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The 7 - One Question... - Have you ever served on a jury? Register and log in to post!
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DJ FrostyFreeze
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#1 Posted on 12.2.08 1202.45
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1204.35
Today (Feb 12) is my first day back to work after serving 3 weeks on a jury. I got picked for a trial (rape case, 5 counts) on my first day, the trial lasted about 2 weeks, then we deliberated for a week. It's kind of a long, possibly disturbing story. Maybe I'll share some details later on In This Very Thread.

I also served on a much less interesting prostitution case about 10 years ago.
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DrDirt
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#2 Posted on 12.2.08 1206.35
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1208.25
Nope, made to the interview phase twice, but they see PhD and you are excused. I have had the thrill of being deposed for several hours and serving as an expert witness. The funny part was both sides wanted me to testify and I pissed them both off. Damn facts.
pieman
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#3 Posted on 12.2.08 1333.10
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1333.51
I have served jury duty three times (a month of call-ins each time) and served on four juries. Cases ranged from liability for injuries to passing a stopped school bus, with a rape case that we had to sit through the whole trial and then they settled just before deliberations.

The passing a stopped school bus one was the stupidest waste of taxpayers' money I have ever seen. The guy defended himself saying he didn't go by the school bus with its lights on, while the driver, several other witnesses and a policeman saw him do it. Duh.
Zeruel
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#4 Posted on 12.2.08 1349.15
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1350.06
I've been called three times. Twice I was excused because I was a full time student.

The third time I had to sit a the courthouse for and hour and only two cases were called and I wasn't on either and was given my $15 check and excused.

(edited by Zeruel on 12.2.08 1453)
Mr. Boffo
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#5 Posted on 12.2.08 1350.18
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1350.42
I served on jury duty several months ago. Called in Sunday night, and wasn't on the list for Monday morning. Called in Monday night, and had to show up Tuesday morning. Watched a video, and we were then told that all 3 cases had settled, and we were done. That was my week of jury duty.

Got paid $35.80 ($35 + $.40 per mile for ... mileage).

Sounds like my jury duty was much easier than yours.
Leroy
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#6 Posted on 12.2.08 1359.33
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1359.51

I served for five weeks, and was selected as the foreman, on a child molestation case - a 5 year girl molested for the better part of a year by her mother's boyfriend. We found him guilty after two days of deliberation, and I heard he got 9 years. We were not part of the sentencing - that was left up to the judge.

I seriously doubt I will ever serve on a jury again.
samoflange
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#7 Posted on 12.2.08 1406.03
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1406.43
I've twice been excused as a full time student living away from home in NY. I haven't yet been called since moving to Mass.
Sec19Row53
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#8 Posted on 12.2.08 1521.58
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1524.19
I've been a registered voter for a long time, but never called for potential jury duty. Not much crime in these parts, I guess.
Corajudo
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#9 Posted on 12.2.08 1540.36
Reposted on: 12.2.15 1541.40
    Originally posted by DrDirt
    Nope, made to the interview phase twice, but they see PhD and you are excused. I have had the thrill of being deposed for several hours and serving as an expert witness. The funny part was both sides wanted me to testify and I pissed them both off. Damn facts.

For similar reasons, I've been interviewed but never chosen. Don't be so sure of the PhD-gets-you-out-of-jury-duty-free card because one of my colleagues got chosen for a case. In fact, he's an economist, which usually is doubly troubling.

Ironically, I've been thinking about this very topic because I have jury duty on Feb. 25. We'll see how that goes.
Kevintripod
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#10 Posted on 12.2.08 2135.44
Reposted on: 12.2.15 2136.12
Twice I got excused because I was a full time student. Two other times I called the phone number the night before that they give you to find out if you have to actually be there the next morning, and found out I didn't have to go after all.
Zeruel
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#11 Posted on 12.2.08 2341.00
Reposted on: 12.2.15 2341.21
    Originally posted by Sec19Row53
    I've been a registered voter for a long time, but never called for potential jury duty. Not much crime in these parts, I guess.


Here in Maryland, back in 2000 they changed it so the jury pool was drawn from voter data AND anyone with a drivers license. I can see people giving up the right to vote to avoid getting called, but not giving up being legally able to drive.
TheBucsFan
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#12 Posted on 13.2.08 0130.20
Reposted on: 13.2.15 0131.26
I served on the jury in a rape case that was horrifying to sit through. The suspect was a acquitted.

    Originally posted by pieman
    The passing a stopped school bus one was the stupidest waste of taxpayers' money I have ever seen.


What would you recommend instead? This is an odd use of the word "waste."
pieman
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#13 Posted on 13.2.08 0426.39
Reposted on: 13.2.15 0428.02
    Originally posted by TheBucsFan
    I served on the jury in a rape case that was horrifying to sit through. The suspect was a acquitted.

      Originally posted by pieman
      The passing a stopped school bus one was the stupidest waste of taxpayers' money I have ever seen.


    What would you recommend instead? This is an odd use of the word "waste."


