honest with you. Looking at those scars (pictures), you’re going to have to convince me as a juror that injuries of that magnitude qualify as an acceptable risk. For me, your whole defense is going to hinge on that on that very difficult task.”
I was not chosen as a juror. Go figure. LOL
I listen to a podcast where just by chance on of the principals used to be a prosecutor who specialized in child abuse cases. He talked about it a few times, but once his voice really showed emotions as he talked about how hard it was having to listen to recordings of prepubescent children being raped. I would think you dodged a bullet there.
I don’t think there were recordings in this case, and the kids ranged from eleven to fourteen, but yes, I did not want to have to listen to that testimony. (And can you imagine how horrible it would be for the children? Having to describe these events while the guy is sitting maybe fifteen feet from you, staring at you the whole time.)
I have served on juries twice and thought the experience was very fulfilling. I was bummed a bit the last time, 3 week trial then sent home because I was selected as an alternate just before the case went to the jury.
I like being on a jury; it’s a break in the routine. Good thing because when I was living in Santa Clara county (Calif.) I got called every two years like clockwork. My first time I went through the whole process, getting selected, hearing a two-day civil case, and reaching a verdict after a couple hours’ deliberation on the third day. Another case I was seated but the defendant pled before any testimony was given. The rest, I wasn’t selected out of the venireman pool.
Twenty years in Maricopa county I’ve been called three times. Once was seated and heard the prosecution’s case. When she rested just before lunch I was literally thinking, “That’s it? Guess I’ll listen to the defense but I’d find it hard to convict now.” When we got back from lunch, the judge had dismissed the case.
Yeah, I guess it could be interesting (I sat on an appeals board for many years, but did it via telephone from the comfort of my couch), but my courthouse is over 40 miles away! I couldn’t imagine making that drive more than once, just to sit around waiting to be sent home. I really hate unnecessary trips.
Not sure what would be worse: Drive 40 miles and get sent home immediately. Well, that sure was a waste. Or drive 40 miles and wait for 5 hours, then get sent home. Well, that sure was a waste, too!
You could always form a backup plan, pick out a park, museum, restaurant, or something else interesting near the court so the trip won’t be a total waste.
In the state where I used to live, jury duty lasted three months unless you were selected. It made it difficult to plan trips.
The one time I was called where I live now, I was looking forward to serving. However, after making the first cut, we received a questionnaire asking if we’d ever been the victim of a sexual assault and if so, whether we could be objective. I had been such a victim, but I thought I could probably be objective. My hands were shaking holding the questionnaire, though, and I realized I couldn’t handle the experience and checked No.
I sometimes wonder if I’d have been selected if I’d checked Yes. I can’t imagine the defense attorney would’ve wanted a sexual assault victim on the jury.