Jury Duty

atlcomedy is exactly right. It played hell with my schedule, & I'll be 2 months getting caught up. It can be worse though, Federal Jury Duty is q 2 month term, but they generally give a weeks notice before you are required to report, so you can sort of carry on as usual. Just can't really plan anything more than a week out.

Grand Jury is really a bitch. Three months, and you are absolutely at the mercy of the County Attorney, who can decide to convene the Jury anytime he wishes.
This is my advise about jury duty don't go. They can only prove you got the summons if they sent it registered mail or if a deputy hand delivered it to you. I am not a Lawyer nor do I claim to be one. Originally Posted by mrhunt

I have not had jury duty for years, they stop sending the notices after awhile
jrewing's Avatar
tell them that you are a great supporter of LE and the way you see it, they have to be guilty or they would not be here, worked for me, they excused my ass in a hurry, JR
BigMikeinKC's Avatar
People always complain about the huge settlements that are awarded by juries. But usually these are the same people who will do anything they can to get out of jury duty.

Show up, the prosecution may strike you from the panel, or it might not. But be honest.
VitaMan's Avatar
If you have any employer, and you get time off with pay, okay, jury duty is
a civic duty.

But if you are self-employed or run a business, there is no way you can be
expected to not be there for a couple weeks, or longer if it is a long trial. You
will go broke and not make your house payments - and for what ??
If you have any employer, and you get time off with pay, okay, jury duty is
a civic duty.

But if you are self-employed or run a business, there is no way you can be
expected to not be there for a couple weeks, or longer if it is a long trial. You
will go broke and not make your house payments - and for what ?? Originally Posted by VitaMan
So, are you saying in this case the provider should have said, "Your Honor, I'm a prostitute, and I can't afford to spend this much time away from my business. I am the sole supporter of myself and my x children, and it would really be a financial hardship. I only work during the day because I have to take care of the kids at night."

[Theoretically, that would take the atty off the hook, too.]
VitaMan's Avatar
No. I'm talking about serving on the jury.
monkish's Avatar
VitaMan you are absolutely correct. I am in the same position. I am single, and self-employed. Serving jury duty for an extended time (like more than a few days) would destroy my business.

I was called once and obtained a deferment, legally, by enrolling in a community college class. This was done so that I wouldn't have to miss work, not for some lack of sense of civic duty. It was the only out available to me.

There are some who opt out for legitimate reasons. Let's not paint with too broad of a brush.

I realize you lawyers need to get paid. So do the rest of us.
I go walking in a park and while sitting down at a bench this elderly Black gentleman told me his one and only experience with Jury Duty....
Capitol murder case, death penalty.
He was asked whether he believed in the death penalty.
"yes sir I do, but not the way you folks do it"
How so?
"First you gets a large stadium and you put all the prisoners in there, then you get an animal cage and shove the condemned man in there, soak him nice and good with gasoline and then you flick a match in there.
And thats how you folks should do the death penalty Yes sir! "
At which point he was immediately excused and on the way out , he asked if he should come back the next day. He was told if they need him , they will call him.

That was 50 years ago and has never been called for jury duty since

For you just tell them the defendant is innocent (or guilty) and you are not about to change your mind.