jury duty, WAJ.

[FyrFytrRyn]

so i got my 2nd summons for jury duty a few weeks ago, date is january 8th 2006. i appeard for my last one and was currently in school, i dont know if that had any influence in their decision, but i was there for like 2 hours, they put out the "lists" and i was on list "c", they said all on list "c" were excused and to return to the front desk to obtain a slip that said we fulfilled out "civic duty" for that year. well i heard this isnt supposed to be a yearly thing, so im a little bent about that. i dont start school until the 16th of january so im going to go, but what have you guys done? ive heard of people just not showing, and defending it with "its not certified mail", then i heard that your mail carrier signs a form stating that they did indeed deliver the summons to your home, but whos to say that someone didnt tamper with your mail? ive read online forums with numerous excuses, im not even gonna try it. then again, ive NEVER heard of anyone getting nailed for not showin. i just want to get your guy's thoughts. maybe ill just burn it. thanks!

[CalEpic]

Why not just do your civic duty?

From what you've posted previously, it doesn't sound like you're busy curing cancer so what's the big deal?

It may help to think how lucky we are to have a justice system where we are judged by a jury of our peers. It's not a perfect system but I'll take it over the alternative.

C

[Pain Freak]

I'd take the slip with me and just tell them you were there a year ago. I always go, but have never been selected for a trial. I've never got more then one letter in a two year period though.

Good luck.

[JamR]

If you just don't show they will automatically send you a notice with another date. You'll receive it in a couple of weeks after the date you missed.

They do not lose track or simply forget about you. You can be fined however if they choose to do so.

One reason people I know who have objected to Jury service is simply because the time slot does not fit their schedule. One thing you should know is that if you received a summons, you don't have to wait for the date on the summons.

You can simply show up at the designated time on any day of the week and hand in your summons. Therefore you can pick a day that suits you better. I've done this several times, and each time I have not been selected because they already had plenty of jurors.

I simply showed up in the morning; handed them my summmons; told them the date on my summons would not work for me so I decided to come in early. They released me and counted my service complete.

Just some tips.

[FyrFytrRyn]

first off im not complaining about going, and in the first post i said i was going to go, that last words were to be interpreted as a joke, so dont try to make it sould like im trying ditch out, im just curious as to what approaches some of you have taken.. i dont like your implied attitide cal epic, if i find a cure you'll be the first to know, smart a**. hey jamr, thats a really good idea, i may do that, just to get a jump on it if im infact selected, i just DO NOT want it taking up time with my school work, ill go a few days early and see how it works out. yeah this is the 2nd year in a row, my dad has gotten one every year for the past 15 years, my mom on the other hand has only gotten 2 in her lifetime. odd right?

[Pain Freak]

I think it has something to do with registering to vote.

[FyrFytrRyn]

good possibilty, also heard it pulled from DMV records? IDK. some people dont show but i think thats asking for trouble.

[CalEpic]

Maybe I am a smartass.

You say you're not complaining but one can only surmise from your post when you say "I'm a little bent about that" that it is exactly what you're doing. You go on to fish for illigitimate reasons to not fulfill your duty so what is a reasonable person to think?

If my "implied attitude" bothers you I guess I'll have to live with that guilt.

Let's all hope that you don't face a disgruntled juror when you're wrongly accused of a crime.

C

[mcgrath]

Originally Posted by CalEpic

Let's all hope that you don't face a disgruntled juror when you're wrongly accused of a crime.

C

woah. gettin heavy boys!

[Pain Freak]

I think my statement "I hate everybody who don't ride a bike", has something to do with keeping me out of the jury selection???

[FyrFytrRyn]

just for clarification, when i said i was "a little bent about that" i was refering to the fact that this is the second year in a row i was summoned, not that i was summoned. i was just bent that i have already gotten it twice and some guys i know havnt even been through it yet, thats it. im gonna go and was not searching for reasons not to show. i dont have a problem with going (aside from it butting into school time) i was simply looking for input from you guys. i always look at it from both sides, and i sure hope that if i were accused of a crime id have a decent pick of un-biased "peers" to hear me out. so ive heard that "i have school" doesnt have any impact on their decision, i guess if it goes over the 16th i dont know what ill do. suggestions on that? btw, the smartass comment was also meant to be overy sarcastic, ill use emoticons next time.

[JamR]

Originally Posted by FyrFytrRyn

first off im not complaining about going, and in the first post i said i was going to go, that last words were to be interpreted as a joke, so dont try to make it sould like im trying ditch out, im just curious as to what approaches some of you have taken.. i dont like your implied attitide cal epic, if i find a cure you'll be the first to know, smart a**. hey jamr, thats a really good idea, i may do that, just to get a jump on it if im infact selected, i just DO NOT want it taking up time with my school work, ill go a few days early and see how it works out. yeah this is the 2nd year in a row, my dad has gotten one every year for the past 15 years, my mom on the other hand has only gotten 2 in her lifetime. odd right?

It's a small detail that they don't advertise for some reason. I don't mind doing the Jury duty, but usually the times they assign me are really inconvenient; so I simply pick a free day where not much is going on, and head down to the courthouse.

I seem to get a summons every 18 months like clockwork.

[LBmtb]

That's some good info, thanks Adam.

[CalEpic]

I came across too harsh. Sorry about that.

C

[guero]

i've gotten out of it everytime. i honestly cant remember the last time i was summoned.

[TURNERob]

Originally Posted by Pain Freak

I think it has something to do with registering to vote.

Definately not that, I've never registered to vote and have gotten 2 jury summons. Both times I just sent in a letter stating that it would be a great financial hardship because I am the shop foreman at a small auto shop and it would hurt our business It has worked both times

[dstepper]

I will pass on the Rob you need to vote rant...maybe Craig can step up again.

As part of my job, I am at the Courthouse every AM. They do not care if it is a $ problem for you or you are a key employee, yes the will give you 3 accuses for whatever reason then you will have to appear or start facing fines. In Orange County; of the 5 Courthouses, the only one that you have to appear in person at is Central Court in Santa Ana. The other 4 will put you on phone report. The chances are good that you can get through a week of phone reporting without having to show up in person...that will statisfy your yearly committment. If you do get called, they will put the people that cann't afford time from work on half to one day trials and cut you loose. The people that don't loose pay from work will get the longer trails. Civial Servants take a oath that they have to serve on Jurys, so many Jurys are comprized of the retired and government workers...not really a fair representation of a pier group.

Me I like the judicial system and I am working on my application to become a Grand Juror.

[TURNERob]

Originally Posted by dstepper

I will pass on the Rob you need to vote rant...maybe Craig can step up again.

I was waiting for that one

[Abui]

Jury duty is an educational experience, better than sitting in a classroom.

You learn that good people can be of any social or ethnic background and the same for azzholes. Yes, dstepper even retirees and government employees have all flavors.

You learn that criminals are basically stupid. Well, at least the ones who are caught. I was on a jury where we convicted a guy of auto theft. It was a slam dunk case, in the jury room we couldn't find any hint of innocence. After the trial we found out that he didn't take the stand (it wouldn't affected the facts anyway) because his background would be explored. He was on probation for auto theft!

I am amazed at the lame excuses people give when questioned for service. One lady "I can't serve, I have tickets for the Tonight Show". Self-centered jerk.

Ask yourself, what you put aside in your schedule in order to ride? Can you do the same for jury service?

[gurp13]

I went in for jury duty and actually got called in to serve. It was a murder trial and it was going to last several weeks. I told the judge that I was a teacher, that I would serve if needed but that it would be difficult to do so because subs don't really teach my class as well as I would. She appreciated that and excused me for the year. Lucky me!