Jury Duty

[aprilgail]

Can you really just, like, NOT show up without any consequences?? I can't believe the compliance rate is so low. I've always been so afraid of getting thrown in prison if I didn't go! Not that I won't continue to comply, but still. If there's really that many people who don't show then the consequences must not be as dire as they want you to believe. Of course, my luck I'd be the one who gets imprisoned.

I guess it depends on the state you are in. I am in NY and I have just ignored them a few times if the time wasn't good for me- they just send you another one like a year or so later. I have a friend that has tossed them every single time since she doesn't get paid from her job if she goes to jury duty and she is the only income she has and no one has ever knocked on her door and arrested her.

 

[Marchand63]

In our state ( or county possibly) LE is auto excused .. they just sign the form and return it .. I have also been auto excused then moment they learn I’m married to LE , neither side really wants that I guess .
I was picked for 6 months of grand jury when I was 18 and it was ok .. there was one other 18 yr old on it so I actually ended up with a boyfriend lol

Not here. We get paid so we show. Always excused from criminal but civil has no problem seating you. I consider it my civic duty to uphold our court system.

I guess it depends on the state you are in. I am in NY and I have just ignored them a few times if the time wasn't good for me- they just send you another one like a year or so later. I have a friend that has tossed them every single time since she doesn't get paid from her job if she goes to jury duty and she is the only income she has and no one has ever knocked on her door and arrested her.

In Massachusetts a warrant will be issued if you fail to show, that depends on the court & judge.

 

[Fldisneyfamily4321]

How we feel about it holds no bearing , they simply don’t want them on a jury ( any jury ) . I did 6 months 3-4 days a week on the grand jury ... I’m thinking that covers my lifetime requirement lol so I’m just fine with them not wanting me on either .

 

[EveDallas]

I am ok with serving. I think I'd enjoy it. I have been called up many times but each time have been sent home before we even got to jury selection or had the trial postponed. DH has never been called to serve. My only complaint is the pittance they give. $15 a day is ludicrous. You should get your regular salary if employed and if unemployed or per diet/IC or other it should be minimum wage at least PER HoUR. Whichever is greater.

We don't even get that. Texas pays $6 a day.

 

[BDL]

It's not that easy to get booted any more. I just had to serve on a jury 2 weeks ago. I was selected despite being the son of a police officer and a victim of a violent crime (stabbing). What really stunk, was that our group was the only one that got impaneled that day. The rest were released by 10:30am.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I know that they sent court officers to go get people that didn't show. So, around here, it isn't a good idea.

For federal court, they send US Marshals.

 

[RedAngie]

My company pays your full salary while on Jury duty or testifying in a trial. You just have to refuse any payment from the court.

Same with my company for salaried and full time hourly employees. We do have to sign over any payment we receive.

I'm not sure of the policy for part time hourly employees. I'm guessing they don't get paid.

My Mom got jury duty and when they got to her she told them the person wouldn't be there if they weren't guilty so she knows they are guilty. She got excused. For some reason that cracked me up because I could picture her saying that.

She's right. There are so many cases and limited court time and resources, so only those with the strongest evidence get sent to trial. Most are pleaded out or dismissed due to weak evidence.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Can you really just, like, NOT show up without any consequences?? I can't believe the compliance rate is so low. I've always been so afraid of getting thrown in prison if I didn't go! Not that I won't continue to comply, but still. If there's really that many people who don't show then the consequences must not be as dire as they want you to believe. Of course, my luck I'd be the one who gets imprisoned.

Mine says: "What happens if I have been summoned for jury service, but I just decide not to come in? You may be held in contempt of court and you can be fined for failing to respond to a jury service summons." There's no mention though of how much the fine is.

They do go on to say "Generally, to be excused from jury service for other than health reasons, you must appear in person and speak to the judge on the date you are summoned. Failure to honor the jury summons may subject you to a fine for contempt of court. If the scheduling of your jury service is the problem, you may reschedule your jury service one time only by contacting the jury coordinator"

I haven't been called to jury duty but I'd probably opt for rescheduling first before even considering just not showing up.

 

[SC Minnie]

Here if you don't show up in the morning you'll be there in the afternoon by escort. Seen it both times I was on jury duty.

If the timing isn't good for you they will push you off a couple of months, I think they'll do it twice but it may just be once.

 

[scrhsa]

I got called when I was about 22/23. I was really hoping they wouldn't call me. I did find it interesting. And the prosecuting lawyer asked me for drinks afterward. Yes, I went. Tea at the local yacht club. So outside of my comfort zone
Where I live now, I've been summoned about 3 times in 14 yrs. But it's such a rural area that it is canceled every time.

 

[elphaba91]

I will likely never be called for jury duty and if I am will probably be excused. In my state lawyers can’t be called and (as we found a couple of weeks ago when our secretary got her notice) if you work for a law firm you are instantly excused when you fill in the online response. I remember one of my friends at university got called one summer and was excited about it, but was rejected as soon as they found out she was a law student.

