My Jury Duty experience

[Spectrism]

So, I had to report for jury duty. It was a criminal case.

Approximately 30 citizens were called up to fill 8 slots- 6 jurors and 2 alternates.
Each prospective juror is interviewed by the trial lawyers as they look for reasons the candidate may not rule in their favor. I really did not go into it with too much thought about what was happening but now I can see the angles they play.

I was questioned on nearly every aspect of my life. Especially the prosecutor, who dug pretty well into where I lived, worked, hobbies, thoughts on criminal justice system, etc. I answered truthfully and plainly on the questions.

I was excused from the duty.

As I left, I was thinking that there must be few people who would be as attentive, fair and carefully analyzing the evidence presented. Then it struck me. They did not want that. Both sides of lawyers want people who are easily swayed! They wanted mindless mush heads that they could fill with some emotional image while pretending to seek justice.

I guess I was silly thinking that justice and fairness was the aim of the court.

[gunDriller]

i got called for jury duty too. i asked for a 6 month deferment, so that i will get called again when it's really hot ... they have better air conditioning.

i was going to ask the judge if it's OK to talk about Jury Nullification.

[vacuum]

I don't know, I think I might not try to get out of it. Seems like you could make a real difference.

[hoarder]

I don't know, I think I might not try to get out of it. Seems like you could make a real difference. Act dumb and play middle-of-the-road. Then ram the jury nullification up their....

[Spectrism]

Yes- real plain and dumb answers. Be boring. I think the way they do this is an indication of how sad the system is. Idiocracy is already here.

When I floated test questions out to other prospective jurors, I did not get a single bite from anyone alert. They were all mind-numbed zombies.

[BrewTech]

I don't know, I think I might not try to get out of it. Seems like you could make a real difference.
When the subject of jury duty comes up at any time, all I ever hear people talk about is how to get out of it. I ask them if they would rather just have the government decide people's guilt or innocence, and they don't seem to care, just so long they are not inconvenienced. I've shown up for jury duty several times, but I never even get called onto a prospective jury; I usually end up being sent home right after lunch. Knowing that most "criminal" cases will actually just be policy violation cases, I go in fully prepared to get on a jury and do my best to make sure justice prevails. So far I haven't gotten the chance.

[horseshoe3]

I would love to get on jury duty, but I can't. I live in county A, but the post office from which I get my mail is in county B. County B keeps sending me summons which I can not accept. County A has never summoned me.

[palani]

A jury is a militia.

The grand jury is generally 24 people. This is one guy short of the Magna Carta requirement.

If you want to put the fear into the system get 25 like minded souls together, go to court together, all stand up in unison, point at the judge and recite "WE INDICT YOU OF TREASON". Watch what shade of pale he turns.


55. All fines imposed by us unjustly and contrary to the law of the land, and all amerciaments made unjustly and contrary to the law of the land, shall be altogether remitted, or it shall be done with regard to them according to the judgment of the twenty five barons mentioned below as sureties for the peace, or according to the judgment of the majority of them together with the aforesaid Stephen archbishop of Canterbury, if he can be present, and with others whom he may wish to associate with himself for this purpose. And if he can not be present, the affair shall nevertheless proceed without him; in such way that, if one or more of the said twenty five barons shall be concerned in a similar complaint, they shall be removed as to this particular decision, and in their place, for this purpose alone, others shall be substituted who shall be chosen and sworn by the remainder of those twenty five.

By the way, Baron means landowner.

[SWRichmond]

I had a very similar jury duty experience. Anyone with any potential knowledge of the subject matter related to the kind of evidence that formed the basis for the case was dismissed by the prosecutor (like me). I watched the prosecutor frantically scribbling notes on a sheet of paper during the juror general pre-interviews while I was answering questions, and when I was actually pre-selected to be on the jury she equally frantically grabbed my name card off of the list and scribbled something on the card, probably "get this fucker out of here." I was dismissed immediately thereafter. I had knowledge that would have made it possible for me to question the quality of her evidence, and she wanted me gone. => not about truth, rather about winning. Bitch.

[chad]

in my old town, i was dismissed immediately 2 times because 2 of my good friends were lawyers there. they just laughed and sent me off 2 seconds after i checked in.

[Half Sense]

I played dumb and was actually selected, but when I came back the next day, they said the accused had plea-bargained a deal and the trial was off.

