# Jury Duty: Tips for not getting selected for a trial **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982 "2012-05-15T12:48:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![BlinkingDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eada6e/32.png) [@BlinkingDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlinkingDuck)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/101 "2012-05-17T20:04:01Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > And I got bounced for telling the defense that I am a mathematician and could be impartial and make decisions based solely on the facts. > Interesting how attorneys don’t want people familiar with logic on juries. Mathemetician here and the one time I was called up for jury duty this didn’t get me out of it. ☹ Most boring week of my life…2 insurance companies battling it out over a case that was OBVIOUSLY in one insurance company’s favor…and kept going on and on and on. We talked for 45 minutes at the end and the only reason it took that long is a couple people felt wrong about spending all week on a case and then deliberating only 5 minutes 🙂 ---
**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:** [May 17, 2012, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/102 "2012-05-17T23:38:01Z")
That sounds like the jury I sat on, BD. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/103 "2012-05-18T00:36:24Z")
I’ve had jury duty twice - once I never got called in for voir dire. But the first time I did twice. Once the case was dismissed or settled before questioning finished. Once I was excused. It was a lawsuit where a woman was suing a man for giving her herpes. She was white, he was black. I was white, single, young. They asked me two questions. Had I dated outside my race (yes) and if I believed that it was ok to sue someone for giving you a cold (what kind of apples and oranges question is that?) I was released. I’m guessing it was that second answer. I would have liked to serve, but unfortunately, couldn’t stop my mouth from saying that. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/104 "2012-05-18T01:58:28Z")
ralph124c: > [@](#): > > Sort of an aside, but why the hell does the justice system think that abusing potential jurors makes sense? I was called once-and kept in a room with 20 other victims. All there was to do was stare at the walls, make small talk, and read some days-old newspapers. At least some jurisdictions are trying to make things better. When I went for my most recent jury duty call (Queens, NY), the room had TVs on the wall, wireless internet (I brought my laptop), and a selection of magazines (can’t say how interesting or current they were, since I had my laptop to amuse me). (BTW, I got selected for a jury, but the lawyers settled the case before opening the trial, so I didn’t have to do anything.) ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/105 "2012-05-18T19:16:00Z")
I was not picked the one time I was summoned. As the dismissed folks were leaving the courtroom, I was the last to leave. Looking over my shoulder, I saw the folks who got picked and each one was giving me a look like the last puppy in the pound. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/106 "2012-05-18T21:22:22Z")
I once prevented a person from being selected for a jury. I was present at jury selection, and later at the trial, of a very good friend of mine. It was a very serious charge. During a recess I heard a potential juror whine “why don’t we just hang him(my friend) and get this over with? I don’t want to stay here!” So I spoke quietly with the defense lawyer and pointed out the person whom he might not want to see seated. " My friend got lucky with probation, thank God. ---
**Author:** ![qualityleashdog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/9f8e36/32.png) [@qualityleashdog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qualityleashdog)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/107 "2012-08-12T05:13:23Z")
I’d be glad to sit on a jury. If we had professional juries, I’d probably be a pro juror (or try to be). But I’ve never even been called for one. I did help a friend that wanted out when his mail-in questionaire arrived, though. For hobbies, I listed that he ‘laid around all day, watching Judge Judy and Law and Order SVU reruns.’ They didn’t call him to come in. Either he said the right thing, or else they weren’t that busy. Funny thing is, I’ve found, in discussing jury duty with various people, that they don’t necessarily mind going through the motions of service, but what they object to is the actual fact that they will be responsible for judging someone, or impacting their life; as in causing someone to serve 20 years in the pen. They just don’t want that responsibility. Sort of like the firing squad deal, where some rifles are loaded with blanks, and others not. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/108 "2012-08-12T06:49:39Z")
In my singular experience, answering the question “Do you feel, as a juror, that you can ever know EXACTLY what went on, based just on what you hear on the stand?” with “Of course not. Each person involved will have a different point of view; the only one with an omniscent view is gonna be God,” will get you a weird look and an immediate dismissal. Double points if you’re atheist. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/109 "2012-08-12T06:51:26Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > I once prevented a person from being selected for a jury. I was present at jury selection, and later at the trial, of a very good friend of mine. It was a very serious charge. > > During a recess I heard a potential juror whine “why don’t we just hang him(my friend) and get this over with? I don’t want to stay here!” So I spoke quietly with the defense lawyer and pointed out the person whom he might not want to see seated. " > > My friend got lucky with probation, thank God. I’m surprised they didn’t ask the jurors if they were familiar with the person on trial. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/110 "2012-08-12T08:34:57Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > If I ever get called, I will respond to each and every question asked of me with: “My name is [my real name] and I refuse to participate in this racist institution.” > > Because that’s what I believe. In my jurisdiction, you would not be on the jury, but you’d get to wear some shiny bracelets and have a free prostate exam before cooling your heels in a cell for a few days. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/111 "2012-08-12T10:59:16Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I’m surprised they didn’t ask the jurors if they were familiar with the person on trial. :eek: I think you are misreading that. Baker was in the audience observing the process of her friends trial and over heard a juror say that during recess. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2012, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/112 "2012-08-12T15:46:02Z")
