Dh is encouraging me to look at this as an adventure. Part of me is curious, of course -- I've watched enough courtroom dramas & read enough novels, lol, and I did attend a few trials during my days as a journalism student. And yes, I know it's my civic duty, etc. etc. -- but I'm really reluctant to serve on a jury, particularly if it's a nasty sort of case or something that's not very clear-cut. I have trouble making decisions affecting my own life as it is -- I really don't want to be (partly) responsible for making an important decision that could affect so many others' lives. :p
It's the uncertainty that is really gnawing at me. Dh & I were talking about a fall getaway, but we've had to put our plans for the next few weeks/months on hold until I find out what's going to happen. (They couldn't have called me in the 28 years that I was working, & dying for an excuse to get out of the office??) Friends have been asking about get togethers, & I've had to tell them I don't know when I'll be available. I could be there for up to a week, I think, and be dismissed (which is what I'm hoping for). Or I could be selected for a trial that lasts days, weeks, months.
It's also slightly inconvenient. The courthouse is about a half-hour drive away. I don't drive (that far, at least -- and we only have one car, so I couldn't leave dh all day for days on end without one), so dh will be driving me & picking me up. If we'd both still been working, I would have had to rely on public transportation (commuter train & bus).
Have you ever been called for jury duty or served on a jury?
You can find more of this week's #MicroblogMondays posts here.
And as if I didn't need another reason to feel like summer is flying by, I've suddenly got first day of school photos & posts popping up on my Facebook feed from some of my teacher & mom friends & relatives in the States!! Good grief!! :p (School here doesn't start until the first day after Labour Day in September, thank goodness...!!)
ReplyDeleteAs someone who was selected to serve on a jury for a seven day trial for a civil case last fall, I can attest to the fact that it is nothing like courtroom dramas. I found the judicial system to be one of the most inefficient processes that I've ever had the misfortune of participating in (I have a really low tolerance for having my time wasted). That being said, we (the jury) were able to come to a consensus regarding the verdict and despite my misgivings about the inefficiency of the whole process, it was really cool to be selected because it felt important.
ReplyDeleteMy advice is to pack a good book, some snacks, change for vending machines, and keep your fingers crossed that you're not selected. :)
I have been called to jury duty but never selected to serve. Have you watched Veronica Mars? You should watch the episode where she's called to jury duty (well, really, you should watch ALL the episodes because they are so good!). It will psyche you up for it. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been called but have had valid excuses not to serve. I think it'd be pretty neat, except all the unknowns about *IF* I'm called, *IF* I'm selected, and how long I might be gone and how that might affect work/pay/daycare.
ReplyDeleteI've heard it's a really cool experience though!
I was selected for jury duty many years ago, just as I was started college. At the time I found it exciting and a ridiculously grown-up thing to do - by the time it was over, and the girl accused of DWI was acquitted due to a technicality, I was much less impressed with the whole process. Best of luck to you - I hope it's as painless and interesting as possible!
ReplyDeleteI've only gotten the one-day jury duty service (and wasn't chosen even to be looked at for a jury). But Josh got a very long trial once. It was months. And it was during work. It was a really strange time period because he was out at the courthouse all day.
ReplyDeleteAs I think you know, I was called for jury duty a couple of months ago. They told us in our original notice (District Court) that the longest case to be called that week was expected to last about eight days. I've previously been called for the High Court, and in that notice, was warned that the case might last three weeks. The warning is useful. And it also helps people plan their lives.
ReplyDeleteI had to turn up most days during the week, and although I was balloted (twice) to go into a courtroom, to hear the charges and see the defendants, my name was never called for the actual jury. (Though there was a moment of concern when, after the jury had gone out the back to be sworn in, six of them were excused, and they had to call another six!)
Like you, I am curious about the process, and - without modesty - would rather our justice system was based on decisions from sensible people like you and me, but still, I was relieved when I wasn't called! One case in particular was a domestic violence case towards a mother and child, and the charges included "smacking the bottom" which is now illegal in NZ. The plea was not guilty. I was relieved not to be on that jury - I can only imagine the different views that would have been argued during deliberations.
Fingers crossed that you do your duty by turning up, and then get to go home!
Oh, I get this: "They couldn't have called me in the 28 years that I was working, & dying for an excuse to get out of the office??"
ReplyDeleteI got called and into the jury box about a year ago. During the qualifying round (that's not an accurate term) the defense atty asked me if I thought her client was innocent. I said I didn't yet know. That disqualified me.
I was truthful but I didn't like the feeling of having the incorrect answer.
I get summonded for jury duty Every. Freaking. Year. I know people who never get a summons, why do I always get them?! I was actually put on a jury twice in my life. The first time I got put on one I was finishing my teaching credential and getting my hours in a classroom and the whole thing would have totally screwed me. I actually cried to the judge, who was livid that I hadn't requested a delay (it was my first time being summonded and everyone told me I'd be excused!) but he eventually let me leave and I had to return in August when I was excused. The second time I served on a jury in a civil suit. It was a messy affair between a tenant and a landlord and it was clear they were both being dishonest and it was hard to tell who was being more so. Both lawyers were awful, the judge kept yelling at them and reprimanding them. It was a mess. I got that one summer early in my teaching career when I had June, July and August to do with as I pleased (I can't fathom now what I did with all those hours!). I could have been excused because I did have a really bad issue with a landlord in college, but I lied and said I didn't have any bad history with landlords because I didn't think it would affect my judgement and since I had all that free time I felt I should "take one for the team," and just serve the time. It ended up being a week of half days. I remember thinking it was hard to decide because they were both shady characters who clearly made poor choices and I hated the idea of leaving a woman without her home. Civil cases aren't as interesting as criminal cases. When I'm retired I want to serve on a criminal case. I think that would be interesting.
ReplyDeleteI was called for jury duty and actually made it into the group that was questioned by the lawyers. It was an assault with a deadly weapon case and they dismissed me from the jury pool because I had been involved in an assault court case before (when this asshat ran my mom off the road, on purpose).
ReplyDeleteGrey just got summoned for jury duty. We're debating having him show up in a wedding dress. That or bike clothes (for some reason, every biker we know has been released from jury duty).
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above, it's not very glamorous. But the process can be interesting if you want a better understanding of how the legal system functions.
I was just released from my jury duty summons - for me, all it involved was checking the website each evening to see if they were going to need me to come in. Since I have worked with many of the attorneys in my county (I work in a crime lab), I can't see me ever getting onto a jury in a criminal trial. Unfortunately, I also live in the most lawsuit-friendly county in the US, so a civil trial is still a possibility. But I've lived here 10 years before getting summoned, so I doubt I'll get called again any time soon.
ReplyDeleteI'd be terrible, I'd fall asleep, check my phone. I hope I never get called.
ReplyDelete