[Old Herb Lady]

What a shame that one has to play dumb in so many areas of life nowadays. not just jury selection.

I'm not that smart, but when I do have to act dumb just to get to the outcome I need to , it is a disgusting feeling really.

I feel stifled by my surroundings and peoples thoughts, ideas, opinions their truths, make me nervous and I have a big mouth so I literally have to say in my head over and over....
shutup, shutup don't say it. dont say it.

Even my husband will look at me knowing what I'm thinking and kinda shake his head a little, like shhh, just go with da flow.

UGH !!!!!! Frustrating !

[solid]

When the subject of jury duty comes up at any time, all I ever hear people talk about is how to get out of it. I ask them if they would rather just have the government decide people's guilt or innocence, and they don't seem to care, just so long they are not inconvenienced. .

That's always bothered me. About 15 years ago, I was chosen to be on a jury for a trial. I didn't mind, I was salaried at the time and got to skip work for a few days. It was an extremely rewarding experience actually. The guy on trial was able to prove his innocence, our decision was to drop all charges...furthermore, he had suffered financial punishment, and the decision was to cover that as well. I can't remember all the details of the trial, but I still remember the look of joy on the guy's face with the decision. The look of so much relief, and happiness, that all that drama he went through was finally over.

It was really rewarding to be a part of that. It's a shame people don't want to get involved anymore.

[mick silver]

it best for me to not say anything

[Tumbleweed]

I've been on three jurys and twice we used Jury nullification to turn the defendant loose. That really pissed off the judge and prosecuting attourny. Nothin they could do about it though.

[milehi]

I work on commision and can't afford to be on jury duty. If I don't work, I don't get paid and my competition gets the sales and possibly the accounts. If I was on salary, or a .gov employee, I'd love to have the experience of serving.

The last time I was called in for jury duty, we watched a feel good video on jury duty and your civic responsibility to participate. At the end of the video the lady asked if anyone had any questions. I said that the video didn't explain our constitutional right to jury nullification. She said that if we were selected, it would be explained. I was on the first list to go home before lunch.

[horseshoe3]

I've been on three jurys and twice we used Jury nullification to turn the defendant loose. That really pissed off the judge and prosecuting attourny. Nothin they could do about it though.

How did the mechanics of that work? Did you discuss it with the other jurors? Or did you all act independantly to turn the guy loose? I've heard that if a juror mentions nullification to another juror, he gets replaced with a good little sheep. But it would be tough to pull it off without some sort of discussion.

[Tumbleweed]

On both Juries we were pretty sure the defendant was guilty but no harm was done. On one jury there was a young guy that wanted to follow the judges instructions that we had to come back with a guilty verdict if we thought the law was broken. No one mentioned jury nullification. We just focused on the one guy and talked him out of convicting the defendant. They polled the jury when we came back with a not guilty verdict and were really watching our responses and resolve.

[solid]

On both Juries we were pretty sure the defendant was guilty but no harm was done. .

That's pretty awesome Tumbleweed. If no harm was done, I think I'd always go with not guilty.

The jury I was on was an eye-opening one. Not a situation I expected at all. It was obvious to the whole jury, this guy was framed and harrassed multiple times by the police. The cops lied, he proved false charges. It really was a big learning experience. The cops stole his car. They falsely towed it, impounded it, and it would have cost him a few grand to get it out of impound. When the guy heard he was getting his car back, no charges, as part of the not guilty verdict he was overjoyed.

I've often wondered if he filed a counter-suit against the police, for harassment. Hope he did.

[Glass]

I've been called up 2 times. First time I was out for family grieving. Second time I was overlooked on education grounds. Was peeved cause it cost me 8 hours work. They compensate you IF you are selected but like everything those guys do it's a pittance.

[Hatha Sunahara]

Thanks for all the pointers on how to get out of jury duty. As for the government deciding peoples guilt or innocence--the jury doesn't stop that from happening in most cases. If you favor jury nullification, the government decides to send you home.

It's a corrupt system, wherever u are in the USA. I think it's a waste of time to participate in it because it is run by people whose ideals are evil and who do whatever they can to escape from rational controls on their use of this system to pursue their agendas.

I am a strong believer in cosmic justice.


Hatha

[hoarder]

If you favor jury nullification, the government decides to send you home. Someday you or I might be the defendant. Don't favor jury nullification until you're accepted for jury.