Jury Duty
Jury Duty
(OP)
I have been called twice in 2 years. Officially, you can only duck out if called repeatedly within the same year, but until I lived here I never received a summons at all. It actually seems that the number of folks in my office who receive a jury summons is way above normal - one gent has been called 3 times in 9 years (I seem to be on track to beat that). First time I was called, I was happy to perform my civic duty. The timing of this most recent notice could not have been worse, so I've postponed until August, but based on the experience the first time around I'm just hoping it's not too much a waste of my time.
Just curious about other's experiences. Is this really that outside the norm?
Just curious about other's experiences. Is this really that outside the norm?
When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low





RE: Jury Duty
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Jury Duty
I've been in the box twice 20 years ago, hated it.
Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Jury Duty
We spent most of our time in the jury room because of legal points being argued between the defence and prosecution juries before the judge.
In our case it was a gang of burglars who had robbed an old lady. The defence wanted to plead one of their clients guilty to a much lesser charge of receiving rather than burglary on the grounds that he didn't enter the property, he just stood outside the window and took things that were passed to him.
Yes, it appears there is no shame among the sharks.
They could have saved a lot of time letting us hand in a verdict right away, based on this, instead of wanting to go the full distance on this defence.
But bad as we may have been as a jury we were spared the 12 Just men routine by the judge agreeing to a mistrial (I think the defence may have read the juror's body language even before we got anywhere).
One thing we did agree on was the poor showing by the police witness. We rather expected some one a little more professional and articulate but he was probably expecting, as I suspect is the norm in these cases, and got, claims of police corruption and stitch ups and hence was very careful what he said and didn't say.
Yeah.
Which was why one of them wanted to chance his arm with guilty to receiving. That and the fact they were all caught, in possession, in their van on the M25 10 minutes from the scene.
JMW
www.ViscoAnalyser.com
RE: Jury Duty
I the area where I live any time you involved in a motor vehicle episode where a ticket is issued (even a parking violation) you can bet a jury summons is on the way.
I went the first time - complete waste of 4 days.
Since then I ignore the summons. The paperwork looks official but there is no way to determine if you actually received it. So long as it is not summons for a grand jury then in the circular file it goes.
RE: Jury Duty
Regards
Pat
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RE: Jury Duty
In practice it dragged on for about 9 months though with some chunks of 'time off'.
Had a not insignificant impact on his career.
What is Engineering anyway: FAQ1088-1484: In layman terms, what is "engineering"?
RE: Jury Duty
My wife has been called for next month so 1/6 of the year we're stuck in town. Her summons said that if she had been on a jury in the last 24 months she could be excused--she was last in the pool in February 2010 and 26 months doesn't count. She's livid and plans to carry her gun on her hip into the courthouse (she has a concealed carry permit). She figures that will brand her as a wacko and get her off. She is a bit of a wacko, but I bet it won't work.
David
RE: Jury Duty
"Gorgeous hair is the best revenge." Ivana Trump
RE: Jury Duty
- Steve
RE: Jury Duty
The scary part was the "quality of at least 3 other members
Regards
Pat
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RE: Jury Duty
RE: Jury Duty
I like to keep it like that till the rest of my life.
What is the criteria they use to summon you?
JoeChem
Did I understand you well? So if you are a "Law breaker" you are eligible to be a jury. Is this one way of making you pay back?
RE: Jury Duty
- Steve
RE: Jury Duty
The defense lawyer asked me if, being an engineer, if I could make a decision based upon reasonable doubt, without everything being black and white.
I got picked and when it came time for deliberations, I made them give me the legal definitions of at least 10 terms that were used in the case. The other jurors didn't like it, but it helped me to get to "reasonable doubt".
RE: Jury Duty
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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RE: Jury Duty
When in the jury box for selection;
One guy had served time in prision, when asked if he could send someone to prison, he said he could not do that to anyone because of his experience.
Another guy when asked if he could be fair to the defendant if he had a record. He responded "once a skunk, always a skunk". It seemed a bit tense in the jury box for a while.
Both were excused.
But whatever you do, don't do what this lady did:
http:/
RE: Jury Duty
Good on ya,
Goober Dave
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RE: Jury Duty
When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
RE: Jury Duty
Since then, the vehicle liscensing database was opened up for jury calls, which expanded the base of valid data from which to pull jury summons. Also, the jury duty has changed to 3 days in the jury room, and you need to prove hardship to get dismissed (letter from your boss not good enough). Several calls since then, never more than a few days before being dismissed.
