Have you ever served on a jury?

[Brian Cronin]

The first time I was picked for jury duty I served 7 days on a case and the second time I had to go I was released from the jury pool in an hour and a half. I didn't mind it because where I work still pays you for jury duty. In fact, even with the hassle of finding and having to pay for parking downtown, it was better than being at work. Our local newspaper prints the court cases that are going to trial on Mondays, so you can see what your chances are at being picked. Both times I was summoned, seemed to correspond with when I had voted in person rather than by mail. I don't know if that was just a coincidence or not? After you serve they can't bother you again for 2 years so I'll be eligible again this June.

It's fascinating that you can work out the odds ahead of time.

It was funny for me, it was like a game of musical chairs. If you happened to be in a panel (the thing where they pick out the jurors) when the time ran out, you had to come back the next day. If you were still in the jury pool at the end of the day, though, you'd be dismissed. So you want to time your return to the jury pool just right. I luckily returned at 2:20 PM. One panel was called up at 2:45 PM and that was the last one called up all day (the day would end at 4:00 PM). But definitely a tense 75 minutes waiting to see if they'll call up another panel.

-Brian

[Brian Cronin]

But at least Mrs. Doubtfire was blaring on the two big screen TVs.

-Brian

[Artycool8or]

Limiting the age demographic would kinda' throw a monkey wrench into the whole "jury of your peers" thing...

Who said anything about limiting the age? I know few characters in their 30's and 40's that are retired or semi- (whatever that means), that might be too few and far between to form a panel, but there are so many unemployed, welfare cases and rich people who aren't working, that might appreciate the $20 some bucks compensation per day. In my family it would have been great if they called my wife instead of me.

Anyway, there is one sure way to get out of the jury duty.
Between the time you were summoned and the date of the hearing, commit a crime big enough to get you locked up and you'll be excused, for sure.

[dancj]

Some companies treat it like a sick day (without taking away from your other sick days, of course) while smaller companies can avoid paying, in which case the government pays. The government, though, pays very little so you'd be out of pocket. And in the trial I got out of, the lawyers explained how it was likely going to be a month-long. Yikes.

-Brian

Nasty.

I just checked my company's policy and I'd be covered. (phew)

[idlewildered]

Yeah, missing so much time is kind of nuts.

How hard is it to avoid jury duty in Scotland? Did you try to get out of doing it?

-Brian

No I didn't try to get out of it, felt duty bound to go through with it, plus I had no idea how long it would be. It's not so easy here as the selection process is very different in the UK. More pot luck than a focused decision.

The six weeks was a bit of a nightmare. Whilst base salary was covered, a lot of my earnings work on large bonus' that were impossible with the amount of time lost. If I was to estimate I probably lost about £3k plus for the time lost but wouldn't change it for a second.

[Queso6p4]

After over a decade of not being called to jury duty, I finally got called to serve today. As it turns out, me being an attorney is a pretty good "get out of jury duty" card (while not definitively, of course, defense attorneys in civil suits tend not to want lawyers on the jury) but it made me wonder about other folks who DID end up serving on juries.

So as to the question - have you served on a jury? If so, how was the experience? If not, have you ever been called for jury duty? If so, how did you end up avoiding serving on a jury? Just blind luck?

-Brian

I've received two letters in the mail for jury duty but never got picked. I've always wanted to, though.

[Babylon23]

I served on a criminal case here in Melbourne about 7 years ago. I was the jury foreman, which mainly consisted of keeping everybody on track during deliberations and announcing the verdict.

The case was truly bizarre. It was meant to last 3 days but ended up going for 2 weeks due to witnesses not showing up, satellite link ups not working, and general incompetance. In that 2 week period, we only went as far as the prosecution presenting its case. Once they'd finished, the judge advised us that, in cases where she didn't think the prosecution had presented a solid case, we could deliberate without even hearing the defence's argument. The case was incredibly flimsy and full of contradictory eye witness accounts, so I understand where the judge was coming from.

It was a very interesting experience, and participating in the deliberation process was fascinating.

[Toreador]

Got called twice. First time I got out of it because they filled up the jury before calling my name. Second time got stuck on jury duty for two days over a drug possession charge case.