Maybe waste wasn't the correct word here. If the fine elderly gentlemen had realized that 11 people saw him drive past a stopped school bus with the red lights flashing (not the yellow ones that come on to warn you the red ones are about to come on), then the judicial system could have been dealing with other cases that did need attention in a more expedient fashion. I would have recommended the dumbass pay the $200 fine and be done with it.
JayJayDean
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#14 Posted on 13.2.08 0916.50
Reposted on: 13.2.15 0917.23
    Originally posted by pieman
      Originally posted by TheBucsFan
      I served on the jury in a rape case that was horrifying to sit through. The suspect was a acquitted.

        Originally posted by pieman
        The passing a stopped school bus one was the stupidest waste of taxpayers' money I have ever seen.


      What would you recommend instead? This is an odd use of the word "waste."


    Maybe waste wasn't the correct word here. If the fine elderly gentlemen had realized that 11 people saw him drive past a stopped school bus with the red lights flashing (not the yellow ones that come on to warn you the red ones are about to come on), then the judicial system could have been dealing with other cases that did need attention in a more expedient fashion. I would have recommended the dumbass pay the $200 fine and be done with it.


That's why they should make the fine a lot bigger if you fight it and are found slam-dunk guilty (like eleven witnesses say you did it). If one party sues another they can be awarded the loser having to pay their legal fees, right? Have the jerk who wastes the court's time reimburse the taxpayers for a needless trial over $200.00.

On-topic - I have never had to serve. I got called a couple of times, but have always been able to get out of it with a note from my employer.
Corajudo
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#15 Posted on 13.2.08 1002.04
Reposted on: 13.2.15 1003.14
    Originally posted by JayJayDean
    That's why they should make the fine a lot bigger if you fight it and are found slam-dunk guilty (like eleven witnesses say you did it). If one party sues another they can be awarded the loser having to pay their legal fees, right? Have the jerk who wastes the court's time reimburse the taxpayers for a needless trial over $200.00.

So, then you could either be found 'not guilty', 'guilty, or 'slam dunk guilty'? What about 'damn guilty' or 'really, really slam dunk guilty' (like if there were 22 witnesses).

My guess is that the guy was hoping the cop issuing the ticket wouldn't show up in court, which would cause the fine to be dismissed. Not sure why he insisted on a jury trial, but it is his right. IMHO, it's hard to get too fired up by a waste of taxpayer money which involves a right set out in the Bill of Rights, when there are so many larger and stupider wastes of taxpayer money out there.

Of course, if you actually lose a day or two of your life serving on said jury then I can see why you would disagree!
jfkfc
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#16 Posted on 13.2.08 1033.51
Reposted on: 13.2.15 1038.18
I served on a jury once for a statutory rape case, where a guy who was 41 (looked 18) picked up a 14 year old girl (looked 18) at an AA meeting, and then slept with her over the course of the next few months. Oh, and his 19 year old estranged wife testified against him, I guess getting similar charges against her (she pretty much did the same thing as he did....well, pretty much) dropped/waived/dismissed/whatever. It only lasted 3 days, we deliberated for 2 hours, and found the guy guilty, easily. As depressing as the whole mess was, I've always felt that jury duty is just one of those things in life that should be experienced by all.
General Zod
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#17 Posted on 13.2.08 1056.43
Reposted on: 13.2.15 1057.18
I have been called six times, the first time was right after I turned eighteen. Twice I was excused because I was in the military, twice I called and did not have to appear and twice I had to sit in the courthouse all day and never made it to the interview process. I used to think it would be fun to serve on a jury but now I dread getting the damn summons in the mail.
JayJayDean
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#18 Posted on 13.2.08 1103.35
Reposted on: 13.2.15 1103.54
    Originally posted by Corajudo
    So, then you could either be found 'not guilty', 'guilty, or 'slam dunk guilty'? What about 'damn guilty' or 'really, really slam dunk guilty' (like if there were 22 witnesses).


Well, if there were 22 witnesses I'd say the guy should get the electric chair, of course!

I just think it would be sensible for someone trying to play the "the cop won't show up"-card or something when they KNOW they "did it" - there should be the potential there that they won't only have to pay the fine but an add-on for wasting people's time. I mean, pieman - who knows how much time he has left? Wasting it in a courtroom just shouldn't be happening, man!

If they do it for civil cases I don't see why it would be bad to have that line of thinking on tickets and such.
Leroy
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#19 Posted on 13.2.08 1149.49
Reposted on: 13.2.15 1149.52

Citizens should have the right to petition their government - especially the police - without worry over reprisals. Yes, some schmucks abuse the privilege.

I know, from first-hand experience, of people purposefully using the legal system as an attempt to financially cripple a governmental agency with which they disagreed. The plaintiff knew their case was weak, and would, most likely, result in a colossal waste of tax payer money in defending that case, and they were right on both counts. And every attempt was made to draw out the legal process to maximize the financial damage to the agency.

Our lawyer said it was one of the most egregious abuses of the legal system he had ever seen in his 20+ years of practicing law - and there was absolutely nothing we could do about it.



dunkndollaz
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#20 Posted on 13.2.08 1247.24
Reposted on: 13.2.15 1248.51
I am probably jinxing myself but I have never even been called for jury duty in the city or state I was currently living in and I am 45 years old. The notice has always come just after I moved.

And I just moved again but this time it was only 2 miles....
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