Jury Duty

[JakeBrake]

I received a summons for county jury duty via USPS this week. this is the first summons I've received since I've been over 65. The instructions say: "citizens over sixty-five (65) years of age may claim an exemption if they so desire."

I've rather enjoyed the few times I've been on jury duty, so I've decided to go for it.

Here's a few reasons if they ask why I didn't claim the exemption.

1. I need the money.
2. This helps relieve the boredom of being retired.
3. I'm not dead yet and this is my civic duty. I also donate blood platelets regularly, which is also a major time commitment.

 

[MichaelB]

I received a summons for county jury duty via USPS this week. this is the first summons I've received since I've been over 65. The instructions say: "citizens over sixty-five (65) years of age may claim an exemption if they so desire."

I've rather enjoyed the few times I've been on jury duty, so I've decided to go for it.

Here's a few reasons if they ask why I didn't claim the exemption.

1. I need the money.
2. This helps relieve the boredom of being retired.
3. I'm not dead yet and this is my civic duty. I also donate blood platelets regularly, which is also a major time commitment.

I was on a jury for a long trial, quite a few jurors shared your first two criteria.

 

[Ronnieboy]

4. I want to see the dude or dudette fry.

 

[mickeyd]

5. I'm hoping to write a best selling book and I need a topic.

 

[Powor]

My parents both spend all day watching court cases on t.v., so I'd be a bit annoyed if they said no to jury duty. I'm glad you are getting out to perform your duty, but I do see why the option is there. Not everyone wants to spend retirement listening to bickering.

 

[W2R]

6. I would like to serve on a jury at least once some day, for the life experience. In other words I want to know what it is like. It is all a mystery to me, and yet a fair trial by jury is an integral part of our democracy. I want to participate (but not as the accused! ).

 

[martyp]

I haven't seen a jury notice in at least 10 yrs. I used to get them every couple of years. I guess they lost my name. However, I wouldn't mind serving if called. I'm not ready to volunteer yet.

 

[Sittingduck]

I have served on a jury a few times. Thought my general dislike of mouthpieces and the legal system in general would be a major annoyance for me. Actually I found it rather interesting. What I had a problem with was my fellow jurors. Total absence of critical thinking skills, logic, and an ability to understand the judges very clear instructions. Wanted to strangle them but felt doing that in a jury deliberation room would end up in a "movie within a movie" type thing and be rather weird. Didn't know if I would own the book rights to my own story.

 

[scrabbler1]

I have been called for jury duty 3 times and never minded it at all. The first two times, in 1987 and 1996, were when I was working full-time so the short drive to the county courthouse was a lot better than the long train ride to my office. And I still got paid full wages without using any vacation time for the days I was out. In 1987 I got on a case which went to verdict (we convicted her for shoplifting). In 1996, I did not get on a case after serving for 2 days but just having my day end earlier meant that I was able to do some things in the early evening I could not do had I worked a normal day. The third time was in 2007 when I was working only 2 days a week. I did not get on a case after one day and was dismissed (and got paid full wages for it). I figure I am clear for a few more years but they can call me whenever they feel like it.

 

[easysurfer]

I served for a case that was almost two weeks long.

It's funny the excuses folks try to not get selected. One guy wanting to get dismissed said "I hate lawyers"

What was odd in the selection process on the case I was on, the plaintiff's attorney didn't even ask me a single question whereas the defense's attorney did ask a few.

 

[clifp]

6. I would like to serve on a jury at least once some day, for the life experience. In other words I want to know what it is like. It is all a mystery to me, and yet a fair trial by jury is an integral part of our democracy. I want to participate (but not as the accused! ).

I've only be summoned to jury duty twice in my life despite being registered to vote or what ever else they use to make the lists. I only ended up have to go one time for about 3 days, and wasn't seated on a jury.

Now that I am retired, being on jury for a reasonable involved crime is on my bucket list.

Plus who knows maybe if it is an important enough trial I can get interviewed by Charlie Rose, another thing on my bucket list .

 

[Walt34]

I'd prefer not to. I've spent enough time in courtrooms being bored. But if called I would serve.

 

[Tom52]

Here's a few reasons if they ask why I didn't claim the exemption.

1. I need the money.
2. This helps relieve the boredom of being retired.
3. I'm not dead yet and this is my civic duty. I also donate blood platelets regularly, which is also a major time commitment.

I am curious about your 1st comment....do you get paid for appearing for jury duty? I have served jury duty on 3 occasions in my lifetime and only received a minimal amount for mileage. It barely covered the price of fuel.

 

[MichaelB]

The retired men on the jury when I served all had smaller pensions. Even though the jury duty pay was minimal, they loved it because it gave them some pocket money. They even went out for lunch every Friday, even though our lunch was catered at a local deli. That so little extra money could make such a difference made a big impact on me at the time.

 

[bUU]

I think my own personal resentment toward jury duty stems from the futility of my time spent. I've been called for jury duty at least a half dozen times, and have even been seated on a jury once when I was very young, but I have yet to actually participate in a trial, much less decide the facts of a case. This last time I was actually held over for three days. (Generally, the process here in MA is that if you're not seated on a jury on the first day of jury duty, you're done - they call it "One Day/One Trial jury"). After sitting through a couple of rounds of jury selection, all that time, I was finally dismissed because I had donated money to a battered women's shelter.

