Jury Duty - What's your experience?

Parent Cafe
41

I was called for jury duty in 1988, in NY, when I was a 26 year old computer programmer, actually working for a university (one all you CC’ers would know…). Turned out to be for a fairly high-profile (locally) murder trial. I was selected and happily served on the 5- or 6-week trial, with paid leave (your tuition dollars at work). I enjoyed the trial, but got very frustrated when things would start to get interesting between the lawyers (objections and what not) and they would send the jury out. There were some weird characters involved, including an admitted drug dealer who pled the fifth to every question and had a really sleazy looking lawyer with him. It seemed that he was actually the intended victim but had known he was in trouble and had left his home in the hands of a clueless “friend” who ended up dead, with the defendant, another “friend,” charged with the crime that was probably perpetrated by the dealer’s dealers.

When we began deliberating, we took a vote. It was 10-2 to acquit. We continued to discuss; there clearly (to me and 9 others) wasn’t enough evidence to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The two who wanted to convict had really weird reasons - one believed all defendants were guilty, the other thought he “had the hands of a murderer” (I kid you not). We did all sorts of funny things in the jury room, trying to act out parts of the scenario the DA had tried to paint for us, examining the gun, etc.

Deliberations continued through lunch… then through dinner. Around 10 they started to inquire about whether they would have to sequester us overnight. Mr. “everyone is guilty” decided that he wasn’t staying overnight, and caved, and Ms. “guilty hands” followed immediately. We acquitted after about 12 hours of deliberation.

Years later I learned some additional facts that almost certainly proved that our defendant had not, in fact been guilty. So I felt that not only had we followed the law, but justice was done.

As a result of that trial, and my later conversations with the defense attorney, I went to law school. Eventually found out what went on when the jury is sent out. Never touched criminal law, though.

I was called again a few years later, but was excused by the judge for cause. Actually there were two causes, and I never knew which one got me excused, since I told the judge both - I’d had a conversation with the defendant just after the alleged crime occurred (long story there, she was actually admitted to my law school and assigned me as her mentor, but deferred her admission after the incident in which she shot her husband, another lawyer, during a domestic violence incident, that was ultimately found to have been in self-defense), and was also clerking for the appellate court that would have heard any appeals of the case.

I haven’t been called since moving to Hawaii, but I have gotten a questionnaire. Typically once you complete the questionnaire, you get a summons within a year or so. All of my family members who have been summoned have called in and been excused; the vast majority of cases are disposed of by plea bargain.

42

I’ve gotten two jury summons in the last year. The first time I needed to report for jury selection by noon. Here a group of prospective jurors is first called out by the number on their jury summons: my number wasn’t called and I was released by 3:30.

The second time I needed to report by 8 a.m. My number was called along with a fair amount of others and we proceeded to a courtroom. We listened to the lawyers and learned snippets about the upcoming trial. I wasn’t chosen for the trial - estimated to last 4 days - and was released by noon.

Public transportation is free if you’re called for jury duty. All you have to do is flash your summons or your juror’s badge. I’ve caught a bus from the outskirts and landed within a couple blocks of the courthouse. Easy!

I also like that you can donate your juror’s stipend to … umm … I can’t quite remember but all were good choices: supporting law enforcement, children, women, or homeless shelters, I think. Anyway, I donate my piddling jury stipend and then add some on.

I wouldn’t mind serving on a jury but odds are stacked against me: my daughter is an assistant district attorney. My last summons was for a civil trial but one of the attorneys usually worked the criminal courthouse and knew my daughter so …

43

I get called for the county on a regular basis, yet my husband never has gotten a summons. Any time I renew my license, change my address, or show my feet in the county courthouse for an unrelated issue, I get a summons. I just postponed one because we’re going on vacation during the 6 week timeframe. I got to select another time, I chose March.

I’ve usually been excused without showing up as I had a higher number. I did have to show up one day and sit in the courtroom for hours and then the case settled.

I got the questionnaire for federal jury duty. I’m sure I’ll be getting the notice for that any time now.

44

Not where I live! You have to get yourself to and from the courthouse.its a somehT rural area…?and there is NOT any public transportation anyway.

45

I’ve served on a murder trial and on a grand jury. The murder trial was very dispiriting. The jurors totally disregarded the judge’s instructions and applied petty prejudices and amazingly incorrect versions of the law. Where some of these people get their misconceptions boggles the mind. Example: there were 16 counts against the defendant. Several of the jurors were passionate that if we voted to convict on 15 counts but voted to acquit on one count, the defendant would walk because you have to convict on all counts. Huh??? It was really frustrating for those of us who followed the judge’s instructions, since one of those instructions is that we were supposed to discuss points of law. So several of us just rolled our eyes.

