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(Censored) Jury Duty

#1

JDgreen

JDgreen

Tomorrow my wife has to report for jury duty in a mid-Michigan district court, which will require her to spend an hour and a half driving 70 miles one-way to get to the courthouse. She will not know until later in the day how long she has to serve or what hours she is supposed to attend court, and while those who administer the courts tell the citizens:

"It's your civic duty to serve when called to be a juror". Yeah, right. THe city where the district court is located is LARGER than the city we live near, so what is the purpose of summoning prospective jurors who live an hour and a half away? Are the courts that hard up to find prospective jurors?

Anyone want to describe your experiences, good or bad, OOPS, stupid of me to say "good".. serving as a juror?


#2

A

abeja_reina_1989

I would hate to have to serve Jury Duty. I have really bad anxiety and if I don't think I could handle doing something like that; being away from everyone I know would be the hardest part.


#3

I

indypower

THe city where the district court is located is LARGER than the city we live near, so what is the purpose of summoning prospective jurors who live an hour and a half away? Are the courts that hard up to find prospective jurors?

Sometimes the case has gotten so much publicity in that city, they have to look else where to get impartial jurors who haven't been hit the face every day with media coverage of the case.


#4

JDgreen

JDgreen

indypower said:
THe city where the district court is located is LARGER than the city we live near, so what is the purpose of summoning prospective jurors who live an hour and a half away? Are the courts that hard up to find prospective jurors?

Sometimes the case has gotten so much publicity in that city, they have to look else where to get impartial jurors who haven't been hit the face every day with media coverage of the case.
Click to expand...

Good point, but considering the amount of news I read, the cop/court TV shows I view, the huge number of crime books I read, they would have one heckuva time getting me as an impartial juror...ANYPLACE.


#5

K

KennyV

I'm going to bet her opinion will greatly improve after her first day as a perspective juror...
I can recall my first time and what I thought, man this is inconvenient (for me)...
I have been on various jury duties... You quickly realize just how critically important that part of the legal system is...
You will definitely leave a much humbler and more thoughtful person after the experience...
And yes it is required that you make yourself available... Look at the countries that don't have this 'requirement' I know they would want something like this...
If she is lucky enough to be selected to serve... she will definitely enjoy it and will gain a lot from the experience...
It is VERY easy to be excused and there are a LOT of reasons to be excused... they will be explained on her first day of selection.
:smile:KennyV


#6

173abn

173abn

my county seat is about 30m from me ,I was selected once for jury duty and was voted foreman.I thought it was pretty interesting and would't mind serving again as long as it wasn't no corporate follow the money trail kinda thing.a murder yes or bank heist. russ


#7

Two-Stroke

Two-Stroke

The big picture to keep in mind is that historically, trial by a jury of citizens is an important check on the power of a state to imprison or fine an individual.:thumbsup: It's a concept that was around for centuries when the founders included it in the sixth amendment to the US Constitution.

How it applies in specific cases is another matter. Making somebody drive an hour and a half each way seems excessive.

In my case I never get picked because defense lawyers use their "strikes" to eliminate anybody who works in an analytical profession -- they want jurors who can be manipulated emotionally. So every time I get a summons it's annoying because I know I'll just go to the courthouse, sit around for hours, then go home.:mad:


#8

RobertBrown

RobertBrown

KennyV said:
I'm going to bet her opinion will greatly improve after her first day as a perspective juror...
I can recall my first time and what I thought, man this is inconvenient (for me)...
I have been on various jury duties... You quickly realize just how critically important that part of the legal system is...
You will definitely leave a much humbler and more thoughtful person after the experience...
And yes it is required that you make yourself available... Look at the countries that don't have this 'requirement' I know they would want something like this...
If she is lucky enough to be selected to serve... she will definitely enjoy it and will gain a lot from the experience...
It is VERY easy to be excused and there are a LOT of reasons to be excused... they will be explained on her first day of selection.
:smile:KennyV
Click to expand...
My first and only expeerience with jury duty was quite positive. I was selected and I was on a jury. I'll spare yopu the details but, we took a bad guy off the streets and it may have gone the other way had I not been on that jury (22 minute deliberation). It's been 6 years since and they have not contacted me again.
If nothing else you get to see a good crossection of america before getting called. That in itself is very enlightening.


