That’s similar to what I was going to say. Eventually both sides run out of peremptory challenges. I once ended up on a jury when that happened and neither side could show cause for me to be removed. And I’m one of those intelligent, educated engineers that one side or the other almost always wants gone.
Ed
Hey, I was just summoned too. For Valentine’s Day. Nothing says romance like a courthouse, let me tell you. I should be raring to go by the time I get home to Mrs. Giraffe…
I’m excited about it, though. I really hope I get picked. I’ve only been summoned once before, and ended up serving for a week on a misdemeanor domestic battery trial. Apart from wanting to punch a couple of the jurors at times during the excrutiatingly long deliberations, it was a really interesting experience.
I didn’t see anything in the OP that said he wasn’t going, or that he didn’t think he should have to. All I saw was that he wasn’t crazy about the idea of going, waiting around, and not doing anything productive with the time.
Where is it written that you have to enjoy, or be happy about, doing everything that counts as a duty. I’ve done jury duty when I’ve been called, and I don’t mind too much, because it has to be done. I would hate to think our legal system depended only on people who couldn’t get out of jury duty. 
But that doesn’t mean I have to thrilled about spending two hours on the train, and all day in the jury room, waiting to be called.
Clothahump, console yourself with the idea that you are being productive just by being there. Being willing to serve means that jurors are available when needed, and makes the trial system work. (At least that’s what the judge said when he dismissed us after the suit got settled over lunch.)
Ummmm, I’m intelligent and educated (PhD in Mechanical Engineering) but admittedly never a Deputy Sheriff, and I’ve been called to jury duty 1/2 a dozen times and been selected and served on two juries, one personal injury, the other criminal. Mr Sin, also an engineer, has also served as a juror on a criminal case.
Both Mr. Sin and I found the process fascinating and left with a feeling that the system worked way better than we were led to believe.
Excellent point. Griping about the details of something unpleasant does NOT equal “not gonna do it”. Nor even not PROUD to do it. There are a lot of things I’m proud to do, but certainly don’t LIKE doing.
It is just remotely possible that some things that we are called to do in the name of duty actually DO have elements that deserve to be ranted against. Gee, maybe even things that could stand to be revised to a better system. Gasp what a shocking unpatriotic concept!
Bitching that
and
and
goes, IMHO, a bit beyond “griping about details”. no, he doesn’t say he won’t do it. But it does appear that only if he gets ‘picked’ for a jury that his participation in
is worthwhile. apparently, the fact that in order for the system to work, sufficient jurors must be called, most not serving doesn’t trump his not wanting to ‘waste time sitting on his butt’ and not being compensated enough to pay him for his parking bill.
his comments that
and therefore won’t get seated, at least according to the comments in this thread are also unwarrented.
So, I still say “so the fuck what” He has to bite the bullet and participate as a citizen, just like the rest of us. Poor baby. Had someone pitted having to put money in a parking meter in order to park, even though they were just running in someplace for a few minutes, I’d have the same attitude. So the fuck what.
Or in my case… Both. I got called twice in the same month. (in Illinois.) An error, because my driver’s license was incorrect (my German last name was misspelled as usual) and my voters registration was right. I served the first time, and got out of serving the second time, because I didn’t want to further the whole “two identities” thing. (You just called me! I went 8.30am-5pm for 11 dollars… oh a missing consanant you say?)… which made me wonder.
Consonant, even. :smack: I am not an English major. I swear.