Selected to a jury 2nd time a few years back, for a product liability suit - the defense(? maybe is was the plaintiff?) lawyer had already rejected several jurists from a pool of some 50, and used up his preemptive dismissals. Tried to have me dismissed because I was an engineer and might have knowledge uncommon to a layperson, judge overruled, and we all heard a stern lecture to that lawyer about wasting people's time. After we had been selected, and sat in jury box, sworn in etc., the judge immediately dismissed us - and 15 minutes later we were dismissed completely, as the dispute was settled.
RE: Jury Duty
Once, a few years ago, enough people in my town blew off their jury summons, that the court didn't have enough individuals to fill the jury box. They sent the police into the post office, and told everyone there that they'd been selected for jury duty, and to follow them to the court house. I think that the repercussions for those that hadn't appeared for their jury duty was enough that I will always take it seriously!
RE: Jury Duty
"On the human scale, the laws of Newtonian Physics are non-negotiable"
RE: Jury Duty
"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

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RE: Jury Duty
I should have known what my profession would be when I was dismissed from the jury of my 5th grade mock-trial exercise for looking something up in a dictionary.
- Steve Perry
http://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenhperry
This post is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is offered with the understanding that the author is not engaged in rendering engineering or other professional service. If you need help, get help, and PAY FOR IT.
RE: Jury Duty
Had to go for two days on one occasion, and only one on the other.
Didn't even get interviewed by the lawyers.
RE: Jury Duty
The lawyers took their time asking each of us questions.
I was the last.
They asked me if I had ever been a cop, or any family members.
I said my dad was a cop.
The lawyers and judge got mad at me and asked why I didn't say this earlier. I told them I was never asked! I was sent home immediately.
Turns out someone was suing the PD.
Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Jury Duty
My other experience was a local trial. It was an assult case. I was the first juror selected and the trial only lasted two days. I felt like a lot of the people involved (attorneys on both sides and the police) did not do a good job. There was a lot of information I wanted to know, but the questions weren't asked or wasn't available (don't expect a CSI level of review for a minor case). Additionally, trying to determine if the witnesses are telling the truth, especially when they've contradicted themselves with a signed statement was not my idea of fun.
RE: Jury Duty
RE: Jury Duty
RE: Jury Duty
Both saw it, rolled their eyes and I was "gone"!!!
RE: Jury Duty
B+W Engineering and Design
Los Angeles Civil Engineer and Structural Engineer
http://bwengr.com
RE: Jury Duty
Our company has had some interesting issues with Jury Duty. For a while, they used to reimburse us for the entire trial, no matter how long it took. Then they realized that we were being abused. The lawyers and judges liked people on juries that could serve without losing any pay. So we were picked for a lot of long trials. After that our policy changed to one week of pay.
Anyway, it seems that the same people are being called again and again. There must be a pretty limited list.
RE: Jury Duty
RE: Jury Duty
There was a case here (Eastern Canada) a couple of years ago where not enough jurors showed up for selection, so the judge sent the sherrif out with a city bus to the nearby mall, and rounded up a random collection of people, which, apparently, is allowed.
Can you imagine, you're happily walking through the mall, having bought a new shirt, and the next thing you know, the sherrif has you rounded up for jury selection?
RE: Jury Duty
I did stop by the courthouse once to find out if I had to get myself off some 'not eligible' list since I was now 'eligible' and was told it wasn't necessary. They'd find me if they needed me.
RE: Jury Duty
Drug money + strippers + home invasion + samurai sword = mess.
RE: Jury Duty
http:
RE: Jury Duty
rmw
RE: Jury Duty
Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
RE: Jury Duty
Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
RE: Jury Duty
Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas
"All the world is a Spring"
All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
RE: Jury Duty
When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
RE: Jury Duty
You won't get picked because the defense wants people they can "emotionally" convince. The defense lawyer will dismiss you. On Monday morning, some 200 were in the jury pool. Men T-shirts, men & women in jeans, women not dressed up? Immediately grabbed.
On Tuesday, a bunch of others had picked up on the "system"
By Wednesday, the whole remaining pool of some 60 were (relatively) formally dressed. Four sets of lawyers stepped in the door, looked around at the available jurors, and plead guilty. No more trials that week = we were dismissed.
RE: Jury Duty
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: Jury Duty
If questions are not allowed you can say "OK everybody walks-there not guilty." My feeling is that the jury has the ultimate responsibility.
The ohter way to get off is register as a prohibitionist or something. Jury selection here comes off voter rolls - some people get fileterd off.
RE: Jury Duty
A lot of people think it's based only on voter registration, it's not.
Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion
RE: Jury Duty
RE: Jury Duty
RE: Jury Duty
Boottmills
RE: Jury Duty
When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
RE: Jury Duty
When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low