Yesterday I stopped at the mailbox, excited to see what Netflix had sent me (I don’t keep track of my queue sometimes) and hoping I might even be surprised by a card, letter or a check from a client. But no….  instead, I was greeted by an envelope bearing the dreaded words:
IMPORTANT! JURY SUMMONS ENCLOSED - IMMEDIATE RESPONSE REQUIRED
I don’t have time for jury duty! Not that I would mind serving as a juror, mind you, but being the sole support for my household I kind of need my income…. Â
PLUS, they have sommoned me for the week that Brandon & Jennifer will be bringing granddaughters Emily and Marie for a visit.   (I can request a postponement, thank heavens)
So share your jury experiences with me. Ever been summoned before? Ever served? Ever gotten out of serving?   Any suggestions for convincing them I really need to be excused? Have any good jury stories?
Some courts excuse people who work on commission or fees and jury duty would provide an undue hardship, but you usually have to go down to the court to explain the situation. Or they may just put you on a short case. Almost everybody says they don’t have time or it would be a hardship, so the courts don’t offer an automatic “free pass” but they should hear you out and I think generally they understand.
Most of the time jury duty ends up going in or calling (depending on the court) to see if you are in the jury pool for the day. If not, you are free to leave, but you usually have to do it every day until your time slot is over.
Most juries are not sequestered, so you are free to go about your business while not actively on the jury.
The only time I pulled jury duty is when we lived in Snohomish. I got summoned my first week on a new job. The corporate policy covered pay during jury duty and nobody complained (this after a couple of months delay starting the job for a couple of reasons). On the whole I would say it was a very worthwhile experience.
The accused was only guilty of being at the location and being black. Snohomish county had a policy at the time that if a person was charged it went to court. The accused was from out of state and had gone home to Alaska before they charged him so he was extradited and had to sit in jail for a month or two awaiting the trial. Even the prosecutor knew he was innocent but had to do his job — we acquitted him on all charges and the defense attorney caught up with us outside the court. We had continued deliberations into a second day, (a couple of people voted the first time to convict because they believed that police didn’t arrest innocent people, we had to prove to them from the evidence that he was innocent) which made her (the defender) and the accused nervous as the evidence was pretty clear and should have been decided quickly. She said you always worry the most when you know your client is innocent. (You don’t always know, and as a defender you do your best, but its scary when a jury could go either way.)
Fortunately, the accused worked for someone who knew his character and he was supposed to have a job when he got home.
Other lessons learned but this is getting long. This was also the final week of the OJ Simpson trial so I sort of had a better understanding of the process.
I have served once, but I was still single and in my 20’s and I hated my job so I was glad to do it. I have gotten out of it numerous times by having a baby and no one to take care of that baby(ies) while I served.
When I did actually serve, they dismissed people for either being pregnant (or some other illness that required constant attention or had constant side effects) and being related in some way to people involved in the case.
My case that I served on was just theft, some dude stole some scrap metal from some other dude, not very exciting, but very interesting in seeing the legal world at work. We couldn’t convict the guy because there wasn’t enough proof, but he ‘seemed’ guilty as hell. Us jurors took the job very seriously, though, and it was interesting to just observe the group dynamic and see who rose about as the natural leaders, etc. I actually enjoyed it.
But I don’t want to do it again.
I have gotten out of it twice. No good stories to tell.
Never for me. Justin had to do it, once, a few years ago. He went, sat there for 3 hours, and the guy never showed up, so everyone was dismissed. Or something along those lines.
I can’t even imagine having to sit on a jury such as that for O J Simpson. What a nightmare. Do you think any of those people enjoyed it? I sure wouldn’t have.
I was summoned twice. The only time I had to actually go was for a case surrounding some drunken idiot that caused a serious car accident.
As the defense was selecting jurors, they came to me and asked me if I drank alcohol. I said “No, and I really don’t understand the appeal”. I was immediately allowed to go home. 🙂
The only time I remember having to go in was an awfully long time ago, but I told them I worked for an insurance company and they sent me right home.
I was summoned in NYC, but by then I had moved to Nassau county on Long Island, so I was no longer a resident and got out of it.
Javier has had several summons’ but he can’t read english so he just threw them away. He then got notice that he had to appear before a judge. I wrote a letter on his behalf explaining that he didn’t speak english, and that he was not a citizen. They asked for proof that he was not a citizen and I gave them a letter from his lawyer to Immigration asking why it was taking so long for his citizenship interview… and they let him off and didn’t fine him. But they said they will still select him in the future b/c they don’t know when he will be a citizen. And if he isn’t, then I am to just provide them the same documentation and explanation.
So, John, are you enjoying being back in the northwest? Is Edmonds in Snohomish county? That’s where I am – and that’s where this summons is from.
Kris, I’m with you – I would NOT have wanted to be on the OJ jury! I truly wouldn’t mind serving on a jury – recognize it could be an interesting experience, but am concerned if it ran into longer than a day or two… my clients have no one to fill in for them if I am not available. One, in particular, would find that very problematic.
I think I’ll request a postponement to a time when I won’t have guests – and then either hope they’ll excuse me or it is a short trial.
I was summoned once, but they sent me home. Bart has served ona jury. The person was found guilty of theft goods. Also lat year he received a summons and it was at a very inconvenient time they said he would be notified to come in 6 months. He never received the letter telling him to appear. So we THINK he got out of it. Hope they don’t come to arrest him !
I have been summoned several times but because of my health problems they never want me. That of course is in state court. I have been summoned for federal duty but because I am not a citizen I have been disqualified.
I have a good story that happened to a friend of mine. She was on the jury in a rape case and sat next to an old lady. This lady had no idea what oral sex was or fellacio among other things and kept wanting my friend to explain these things to her. My friend did and the little old lady almost had a stoke.
Allison – I am very much enjoying being back here, though its tough waiting for the house to sell in Utah and not being in my on place with Bev. Jonathan and Sarah have been great to let me stay here and I enjoy the time with them and my Granddaughter, Stella. (They are expecting another girl in the fall). It was especially nice to finally meet Eve, when she and Jeston and Alex came to unload my truck into a storage unit.
Yes, Edmonds is Snohomish County (very SW county) and Jonathan and Sarah’s place is in Seattle.
Kathleen – in most cases the jury is not to discuss anything related to the trial until they have heard all of the evidence and are in deliberations. I’m surprised your if your friend wasn’t given those instructions.
I have a boring 4th planned 🙁 …
In Nevada if you are the sole support of your household, and are self employed, AND it will cause financial hardship you can be excused.
I have never served. This was the first year that I didn’t have small children, or self employment problems and was quite willing to serve. Here you call the night before to be told if you come in or not. I was dismissed over the phone twice and then told I had completed my responsability for this year.
My family will all be at Bens house for the 4th…except Tori and Jim who will be in the process of moving to Utah
In case you’re following this exciting drama, I have received a post card informing me that I have been excused from jury duty.
Yeah!