How to get outta jury duty

[cincinnati chili]

She entered the courtroom, took a seat in the jury box, looked at Muhammad and said, "You are a filthy murderer. You deserve to die."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/05/03/sniper.trial.ap/index.html

[GAC]

I just got called for jury duty. Had to fill out the forms and turn them in the other day. I was trying to find funny ways to fill out some of the questions (which I found very personal) to possibly get myself disqualified. :lol:

[Blimpie]

Easy. Tell the court:

"I want to be on this jury SO badly. I can spot a guilty person a mile away..."

They will thank you for your time.

[Yachtzee]

Start talking like Pauli Shore.

[Unassisted]

Mrs. U was in a jury pool where a couple of the prospective jurors professed to having a deep, ingrained prejudice against the ethnic group of the defendant. They didn't last 5 minutes in the jury pool.

[creek14]

I don't understand why people want to get out of jury duty. It's a civic obligation.

And yes, I have served on a jury. Was it fun? No. Would I do it again? Of course.

[15fan]

I wouldn't mind serving on a jury.

But I'm a caucasian male with a graduate degree.

As long as I'm living in the south, there's no way I'll ever be on a jury.

[Danny Serafini]

I don't understand why people want to get out of jury duty.

I wouldn't mind doing it for a quick trial. The one time I had to go downtown for it the trial I was assigned to wound up lasting a month. What am I supposed to do, take a month off of work?

And yeah, I did cheese my way out of it. The defense attorney was stressing how you could have a certain amount of alcohol in your system and still be legal to drive, so when questioned I went into a routine of how one drink was too many and you shouldn't have any alcohol in your system if you drive. That got me a quick ejection from the jury pool.

[GAC]

I don't understand why people want to get out of jury duty. It's a civic obligation.

And yes, I have served on a jury. Was it fun? No. Would I do it again? Of course.

I agree creek, and have served before.

Right now, I have way too much on my plate (so to speak).

[Unassisted]

I wouldn't mind serving on a jury.

But I'm a caucasian male with a graduate degree.I fit that description, too and I got selected for a jury back when I lived up north. Down here, I agree that I'd probably be too much of a wild card to get picked.

[Yachtzee]

I've never even been picked to be a part of the jury pool.

[Javy Pornstache]

Wow, I'm glad to see a thread on jury duty. Forgive my ignorance on it, I received a questionnaire myself to fill out a few days ago, the first time I've ever gotten one. The way I understand it, I am filling it out to be apart of the jury pool... is that correct? I guess I am trying to figure out if I automatically am interviewed since I got a questionnarie or if I am simply in the pool to be interviewed now and won't necessarily be in the pool just because I filled out my info. Could anyone please help an informed soul while we have a thread on it?

[WVRed]

I know a guy who used diabetes to get out of jury duty.

That's all I got.

[redsfanmia]

Everyone should serve on a jury once, its very interesting. Served on a murder/wrongful death jury about 10 years ago it lasted 3 days very informative and eye opening.

[GAC]

Wow, I'm glad to see a thread on jury duty. Forgive my ignorance on it, I received a questionnaire myself to fill out a few days ago, the first time I've ever gotten one. The way I understand it, I am filling it out to be apart of the jury pool... is that correct? I guess I am trying to figure out if I automatically am interviewed since I got a questionnarie or if I am simply in the pool to be interviewed now and won't necessarily be in the pool just because I filled out my info. Could anyone please help an informed soul while we have a thread on it?

That is what I got. I had to fill it out and return it (they said) within two days. It places you in a pool for interview and possible selection.

[Falls City Beer]

I served on a jury--I have a graduate degree, am white, and male.

[RedFanAlways1966]

I know a guy who used diabetes to get out of jury duty.

That's all I got.

