I have twice - one civil and one criminal.
Fascinating experiences, and I would do it again in an instant!

I was called 8 years in a row at one point in my life. I served on three of those juries (one civil, two criminal) graduating to foreman after the second trial. :-)

Jodi-

I have yet to be called....

I have been called twice and served once.

I think it is important to serve - but totally understand why you are opting out. (And you have served - so good for you!!)

I really am unhappy when people lie to get out of jury duty. I know there are truly good reasons that people can't serve - but it is important to do so when you are called. Some cases are pretty tough on people, emotionally, though. I think any cases involving kids would be hard to handle.

I have been called and served once. Medical Malpractice case.

I had hoped to be called again, but never have been. Now I'm past the age.

I think it is a privilege to serve, and don't understand why some people don't want to. If I were involved in a lawsuit I would hope to have good upstanding citizens as jurors, not "just anybody".

Sue

I was on the jury panel for a malpractice suit but was excused b/c my DIL worked w/ the doc's wife. Two weeks ago I served on a civil jury and we found the defendant innocent. We all agreed from the start, so there were no long deliberations. The worst part was they told us to be back at 1:30 and they called us in the court room at 5:15.

Served once on a criminal case and was asked again, but was excused because I just had started chemo. Have not been asked since.

I got a summoned 14 years ago when I was nursing my ds and got out of it and then last week I got one for August 11th. I'm a little nervous about it. I've been watching and watching the paper to see any trial to start on the 11th.

I've been called eight times that I can remember and have served twice, both civil. I'd do it again as long as it's not a hardship. It's much harder to opt out of jury duty now than it was years ago. I believe that it's our civic duty to serve.

I've been called four times. The first time, I got on an interesting criminal assault case, the second I got on a medical malpractice case, very interesting. Third time I was dismissed from the jury pool afdter two days. The last time i phoned in every day for a week and never got called in. I'd love to serve again. I bring books to read so I don't go crazy. My husband was once on a rape case.

4 times - served twice, thrown off once (knew the
arresting officer), and the last was plea-bargained
and never went to Jury. (after wasting several days,
waiting for a time to go in).

Hope they never find me again. LOL

When I first moved here with a kindergartner, toddler and new baby, I was called for jury duty for the first time. I was a nervous wreck because I nursed my baby, but I told them that as an explanation of why I needed to be excused. They did not call me back for jury duty for 18 years!

I've been called up twice but haven't made it on to a jury yet. I always thought I would love to be on a jury until I spent a few hours in the courthouse with some of the other potential jurors and heard some of them talking about the last trial they sat on a jury for. Some of the things they said sent chills up my spine, like "well, I didn't spend 15 hours in that chair to only award her $800, I made sure she got more than that", like it was about HIM and not the injured party. And the other one that freaked me out was a lady who was on a jury for a guy who was accused of breaking and entering. They asked her if her house had ever been broken into and she yes, her TV was stolen, but she just figured whoever took it needed it more than she did. The defense attorney LOVED her.

I'm glad I didn't get picked for either of those, it would be very hard to be on a jury with people who think so differently from how I think. That's the trouble with a small town, you learn too much about the people you live near.

I will be happy to serve again, the next time I get called up, because now that Woody's retired, I can be gone all day with no worries. (4 dogs, it's a pain sometimes.)

Been called and served 3 times. 2 civil cases and a criminal case this years.

Linda

Served twice. Both criminal.
First was robbery.
Second was a month long murder trial. Wife killed her husband by running him over with her car 6 times at a local gas station. Last 2 times, pushing him through plate glass window.
When police arrived...she said "My transmission slipped".
It was quite an experience.
Disappearing witnesses, visited the scene of the crime, etc.

I would love to serve, but have only been called once. My letter was some paperwork to be filled out to put your name in the files, then you might be selected a few months later. Unfortunately, at the time I was about 8 months pregnant, and would be staying home with DD, so I filled it out, but explained the situation and it never went any further.

I've never been called for jury duty. So I suppose after saying that I'll get called up now, and it'll probably be for the one day that would be problematic! Oh well...

I too think it's a duty to serve. And I think certain cases could be very tough. But I think it could be very interesting.

A friend of mine was called and he refused to serve. Said he would never convict anyone so they might as well send him home. Well, I laughed when I heard that and told him you know what I would do if you said that to me? LOL Well, they pretty much did. They didn't put him on a jury, but he sat in a room essentially by himself all day long for the term of the service. Can't remember how many days, it's been years since it happened.

And I know of others who served but didn't really do the job right. It was a let's get out of here now and convicted the guy. Not sure if it was warranted or not but kind of annoyed me when I heard that.

I've been called up but case was always settled before the jury was picked. Last time was about a month ago.

I get called often but have never had to serve. I would be happy to serve if they picked me.

Dottie, you did the right thing. You have a legitimate reason that prevents you from serving without hardship.

