Jury duty

jro

Gonna take a lot
20 Year Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2004
Posts
14,410
Any interesting stories? I got my number called for this coming Monday, which is awesome, as I am already behind at work.

I've had my number come up three times (I think) before. Was excused at random twice, third time I was called to court and was the first person called and subsequently excused by the defense (DUI defense lawyers don't like it when you know how nystagmus tests work!). I'm really, really hoping that I get called for a murder and/or indecent exposure (by a lady, not guilty) case on Monday.

edit: I kinda like how the card is like YOUR EMPLOYER WILL PAY YOU for jury duty if you have a job, if you're an unemployed slob, then, whatevs, guess the State will pay you a couple bucks if you have to serve three or more days. Seriously, there's nothing AT ALL wrong with a system in which unemployed dudebros get paid $50 a day to determine whether or not people live free. They got the time. I'm gonna work on this.

edit again: on a somewhat less pointless note, my dad actually served as the foreperson for a sort of interesting trial- dude yelled at a bunch of dumb teenagers as they drove down his street while he was out raking leaves. They turned around at the end of the block and drove back, full intention on being a bunch of dicks and harassing the guy. Guy, however, runs out into the street and throws his rake at their car, driver swerves and flips the car, paralyzing his (driver's) sister. Dude goes to trial for, I dunno, assault or something. Guilty, yep, goes to jail for quite a bit.

So sometimes the case is interesting enough to make it worth the fuss I suppose.
 
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Lagduf

2>X
20 Year Member
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Dec 25, 2002
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Got the notice a few times but ended up never having to come in :(

12 Angry Jros.
 
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Heinz

Parteizeit
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Feb 13, 2005
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I got called when I was 20, spent 5 days on a rape case concerning a 70 year old man and a 50 year old mentally ill woman.

It really was like 12 angry men and I was the one person to cause a fuss. I had to argue against quite a few peoples outlandish assumptions and supposed intuition on the subject. When the judge threw out half the charges and the prosecution had no ironclad evidence (as is the case a lot I fear) we the jury were not to form a fucking village court and convict the guy on 'feelings' like so many of the jurors thought. I had a cunt of a week trying to drill into these peoples heads that there was no actual evidence! Imagine yourselves in this guys spot and some 'people' in a room just 'think' you did it. Hell why have the dance of a trial at all? Lets just hang the guy right here because his face is funny looking!

Honestly after that ordeal I thought look he probably did rape her but if it can't be proven in a court beyond a reasonable doubt then as far as I'm concerned the charge doesn't stick and I as juror are not to vote guilty.

So yeah there's my story, good experience but stressful week.
 

max 330 mega

The Almighty Bunghole
15 Year Member
Joined
Dec 14, 2004
Posts
4,300
Got called for jury duty in October and had to have my superintendent write a letter to have it deferred because we're so short staffed. Was hoping they'd just say i didnt have to serve, but nope, looks like ill likely be serving in April.
 

SignOfGoob

Butthurt Enthusiast
20 Year Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2003
Posts
2,857
I’ve gotten letters about this before. I always ignore them, nothing ever happens. I have nothing but contempt for the American justice system, I refuse to be a part of it, I’m of no use to them.

To be an “impartial juror” in 2021 is essentially to be an unthinking unfeeling tax paying worker drone, they are looking only for idiots. If you have any strong opinions on anything they don’t want you.
 

LoneSage

A Broken Man
20 Year Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2004
Posts
44,746
The American jury system is one of those things I thought was completely, 100% normal growing up.

It's like Starship Troopers the more you think about it, though. I mean that in the sense things seem normal but are kind of fucked up.

I was called for jury duty when I was 19 or so I think. I was quite excited tbh but eventually didn't have to serve despite being there for the audition, or whatever they call it.

