I have to report for jury duty this morning. I've been on call for a week and was beginning to get comfortable with the idea that I was going to skate on thru without being called. Honestly, I'm not sure if it's such a bad gig. I can't bring my computer but I'll have my phone so I can tweet, email, text and play games. I've been looking for a chance to read more than a paragraph of my book at one time.
On the other hand, I have an important meeting scheduled in my office this afternoon that I will now miss. My employer will not be happy to be on her own with this particular meeting. I've got lots of work that will now go neglected.
Of course it will be an honor, if chosen, to perform my civic duty.
While I'm deciding "should I stay or should I go now", (like I have a choice) please feel free to comment with your advice on how to get out of jury duty, how to make sure you're selected or fun things to do while you wait.
31 comments:
I feel like if I leave a comment that I'm going to be jinxed into getting a jury duty notice myself. It's not the serving that's so awful. It's the waiting and not knowing day by day of the on call.
The opportunity to sit and read a book would be heavenly!
I think I would try to know one of the lawyers trying the case. "I'm pretty sure I know you. You don't remember? Well, I remember."
It would scare the other side by thinking you were partial.
Seriously, I've been called to jury duty several times but after they pick the jury, they always settle outside of court. For some reason, that has been annoying.
I was called last spring. I got excused due to a chronic illness in the family. I got called again in the fall and had to go. Then I had to explain the term "chronic illness" to the clerk. She was disbelieving, despite the documentation from medical professionals. I was a little pissed.
Although I hear you on reading more than a paragraph in a book...
Good luck today!
For some reason, I have always wanted to be on jury duty but have never been called. I just think it would be kinda fun and interesting to sit and listen to some big case but for my luck it would be something really really boring. Have fun!
I've had to do the sit and wait jury duty selection thingie twice... never selected though. To be honest, I would probably be the one to fall asleep and end up serving time as punishment. It would have to be a pretty juicy case to keep me interested.
Di
The Blue Ridge Gal
I am glad that we have another legal system. Yours is a remnant of the Vikings, when the Vikings came to England they had already this system of a judge and a number of wise men. I wish you good luck! Now you have probably time to finish your book!
You could be prejudice or say you know someone who was the victim of the same crime.
Or just talk about your blog, that'll get you off the hook for sure. ;)
Good luck
Tell them you are in favor of the death penalty for parking tickets.
Works every time.
GOOD LUCK LOVE THE COMMENTS
Hate the sit and wait thing too, and I agree with Beth... pretend you know someone involved in the case. Or, forget about leaving your colleague with the office meeting and just go with the flow so you can get caught up on your reading.
Oh what fun.
I have jury duty last year. I had to be on call for a three month period. Only got called once to report but then had to call the night before to check in and was told the case had been settled!!
I would go if called again.
How to get out of jury duty: When assembled in the courtroom as they question potential jurors, stand up, pee uncontrollably and explain you can't help it and are also allergic to Depends. I think that might do it.
Everytime my name comes up, I get canceled before I even show up. I actually wouldn't mind being on a jury. Husband was on an interesting one one time.
OOOOHHHHH!!! I've always wanted to be selected for jury duty. I dream of getting a really juicy and interesting case! Hope your case is interesting - or at least you get caught up on your pleasure reading!
The one time I got called it turned out to be someone suing because of a car accident, which I had to do a few years before, and her lawyer was from the same firm as mine. I don't understand why they didn't want me...? Go figure.
I always think a juicy case would be fun, but they so seldom are that interesting.
To get out of it...maybe wave at every one and then cry uncontrollably when the judge starts talking. :)
You've got to pull a Tina Fey from 30 Rock!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzusuXSj8Y0
Funny, I have only ever met one person in the UK who was ever called for jury duty. And I know lots of Americans... I wonder why that would be. Thirty years ago, when I last lived in the US, you could pretty much get out of jury duty by claiming you were busy (which meant employed people rarely sat on juries) I think that's changed. While you're waiting for your case, I'm going to ask how it works here.
Not a ding dang thing you can do about it. At least not in California. There was a time when your employer could write and say you were indispensible in some way, but a stop was put to that. So you go. The only way I got out of jury duty is because I have a good case of arthritis of the spine and it is on my records. I would have to get up too often and move around and it can be very painful at times. So..the note from my doctor put an end to Jury duty letters. Fortunately for me it has been good for a long time now...so.. :) Shhhhhh....
I didn't get chosen the one time I was called. It was a DUI case and when I said I drank, they dismissed me. Hmmm.
Hey SMB,
If you really want to get out of jury duty, just start talking to yourself. And wear funky-smelling clothing.
See you in Tweetsville.
xx
It's been a heck of a day. I'm exhausted and can only sit with my wine and veg to DWTS and Jack. Thank you all for your comments. You cracked me up all day (during breaks, of course).
Love,hugs and kisses to you all!
Those are absolutely fascinating. Wonderful post! Blessings to you and your family……
I've never been called for jury duty. I'm not sure if I feel lucky....or unlucky.
Hope tomorrow is a better day than today was for you. muah!
OMG - death penalty for parking tickets. The answers are killing me. I work in the courts. Not in jury services, but still.
I got called once, and the prosecutor was one of my instructors. I was not happy - I got all geeked that I got called. Dammit..
Hope you get a chance for some down time..
Tell the judge you can tell a guilty person by just looking at them. Then start laughing and point to the defense attorney.
works every time.
I juts want to say thanks for doing this. If I was being accused of a crime I'd want people on my jury that weren't just there because they have nothing else to do.
I've actually never been called but always wanted to. I love watching stuff like that on tv and it would be fun to be involved in it. The hard part would be not talking about it with others! I am too chatty and might slip up! I think it is an interesting opportunity depending on the case, to get an inside view of how our system works. Something to blog about maybe...in an anonymous kind of way? I look forward to learning from you all about it....:)
If you get bored, check out the prompt I wrote today- I think your take on it would be interesting...
<3
Bummer, dude. I hate jury duty. Ugh. And the way to get out of it? Look at the defendent and shrug and say: "Looks guilty to me!"
or
Tell them you need to to get out of jury duty so you can attend your inauguration into the Neo-Nazis. heh
or
You can't do jury duty because you have to be at the clinic for your meds. Then look mysterious. They won't know if you need your schitzophrenia meds, or the ones for a social disease.
LOL
Although death penalty for parking tickets is pretty good, too.
I have been called 4 times and always honestly told the judge that my employer would not pay me while on duty. He always excused me.
Is it an interesting case? Cos that might give you a really interesting experience.
I have never been called for jury duty, but have had clients called. Weird. Cos then i have to call the court and explain why they can't really cope with it. Really must be a random selection process.
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