On the other hand, the grand jury was an educational experience and the other jurors revived my confidence in my fellow citizens. It was a wonderful,experience.

46

I was recently summoned for jury duty in California for a date that conflicted with a religious holiday. When I postponed service by registering online, I was given a drop down menu that allowed me only a limited choice of dates after that, maybe three months forward IIRC. None of those options were ideal but I chose as well as I could given the limited options. So I was one of those people who showed up without a lot of flexibility. Once you’re assigned to a panel, you then have to wait for the entire panel and the alternates to be empaneled and then for the actual trial to begin. It can take more than a few days for all that to happen. I am sure that’s what happened with the case to which I would have been assigned. Given how disorganized the process looked early on, I can only imagine how it proceeded.

The reason judges excuse people who have vacation plans is because that’s one of the prescribed statutory bases for excuse. Now, I didn’t come in with only a day or two to spare. I was fully prepared to serve for a week, even two if required. I was assigned to a courtroom where the judge announced that this would be a murder trial and that it would require a commitment of 8-10 weeks. (The schedule sounded brutal too.) When he told those of us who would suffer a statutory hardship to line up outside the courtroom, the entire group rose and exited. I think there were 5 people left sitting in the courtroom. People on line with me were sharing their issues. One woman had 4 year old twins and was phoning people frantically to see if someone could pick them up from daycare if she was late. Her husband was a firefighter and could not take over their care during a long trial. Another woman had regular chemotherapy appointments and was holding a doctor’s note to bring with her to the judge. Most of the others couldn’t afford that much time away from work and would not be paid during their absence. There may also have been a few students enrolled in summer session classes. I had tickets to fly to a family event and was enlisted in taking a disabled relative to that event. The date was four weeks in the future but it was not flexible. We showed up thinking a 3-5 day trial was manageable but an 8-10 week one was not.

Given the difficulty of empaneling a jury for a case requiring that kind of time, it had to have been an unlucky week for those with high numbers and a lucky one for those of us with low numbers. They called almost everyone that week so it meant that the high number people had to call in each day to check their status and by Friday, all but the very last batch had been called. Those of us with low numbers went in, spent half the day there, were excused, and were done.

47

Interesting stories about ways localities handle jury duty differently.

I feel as if over the years I’ve been promoted as a possible jury member. I’ve been summoned every few years for more than 25 years. Starting first in civil court, then state, to finally Federal with the most recent summons. All experiences involve long waits in what seems like purgatory, or the airport when your plane’s delayed, and long lunch breaks.

The most interesting and educational experience was sitting for voir dire in the Southern District’s Courthouse. I wasn’t selected for either case, one involving contributions to a local politician, the other internet harassment across state lines. My husband was one of hundreds of potential jurors who completed a questionnaire for John Gotti’s trial. With all the news coverage, how could one not be prejudiced.

And, one interesting process, is the bonding that occurs while waiting, both among those on a jury panel & those of us simply waiting to be called. Voir dire can be like a brief personal introduction, which can become a point of social contact while waiting.

48

An 8-10 week trial is a very different situation. I would not expect many people to be available. I said “in my opinion you should be prepared to serve for a few days”—a few day–not 8 weeks. My problem is with those that come with plans (such as plane tickets) within the next day or two and expect to be excused.

49

@ClaremontMom, my point is that you are only allowed one postponement and there aren’t an enormous range of dates offered to you once you postpone. You aren’t allowed to write one in. Sure, ideally people should come in with 3 days to spare but it’s also possible that they were doing the best they could with the dates available to them. In addition, it often takes more than 3 days to assign a jury and alternates.

50

@3girls3cats - But your example was for an 8-10 week trial which is completely different from what I was talking about. I was answering to that.

In our county we can reschedule to any date so there’s no real reason for the situation. Especially for someone who claims they have had a vacation planned for months. In any case, these days the judge does not excuse them completely, they allow them to reschedule to a later date. A fair response as I would not want someone to miss their vacation plans. I just suspect many who try this are hoping to avoid selection by having plans.

51

Around these parts, you can actually do the jury duty postponement online. It’s easy peasy.

52

Thumper–Here too. In fact recently my husband was called. He postponed to a date a few weeks later. Then our plans changed so he went online again and changed the date again. That time, he changed it to a date a week prior to the original date. No problem.

53

Claremont -

As I said earlier, I try jury cases for a living. Many times someone has come up and said that they have tickets for a vacation or a wedding or the like and weren’t able to postpone because they had already deferred earlier. I am always inclined to bounce such a person from my panel, with the caveat that they are going back to the main jury room and could get put onto a case that might last longer or they could be released that day. My philosophy is that I don’t want a juror who truly doesn’t want to be there any more than I want the one who is desperate to be picked. My pet peeve is people who have become American citizens, hold good jobs that require English skills and then pretend to be unable to communicate in English to get out of jury duty.

