How to Get Out of Work - Jury Duty (Any stories to share?)

[Scratch]

I 'had' two business trips planned for August. Next week to Rockford, IL. and the week of the 24th to Colorado Springs, CO. I wasn't looking forward to the Rockford trip all that much, but the Colorado trip would have been a very nice respite from this summer's scorching drought.

I received an August federal jury summons a few weeks ago and submitted my business travel airline reservations as proof of my request for non-selection to the San Antonio Federal Courthouse panel. Denied!!! I've been on county jury in the past and was assigned to three courts martial panels over the years, but never federal... If/when selected this month, the feds pay $40.00 per day plus travel expenses. I'm 62 miles from the courthouse and at 50.5 cents per round-trip mile, that's OK with me... Much better than the $6.00 per day I received twelve years prior when summoned for Guadalupe County jury duty.

I had just retired from the military, (exempt from jury duty for 30 years), and was summoned to report to the Kingsbury, TX. Justice of the Peace Precinct for a local trial. Kingsbury TX. is a one-horse town located about 40 miles east of San Antonio off I-10. I pulled into town-central that Monday morning and had no difficulty finding the court building, a clearly-marked cinder block building on the south side of town. The rest of downtown Kingsbury was composed (and probably still is) of two other notable buildings... The grain elevator/feed store and; located along the train tracks, the Whistle Stop Cafe.

Twelve were summoned and twelve of us showed up. The JP, wearing a really nice Stetson to complement his jeans and boots informed us we should wait in the open waiting area, which served a double purpose as the court room. We waited all morning; were excused for lunch at the Whistle Stop Cafe, then upon return around 2pm, the JP stated: "I recon you all can go home now. That ole boy ain't gonna show up......... again." Can't help but wonder if that ole boy is the federal culprit responsible for this month's summons. :lol:
Any other jury stories out there?

 

[West R Lee]

Fall before last, I received a jury summons and appeared on a panel. Seems like we were all drilled about our backrounds and so forth. I'm expecting the deal where a couple of lawyers come in and scratch panel members based on whatever. The honorable Alvin Koury looks at me and says, "Mr. West thank you for serving on my grand jury, have a seat in the jury box." :shock: We listened to 20-30 or so cases 1 day each week for the next 2-3 months.

It got bit hairy from time to time as I personally knew, or knew of about 5 defendants, one was a boy that had been to the house a few years earlier, I work with his father. The most interesting was an assistant DA who had made a reputaion on cutting no slack to drunk drivers........he was arrested for DWI. We indicted him! More drug cases, especially methamphetamines, robbery, sexual assault, assault. Man, I never knew there was so much crime around here.

I'd served on several juries, but this was my first grand jury. A friend of mine was called to the Federal grand jury in Tyler. I think he served 6 months, once a week, had to wear a coat and tie. He loved it at first and hated it at the end.

West

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Toward the end of 2003, I was requested to appear for Jury duty in Benton County Superior Court. There were a couple of hundred potential jurors and I think, three cases. They divided the entire pool into three groups and sent us into the court rooms. There was probably 80 or so in my group. They spent the rest of the day filtering and culling the group down to 13 jurors. I don't know if they do that in all jurisdictions around the country, but here there are generally 13 jurors, in case one gets sick or has an accident or whatever. They saves them re-trying the case. I ended up being one of the 13 selected. The trial started the next day. The man on trial was accused of child molestation. About a nine year old girl, as I recall. I sat through four or five days of rather unpleasant testimony. Some of which was listening to this child describe what had been done to her. *shudder* The defendant never took the stand. After the prosecution and the defence offered their closing arguments and just before the jury was sent out to deliberate, the judge drew a juror's number from a hat. This juror would become the 13th juror and was excused from deliberation. Sure enough, I was selected as the thirteenth juror. The judge thanked me for my service and sent me home. I never did find out how the jury came back. What are the odds of that??

~nw

 

[dapmdave]

Several years ago, I was selected to serve on a murder trial. I spent 8 to 10 hours every day (except the weekend) for two weeks at the courthouse - either in the courtroom, or in the jury room. They paraded us into the courtroom when they wanted us to hear evidence, and out when they wanted to say things we weren't supposed to hear. The whole thing was very tightly structured and one feels very much manipulated.

After all was said and done, it was pretty obvious that the defendant had done the deed, so we sent him up the river. It was not a capital case, so the death penalty was not an issue.

It was interesting but I would not want to do it again. Just staying at work would have been MUCH easier.

Dave

 

[West R Lee]

:lol: I have also had the fascinating experience of sitting in the accused chair during trial. With little to lose and everything to learn, it was an experience I'll never forget. We helped our lawyer choose a jury and sat in the hot seat.

