I hate to go to jury duty, but now it’s on the way to my favorite LHS…so… you want to work on your layout and get out of the jury duty?.. here’s what you do…they summon you to jury duty…sure, you have to sit there for a few hours, but then everybody goes before the judge, PA and the DA to see if you are jury material…Question from the judge…Can you be to the best of your ability an impartial juror?..Sure your honor!..i’ll give him a fair trial and a decient hang’in!..Question from the PA…Are you willing to make a fair conviction from the outcome of the trial?..Sure!..if he’s guilty he ought to get the max + 99 years, tarred and feathered, and rode to the jailhouse on a pole!..Question from the DA … Are you willing to hear the testimony and make a fair and unbias decision for or against the defendant?..I don’t know!..look at the guy!..He does have those beedy eyes and bad teeth…Looks like a criminal to me!..You may sit down Mr. Clark !..5 minutes later i was out of there with my early dismissal note and on my way to the LHS!..Chuck
My answer is a simple" I just want to hear his excuse before we hang him…Got the rope? [}:)]
Well, Chuck – When you get arrested for something you didn’t do, and demand your day in court, I hope your jury panel is composed of people who are just as conscientious as you are.
OUCH!!![8]
Actually, if you simply respond with direct, resolute replies, they’ll usually excuse you. They always seem to choose the people who begin their answers with, “Gosh, I suppose that if…” If you don’t appear to have any desire to appear reasonable and agreeable, you won’t serve on many juries, nor will you get taken advantage of at a car dealership! [:)]
I want people who are resolute in thier feelings, no wishy washy wafflers. If I am on trial I want the Jury to be hard and strong. Not pliable to both the prosecutor or the defense.
It’s hard to get arrested when all i do is eat, sleep, work, go to church, and play with trains…I wi***hose guys would quit doing what they do to get arrested then there wouldn’t be a panel to choose from for a jury!..Chuck
Man how times have changed…trial by jury in Texas…whoda thunk?
Just wear a suit & tie, answer questions very intelligently, you will never get picked, the last thing “lawyers”( for a polite term) want is someone that can think for themselves,also tell them you “play with trains”–that will convince them you might be a little unstable LOL.
Somehow I get called every year (it’s supposed to be every other year here in Sacramento County). Once I got called for Federal Jury service, got dismissed because I was friends with both of our Federal Judges. Went from one court to another, walked in, Judge grinned at me and said, “what are you doing here, Tom?” I shrugged, he chuckled “Have a nice day,” and I was outta there. Got called last June, got in on a drug case, it sounded kind of interesting, until I realized that the defense attorney was a member of my choir (so did he). I wouldn’t mind too much getting called all the time, if I actually SERVED on a jury, but I’m always getting dismissed for one reason or another. And since I live about fourteen miles from downtown Sacto and take light-rail to and from (which is not a bad thing if you’re a train freak like me), it sure cuts into my fun time in the garage. Oh well, June’s coming again, and I’m sure I’ll get called again, and I’m sure I’ll get dismissed again. Hm–think maybe telling them that I’m a Screaming Liberal Catholic confuses them?
Tom [:D][}:)][B)]
If my jury consisted of folks who’d stated the views presented by cwclark I think I’d be looking for a new lawyer right before starting to build a new jury panel. His point was he was trying to get out of duty not join the lynch party.
Dave
Wow. Millions of ways to get out of jury duty. So why is it that the lawyers get the bad rap when a jury awards some “outlandish” amount in a matter? Could it be that to lambast the juries would bring about the question “so when did you last serve on a jury?”
Try that here in Kalifoonia and you WILL be arrested for contempt of court! I was told that by a Bailif while waiting a couple of years ago. Out here we have a phone in system , you register by phone, then you call in, and if your jury ID # in on the list, then you go into the courthouse. If not, your done. Much less hastle than before.
The Massachusetts system is called “one day or one trial.” If the trial lasts longer than a day, you’re stuck, but other than that once you’ve “had your day in court” then you’re off for 3 years. They send you a date several months in advance, and if you don’t like that date, you can select any other valid day within the next calendar year, but you can’t change again after that. I’ve got a friend who always picks a day right before a Jewish holiday, so they can’t make her come back the next day.
The law also says your employer has to pay you for the first 3 days of jury duty. After that, they’re not responsible, although my employer covers it indefinitely. Since I’m getting paid, it’s an interesting little diversion, even though I spend most of the time just reading the book I brought. I’ve heard that bringing a Bible and reading that will sometimes get you excused. Frankly, though, I’d rather read Clive Cussler and take my chances in the jury pool.
My favorite escape story was told to me by a native Texan. He claimed an acquaintence of his showed up for jury duty, went up to guard at security, and asked where he could check his firearm. They took one brief look and sent him right back home.
I would love to sit on a jury and see how things work in the real world instead of on television. I have been notified that I had been selected three times in the last 10 years. The one time I made it as far as the courtroom I realized as I listened to the lawyers outline the case that one of the families involved had been in my shop a few weeks before and told me all about the case from their point of view. If I had been picked I would have to excuse myself.
The best one I heard was when the Judge asked the jury panel" Are any of you ladies in a family way. and if so how far along are you…Yes your Honor… a Young lady replied…about fifteen minits, man am I bushed!!!
Attorneys want jury members that they can pursuade to their view things. Remember the old quote, “Anyone who represents themselves in court has a fool for a client.” [:)]
Volunteer firefighters are so hard to find in the daytime until one of our local judges writes letters asking that they be excused from jury duty. I like that! I don’t want to skip out on my civil duty, but I think covering our busy little fire department(s) is a little more important.
Oh, yeah, I play with my trains until the fire pager goes off or the radio starts squawking. [}:)]
They have juries there ???
Chuck:
Hate to tell you this, but if you tell me that you “play with trains,” I’m keeping you on my panel. [:D]
TrummyandElla