Jury Service - tell me your experiences?

Question

I've been called up for jury service next week so just wondered if those that have done it can tell me if it's OK.

Answer 1

It depends on the type of jury you are called for. I've been called for state petit jury, superior court and federal jury duty. My wife has been called for state grand jury duty.

For the most part it's boring. The first day you might get a basic briefing on jury duties and an introduction to the justice system. Then you sit around to see if you are called for a jury pool. If so, you go in, listen to some brief facts about the case, answer a few questions and wait to see who is called. If not, you go back to wait again. many areas let you call in the night before to see if you need to appear the next day, so you are not there every day, only when they think they will need jurors.

I've only served on a jury one time, and it was only for one day, but it was interesting. I don't think I would like to serve on a long term jury though.

Grand jury duty is different. My wife had to go one day a week for three months. She was also appointed to committees that met on a regular basis and took up another two days a week. Luckily she worked for an attorney at the time so he couldn't complaint too much about the amount of time that it took.

Take a book, magazine or something else to do during the day because you will spend plenty of time doing nothing.

Answer 2

I have served twice. I got selected on the first day and the trial lasted 4 days. It was a felony Class X drug sales within 100 yards of a school. It was interesting and some times laughable what the defense tried to use to get him off. He tried to say he was 150 yards away from the school building so he couldnt be tried for that law. He never did deny he sold the drugs just how far away from the school he was and the weight of the drugs. The law stated school property not school buildings. Interesting case as it was the first trial for that offense in our county. Second time I was on a coroners jury and that is only one day. You should be propared to wait while the lawyers and judge argue with the jury out of the court room. Take a book or something to keep you occupied while waiting.

Answer 3

The worst part is waiting to be selected on a Jury and if selected waiting for the trial to start.

I approach it as if I was a plaintiff or defendant in a trial I would want someone honest and forthright like myself to be on the jury so I suck it up and put up with the hassle and do the job that needs doing. Its not that bad people make a bigger deal out of it then they need to.

In the last 20 years I have been called 7 times and placed on juries 2 times. One trial lasted 1 day and the other lasted 4 days.

Answer 4

It's entirely dependent on what the case is you'll be hearing. It could be extremely interesting and quite an eye opener, even educational. There again, you could find yourself lumbered with some long, drawn out corporate fraud trial that drags on for months. (I sincerely hope not for your sake). As to my own experience, it really was thoroughly interesting and quite gripping at times, and although the evidence against the accused was quite damning ,after returning a guilty verdict, I still breathed a sigh of relief to hear the judge read out a long list of previous convictions all along similar lines, Though none quite so serious or on such a large scale as the ones that I heard.So I know we made the right decision. I would just like to reiterate the advice of several others. Expect to do a lot of waiting ,so definetely take along some good reading matter, and / or a puzzle book to occupy your mind. Other than that I hope it goes well for you. If nothing else, it's certainly an enlightening experience !

Answer 5

I haven't had the honor yet, but both of my parents have.

My mom got stuck on a civil jury case. Some guy hit the back of a metro transportation bus and sued the bus company. Mind you, the bus was on a busy road with lots of stops during the middle of the day. Dumb@ss.

My dad was assigned to a murder trial. He said that one was hard, since the death penalty was a possibility in that trial.

From other's experience, most of the time, you sit around waiting to be called in to a jury, so take a book or something.

Answer 6

I found it very interesting, if gruesome (the longest case I had was a rape case). Do take loads of things to do as you can sit around the whole day and not get called at all. Rumour has it in the UK that if you dress very smartly and carry the Daily Telegraph either the Prosecution or Defence will reject you!

They look after you very well - if you have any questions ask the clerk assigned to your jury for advice. I had to go for a job interview in the middle of the case and I was very nervous about asking if I could go and they said, of course, and the whole case was held up for half a day.

But if you just get burglaries, they're not so interesting. It helps you put your life in perspective to see the muddles other people get into!

Answer 7

I've never done it but I remember a lecturer at college telling us he had been a juror in the trial of a dead man who had fallen into a shredder at work. They had to figure out if he was pushed or just fell!!!!

Also my gran was telling me that she was called for jury service but she knew one of the criminals and had to go home. She knows some dodgy people, my gran

Answer 8

when they ask during jury selection if you have an opinion about the case just say "well of course he's guilty or the police wouldn't have arrested him". You'll be home before lunch time. ;)

Just kidding. I hope you serve honorably and enjoy the experience.

Answer 9

The worse part is the waiting around to see if you are selected. Bring a book for that phase. Chances are, you will be sent home. But if they keep you on, it is actually interesting to see how our justice system works from the inside. They provided donuts for us to snack on, and drinks. It wasn't fun, but definitely a good experience.

Answer 10

I was there for 2 days, but took 3 days off work.