We had been duck hunting that day. A crystal clear, cool day and we had hunted the east side of a local lake. After a hunt in which we had limited out, but still with 45 minutes or so of daylight, the wood ducks began to roost, and we were right in the middle of it. Now if you're a duck hunter, this is what it's all about. With a limit in hand, we put the guns in the boat (this is for real, we really had), and we watched as these beautiful woodies would land just feet from where we stood. We watched for about 45 minutes until we could see the sun drop to the horizon. Hunters around us continued to shoot.

We loaded up the dekes and headed back to the ramp. When we arrived, the game warden (one with a horrible reputation......and very cocky) asked me what time legal shooting time was over that day? I rattled off 5:17 pm or so and told him I wasn't wearing a watch, but we had stopped shooting long before dark. The warden took my liscence and that of the two guys I was hunting with and went to his truck. I could see him with his light on and his head down. I then asked the guys I was hunting with what he was doing? They stated that he was writing us up.

I approached the warden and asked if he was writing a ticket and he said he was. I asked why....for what reason, and he replied, "For taking ducks after legal shooting hours". I then asked who I needed to see to contest his ticket as we were not guilty of that. He then got out of his truck without saying a word, blew right past me to the boat, and said he was confiscating all of our guns and ducks.............as I was taking him to court, he needed them for evidence (he took my Weatherby :evil: :evil: :evil: ).

I hired an attorney who was in my Sunday school class and we went to JP court where we were found guilty. We then appealed to district court for trial by jury. It got comical from there.

Long story a bit shorter, my lawyer asked him what happend that night and the warden stated that I told him I wasn't wearing a watch. My lawyer then asked if I was free to leave at the time, and the warden said not no, but hell no. My lawyer then aksed him if he had read me my miranda rights, to which he answered........"No!"

There you have it, my Constitutional rights had been violated! :wink: He had repeated something I said in a court of law without telling me I had the right to remain silent :lol: .

The judge asked to see council in his chambers. when my lawyer returned with a big smile. He informed us that the judge was a major league duck hunter and couldn't stand the warden. He said we could have it thrown out, but if we'd agree to continue, he'd waive court costs and restitution (which the warden had stuck us with after I called the head of law enforcement for the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife in Austin, registering a formal complaint) if we by slim chance lost.

The jury deliberated 2 minutes or so and the judge stated it was the fastest jurt deliberation he'd ever seen in 25 years or so. We were found not guilty.

My lawyer had asked for a case of beer of his choice and a goose hunt as payment......we're still good friends . The warden was soon transferred out of the county.....................he'd had numerous complaints against him. The following fall, I took my attorney Steve to Eagle Lake, Texas for the goose hunt of a lifetime.

West

 

[fronobulax]

I was only called once and that was to serve on a county court. I forget all the selection activity but suddenly I was assigned to a case. Simplistically, two men went into an alleyway between stores and one came out with gunshot wounds. The other was accused of all sorts of things including malicious wounding and using a firearm in the comission of a felony. It was interesting and we eventually acquited the defendent. Both claimed the other man had brought the gun and it had gone off in a "self-defense" struggle. There was "reasonable doubt" because there was no solid evidence concerning who actually owned the gun.

Two things made it interesting. At the end of the trial I saw someone talking to the prosecuting attorney. I had seen her at chorus rehearsals. Turns out she was a county judge and the ladyfriend of the prosecuting attorney. Then, several months later when I was looking at the checkbook for taxes I saw a familiar name. Unknown to me, the defendant had cleaned our gutters for my wife! Neither would justify a mistrial but either would have gotten me off the jury if I had known.

 

[marcellis]

Be a lawyer.

I will always be the first one disqualified from jury duty.
There is no way in *ell either side of a case wants a lawyer
in the jury room.

 

[dapmdave]

Be a lawyer.

I will always be the first one disqualified from jury duty.
There is no way in *ell either side of a case wants a lawyer
in the jury room.

Yep. And nobody connected with law enforcement, either.

So, why does no one want someone who actually may understand the law to be on the jury? Unlikely to be manipulated?

Dave

 

[Dr Izza Plumber]

Whenever I am called to report for jury duty, it seems to be for a criminal case.
When prompted to disclose if I have a relative, friend, or neighbor who is an LEO, I respond yes, yes, and yes.

It is at that point where my dismissal becomes reality. I have yet to actually serve during proceedings.

 

[killdeer43]

If your summons comes in the mail and you didn't sign for it, and you don't want/have the time to serve on jury duty, shred it!
Your time is a valuable commodity, but they won't understand that at city hall.

Then, grab a Guild and play dumb, or some other song you know.

Joe

 

[Scratch]

One week no call, maybe I'll make another 21 without having to serve. Regardless, if called, I think it's my duty to respond. Maybe I'll do some picking in the jury box and they'll kick me off for sure...