A coworker at a previous (retail) job was called and it turned out that they were looking for jurors for a case involving a man who had committed and been found guilty of abducting, raping and murdering a young woman. It was such a well publicised case from the time she went missing that it would be hard to find jurors who didn’t know who he was, let alone absolutely detest him. He was being tried for other unrelated rape charges. The potential jurors were basically told ‘this is the accused. If you can’t be impartial in this case then feel free to leave’.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I will likely never be called for jury duty and if I am will probably be excused. In my state lawyers can’t be called and (as we found a couple of weeks ago when our secretary got her notice) if you work for a law firm you are instantly excused when you fill in the online response. I remember one of my friends at university got called one summer and was excited about it, but was rejected as soon as they found out she was a law student.

A coworker at a previous (retail) job was called and it turned out that they were looking for jurors for a case involving a man who had committed and been found guilty of abducting, raping and murdering a young woman. It was such a well publicised case from the time she went missing that it would be hard to find jurors who didn’t know who he was, let alone absolutely detest him. He was being tried for other unrelated rape charges. The potential jurors were basically told ‘this is the accused. If you can’t be impartial in this case then feel free to leave’.

Your second paragraph is more what I think I would be concerned on if I got called for jury duty in a more high profile or more heinous situation..can I trust that I remain impartial..I'd like to hope that I can but I won't know for sure until I'm actually confronted with that.

 

[wgeo]

I was just looking at my paperwork - it doesnt say what happens if you don't show. But they have a whole lot of boxes you can check to get excused or postpone, which a lot of people must do. I think the phone when I called in said jurors up to number 673? or so had to report, but there were probably only around 200 of us in the room.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I was just looking at my paperwork - it doesnt say what happens if you don't show. But they have a whole lot of boxes you can check to get excused or postpone, which a lot of people must do. I think the phone when I called in said jurors up to number 673? or so had to report, but there were probably only around 200 of us in the room.

The 673 people would include those that have moved, died, changed their name or whatever. At least around here, the number you are assigned doesn't change until a new jury pool is pulled.

 

[chartle]

Can you really just, like, NOT show up without any consequences?? I can't believe the compliance rate is so low. I've always been so afraid of getting thrown in prison if I didn't go! Not that I won't continue to comply, but still. If there's really that many people who don't show then the consequences must not be as dire as they want you to believe. Of course, my luck I'd be the one who gets imprisoned.

In Massachusetts a warrant will be issued if you fail to show, that depends on the court & judge.

Every once and awhile I hear a story about how not enough jurors don't show up and they have to postpone trials for the day. If it happens enough or if the head judge is in a bad mood, maybe because he couldn't do his job that day, bench warrants will be issued for everyone that doesn't show up and they make absolutely sure all the local news station know about it.

 

[Marchand63]

I will likely never be called for jury duty and if I am will probably be excused. In my state lawyers can’t be called and (as we found a couple of weeks ago when our secretary got her notice) if you work for a law firm you are instantly excused when you fill in the online response. I remember one of my friends at university got called one summer and was excited about it, but was rejected as soon as they found out she was a law student.

A coworker at a previous (retail) job was called and it turned out that they were looking for jurors for a case involving a man who had committed and been found guilty of abducting, raping and murdering a young woman. It was such a well publicised case from the time she went missing that it would be hard to find jurors who didn’t know who he was, let alone absolutely detest him. He was being tried for other unrelated rape charges. The potential jurors were basically told ‘this is the accused. If you can’t be impartial in this case then feel free to leave’.

They should make lawyers serve

Actually my father owned a law firm and he served at least 2 times I know about. Noone is excused here. The prosecutor or defense has to use a challenge to get you off. The only other is when the judge asks if you know anyone associated with the case. I did have to stand once - yup your honor I know you. He was a neighbor

 

[E&Cmom]

I have never been called.

DH was called a few months back. He stressed about it for weeks and then they cancelled the trial the day before he was supposed to go for selection. I have no clue whymaye they settled.

 

[leebee]

I've never been called for jury duty, which I feel is unfortunate; I'd like to serve on a jury. DH has been called FIVE TIMES but is never picked for a jury. There aren't may lawyers who want an analytical chemist with specialization in biophysics on their panel!

 

[aprilgail]

I've never been called for jury duty, which I feel is unfortunate; I'd like to serve on a jury. DH has been called FIVE TIMES but is never picked for a jury. There aren't may lawyers who want an analytical chemist with specialization in biophysics on their panel!

I know you can let them know here that you want to serve and they sure as heck call you- when I was younger and working and my job paid me in full for jury duty plus let us keep the pay from the court I submitted a letter requesting to be called and I got called.

 

[drinkme]

I served on a jury last year. One night the judge kept us deliberating until after 10pm. We couldn’t contact our families. My kids (teens) were worried about me & tried calling the courthouse because they didn’t know if I was still at court. The court wouldn’t tell them anything.