Jury Duty Anyone

[V.C. Brunswick]

Perhaps it was the quality of the people or even the "lack" of seriousness in the case I served on (civil case- no jail time- just money), but unfortunately I didn't walk away feeling better about the justice system. It actually made me feel worse. I had really high expectations for jury duty too- it's something I've looked forward to doing since I was a kid.

When called for jury duty the two words I dread hearing are "civil case" because I consider it a colossal waste of time. More often than not they're the frivolous lawsuits that have all but destroyed this country The civil case I was on was exactly that. In fact it was a five-year-old case that was originally thrown out but was appealed. And as it turned out the plaintiff still didn't have a case because he lost.

And as for the prison guard brutality case, while I don't know the story behind it, I do know that sueing the State over "inhumane conditions" such as being served macaroni & cheese every day for a week is a popular passtime among prison inmates. In fact some of them are just as knowledgeable about law, if not more so, than many lawyers.

 

[sheeplady]

And as for the prison guard brutality case, while I don't know the story behind it, I do know that sueing the State over "inhumane conditions" such as being served macaroni & cheese every day for a week is a popular passtime among prison inmates. In fact some of them are just as knowledgeable about law, if not more so, than many lawyers.

The prisoner in the case I sat on had been selected for a search. Instead of being taken to the actual search area (the correct area according .to procedure, which was videotaped to protect both parties) the prisoner was taken to an area that was not supposed to have prisoners in the area (guard area only- not videotaped). The "head" guard insisted the prisoner be taken to this area over the protests of another guard. The guards said that the prisoner turned as if to punch him. The prisoner said he was taken down in a "take down hold" and kicked when he did not open his mouth quickly enough. The prison guards said they took him down in a take down hold. The guard who took him down reported injuries to his knee from taking him down on an uneven surface, which wouldn't have happened if he was in the appropriate search area rather than taken to an area that was inappropriate for a search and further away from the search area (which was unoccupied).

Regardless, the prisoner broke several ribs and the guards on duty failed to follow procedures for their own safety. In addition, their take down hold was improper and resulted in injury to both parties (forgivable, but wouldn't have been as bad if they had followed their own safety procedures).

In my mind, it was highly suspicious. Even if it happened exactly as the guards stated, the head guard risked injury to his own men, which I thought was absolutely non-professional and dangerous. If coworkers get hurt because the person in charge is a nitwit, the nitwit deserves punishment.

 

[Stanley Doble]

If you like to shoot off your mouth about what the government oughta do, here is your chance to be the government. Do some serious work that could affect someone's life and the life of your community in a positive way.

 

[Stanley Doble]

Then there is the story about the lady who was called for jury duty.

She said " I should tell you I am against the death penalty and can't be objective where the death penalty is involved"

The lawyer said "That won't come into it at all. This case involves a man accused of taking $2000 his wife had saved up for a fur coat and spending it on another woman"

She said " I could be wrong about that death penalty thing"

 

[Tango Yankee]

I should think it is an honor and a priviledge to serve on a jury. I was called for jury duty two years after arriving in this county, much to my wife's surprise as she's known people who have lived her their entire lives without being called up. On the day I was to be there I wore what I thought would be appropriate for a courtroom, "business casual." I was in a sport coat, tie, dress shirt and trousers, nice shoes. I was one out of two men in the pool wearing a shirt with a collar. I was the first one the defense attorney booted from the pool.

I am currently serving as first alternate on a Grand Jury. This is a four-month requirement, meeting once a week. As the judge said when we were brought in, it's being a very interesting experience. Of course, the Grand Jury has a different job from that of a regular jury. A Grand Jury only has to determine whether or not a crime was probably committed and whether or not the individual in question probably committed it. In Ohio every felony goes before a Grand Jury. There are nine jurors and plus alternates. For an indictment seven out of nine must vote for the indictment.

It has been very interesting, and rather disturbing in that we're learning a lot about what goes on in the county. We did deal with one case that, when an indictment was not forthcoming, saw at least three above the fold headlines and articles regarding the whole sorry mess. But if you're not able to get seven to agree to indict you're not going to get 12 to see the person as guilty.

Go, do your duty, and learn from it.

Regards,
Tom

 

[Undertow]

I really enjoyed serving on a jury. [huh]

I would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I just received a federal jury duty questionnaire in the mail.

