Jury Duty Anyone?

[clippyclippy]

Has anyone here ever been summoned to appear for Jury Duty?
I'm supposed to report on Monday morning, and have no idea what to expect.
I thought I'd see what experience others here might have had.

[Gnorga]

I've never done jury duty, but how cool would it be if you got to be a jury on a long drawn out trial. They'd put you up in a hotel and everything

[clippyclippy]

I've never done jury duty, but how cool would it be if you got to be a jury on a long drawn out trial. They'd put you up in a hotel and everything

I was trying to think of big cases that might be coming up, but I don't know of any...
Yeah, it would be fun, to a certain point... but I have a life- can't give up too much of it!
But being a SAHM, I'm happy for the big pay I can look forward to- 12.00 the first day, $20 the next 4 days and then $40 after that. Woop-de-do. It might pay for my gas anyway. What happens when someone has to miss a job?

[mom2lucas]

I served this past summer. For the first day, we went in and were separated into panels. The judge talked to us and ask each of us if there was any reason we couldn't serve (medical, etc). If so, he sent us to talk to a court official for the proper forms. If not, we filled out little cards with our information on them and turned them in. They gave us a handout with our panel number and a phone number to call each day to see if our panel would be on call. My panel was never called, and I was on duty for 3 months. When I called in, the recording would say "Panel XX, please call back on such and such date to see if you will be serving."

[kremsh]

I've done jury duty a few times. We check in and get settled in a huge room until everyone has gone through the check in process...I live in a large town so it takes a while. Then the court clerk makes announcements about serving on a jury, etc and then starts calling groups of names anywhere from 7 or 8 all the way up to 30 or 40 for larger trials. Each group is told what court and time to be there. When the groups are all called, if your name wasn't called, you collect 1 days pay and get to leave!

I've done everything from leave the first day to get picked and seated on a jury. With the jury trial we heard the opening arguments and a few witnesses then ended the day. Reported back the next day to continue and found out the defendent got spooked and settled his case so that ended that trial. I enjoyed watching the legal process so it was fun for me.

[clippyclippy]

My panel was never called, and I was on duty for 3 months. When I called in, the recording would say "Panel XX, please call back on such and such date to see if you will be serving."

Oh no... I had no idea I might be on call for a period of time- not sure I like that, especially since this is a particularly busy time of year for me.

I enjoyed watching the legal process so it was fun for me.

Me too - it's very interesting to watch!

[everprincess]

I've been called twice. Once when I was very young. They got a jury on the second day and we were not called back. Then this past year I was called again.
It was a murder case that I knew about very well. I was put in the box very quickly. I told the judge and DA that I could not serve for a long period of time due to my job-they didn't care. The DA kept me on the panel. Then day two the defense attorney asked me several questions and then asked if anyone knew the owners of the place this crime took place at and of course I did. The defense attorney wanted me off the panel and the judge changed his mind and I went home. Had to go back on day 3 and got dismissed since they got enough jurors for that case.

It was the longest 3 days of my life. My office was a serious disaster and I had to work extra hard to catch up. Funny thing is they had a brother and sister that were called on the same week!

[Macaela25]

Extended service would be a huge hardship for small business owners.

[shelleyf]

I had to report for jury duty a few years ago. I was so mad because I sat there for a few hours when they already knew they wouldn't pick me! My husband at the time worked for the local jail and I ran into the person that was a suspect at the store. He said he knew they wouldn't pick me because by my name it said do not pick because my husband worked for the jail. I wish they wouldn't have wasted my time for $12.00. My husband said if you want to get out of jury duty you can say you don't know if you could decide not guilty or not. Or if you even know the suspect even just by hearing their name around they don't want you for the jury either.

[3timesoccermom]

I was put on a jury when I was in my 20's. A young boy (about 8) had run across the thoroughfare (3 lanes - not at a crosswalk) and a college girl bumped him and they sued her. The college girl won and IMO rightfully so but I was thankful the little boy wasn't hurt.

I've received a summons since then but it was when the girls were little and if you are their primary care person here you can let them know and get off. Not that I wanted to get out of it but I didn't have anyone else to keep/pick up/take my kids. I think everyone should serve at least once but the compensation is ridiculous and won't even pay for parking and gas, at least not here.