Only called once. Both me and my next door neighbor were called at the same time. Both of us were nursing our babies and were excused. It's been 28 years and I would love to be called again. We moved 2 years ago and DH got a form to fill out for jury duty, he grumbled about it, but now that he is retired I think he would enjoy the experience. Why didn't I get that form?
Hey, Alcona County, MI, pick my name, please!
Kathy G in MI

I was called about a month before my sixth baby was born. They took one look and said, "Excused."

Second time was for a medical malpractice suit. Hub was the medical reporter who had covered the case for the paper in the first place so I was excused again. He covered the trial, too - the jury found negligence; punitive and real damages were large, but I don't remember how much.

I would like to serve someday.

I've been called 6 times and served on 4...3 criminal and 1 civil. DH got called last year for civil court and the defendant was our next-door neighbor. *L* Of course, he got excused, but he stayed during the short trial & then the two of them went out to lunch.

In our county, the courts are very busy. It's rare if you don't get called about every 2 years (you don't have to serve more often than that). I've been called so many times, I literally cannot tell you how many--and it's been about 2-3 years since my last summons, so I'm expecting to see one soon. Hey, that princely $5 a day is surely going to make a dent in my new mortgage, right????

Anyway, first time I was called, was back in the dark ages. In those days, you reported and sat for 2 weeks in an assembly room, waiting until a judge called for a panel to seat a jury. I did most of a huge crewel picture for behind my sofa during the time I sat there. Did get on a case on the next to last day. Traffic accident.

Now our county does the thing were you get the summons and call the night before. Depending upon what they need, you may or may not have to report. If you do report, it's only for one day, unless you get seated on a jury. I've been excused probably half a dozen times. I've had to report and not gotten on a case maybe another half dozen. And about 2 or 3 times, I've actually gotten on a jury--at least one settled while we were out to lunch, before the evidence was even presented, so we didn't get to decide anything.

I do find going to the courthouse fascinating--whether it's for jury duty for for another reason. Will be intgeresting to see how things work at the new place--it's in a different county.

I have been called 3-4 times for civil cases but never chosen because of my occupation.

Only been called for jury duty once, and never made it to the courtroom. Heard they don't like teachers, lol.

I have never been called.

My DH has been called 3 times and was excused all 3 times.

He would have served but, in all 3 cases he had some weird 6 degrees of separation with the defendants. This is a man who knows a lot of people, mostly law abiding!

Kim

When I was a federal employee I was summoned many times. The courts love federal employees because we have to serve, no excuses. Went to the courthouse perhaps 10-12 times, was called into the courtroom 5 times, and went through voir dire 3 times, and was bounced during voir dire twice. So I only sat on a jury once, for a civil case. It was fine, although I was never truly happy with the decision we reached.

I was also invited to sit on our grand jury, which I've been told by lawyers is a compliment. But it meets only at night and 25 miles away. I don't do night driving, so I very regretfully refused.

IMO it's a privilege and responsibility to serve, and the court in action is very interesting.

I so agree with you, that it is a duty AND privledge to serve on jury duty. Like I mentioned, I've served twice, both very interesting cases. the first was a guy who snatched a kid riding a bike, on a country road. He let the kid out of the car when he discovered it was a boy and not a girl he grabbed. It still frightens me to think of what would have happened if the cute little boy had been a little girl. We found him guilty. The other case was a drug case and the guy was so scary looking and seemed to take delight in staring at jurers. The case was interesting because it involved undercover agents, and ect, We found that guy guilty too.
I would dearly like to participate in the process again, but at my advance age (lol) I think it is best to decline with much regret.
All of your stories of your jury duty are so interesting. I would like to hear more. Should I start another post for those? Dottie

Have never been summoned. Think it could be interesting, though. I agree - it is a duty and a privilege.

I was called for the sentancing phase of a murder trial. The man had already been convicted and this was just to determine his punishment - death penalty or length of incarceration. They excused me during jury questioning when I answered that my son was in law school. I wish I knew why that should prevent me from serving. However it turned out to be lucky. The jury sat for several weeks and then the verdict was thrown out on appeal because they decided the judge at the first trial (when the fellow was found guilty) hadn't given the full instructions to the jury.

I've often thought that the jury system should also allow prospective jurors to volunteer their time to serve. That would increase the number of people who could serve. They could pick a time when they knew they were free.

The two times I got to the jury room, I was shocked at the excuses given by people who wanted to be excused. "I can't serve because they need me at work" even tho employers must pay your salary if you get jury duty. I was glad to serve. I paid attention and I spoke up while we were deliberating. The cases were interesting and it was fun to see the justice system from inside. Nothiong like Perry Mason or Law and Order.

Jannie--employers do NOT have to pay you for jury duty--many do, but it's not required (some just make up the difference between jury pay and your salary). That IS one of the reasons why some don't like to serve, because they get only $5/day for jury duty, and they're out their regular pay. It is a hardship for many. Now, if I recall correctly, an employer can't FIRE you because you had to go to jury duty. Perhaps this differs in different places?

Employers are NOT required to pay employees for not showing up to work because they have jury duty. Nor does the gov provide paid babysitters if you are a SAHM.

Even if this was true it does not solve the problem of certain employees being so valuable that if they do not show up to work the entire operation has to be shut down, and the entire staff would be unemployed for the duration.