 

[Widebrim]

Unless otherwise directed, I report this coming Monday in downtown L.A. I was originally scheduled for early November, but since that would have interfered with the school year (and I would have potentially lost quite a bit of money since the district doesn't recompense for jury duty), I was glad to be able to postpone it until Christmas vacation...

 

[jamespowers]

Unless otherwise directed, I report this coming Monday in downtown L.A. I was originally scheduled for early November, but since that would have interfered with the school year (and I would have potentially lost quite a bit of money since the district doesn't recompense for jury duty), I was glad to be able to postpone it until Christmas vacation...

You want to serve on Christmas Vacation?! :faint:

For some reason they never choose me for jury duty. Perhaps because I became a member of FIJA. When you answer yes that you are a member of that organization they don't seem to want you anymore.

 

[PHIL1959]

here in the uk. i just cant believe how everything is in favour of the accused. the innocent party sort of becomes the guilty one .
its so sad.even killers get off because even cctv isnt admissable.
although here in the uk there are millons of cameras filming your every move..
every main street has one
although you have to serve jury duty here in the uk.i find it frustrating that the law favours the guilty party
.
my opinion is if you are arrested and end up in court- you have least been a little bit guilty at doing something wrong ...

 

[Widebrim]

^^Fully Informed Jury Association? Okay...All I have to do to not be chosen is dress in a suit and/or reveal that I'm a veteran. Either one will do it most of the time. (But if I do get chosen, then I wear a suit everyday.)

 

[jamespowers]

^^Fully Informed Jury Association? Okay...All I have to do to not be chosen is dress in a suit and/or reveal that I'm a veteran. Either one will do it most of the time. (But if I do get chosen, then I wear a suit everyday.)

Yes, that is FIJA. Veteran?! No way they want you to serve. You might give a jaywalker the death penalty.

 

[Widebrim]

^^Ha, ha. It is to laugh...

 

[jamespowers]

^^Ha, ha. It is to laugh...

I am just telling you how defense attorneys think.

 

[Mr. Hallack]

When I lived in California,it seemed like I was summonsed every other year. And not once have I been picked to be in a jury. Sitting around the waiting area at the Ventura County Courthouse is NOT a fun way to spend the day. On the summons paper, they always asked if I would waive the payment I would receive for showing up. No way, if your going to waste my time, your going to pay me my $11 (seriously that is all you got)

Since moving to Maine in 2000, I have not ONCE been summoned. I wonder if I actually will.

 

[jamespowers]

When I lived in California,it seemed like I was summonsed every other year. And not once have I been picked to be in a jury. Sitting around the waiting area at the Ventura County Courthouse is NOT a fun way to spend the day. On the summons paper, they always asked if I would waive the payment I would receive for showing up. No way, if your going to waste my time, your going to pay me my $11 (seriously that is all you got)

Since moving to Maine in 2000, I have not ONCE been summoned. I wonder if I actually will.

You had the same experience I have here.

Don't push your luck. Someone will read that and put you in for plenty of jury duty.

 

[Red Diabla]

Unless otherwise directed, I report this coming Monday in downtown L.A. I was originally scheduled for early November, but since that would have interfered with the school year (and I would have potentially lost quite a bit of money since the district doesn't recompense for jury duty), I was glad to be able to postpone it until Christmas vacation...

Wandering around downtown LA during the long lunch break will be fun whether you get seated on a jury or not!

RD

 

[Atticus Finch]

Perhaps because I became a member of FIJA. When you answer yes that you are a member of that organization they don't seem to want you anymore.

You tell them you're a member of FIJA? I thought the goal of that group was to get people onto juries.

AF

 

[Evan Everhart]

They've been hounding my mother for the past two years with this jury summons business. I personally don't have any problem with serving on a jury panel, but, she cannot because she's a substitute teacher in the LAUSD and she simply cannot afford to do the work, which they don't give a fig about sadly. Whenever I've been called up, I call in and they say that they don't need me. Go figure.

I do however recall an old college chum who used to show up stinking of vodka (he'd pour the stuff on like cheap cologne) and wearing zip off pants to get thrown out. If he got the same judge he'd had before, he'd promptly put his zipped trouser bottoms back on to avoid contempt charges....One time this odd ball even claimed to be a "national socialist" to get out of jury duty which was really quite beyond ludicrous as he was Jewish. Some people, will do anything to avoid jury duty.

 

[Widebrim]

Wandering around downtown LA during the long lunch break will be fun whether you get seated on a jury or not!

RD

That's how I see it. I love downtown!