<p>In the 23 years I’ve lived in CA, I’ve been called to serve jury duty four times. I actually was on a trial once (weapons possession), once I was excused (for small child care) and then a second time (from the trial and work, I got chicken pox!) and the last time, I went to the court house for one day, was not selected and that served as my time.</p>
<p>I’ve been called for jury duty (state not federal court)three times and went through voir dire once (I was rejected). It was a criminal case (defendant was accused of raping his 12-year-old niece) and the judge asked if I could be impartial. I responded that I’d like to think I could put my feelings about this kind of a crime aside, but I really didn’t know if I could be impartial. The judge lectured me saying that there were lots of distasteful crimes and if everyone shied away from them he’d never find a jury. He then said–“Let me ask you once more if you can be impartial.” I said the same thing–I’d like to think that I could, but honestly I really don’t know. Got another lecture about the responsibilities of citizens, and he asked me once again. I responded as I had before. The judge then asked the prosecutor and public defender if they didn’t agree I should be dismissed for cause in light of my responses. I went home feeling guilty, but I answered honestly.</p>
<p>California uses both voter registration and driver licenses so they get almost everyone. My D received a notice shortly after turning 18 (after she was already in college) so she got to go to the courthouse for spring break and apparently it was filled with college students who deferred until then.</p>
<p>I’ve been called a number of times - more than my W for some reason. I’ve been empaneled a couple of times but dismissed from the panel both times by the lawyers. Apparently the lawyers don’t like engineer types on their juries.</p>
<p>My W was called to a federal court once that obliged her to a long time, at least a month, and the court/judge was far less willing to dismiss someone from the duty simply because they have children to take care of. Apparently that’s not as important as dealing with some low-life. </p>
<p>Every time I’ve been to the county court they seem to have a roughly 15-25%actual ‘serve rate’ (I calculated it - I had lots of free time while waiting). They call in far too many citizens for the convenience of the courts, lawyers, and perps IMO. They could stand to improve their efficiency and not waste the day of so many people for their convenience.</p>
<p>I was called for jury duty about a month ago. I had to check the court’s website after 5 pm the previous day to see if I had to go to court. I was not needed. I also was called 2-3 years ago and I was required to go to court. I had to sit in a “holding room” for about 2- 3 hours. The case was settled that morning.</p>
<p>I’ve been summoned four or five times to the county court for jury duty, but have never been selected as a juror. They don’t seem to like engineers around here either. My wife has a similar history. We both received notices about a month before our wedding that we were being summoned during our planned honeymoon. Fortunately, they were willing to reschedule both of us.</p>
<p>My daughter who is still in college has been called once. She was excused after telling them that she is attending college out of state, is in her senior year and was uncertain where she would be living after graduation.</p>
<p>H. is an atty, and has been called several times, but never served. </p>
<p>D2 got her first notice when she was either 8 or 9. She was excused.</p>
<p>I’ve been called once in 12 years and I didn’t even have to go in. My co-workers seem to get called every year. I swear it’s because the county knows our employer is generous with Jury Time-Off. The funny part, is I actually would like to serve on a jury once.</p>
<p>“Can he really get put on jury duty over a break and be expected to miss finals/classes?”</p>
<p>That’s what the Clerk of Jurors told me, directly. I think it was about that point that I gave up on trying to reason with that person. Just imagine the conversation you’d have with your student: “Hey Hon I just got off the phone with the Court and it turns out you’ll have to take Incompletes for all your classes this semester. Now I know several of your current classes are pre-reqs for Spring classes. You’ll just have to drop those and plan on making them up during the Summer Session.” The Clerk of Jurors was unimpressed.</p>
<p>NewHope, What would have happened if you were not responsible and did not forward the summons to your college student and did not call the courts on her behalf? How was it finally resolved?</p>
<p>Like you are going to fly your child home or have them leave campus mid semester, or allow them to jeopardize a year of college to be a juror for a few weeks. Geez! Oh, and I do believe it is very important to do one’s civic duty, but the courts should be reasonable about it.</p>
<p>I’ve been called once. Right after I left the state. Right now I drive our daughter to school twice a week so I’d ask for an exemption for that (we have one in our state if you have to take care of your kids). If that didn’t work, I’d just move out of state.</p>
<p>In the county that I used to live in, they cared little about child care responsibilities, driving your child to school,etc., BUT, a nice worker told me that I could reschedule to the summer, which I did, and I went and got credit for service, but there was no case that went on trial. Sixty or so people sat for 4 hours to all be dismissed. The form says that you can ask to be excused if you are responsible for someone else’s care, but I was told that if you have any type of job (even part time and work around school hours as I did then) they believe that you can get coverage. Nice of them isn’t it?</p>
<p>Back in LI where I grew up, my Dad got called a lot, and Mom never.</p>
<p>I’ve been called three times, served twice. The last time, I was selected to be on a jury for a trial that would have started on baby’s first day of kindergarten. The lawyers were completely unsympathetic. When seated, I burst into hysterical tears in the jury box and the judge was horrified that one of the attorneys wasn’t willing to work with me because he believed that parenting was just as important. The case settled very quickly after the judge chewed him out.</p>
<p>Awwhh, zoosermom. Did the lawyers really believe that you would be listening and 100% focused on a trial when you were not able to be there for your D’s first day of kindergarten! Who was thinking that one through?</p>
<p>Why don’t you tell them that you are for death penalty for every possible crime? They would live you alone for ever and ever, promise.</p>
<p>
The amusing part to me in hindsight was that one of the lawyers clearly saw what was going on and stepped back to let the other guy look like the villain. I was so clearly distraught, that meanie lawyer was lucky not to be lynched by the rest of the jury!</p>
<p>I was called once, about 18 years ago (within a couple of years of our moving here), and was not needed.</p>
<p>H has never been called in 20 years in this state. D1 was called during winter of her senior year in college. There was a form you could submit to ask to be excused. If you were a student living away from home, you had to give them a time when you would be home and available. Daughter told them she’d be home in the summer, and sure enough, she got her summons about three weeks before graduation, to go serve about a month after she got home. She went to the courthouse one day, and was dismissed on the third day, after calling in days two and three. D2 is just turning 20, but switched her voter’s registration to Pennsylvania, so I don’t know who would call her; her driver’s license is still here in Illinois.</p>
<p>I have never been called; H has been called twice and ended up serving once. (Put away a drug dealer, haha.)</p>
<p>I think our state uses Driver’s licences but have no idea why I have not been called.</p>
<p>We read in the paper horror stories of people who are responsible for the care of others (small children, parents with Alzheimer’s) yet have to report. I can see requiring an employer to let you off for jury duty, but how do you require toddlers to let you off??</p>
<p>Regarding some people being called more often than others - one of the jury workers told us that that can happen if people are listed under multiple variants of their name. For example, if they used a middle initial on the drivers license but not on the voter registration they’d likely be in the system twice and have twice as much of a chance of getting called. The worker said that if one suspects this might be the case to contact them and they’ll check on it and sort it out.</p>
<p>“What would have happened if you were not responsible and did not forward the summons to your college student and did not call the courts on her behalf?”</p>
<p>northeastmom - That’s part of “the thing.” I doubt if anything would have happened if she’d just ignored the call. But evasion runs contrary to what we’ve taught our kids so responding was the right thing to do. However, there’s Responsibility and then there’s Stupidity.</p>
<p>My H gets called a lot. His next time is in a few weeks. If 'you are one of his patients, don’t even THINK abort asking HIM for a note. So HE’LL get called instead? I don’t think so!</p>