Hmmmm... I guess I can use that one and have the syringes and insulin to prove it! :)

I was called to serve a month after O.J. was found not guilty in the criminal trial. I was seated in the jury box. The trial was for crack cocaine possesion by the brother of the current mayor of Dayton, OH (the 3rd time he had been caught with crack as I found out later). In the "questioning the perspective jurors" by the prosecutor and the defense attoney I was asked by the prosecutor if I can be fair and impartial. I said, "Yes, but I question if the system really works anymore." He asked me to elaborate. I told him that a certain trial in California that just concluded really made me wonder if the sytsem can be manipulated by jury selection and site of the trial. The judge told me and the others that they want us to answer the questions honestly and not give the answer we thought should be heard... and so I was honest. Believe it or not, the defense attorney made me his first of three jurors that he was allowed to excuse from the trial. As I was walking out of the courtroom, the judge said to me, "Mr. X, the sytem is not perfect but it is the best system on this planet." I told him that I agreed with him and got the heck out of there! It was the looooonnnngggggeeeeesssttt 30-foot walk I had ever taken (felt like I was guilty of something... honesty).

I later ran into two of the other perspective jurors at locations throughout the city and they both called me out. Said they would not have the guts to say what I said, but thought it was great that I said it. I told them that I was just being honest and I was not trying to get out of the duty.

[SandyD]

I've been on two juries, both criminal, both short trials. Both appeared to be a third strike type case. Both were sort of personal nightmares.

A hung jury. (And we had a very bad foreperson. Choose a good foreperson.)

And another case where I had to go to the judge because I realized after the trial had started that I had met one of the witnesses, who had yet to testify, and who also happened to be the defendant's mother. (Later I also realized that I'd also met the defendant and defense attorney about the time this crime was committed. And they said something about him being in big trouble for something he didn't do. But I didn't remember that until LONG after the trial.)

Nevertheless, if I'm called again, I'll go. I'd kind of like to have a relatively normal jury experience.

My brother was on a jury for a civil case. He said that was interesting, because they had to determine damages (after they found for the plaintiff.)

My sister in law was on a federal grand jury for a fraud investigation. And I know someone else who served on another one in Arizona. The latter was a big case and in the news a lot. It was so hard not to ask them questions as their cases was going on.

[cincinnati chili]

Any of you been on a Federal jury before? Depending on where you live (Alaska, etc), that can be a real hardship, as these courts might draw from the entire state. The USDC for Massachusetts has a courthouse in Boston that draws from the entire Eastern part of the state, including Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

For those not familiar with local geography, you can only get off those islands by boat or plane. My boss was a co-juror with a woman from Martha's Vineyard. She got up at 4 in the morning everyday, flew in, then flew home every evening ($120 per trip). The government does not pay this.

[Betterread]

I don't understand why people want to get out of jury duty. It's a civic obligation.

And yes, I have served on a jury. Was it fun? No. Would I do it again? Of course.

Important words. The majority of countries in the world don't impose this obligation on their citizens, because jury trials are not a part of their legal system.

[WVRed]

I served on a jury--I have a graduate degree, am white, and male.

Did you serve in the south?;)

[SandyD]

The two juries that I served on were more white than black, though both were mostly female also. I think most of the white males try to get out of it or just don't show up. The last time I went, I think just about everyone got placed on a jury. They had four trials, and they called me for the first one, but I didn't get on that jury. Few minutes after I got back to the room, they called me for the third one, and said that those that didn't get on that jury would go directly to another courtroom for the fourth case. There weren't many of us left at that point.

[chicoruiz]

Letterman did a "Top Ten Ways to Get Out of Jury Duty" list a few years ago. Number one was to look coyly at the judge and ask him if that's Aramis he's wearing.

[Falls City Beer]

Did you serve in the south?;)

Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

[cincinnati chili]

I think it really depends on the judge and attorneys whether they will disfavor "white males with graduate degrees."

My boss got called to the aforentioned jury duty. The defendant's law firm was one of our best clients (we do farmed-out legal research for them). He had met the lawyer casually. The judge still wouldn't excuse him. The U.S. attorney didn't object. He had to serve.

[OnBaseMachine]

I have jury duty starting tomorrow. I don't want to do it, I've been stressing over it for weeks. I'm hoping I don't get selected...

[Raisor]

I've been a registered voter for 20 years now, and have never been selected, called, mailed, or in anyway been considered for a jury. I'd like to be.

[Caveat Emperor]

I have jury duty starting tomorrow. I don't want to do it, I've been stressing over it for weeks. I'm hoping I don't get selected...

Don't stress too much. Everyone I know who has done jury duty has said it's a really interesting thing to do once.