I can only imagine how miserable it would be if I was 40 and married with kids, working a job and living paycheck to paycheck, and called for jury duty.

edit: good old LoneSage thread. apparently I was 20, not 19. jro himself even posted and said he'd carve a swastika in his flesh, lmbo: https://www.neo-geo.com/forums/index.php?threads/wow-i-got-picked-for-jury-duty.169452/

2009 jury duty thread: https://www.neo-geo.com/forums/index.php?threads/i-have-jury-duty-tomorrow.189031

Nesagwa jury duty 2010 thread: https://www.neo-geo.com/forums/index.php?threads/soooo-jury-duty.195217
 

@M

Vanessa's Drinking Buddy,
20 Year Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Posts
7,174
I've only got the notification once, filled it out, sent it back, and they never called me to come in.

Most likely, someone at the courthouse read my colorful answers, frowned at the Disney Princess stickers I affixed all over the envelope, and said to themselves, "This M guy is insane, we can't let him decide the fate of another human being, indeed, he was probably the one that committed the crime in the first place and he's just mocking us. Unfit for jury duty!"
 

NeoSneth

Ned's Ninja Academy Dropout
20 Year Member
Joined
Oct 22, 2000
Posts
11,088
I've been called 5 times. 1 grand jury call. The city of St Louis is much smaller than the metro area,....and we have high crime.
Only had to serve once. I learned pretty quickly what to say and do to avoid that again. Don't talk, dont ever change your statement, be brief. If they can get you chatting, and they feel they can change your opinion, then both sides want you on that jury.

It was an enlightening experience. You get to see both sides completely lie, and leave the jury to guess what really happened. I couldn't believe how much of it was theatre and how little of it was anything else. My last one was a domestic abuse case. The guy clearly roughed her up. That wasn't in contention, but there was zero evidence of what the prosecution was trying to claim. Weapons, and drugs, and everything else. The mom had to be escorted out as she was coaching her kids while they were on the stand. We ended up giving the guy a charge, but not nearly what the prosecution wanted.

If ever you are guilty of a major crime...go to jury. You have a chance. Just make sure you have a good actor on your side. er....i mean....trial lawyer.
 

HellioN

, What The Fuck Is This Shit?
20 Year Member
Joined
May 10, 2004
Posts
5,101
Recently summoned.
Went to interview, car accident injury.
Took all day.
Didn't get selected.
Received check in the amount of $12 for my time.
Do not recommend.
 

jro

Gonna take a lot
20 Year Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2004
Posts
14,410
Got there at 7:30 this morning. Surprisingly large number of people packed into one room, masks required but not much spacing. After about an hour, they called 45 people to complete questionnaires and be considered for the first trial, I wasn't called. Waited around another 45 minutes and the other trial's judge came down to the assembly room to tell everyone that we were supposed to have been up for a criminal trial, but that the defendant had failed to appear, and that since we all showed up as ordered to, we'd get credit for serving and not be eligible for however long.

Worked out I suppose.
 

Spike Spiegel

Onigami Isle Castaway
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Apr 24, 2001
Posts
13,681
I was called into jury duty when I was a garbage man, years ago. I was only too happy to do it, as I was union, and it was in the middle of summer; so I would be paid 40 hours to either sit in a courthouse or on a stinky garbage truck sweating my balls off.

And 40 hours was what it would be, and more. I was on a federal jury case for a couple of weeks. I went in, thinking it was just some old normal in and out jury. Myself and another potential juror were even sitting in the wrong area when someone summoned us to the federal section. There were TONS of people there. 150? 200? A lot. Everyone made excuses as to why they couldn't go. It took two hours to weed people out by asking if anyone knew this person, or that person, etc. Making sure any witness wouldn't be known by a jury member in fear of an impartial opinion.

I was one of the first 16 people called into the box. Again, it started: "I can't because of this, I can't because of that." When my turn came up for questioning if there were any reason I wouldn't be able to serve, I probably blew the judge's fucking mind. I said, "I'm union. This won't be a hardship for me as I get paid no matter what. In fact, I think this would be a good life experience for me, and I would LIKE to be on the jury."

Now, I did say that, and I meant it, but I had not clue I was going to be a juror for two weeks. lol. But, it was very interesting. A huge fascinating case where the guy defended himself (that's usually a bad sign).

But yeah... been on a jury once. I thought it was pretty awesome.
 

norton9478

So Many Posts
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For Games.
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Oct 30, 2003
Posts
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I served on a jury 3 times and did my job every time..... Three convictions.
 
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