i've just been called for jury duty.. :( how lame is that?! any advice?

Question

how many hours or days of my time does this generally take up?

Answer 1

It's your civic duty. Don't call it lame. And it'll depend on where you are how much time it will take up.

Answer 2

What is the matter with everybody?? Jury duty SHOULD be considered a great opportunity to see court happenings in action. Time it will take? Anywhere from 2 to 8 hours depending on the case you have been chosen to participate in. Your company is supposed to pay you for it even though you are NOT at work. Is your job any more important than our democracy? If it is you have your priorities screwed up! Jury duty is an honor in our democracy. Someone is actually asking your advice and opinion! Other countries that are not democracies don't give a damn whether you participate in their system or not - and they don't ask whether you care or feel bad about that. At least in America we can express our opinions generally without problems because we do have freedom of speech. Jury duty being "lame"? Grow up - we still have choices. Don't go - more of your type is out there - now that is where "lame" comes into the mix here.

Answer 3

What a wonderful opportunity for you! Read on, it gets better.

A Jurist is a Constitutionally guaranteed political position. It serves as a member of the Judicial branch of government. what you will read now very few politicians, much less state attorneys, or judges would want you to know.

A member of a Jury is one of the most powerful political positions in our government at any level. A single Jurist can, entirely on their own, overthrow a law they disagree with.

If you're dressed appropriately and you answer questions smartly during jury selection you may have the opportunity to personally overturn a law that you disagree with. No where else does anyone have this kind of power legally. And again, no State Attorney or Judge will share with you any of this information.

All you have to do is remain quiet during the trial and simply cast a no, if that is your decision, during jury deliberation. You have no need to attempt to influence the other members of the jury. You may prefer to leave that up to someone else and that's a smart idea.

Simply sit and say no. That is, if you disagree with the law being used against the accused defendant. The result will be that the jury, at worst case, is hung and the defendant goes free. Use your common sense here.

Other things to keep in mind always when thinking about the judicial process include: IIs the law constitutional? Is there actually a law here? (I can cite cases in which a jury convicted persons when there was NO LAW to back up the entire case) Ask for a copy of the law? Verify it independently of the Judge or the State Attorney. And finally, and most importantly, what physical evidence is there that the defendant actually committed the offense?

Often times, juries are convicting defendants as guilty based purely on circumstantial evidence rather than hard cold facts. In other words, I may have a motive to murder a certain person and I may also have the opportunity to do so but even those two things combined fail to show any physical evidence that I actually committed the murder. Where's my fingerprints? Where's my DNA? Did someone see me? Are they sure that it was actually me? How can they be absolutely certain?

I can show you how to frame another individual for murder and have them convicted and sent to prison for life or put to death. It's been done before. To innocent people.

Whenever you're asked to serve on a jury they should tell you these things. The Judge should be required to inform you of these things. But they won't. So you've got to use your own mind and make your own decision.

It may only be a traffic violation that you're deciding. Does that make the case any less significant? No. The law enforcement and the state attorney thought it was important enough to make a case out of it in the first place. And the defendant, requested to be judged by citizens (peers) in their defense.

If you think the law is unjust or you disagree with it then you have the ultimate authority. This is likely the most political power you will ever have the opportunity to personally wield. Use it wisely.

Answer 4

Well if you don't want to do it it only takes one day From 9 am til around 5 pm. When they tell you about the case tell them that you don't agree with one side or the other automaticly. In my case I went and they were asking people if they had ever sustained knee or back injuries and everyone who said they had and it caused long term reprocussions were sent home.

If you get picked it can be simple and they can settle before you ever need to step foot in the court room.

If you get picked and they don't settle it all depends onthe case. If it is a grand jury case expect a long hard grueling annoying month or 2 of service. If it is just a civil case it can go long it can go short... it depends on how much detail is involved.

Best bet, speak like you are un educated, watch what gets other people sent home and use what they said if you can, tellthem you cant sit still for long periods or that you have no interest in actually paying attention.

Honestly if you wont give ityour all then find a way to get out of it. The person geing tried or trying to win deserves someone who really wants to be equal, fair, and give all their time and attention.

Answer 5

I've always wondered if one truly gets a jury of their peers. Most people with any wherewithall manage to get out of it so who really judges you. I was only called once and I had just started a new job and I mean just started. I went ahead and did my duty-as you should-was selected for a jury and after spending a day, the person decided to accept an offer and so I was released. That was a relief because it was Federal Court and could have taken quite a bit of time. I wasn't sure how the government expected me to support myself during the trial but oh well. . .

Answer 6

It's an honor to serve as a juror. But you wouldn't understand that. Apparently, you live a pointless life and couldn't be bothered with doing anything worthwhile.

Expect it to take probably a week, eight hours a day. You might not even be picked for a case, and you'll sit in a juror selection room for most of that time, just waiting to be selected. If you finally get called for a case, you'll be interviewed by attorneys, and if finally selected will have to sit for hours a day listening to evidence. It will be important that you pay attention, something you clearly never did in your civics classes. During this time, you might even be asked to make an intelligent decision about someone's guilt or innocence. That decision will have dramatic effects on people's lives. Therefore, people will expect you to care enough to think and reason clearly.

I think that's too much to ask, given your attitude. We'd all be better served if you weaseled out of jury duty. Send them some excuse about being unable to attend.

Answer 7

It's usually only one day of your time. That is, unless you get called to a trial. If you don't get called the first day you are set free. It's not lame........that's what keeps our judicial system fair. If you actually get picked for a jury, it could be quite an interesting education for you. It's your civic duty, Bucko.......just suck it up a do it. Take a good book with you to read while you are waiting. A little human interaction with your fellow jurors can be pleasant. And jury pools are usually given a nice long lunch hour and sometimes even a short day.

Answer 8

I've been called for jury duty a number of times, but have yet to actually serve on one. If you do, most cases only last from a day to three or four days - maybe even a week. Look at the good side, you get free parking and $6.00 or so a day. I mean, like if the case went on for 6 days that's $36. bucks!!

Answer 9

I was a jury foreman on a case. It only lasted one day. They told us if we could come to an agreement by 5:30 pm we wouldn't have to come back next day but still get credited. That was motivation for everyone to cooperate. It was a very interesting process and I learned a lot about the court system and also about the grease in sewers from fast food restaurants and schools. That's right folks. The stuff your kids are eating at school is as bad as a fast food restaurant. Hey and don't forget the great pay for serving. I think I ended up about $36 richer. It was a great experience.

Answer 10

Lame? Not a great attitude...considering you are going to be responsible for the life of a countryman. Jury duty is an inconvenience, to be sure. But how else do you suggest the country decides the legal fate of individuals? Would you prefer that one judge makes the decision? A jury of one's peers has been determined as the most democratic way to handle legal decisions.

Answer 11

Depends on where you live. Some places keep you in the pool for a set number of days. Others call you in and if you are not selected that day you are off the hook.

Advice? Yeah! Just go, do your civic duty and be done with it. The only lame thing I see here is you whining about it.