I'd love to be called, but I wouldn't last 30 seconds on any criminal jury and probably about that long on any civil jury either.

[757690]

I have jury duty starting tomorrow. I don't want to do it, I've been stressing over it for weeks. I'm hoping I don't get selected...

A friend of mine just said that she thought that anyone who goes to trial is guilty, and she wasn't picked.

You can also try the Larry David method.

(warning: offensive, but very funny)

YouTube - Larry David :: Jury Duty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94zkBGm1IoU)

[foxfire123]

I don't understand why people want to get out of jury duty. It's a civic obligation.

And yes, I have served on a jury. Was it fun? No. Would I do it again? Of course.

Yeah, that. If people want the justice system to work, then they have to do their part.

[Yachtzee]

Don't stress too much. Everyone I know who has done jury duty has said it's a really interesting thing to do once.

I'd love to be called, but I wouldn't last 30 seconds on any criminal jury and probably about that long on any civil jury either.

I probably wouldn't last long through voir dire myself. I was called once and sat in the main jury waiting room for one morning until the courtroom we were assigned to informed us the case had resolved. I would suggest bringing a book or something to do. A lot of jury duty is spent hanging out waiting to be called. In fact, a lot of courts allow you to call in or check online to see if you need to be there the next day. I've had it happen with my wife and I where we received the notice for jury duty but never even had to show up because so many trials resolved they never got through the lower numbers on the jury pool.

[blumj]

I have jury duty starting tomorrow. I don't want to do it, I've been stressing over it for weeks. I'm hoping I don't get selected...
I've been called several times, only made it onto a jury twice, one was a lawsuit over a construction worker injured on the job and the other was a criminal case, a drug addict held up a store. You're VERY likely stressing over nothing, but I'm not sure there's anything someone could say that would convince you of that, you just have to go through it.

[medford]

I've been called twice. 1st time, my group number never was called, during my week "on call" so I never had to show up. Then just last week I was back "on call". They called a slew of them Monday, but my number was not as they only called the later half of my group. Then the weather hit on Tuesday and they never called anyone else and we were all excused.

I'd love to be part of a jury, when I'm retired. For now, I'd rather have no part of it. Yeah I suppose its my civic duty, but I'd rather see cases tried by a 3 (or 5) judge tribunal. People who actually know the law and have seen the ins/outs of the trial process and can't be swayed by a lawyer with a nice spin.

I have a feeling though, that the lawyeres wouldn't want me on their jury though.

[Mario-Rijo]

I was brought in for jury duty for a murder case back when I was still a corrections officer maybe half dozen years ago or so. I was questioned by the defense attorney about whether I could be impartial or not given my position as a C.O. I don't exactly recall what I said but apparently it was good enough for him they concluded I was fine to stay in the pool. However while sitting there in the jury box listening to some of the others being questioned I started to feel myself get a bit sleepy. And even though it was just more a passing weariness my mind started to think about the possibility that my Sleep-Apnea could potentially cause me to go to sleep while sitting there in a trial situation. I brought up my sleep apnea to the judge's secretary after they released us from the courtroom for another group and she made me get something from my doctor but they released me from duty because of it.

I actually would have liked to have served but I also didn't want the embarrassment of passing out in the jury box during a murder trial or worse yet make a decision on a mans life while not in the best frame of mind or not having all the facts because I dozed off for a split second here and there. The moral of this story, sometimes the responsible thing to do is to "get out of jury duty" and let someone who is able (in my case) or willing (in others) do it for ya.

[OnBaseMachine]

Well, my jury duty period is now over. It lasted from February 7th to March 11th and I was only called in five days. Four of those days were spent sitting in the Jury lounge staring at the wall all day and other time I was called in for a trail but it turns out I went to school with the defendant so they sent me home. I'm the type of person that worries about everything, and this had me all worked up, but it turned out to not be nearly as bad as I anticipated.

[AtomicDumpling]

I served on a jury for a trial of a crack dealer. It was very interesting and enjoyable. I would definitely do it once a year or so if I could. The only downside is trying to have a reasonable, thoughtful deliberation with the mental midgets that make up the rest of the jury.

[Gallen5862]

I have served on Two Juries. One time I was the Jury Foreman. The Third time I was called I was sent home because they had to many Jurors.