#9

K

KennyV

They can only strike so many and they eventually have to settle for what they precipice is their best shot...
So all in all... it works... And almost any case is interesting once you get into it...
Some attorneys are better than others and some presentations are better than others. Al in all the process can be very interesting for those that get the chance to participate...:smile:KennyV


#10

K

KennyV

RobertBrown said:
If nothing else you get to see a good crossection of america before getting called. That in itself is very enlightening.
Click to expand...

That is very true... :smile::smile:KennyV


#11

JDgreen

JDgreen

KennyV said:
They can only strike so many and they eventually have to settle for what they precipice is their best shot...
So all in all... it works... And almost any case is interesting once you get into it...
Some attorneys are better than others and some presentations are better than others. Al in all the process can be very interesting for those that get the chance to participate...:smile:KennyV
Click to expand...

We are very happy that the court called us yesterday afternoon and told her she didn't have to appear after all...interesting presentation or not my wife is glad she doesn't have to serve this time.


#12

M

monica123

I have never been selected for Jury Duty. My neighbor once was but has to be removed because the case was too close to her. I am not sure I would like Jury Duty.


#13

S

Stevie-Ray

I have served 4 times and been summoned 4 more. The last 2 times they got letters saying I would not serve because they will not allow cellphones and I can't be without one as it is my only link to my handicapped wife. They sent me letters of understanding and excused me. Now I'm wondering WHY I'm still getting letters? It's not as if I haven't done my duty, and that crap about it being totally random is just that, CRAP! 8 times for me when I know several people that have never served even once? My own brother is five years older than me and has never been summoned! Don't ever let anybody tell you it's random, because that's pure BS! The last 2 times for me were the best. The fifth time, we had a bomb scare when I was lined up waiting to go into the courtroom. After the building was cleared we were told to be seated again. They chose another jury! Got away with that one and was excused to go back home a little after lunch. The sixth time was in my own city for a change! My name wasn't called, however, and I skipped on that one as well, but it was nice being in my own city instead of going to the hole called Detroit, where I usually am. I will never serve again.


#14

JDgreen

JDgreen

Stevie-Ray said:
I have served 4 times and been summoned 4 more. The last 2 times they got letters saying I would not serve because they will not allow cellphones and I can't be without one as it is my only link to my handicapped wife. They sent me letters of understanding and excused me. Now I'm wondering WHY I'm still getting letters? It's not as if I haven't done my duty, and that crap about it being totally random is just that, CRAP! 8 times for me when I know several people that have never served even once? My own brother is five years older than me and has never been summoned! Don't ever let anybody tell you it's random, because that's pure BS! The last 2 times for me were the best. The fifth time, we had a bomb scare when I was lined up waiting to go into the courtroom. After the building was cleared we were told to be seated again. They chose another jury! Got away with that one and was excused to go back home a little after lunch. The sixth time was in my own city for a change! My name wasn't called, however, and I skipped on that one as well, but it was nice being in my own city instead of going to the hole called Detroit, where I usually am. I will never serve again.
Click to expand...

My feelings are, once someone has served two or three times they should be permanently exempt for jury duty the rest of their lives. I was summoned about 20 years ago but was excused because my hearing is so poor. My wife has served once, about ten years ago, but was required to register twice in recent years for two different courts, neither of which called her in.


#15

G

greengrass

Some of them actually might be, I have heard of this a few times esp. in the smaller towns. Up north with my family my nieces have been called more than I have or their mom. Its just crazy though, you would think after all this time the courts are somewhat organized!


#16

BKBrown

BKBrown

"driving 70 miles one-way to get to the courthouse" :thumbdown: :frown:

Now that is unreasonable ! I haven't had any bad experience, but driving that distance would tick me off too.

All I can say is the first time she is asked any questions she sould point that out and let them know it will influence her attitude about any case she is called on to serve for.


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