How many of you have had Jury Duty?

[raptorsfan29]

I might be joining you, just got the letter today, it's not a summons it's just to tell me that i have been selected as a member of a pool of persons who may be called to serve at some time on a grand jury or Traverse jury (whatever the hell that is, yes i am no legal expert in this) at York County Superior Court in Maine.

Personally i don't mind serving, it might be a great experience if it wasn't for my many flaws. depression, Anxiety, kidney stones recurring, at some time stuttering when i talk. not exactly what i consider great jury characteristics. Well i guess if this doesn't light a fire under my ass to get some much needed help with my issues, nothing will.

[Buddhagirl]

I have jury duty in May. I missed my prior jury date. I flat out forgot and they sent a nasty letter.

This is my second time being called. I was called another time around 2006 or so.

[Brian Fein]

Been called a buncha of times.  Never been selected though.  They always dismiss me.  Rumor is lawyers don't like engineers on the jury.

The lawyers in the case will determine whether or not you're a good candidate for their trial.  If not you will get dismissed and it will be no more than a huge waste of time for you.

[masterfins]

I've done it a few times; picked once, bowed out of a Capital Murder case because I couldn't miss that much work.  The last time two years ago I was selected to serve on a Federal Grand Jury, which the term lasted for a full year.  The Federal Grand Jury wasn't that bad, only met about twice per month, and was only for a half day usually.  Learned a lot.

[Phishfan]

I received the letter once but I was an out of state college student so I didn't have to report.

[TonyB0D]

Never had jury duty, but got to pick my jury for my own trial - ask me anything you'd like to know about the selection process!

[Landshark]

Like Brian, I've been called for jury duty many times in my life.  I've been selected twice.  Both were civil cases where the defense won. 

[masterfins]

On a slight tangent, I don't understand why people try so hard to get out of jury service.  I can understand if you lose money because your job doesn't pay you (and you can't afford it), or if its going to be a long drawn out trial and you can't miss that much work; but I've actually enjoyed the times I did jury service.  I look at it from the perspective that if I was actually on trial for something I'd rather have someone like myself on the jury, rather than some unemployed derelict who can't wait to vote guilty so he can go drink a forty, or a retired person that sleeps through half the trial and will vote any way the majority wants.

[Landshark]

On a slight tangent, I don't understand why people try so hard to get out of jury service.  I can understand if you lose money because your job doesn't pay you (and you can't afford it), or if its going to be a long drawn out trial and you can't miss that much work; but I've actually enjoyed the times I did jury service.  I look at it from the perspective that if I was actually on trial for something I'd rather have someone like myself on the jury, rather than some unemployed derelict who can't wait to vote guilty so he can go drink a forty, or a retired person that sleeps through half the trial and will vote any way the majority wants.

It does impose a hardship on some people, and an inconvenience on others.  In addition to work or school. some people may have personal stuff going on in their lives that they can't afford to miss or they may be ill.  If that is the case, just tell the judge and he/she wll be happy to either dismiss you or defer your service to another day.  Others see it as a day where you sit around and be bored when you could be doing stuff you like.  The Bay County courthouse has come a long way to try to overcome that.  They have books, magazines, tv rooms, video game systems and computer stations in the jury room for everyone to use.   The courthouse also has WiFi and you are allowed to bring cell phones and laptops in but they must be turned off when you go into a courtroom.  They've also expanded their snack bar menu big time.   

What we all need to remember when jury duty imposes a hardship is this:  A trial by jury is a right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.  By serving as a juror, you are helping someone exercise that right.

[dolphins4life]

I got summoned when I was living in Boston, but had it postponed.  When I moved back to Needham, I was out of the district so I could not be called.

I believe people should get hardship deferments from jury duty.  You should only have to serve if you have a job that gives you that benefit.

[bsmooth]

Most trials do not last long enough to truly be a hardship at all. I have been summoned once and made the jury. I laughed at all the people and their pathetic excuses for not being able to do their civic duty.
As stated earlier, unless this is a serious offense or complicated lawsuit, most will be done in a day or two.
But our society is too lazy, yet have no problem constantly bitching about the justice system.
Just think that some people may have used bullshit excuses to get out of the Casey Anthony trial who might have convicted her.
I would love to be on one of these landmark cases.

[CF DolFan]

I've never been selected althoughy wife has been three times. If I were to be selected for the Zimmerman trial I would bail in a heartbeat. If I was single it wouldn't be an issue but I could never vote innocent knowing how the Anthony jurors were treated. I would be praying for enough evidence to vote guilty and probably would be slighted. I couldn't put my family in that position.

[Phishfan]

Never had jury duty, but got to pick my jury for my own trial - ask me anything you'd like to know about the selection process!

I'd rather ask about your trial.

[Dave Gray]

I reported to jury duty once.  The course settled prior to choosing a jury, so I was eventually let go.  ...still took most of a day.

[TonyB0D]

I'd rather ask about your trial.

sued a dr. for medical malpractice, nothing criminal or anything cool like that.