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Jury Duty

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Jetgirl8

Jetgirl8

Aerospace
Aug 3, 2010
59
US
I have been called twice in 2 years. Officially, you can only duck out if called repeatedly within the same year, but until I lived here I never received a summons at all. It actually seems that the number of folks in my office who receive a jury summons is way above normal - one gent has been called 3 times in 9 years (I seem to be on track to beat that). First time I was called, I was happy to perform my civic duty. The timing of this most recent notice could not have been worse, so I've postponed until August, but based on the experience the first time around I'm just hoping it's not too much a waste of my time.

Just curious about other's experiences. Is this really that outside the norm?

When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
 
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Been called four times in the last twenty years, but never served. My project lead just served on a jury for a week back at the beginning of the year. Around here, we also labor under the myth that engineers don't get picked for juries. Yet, it doesn't seem to apply in reality as much as we'd like.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

"All the world is a Spring"

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.
 
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My husband just got a jury duty summons for June 26th. His is for a more local jurisdiction and it's likely he won't even have to show up at all.

When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
 
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Wear a dress shirt, dress pants (not just kakii's or the like) and a tie.

You won't get picked because the defense wants people they can "emotionally" convince. The defense lawyer will dismiss you. On Monday morning, some 200 were in the jury pool. Men T-shirts, men & women in jeans, women not dressed up? Immediately grabbed.

On Tuesday, a bunch of others had picked up on the "system"

By Wednesday, the whole remaining pool of some 60 were (relatively) formally dressed. Four sets of lawyers stepped in the door, looked around at the available jurors, and plead guilty. No more trials that week = we were dismissed.
 
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You can ask that as a juror do you get to ask questions. Some courts allow that and the questions have to be written.
If questions are not allowed you can say "OK everybody walks-there not guilty." My feeling is that the jury has the ultimate responsibility.

The ohter way to get off is register as a prohibitionist or something. Jury selection here comes off voter rolls - some people get fileterd off.
 
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Here's my experience while living and working in Orlando, Florida for 23 years. During those years I was only called twice. The first time I sit around for two days without being called then released. The second time was more interesting. I was actually called for a case. I can't remember what it was about but when they were interviewing folks and they got to me I told them I was an engineer. The attorney for the defense didn't like engineer because his dad was an engineer so I was immediately rejected. I enjoyed doing my civic duty, but if I not going to be selected just for being a logical thinking engineer it would be nice to know this up front. --- Grandpa [bigsmile]
 
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I was recently called for the first time... I was excited to do it but unfortunately I got an argument with the prosecutor over whether or not a right to preemptive self defense existed in texas... It would've been convenient for him had it not. I didn't get selected.
 
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I've yet to be called for Jury Duty...but I know some folks who have been called more than twice. I'd be interested in it if only for the experience, but it seems that being an Engineer would limit the opportunity from some of the posts I have read.

Boottmills
 
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Husband just got called in. He sat through the jury selection process but was dismissed when they got 12 + an extra before "randomly" calling him up for the questioning/interview process. My summons for August just arrived (I had to delay back in April)... so we'll see how it goes.

When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
 
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Well, I kept calling in last week... and had to show on Thursday. Got picked to sit on a jury Friday. Trial lasted 3 days. Overall, I would say I had a good and informative experience. Shame I missed out on almost 5 full days of work... we'll see how long it takes to get called again!

When the future's architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You'd better lie low
 
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