 

[West R Lee]

If your summons comes in the mail and you didn't sign for it, and you don't want/have the time to serve on jury duty, shred it!
Your time is a valuable commodity, but they won't understand that at city hall.

Then, grab a Guild and play dumb, or some other song you know.

Joe

I think it's a bit different in Texas. If you don't show up, I think it's a minor crime....seriously. Gilded can answer that one for sure. I do know that on the grand jury panel, if you told the judge you couldn't serve, you had to talk with the judge at the bench.......he made a few sit right back down. I've always enjoyed it and considered it an obligation and found it very interesting.

West

 

[killdeer43]

I've responded to jury summonses in the past and I've served. When I did, I found the process to be interesting and even intriguing, especially when I had the time to pay attention and contribute. It's always good to see how things work.
But if you don't have the time or inclination, you're just going to waste someone else's time. :|

Joe

 

[Scratch]

If your summons comes in the mail and you didn't sign for it, and you don't want/have the time to serve on jury duty, shred it!
Your time is a valuable commodity, but they won't understand that at city hall.

Then, grab a Guild and play dumb, or some other song you know.

Joe

I think it's a bit different in Texas. If you don't show up, I think it's a minor crime....seriously. Gilded can answer that one for sure. I do know that on the grand jury panel, if you told the judge you couldn't serve, you had to talk with the judge at the bench.......he made a few sit right back down. I've always enjoyed it and considered it an obligation and found it very interesting.

West

Even for a federal summons Jim?

 

[West R Lee]

If your summons comes in the mail and you didn't sign for it, and you don't want/have the time to serve on jury duty, shred it!
Your time is a valuable commodity, but they won't understand that at city hall.

Then, grab a Guild and play dumb, or some other song you know.

Joe

I think it's a bit different in Texas. If you don't show up, I think it's a minor crime....seriously. Gilded can answer that one for sure. I do know that on the grand jury panel, if you told the judge you couldn't serve, you had to talk with the judge at the bench.......he made a few sit right back down. I've always enjoyed it and considered it an obligation and found it very interesting.

West

Even for a federal summons Jim?

Seems like I was on a jury panel and the judge made a comment about people not showing up...he wasn't too pleased as I recall. Better ask Harry to be sure Kenny. I would think if there were a difference (the instance I'm referring to was in state court), Federal court would be more strict......I'm no lawyer though.

West

 

[Scratch]

These folks reminded me last Sunday evening that when I show up for duty I must do so in shirt and tie as minimum! Quite a bit different than the county court I served on...

 

[West R Lee]

Very bottom of this page for Texas state court.....$100-$1000 for not answering a summons.

http://www.courts.state.tx.us/pubs/mjs_sep09.pdf

West

 

[Graham]

I think what Joe was saying is if the summons just came in the mail there is no proof that you received it, unless of course it was registered mail and you signed for it.

I know here they come via regular mail. I've been called twice. One was resolved during the day while we waited so the case was closed. Another was a sexual assault on a child case. Here the prospective jurors assemble in the jury box and are asked a couple of simple questions by the Judge, usually "Do you have any prejudices that might affect your ability to be a partial juror?", "Do you or any of your relatives or close friends have any connection in any way with the court system or the administration of justice?" that kind of stuff.

The prosecutor or the defence counsel may object to a particular juror if they believe there is a reason why he or she should be disqualified.

So I get called up, state my name and the Judge asks if I have any prejudices that might affect my ability to be a partial juror? Being that this is a sex assault on a child I turn to the Defense attorney and with a bit of a grin say, "No sir."

I was dismissed. :shock:

 

[West R Lee]

U.S. court looks like $1000 fine and 3 days in jail for failure to answer a summons.

http://www.wvnd.uscourts.gov/jury_infor ... ury%20duty

They leave 'em in mailbox just like any other mail where I live Graham, you don't sign for them. You might have to sign for a Federal summons, I've never gotton one.

And Graham, I may have told them "Yes sir, I was a child once, even raised a few of them." Nope, I'd have kept my mouth shut, listened to the evidence, then hung the SOB :wink: .

This would be a great conversation to have Harry in on.....jury selection. I know that in the town I come from, I work for one of the largest employers. A defense lawyer won't take a white guy that works where I work....too conservative (can you imagine?). I also know that lawyers are taught various cues they employ in jury selection, based on race, facial hair, grooming, attire, etc. above and beyond the usual questioning. Fascinating stuff. Obviously, the DA wants white guys that work for the company I work for.

As I recall, they don't select anyone for jury froma panel, they just keep scratching them for whatever reason until there are only 12 left.

West

 

[Scratch]

Came in the mail fellas. I answered the four page questionnaire and was then placed on call for the entire month of August with instructions to call in every Sunday after 6:00 pm CST to see if I'm to report or stay on call...