What is it like in Jury duty?

Answer 1

Depends on whether it's federal or municipal. Municipal, interesting at best, boring at worst. In a municipal setting, you sit around, reading or knitting or whatever you do to avoid boredom, waiting to see if you will get on a jury selection panel. Then, if they call you to be one of the 40 or so, you go to a courtroom and get grilled by the prosecuting and defense attorneys... they see how law savvy you are, and if you seem too savvy, they scratch you off their list. Then they select their 6 or 12 or so, and you go back to waiting. If they haven't made their selection by the end of the day, or by noon, then they dismiss you, but you have to back either after lunch or the following day.

If you are not selected to be on the jury... you go back to the waiting room and wait... at the end of the day, you get paid 6 bucks (in San Antonio, anyway) and go home.

Federal is a little more interesting. I have done this once. You are not allowed to read. You are not allowed to make assumptions about the person on trial -- heehee, but when you have a break, you still go assuming about the case with the others, anyway... sshh, don't tell anyone...

You're assigned a number, then the attorneys start their questioning, things like, if you have a problem with capital punishment, raise your hand... then folks raise their hands, and their number is written down.. This goes on ALL day long.

Then they pick their jury... or recess 'til the next day... and if you're not picked, you get your 6 bucks and go home.

I've never gotten picked to be on a jury.. but have served duty many times.

The federal duty I did was going to be to decide a punishment phase for someone already found guilty of murder. It was not boring at all.

Answer 2

I have done jury duty twice. One was a drug case and the other was a coroners jury. I found them both to be interesting and enjoyed the experience. Where I live you get a card notifying you of jury duty and a phone number to call. They give you a number and when you call in the morning they tell you whether or not to appear in person. It is better than going in every day and just sitting doing nothing. The coroners jury is only one day and mine only took about 3 hours.

Answer 3

I am actually assigned to do Jury Duty in two weeks so I'll let you know as soon as I do it. But from what I've heard you sit and wait to see if they are going to call your name and if they do then you go into the courtroom and both parties will ask you questions about yourself and your outlooks on topics relating to the case. If they feel that you will be against them then you won't be picked to be apart of the Juror. You have an hour and a half lunch and you'll have a lot of time on your hand so bring some books. Have Fun.

Answer 4

I've served three times (once on a Federal trial, twice on County civil trials).

I love it!

It is a great education into the process of how laws work.
And it made me realize why the jury in the O.J. Simpson murder trial came to the correct conclusion (even though I think O.J. did it).

Unless you get picked to serve, it is boring just sitting around waiting for the selection process...so bring something to read or an iPod to listen to.

But do it - learn from it - appreciate the fact that we live in a great country (at least for now).

Answer 5

I don't know. I've been notified to appear for jury selection but it always gets cancelled & I don't get to participate.
I wonder why so many people try to get out of it -- seems to me its a priviledge not some duty to shirk.
I can't wait for my turn!

Answer 6

whilst you're a registered voter, in some unspecified time sooner or later you would be observed as yet that doesn't recommend you will serve. thousands of human beings would be observed as each and each week yet no longer all would be chosen for various motives. And whilst human beings say to lie and act like some racist jerk, that may not inevitably artwork to get you out. the two components are in seek of malable human beings, human beings they might sway one way or the different. so which you will possibly be able to desire to flow in good on your convictions, somebody unwavering in what they suspect. And smart, they do unlike smart human beings. So the smarter you come back off the extra in all hazard you would be excused.

Answer 7

It can ruin a life. It's hard to focus on that crap when you know that the lack of income you'll have because of it will put you behind in your bills--hurt your credit rating and cause fees and very large interest rate increase on the credit cards--which raises your monthly bills so that you can never recover and lose everything in your life including your marriage and custody of your kids.

Can't these dumbasses just avoid trouble or get a mediator, instead? Their freaking landlord/tennant disagreement can ruin an entire life!!!

Besides, it slows down the economy and hurts businesses.

Retired people have free time, great life-long wisdom, and may even need to make the extra money (even though it's quite a little amount)--they will likely gain some pride and dignity, as well. In some cultures (present & past), the elders govern EVERYTHING)

Answer 8

It is very, very, very boring! When you first get summoned, you go in and you'll get asked some questions, to see if you would even be suited for the trail. Pretty much to make sure you wouldn't be prejudiced to what the case was about. If you're lucky, you won't be called back for the actual trial.

Answer 9

I feel like I was back in High School strudy hall, waiting for the bell to ring!

Bring a book to read. Hope you are not called.

Also, you might have to check your cell phone at the door.

Good luck.

Answer 10

depends on the trial, if you get someone like OJ you can write a book and become rich, but most trials are just plain boring.