Jury Duty

[lvc]

Ever been on Jury Duty? Regale us with your stories. Depress us with the shambles of a system we endure.

Not from a country with jury duty? Sit back and relax (and feel free to shake your heads in disbelief) as Americans regale you with stories of squandering justice. Or just lots of time for its citizens.

[LoathedVermin72]

I might have jury duty this month. Kinda hoping it gets canceled.

I was called to jury duty once when I lived in Illinois but I couldn't do it because my wife and I both worked full time and shared one car, so I had no practical way to get there.

[Simple Torture]

I was called for grand jury duty a couple of years ago (state, not federal), but was able to opt out because I’m a full-time caregiver. It’s like a 6-week commitment or something like that.

[Peeps]

was called to report three times

had to decline the first because I no longer lived in that state

the two i did report to were here in PA. was never actually called to be questioned as they selected the jury before me. had i been questioned on my last one i would have been dismissed because the hospital that was a co-defendant was the hospital where my mother spent time in (this was one of the polling questions by the lawyers)

the one in California was right around the time of the OJ trial starting and man oh man i like to think i missed out on being a 15 minute celebrity

[lvc]

I was seated on a grand jury once which meant I had to report like it was a full-time job for a solid month (and get paid like $12 a day--don't know how the working people on the jury could possibly make that feasible, I was on a summer break from college). That was a depressing experience to see the logic (or lack thereof) my fellow jurors used to indict/not indict people. I remember one case where a teenage girl had accused a man of sexual assault and women (WOMEN) in the grand jury made comments about her probably acting like she wanted it at the time. Which, true or not, does not make what was alleged to happen not against the law no matter what. That was the only case I remember because I was so disturbed by it and am still.

I was called in a special jury pool to be screened for a capital murder trial which included being interviewed regarding my opinions about the death penalty by both lawyers. That one was dumb because they went to all of the expense and time to screen and seat an entire jury and then the defense lawyer filed a continuation of the trial because he wasn't ready yet and all that money and people's time was just wasted.

I was called to regular jury duty once and aside from sitting in the jury pool a few afternoons I was just screened for a slip and fall case and a gas station. The most entertaining thing there was some guy being super vocal trying to prove he was biased and thought the defendant was playing possum about his injury (transparently trying to get himself disqualified) and he was the first one the lawyers chose to sit in the box.

[Peeps]

I was seated on a grand jury once which meant I had to report like it was a full-time job for a solid month (and get paid like $12 a day--don't know how the working people on the jury could possibly make that feasible, I was on a summer break from college). That was a depressing experience to see the logic (or lack thereof) my fellow jurors used to indict/not indict people. I remember one case where a teenage girl had accused a man of sexual assault and women (WOMEN) in the grand jury made comments about her probably acting like she wanted it at the time. Which, true or not, does not make what was alleged to happen not against the law no matter what. That was the only case I remember because I was so disturbed by it and am still.

I was called in a special jury pool to be screened for a capital murder trial which included being interviewed regarding my opinions about the death penalty by both lawyers. That one was dumb because they went to all of the expense and time to screen and seat an entire jury and then the defense lawyer filed a continuation of the trial because he wasn't ready yet and all that money and people's time was just wasted.

I was called to regular jury duty once and aside from sitting in the jury pool a few afternoons I was just screened for a slip and fall case and a gas station. The most entertaining thing there was some guy being super vocal trying to prove he was biased and thought the defendant was playing possum about his injury (transparently trying to get himself disqualified) and he was the first one the lawyers chose to sit in the box.

not sure where you live but when i was summoned i was paid $12 a day and my work was responsible for my wages minus the $12. so lets say i made $200 per day at my job, job would owe me $188

[lvc]

I think you worked for an employer who went above and beyond the legal requirement (which I believe is you can't fire anyone but you don't have to pay them). Or you live in a more benevolent state than I do.

And just to clarify, jury duty pay in my state is only $5 with an extra $7.50 per diem (which I guess wouldn't count as income). Those numbers were set in 1978 when it would have been more equivalent to $60 in modern times. So score one for inflation being way faster than the law.

[wease]

I was an alternate for the grand jury for like six months but never got the call to report for duty.

[coptheriotact]

I did when I was 18. I didn’t have a license so it was a hassle to get there and back.

I remember I was hungry and my stomach kept growling loudly while in the jury box. We got dominos at half time

It was a murder case that originated from an argument about Boney M. I’d only recently seen that daddy cool video so I found it highly coincidental.

[Kevin Davis]

I somehow managed to evade it for years until I finally got called in 2023 at age 40. Got dismissed at 1PM, after the defendant in a murder case accepted a plea deal at the last second. I spent most of my time in the waiting room scrolling RM.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Yes. Plaintiff had motorcycle accident and insurance denied the claim. I'm too tired to go into any detail, but plaintiff won.

[spike]

I was called for grand jury duty a couple of years ago (state, not federal), but was able to opt out because I’m a full-time caregiver. It’s like a 6-week commitment or something like that.

Same, but I was just an alternate.

[Simple Torture]

The first time I got called to jury duty it was in Lowell (IYKYK), and they made us put our personal items in lockers. No books, no phones, no nothing. Just literally sat in a room for 5 hours before all being dismissed. The second time I was sent to Lexington, and I snuck in a book because I didn’t want to be bored as hell, but I left my phone in the car. I get into the jury room and everyone else has phones, laptops, Kindles, the works. Another half day with no trials and we were dismissed before lunch.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

The first time I got called to jury duty it was in Lowell (IYKYK), and they made us put our personal items in lockers. No books, no phones, no nothing. Just literally sat in a room for 5 hours before all being dismissed. The second time I was sent to Lexington, and I snuck in a book because I didn’t want to be bored as hell, but I left my phone in the car. I get into the jury room and everyone else has phones, laptops, Kindles, the works. Another half day with no trials and we were dismissed before lunch.

Did you make any friends?

[dad]

Never had it.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Never had it.

Would you be nervous?

[96583UP]

Pauly Shore showed us what was possible

[dad]

Never had it.

Would you be nervous?

very.

[lennytheweedwhacker]

Never had it.

Would you be nervous?

very.

Don't think less of yourself for that.

[dad]

Never had it.

Would you be nervous?

very.

Don't think less of yourself for that.

I’ll try.