> [@Frazzled](#): > > The last trial I was in was especially interesting, we all wanted to believe the defendent (much of what the police officer testified was not visible on the TV screen provided to us in the jury room) and as we watched the video on the TV the majority of us were ready to find him not guilty - that is until the very end of the video when his actions and behaviors were too odd for us to ignore. We decided to watch the video again, but this time asked for a bigger TV so we could see more detail. Sure enough, as we watched it a second time we picked up on things we couldn’t see on the smaller screen. What impressed me most was how we tried so hard to convince ourselves he was innocent until there was just no other reasonable argument to believe that he was. So you convicted him on appearance, the evidence be damned. ---
**Author:** ![kimmyboo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/77aa72/32.png) [@kimmyboo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimmyboo)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/113 "2013-08-25T06:11:21Z")
I have been on several jury selections and have served 2 weeks on a jury during a criminal trial. I just read several of posts on here and I don’t know about all states but the state I live in doesn’t just “dismiss” people not responding to their summons (throwing them away etc.) They take it very serious and hand out fines and jail time. Also, they specifically give instructions for potential jurors not to wear anything with writing on it, to identify yourself as a science buff etc. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/114 "2013-08-25T07:25:56Z")
About 1999, I was called for jury duty in Las Vegas. It was for the trial of a cop who beat up a suspect in a casino holding room. I gather the cop didn’t realize there was a security camera in the room, but there was supposedly a video-tape of him beating the snot out of this suspect. While walking through a hallway, the arrested cop and his attorney were about fifteen feet from me. The attorney mumbled something to the cop, he took one look at me, and put on the “scary face” which is something cops, convicts and bikers do to intimidate you. Then, he shouted to his attorney “Get him outta here! I don’t want him on my jury! Get him outta here!” I was wearing an old denim shirt, old jeans, combat boots, wallet chained to my belt, my hair was very long and unkempt, I had a beard, and was generally unshaven where the beard was trimmed. I wore a grim frown and tended to look up from under glowering brows, a generally sullen appearance. By the way, this is how I usually look if I’m not at a gig. I was excused. My advice is to get as unshaven and unshowered as possible. Wear white-trash My-Name-is-Earl clothes … a dirty T-shirt, old plaid shirt, engineer boots. Go shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. If you look like you’re a drunken anti-social loser who listens to Southern Rock and probably uses meth, I’ll bet they excuse you. It’s worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![SirGalahad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/71c47a/32.png) [@SirGalahad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirGalahad)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/115 "2013-08-25T07:27:18Z")
About 1999, I was called for jury duty in Las Vegas. It was for the trial of a cop who beat up a suspect in a casino holding room. I gather the cop didn’t realize there was a security camera in the room, but there was supposedly a video-tape of him beating the snot out of this suspect. While walking through a hallway, the arrested cop and his attorney were about fifteen feet from me. The attorney mumbled something to the cop, he took one look at me, and put on the “scary face” which is something cops, convicts and bikers do to intimidate you. Then, he shouted to his attorney “Get him outta here! I don’t want him on my jury! Get him outta here!” I was wearing an old denim shirt, old jeans, combat boots, wallet chained to my belt, my hair was very long and unkempt, I had a beard, and was generally unshaven where the beard was trimmed. I wore a grim frown and tended to look up from under glowering brows, a generally sullen appearance. By the way, this is how I usually look if I’m not at a gig. I was excused. My advice is to get as unshaven and unshowered as possible. Wear white-trash My-Name-is-Earl clothes … a dirty T-shirt, old plaid shirt, engineer boots. Go shopping at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. If you look like you’re a drunken anti-social loser who listens to Southern Rock and probably uses meth, I’ll bet they excuse you. It’s worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/116 "2013-08-25T13:36:19Z")
> [@kimmyboo](#): > > I have been on several jury selections and have served 2 weeks on a jury during a criminal trial. I just read several of posts on here and I don’t know about all states but the state I live in doesn’t just “dismiss” people not responding to their summons (throwing them away etc.) They take it very serious and hand out fines and jail time. I always show up but I know plenty of people who throw their summons in the trash. There simply aren’t the resources to go after people for that reason and then somehow figure out that it’s not just an honest mistake. They get enough people to show up to fill juries so there’s no reason to bother especially when there are actual dangerous criminals out there. Do you have any proof that they’re rounding up people who toss their summonses other than the scare text on the summons itself? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/117 "2013-08-25T16:40:24Z")
I’ve only been called once and was unanimously dismissed very shortly into voir dire. So my advice is to have something of an emotional breakdown on the stand and claim prior victimization in a similar crime (assuming you’re called for a criminal case). In my case it was totally true and I was way disappointed; I actually think it would be very interesting to serve on a jury and wasn’t at all looking to get out of it. I couldn’t help the type of case I was called for though. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/118 "2013-08-25T23:23:35Z")
I read these jury duty threads avidly. I do have a question, however. Is it true that if you serve on a jury once, it’s more likely that you will be called for jury duty more often afterwards; due to the court officers believing that you’re a sure thing and they don’t have to make an effort to make different people show up? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/119 "2013-08-25T23:49:19Z")
> [@medstar](#): > > I read these jury duty threads avidly. I do have a question, however. Is it true that if you serve on a jury once, it’s more likely that you will be called for jury duty more often afterwards; due to the court officers believing that you’re a sure thing and they don’t have to make an effort to make different people show up? No. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982/120 "2013-08-26T00:55:56Z")
To elaborate, here in NJ anyway, once you have answered the jury duty call, even if you never actually served a single day, you are exempt for at least three years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tips-for-not-getting-selected-for-a-trial/621982.md?page=7)