I worked retail once as a GM. I was to only one with a key to open the front door, have the code to the safe where all the money was, and security alarms and the Z codes. A place is not going to give that kind of stuff put to some high school kids and tell them to just run the store on their own for a while. Same with factories and a lot of other businesses.

Called twice, and went through the voir dire twice, but only sat on one case. This was when I lived in a different county. Since moving into this county in 2000, I've not been called. I'm okay with that too.
Leslie

Never been called.

I agree that it's an important civic duty.

o j

I was called once but didn't have to serve. Early this summer, I had to fill out a form for a Federal jury. I'll be on the list for about 6 months, I think but haven't gotten called yet. The Federal court is in Duluth, over 100 miles a day. My daughter had to testify against her ex in Federal court. They paid her hotel room (really swank) and her meals and her kids' meals, too. The ex had filmed himself abusing her kids. He got 40 years. I would not make an impartial juror on a trial for someone accused of child abuse.

We have lived in the state of Iowa and the county of Story for 24 years. I have been called 6 times for jury duty!! I have served on 2, have gone through voir dire twice, and have been let go right away on 2. One was federal and with that one I went through voir dire, but because of my job, I was let go on that one.

The last time I was called, when I got to the voir dire, the attorney asked me if I had ever been called or served on jury duty...I said this was my 6th time in 22 years...he said that he thought I had done my share and could leave!

Called twice, served twice.
One was a DUI, the other an awful product liability case that involved a (now) paraplegic child. It was a really tough three weeks.

dirty_fingernails, Your daughter was a witness for the feds. The gov treats witnesses waaaay different than they do jurors. For jurors there is no swank hotel, no room service meal, no family and kids tagging along, no television or newspapers, no phone calls to chat, and no socializing - even with the other jurors. It's solitary confinement in a low grade motel while being under constant surveillance at all times, with the sheriffs yelling at everyone constantly like it is boot camp or prison.

Too numerous to mention. I usually get called every year or two. I don't think I've gone much over that without that little summons in the mail. I've also been a juror at the Federal Count in Los Angeles. It was years ago and I remember how much I loved it. It paid I believe $40 bucks a day with gas on top of that and the cases were really cool.

When I retire next year I'm going to volunteer for the Grand Jury in downtown Los Angeles. It's a one day a week, 6 month stint...but when you don't have a job it sounds like it could be really interesting. You can tell them you are retired and available but it's not for sure you will be called.

When I first started having to serve (back in the 70's) I loved jury duty. It was 1 month and it was great. But throughout the years it's been more a pain than fun...then they changed it to "One case - One day" and now I love it again.

~Susan

I was called about three years in a row. I would have to call in on Friday for Monday. One, a lady was sueing a funeral home for slipping on ice in the parking lot. It didn't work. They had maintained the lot as much as possible. Second was for a juvinial delinquent who pleaded while we were at lunch. Third was for a child abuse case. I had a severely pinced nerve and could only sit for 15 minutes at a time. Judge and attorny both thought I should be able to take a pill for it. Yeah, the only thing that can be perscribed for it was codine, to which I am allergic. I had already sat for three hours while they decided if they needed a jury, then thru selection. They finally excused me, and I almost collapsed in the hallway. It was my sciatic nerve, and ran down my leg. It just gave. The poor sherriff on hall duty, of course couldn't do anything to help, but asked if I was ok. Told him what was wrong, and he told me where the elevator was, but it was so slow, we had all walked the stairs before. And I had a three block walk to the car. Poor man, he couldn't leave his post, but at least he was kind enough to ask!

Dad has served many times, and I can remember a time it was for a murder trial. We had phone calls with death threats against him. the only phone in the house was right in line with the front and back doors. Scary!

Tami

I've gotten a summons twice, once when I was stationed in Germany so I didn't have to go. Second time was a couple years ago, got out of it due to my job. We are always short staffed. Once I'm retired, though, or working in one of the clinics I wouldn't mind doing it.

I've been called 3 times, served once. Where I live, you're not exactly called - you get a letter stating that for a certain 2-week period you're basically "on-call" and if you are needed, the clerk of the court notifies you by phone the night before you're to appear for possible jury selection. They call about 30 people or so, then choose the jury from that pool. First time was a civil case, and I was on the jury, second time was a criminal case and my name was called, but didn't get picked - you have to be ok'd by each attorney, and I guess I wasn't. The third time, was called the night before, and wasn't chosen from the pool to even be interviewed, so went home that day, and waited out my two weeks. The Wednesday evening of the second week, I said to my family "Well, looks like they don't need me, or they would have called" and DS said ..."oh....Mom....uh...they did call a few nights ago (I worked evenings) and you're supposed to have gone to Courtroom #--- at 8 a.m." Great!!! I wondered when the Deputy of the Court was going to show up at our door to arrest me for evading jury duty, or something. Geesh! I called first thing the next morning and they said no problem - they just picked someone else! I'd be glad to serve again, do see it as my duty, and the one time I was on a jury, it was an interesting experience, but I'm probably now on some kind of black list or something. DS felt SO bad.