It seems to me now, in retrospect (looking back at all the previous times I served) that there is a distinct lack of respect for the jurors' time. I believe the system would be enhanced by the lawyers doing the work of outlining the causes by which they would want jurors excluded, and handling that via some survey system, telephone interview perhaps with a clerk, with an option online tool for those so-inclined, verified by sworn statement before the start of the trial, but otherwise don't call someone in for jury duty if they're just going to be excluded because of their special knowledge, skills, talents, experience or charitable giving.

I know trial lawyers would hate the idea because they want to exploit their jury readers (or whatever they're called) to choose the jurors that would serve their client best, but it seems to me that that's just subjectively biasing the jury pool, instead of letting it be truly representative of those who are objectively unbiased.

 

[HighRoller]

I was called several times during my working career and it seemed it was never a good time to go, so I always asked for a reschedule or got out of it somehow. Even when I would go, I spent most of the day just waiting around and was never selected. I was called again just a few months after I retired and I was happy to go and serve. I was selected for the jury panel that time and went through the entire trial process. (Interesting). Now that I have the time, I wouldn't mind serving a few times each year.

 

[JakeBrake]

I've served on both federal and county juries.

I've noticed that that jurors are treated better in county court where all the court officials (judge, sheriff, and district attorney) are elected by the jury pool.

On the other hand, all the court officials in federal court are lifetime appointees and tend to treat jurors like a necessary evil.

 

[Cooked]

I received a summons for county jury duty via USPS this week. this is the first summons I've received since I've been over 65. The instructions say: "citizens over sixty-five (65) years of age may claim an exemption if they so desire."

I've rather enjoyed the few times I've been on jury duty, so I've decided to go for it.

Here's a few reasons if they ask why I didn't claim the exemption.

1. I need the money.
2. This helps relieve the boredom of being retired.
3. I'm not dead yet and this is my civic duty. I also donate blood platelets regularly, which is also a major time commitment.

Thank for you sincerity, but I was taken aback by 2). As a recent retiree I am trying to build a routine to keep occupied. Is there something that I do no know about? Does boredom creep in if we do not stay vigilant?

I have been called for jury duty many times and never even made it into 'the room' so its always been a complete waste of time. I did meet a trail lawyer once and asked him if I would be a good candidate. He told me that he would not pick me. I forgot the reasons, though I agree with him. He apologized later, for reasons that I still do not understand.

 

[anethum]

Last time I was summoned, I was part of a jury pool for a minor civil case. The judge gave a brief description of the case and named the plaintiff, defendant, and their respective attorneys. He asked if any of the potential jurors knew any of the parties. I was the only person who stood up. When the judge called on me I said, "Your honor, I believe I went to junior high and high school with the attorney for the plaintiff." At which point, my former classmate said, "Your honor, I used to have more hair."

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I served only once. Rather interesting trial of a juvenile being tried as an adult for a daytime golf course armed robbery. He had a story of trying to walk away from his two partners in crime at the last minute, but it was too late for that to make any difference.

But after several days the two sides rested, the jury was given instructions and told to retire to the deliberation room "except you, Mr. GalaxyBoy, you're the alternate juror!" So I got to go sit in a little room for two days with nothing but daytime TV to pass the time. What a disappointment.

 

[W2R]

Thank for you sincerity, but I was taken aback by 2). As a recent retiree I am trying to build a routine to keep occupied. Is there something that I do no know about? Does boredom creep in if we do not stay vigilant?

I know you weren't addressing me, but I thought I'd jump in and mention that it just depends on the person. Everyone told me I would be bored when I retired, but during the first 3+ years I can tell you honestly that I haven't been bored at all. Life has been pretty interesting and fun for me since I retired.

 

[NW-Bound]

I have been called 5 or 6 times in my life. Was selected and seated as a juror the last two times I was called.

The first case was 3 or 4 years ago, and involved charges like rapes, conspiracy to commit murder, arson, etc... It lasted a month. It caused me a lot of distress.

The second case was last year, and a simple cut-and-dry DUI that should be pleaded guilty. It still took 2 days. We were not told but I suspected it was the defendant's last ditch effort, futile as it was, as he might have a lot to lose such as facing deportation.

Having served twice, I have done enough, and will ask to be excused next time.

PS. I did not even file to claim for the pay. I figured it was my donation to the system.

 

[hicabob]

I did once - child molestation case & it lasted 2 weeks - very sad all around but very educational wrt the process and how cops forensically analyze 'pooters and cell phones.

 

[fh2000]

After I naturalized as a citizen 25 years ago, I got summoned right way. I wanted the experience so during jury selection I tried not to be partial, and got selected. It was a simple case: a young man burglarized a house that belonged to a professor. The DA office did a very good job of preparing the evidence. We even went to the top of the building looking down to simulate how police helicopter could see the suspect easily that way.

The judge kind of hinted that this is a short case and we can all go home by the end of Friday. We went into the deliberation room and stayed few hours and decided on the verdict.

Later on, I was summoned 5-6 more times, but since I now worked for companies that do not pay for jury duties anymore, I got myself out each time.

After I retire, I might try to get on again.

 

[scrabbler1]

Besides the 3 times I got called for jury duty (from my previous post), I think about another time I got called but did not have to appear because I had moved out of the jurisdiction (Manhattan) 9 months earlier. This was back in late 1986 when I was moving often, and I had actuallly moved twice in those 9 months in 1986, the first time out of Manhattan. The big case which began in December, 1986, was the Bernie Goetz subway shooting trial. It took 4 months for jury selection to complete through April, 1987, so there is a decent chance I would have been questioned at some point in the selection process.