54

Lol. I’ve seen that too (“I don’t speak English well” excuse). Judges ask them a lot of questions about that.

I don’t want to miss a vacation or wedding or other important event any more than the next person. But here it is so easy to reschedule it should be a rare situation. I understand other places might be different.

55

@eyemamom I am just like you. I’ve been called so many times that a judge once told me “you should buy a lottery ticket”. Once was excused cause I didn’t live in that county anymore. At least twice I had to go in but was excused within a day or two. One time I was called into the box for questioning but was released because of my profession.

Two times picked to serve, both lasting about a week. One time the judge (the same judge who told me to buy a lottery ticket) tried to excuse me for cause because he knew me and was a client, yet the lawyers both said they didn’t care and they picked me anyway.

Was called for federal which is actually being on call for three months. It was the last week of my three months when I thought I had gotten by that they called on me and picked me for the jury. The Federal jury was 8 instead of twelve. I will say that the federal accommodations and leather juror chairs were so much better than county.

Gotta go buy my lottery ticket now!!!

56

@ClaremontMom I did muddy the waters with my example. I hope my example was an outlier. At the time, I was annoyed that I hadn’t been given more latitude in my postponement given that they wanted such a lengthy period of service. When looking for a commitment of that sort, it would be so much more effective to offer more latitude in choosing dates and to warn that this was the sort of trial for which you might be called. (Yes, I get it it that it’s not necessarily known in advance-I’ve worked in two court systems.) I’d been told that most trials last 3-5 days and I was perfectly fine with that sort of commitment. Obviously I was not alone. When we heard the length of time we’d potentially be serving, you could hear a collective gasp from the courtroom.

But it could easily have turned out differently for a different juror., even with a shorter trial. I deferred once because I was summoned for a week that conflicted with a religious holiday. Easy as it may be to choose an alternate date online, the dates are limited-or at least they were for me. I was summoned in spring. My options for postponement included spring through early summer. Summer is difficult for many people for a range of reasons and a three month window doesn’t make the rescheduling easy. Suppose you have children home from school and now you have an additional burden of finding extra childcare? Suppose you have aging parents who live out of the country and you routinely visit them during this period? I have friends who spend months abroad during the summer. Suppose you have scheduled surgery that you’ve either put off until summer? Suppose it’s your busy period when you make he bulk of your income? If the option to defer extended into the fall or even winter, I would agree with you. At least in my area, I could see that there would be people who could show up with limited availability.

57

@3girls3cats - We obviously have different situations…we appear to have a much more forgiving system:
-We can postpone for up to 6 months
-We can choose any date.
-If calling in for a week doesn’t work for us, we can choose to come in on a specific date.
-Changing is done online (very easy)
-Not sure if there is a limit to how many times you can defer but my H changed his date twice without a problem.

With all these accommodations, I can’t see why someone would appear before the court and say “I have plane tickets for Hawaii tomorrow, so I can’t serve”. And I applaud the judges who now say “Ok, but go back to the clerk and reschedule your duty for after your return.” instead of “okay, your duty is done, you can go home now” .

We are talking apples and oranges. I am talking about a very accommodating system and plans that are easily worked around, you are talking about a more restrictive system and plans (such as childcare or surgery) that are more difficult to negotiate.

58

And in our court…if you show and say you have plane tickets, you better have the confirmed and paid for itinerary with you. Or tough.

59

I believe that’s the general rule in all the places I’ve lived but it also depends on the judge. I had my tickets and itinerary ready to show but the judge waved me away before I could produce anything.

60

I’ve been summoned 5 or 6 times in the 20 years we have lived here. My locality has all the jurors show up on Mondays and Thursdays to be assigned to various trials around the county. So you may show up Monday and get assigned to a jury for a satellite courthouse Tuesday afternoon. They have started letting you find out about this online and avoid the Monday trip. They also let you reschedule once per summons online, but if you need to postpone again you have to do it in person.

I have only served once for a whole trial. Once was excused during voir dire - I guess someone didn’t like my answers. Twice have sat on the crowded benches in the hallway for hours while they negotiated a plea bargain. I think seeing a bunch of grumpy looking middle-aged people waiting to pass judgement makes some deffendents get real about settling for a plea agreement. Once or twice my number was high enough that I was excused at noon when all the juries were filled.
And no teachers that I know were excused because they were teachers. One of the parents that I know from school is married to a judge. We were talking once about jury duty and she said her husband likes teachers as jurors because they are patient and used to sorting out both sides of a disagreement. Of course she may have just been talking…