I have only been called a couple of times, but never had my number picked.

DH was just called -- he's served many times over the years. He just filed paperwork so he won't be called again due to his age.

We also have one day one trial. I've been called several times but mostly they send me home without being assigned a trial. Once was excused as I knew the doctor in the trial. Once served as an alternate -- very frustrating as I had an opinion, but never got to express it.

But I do find it an interesting process, esp getting to know my 'peers' and what their lives are like. It can be eye opening.

I was selected about 20 years ago. I have to be honest and say that in that it was boring and not very professionally presented. It was alternately embarrassing to watch and difficult to stay focused at times.

I imagine if you have an interesting trial and professional lawyers, it has the potential to be interesting.

I was called again, had to go into the city for one day and then when I called the next time I did not have to go back.

I was called last year with what looked like an ongoing circumstance. I really did not want to serve on a long trial. The room was jam packed but somehow the next day there was only a handful of us left!

In order to not be called right away, they have to be the one to dismiss you. Luckily, they did.

I understand it is our duty to serve, but having people who don't want to be there doesn't help the situation.

There are so many smart people, who happened to be unemployed who might welcome the opportunity, yet they have their system, whatever that may be!

I've been called twice and served once. It was a 3 week trial. I thought it was pretty interesting!

I don't think many people would volunteer for a long trial. I was not employed at the time and I still didn't want to do it, but I'm glad I experienced it once.

Made it to voir dire. They kicked me off the jury so quickly... both sides were writing down my name as a juror they didn't want. I'm far too opinionated (and too much knowledge of the specific type of case to be objective). I saw the court clerk later that evening at a restaurant and he told me what a "good job" I did. He seemed to really mean it. Like he admired me for speaking my mind when the lawyers asked me their questions. Sorry, defendants!

First summons: called the night before and they said not to come.

Second summons: I had moved out of the county, so not eligible.

Third summons: It was for a 3-month trial (Hooray), but my boss wrote a letter that I couldn't be spared--national disaster for me to be away from the office for that long (not true, but when you are connected to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, you get your way).

Fourth summons: Sat in the Court House for 4 hours before being dismissed--two cases settled before trial, and two defendants skipped bail.

Fifth summons: The defendant's lawyer didn't want me because I had a relative in law enforcement.

I would love to serve on a jury! Since 2003, I have served on the Grand Jury twice (3-month term). Loved it. Two years ago, I served as Jury Commissioner for this district.

I've been called twice; served once. And to this day I am surprised I was included in that jury........I was sure that my background would preclude me but apparently both sides thought that because of my background, I would be inclined to decide in their favor. (civil trial involving a commercial real estate project that developed leaks due to inappropriate finishes - I was a commercial real estate banker with a background in architecture). I was even elected jury foreperson!

It was a complicated trial - I don't even remember which of the three parties involved (Bank, developer or finishings subcontractor) was the plaintiff and which was the defendant - but it was a very interesting experience although at times it got very boring. A lot of very technical testimony. 3 weeks long but my employer was very supportive and paid me for that time because I was doing my "civic duty" :-)

I was called 3 weeks ago, from Connecticut. Now being a resident of Massachusetts, I declined.

I did serve in the late 2000's, 2007 or 8. It was a three day criminal court case, and I found learning about the process first hand to be fascinating and I was glad to have had my chance to serve. Court ran from 9 am to 3:30pm, with an hour off (AUTOMATIC) at noon. (Truly weird... they'd almost break off mid-sentence at noon.... so unlike a career occupation!) So I went to work before and after because I was on salary and there were things I had to get done -- although I had no (legal) obligations to do so -- and honestly, I did want to get those things done, it wasn't to please my manager, see below...

My immediate manager was disappointed that I didn't make statements during jury selection that would get me off the hook, but the company was very supportive. (But then again he was also upset when I first got transferred to working under him that I didn't cancel a previously-planned vacation.)

My fellow jurors in the decision phase all listened attentively to each other, and points we made, to come to a unanimous decision within a couple of hours.

In 2014, I was called in again, and selected for another trial - yes, one day one trial here (well, CT and I suspect in my new state, too.) I had to call to excuse myself as I had to fly out to Illinois where Dad had taken a sudden turn for the worse, and ended up passing away shortly thereafter. (Immediate family medical emergency.)

(Apparently, I come off as a reasonable person. They do go through as many people as they need to fill the panel(s), with a few alternates, and then they let the rest go home, not to be called again for X number of years.)

I would happily serve on a jury again, so long as no sequestration would be involved.

As I understand it, you can only be called once a year, even if your not selected. I've been called twice, in my lifetime! :0) The first time I was young and so was the kid. I got stuck with that one. They must have thought I'd be sympathetic to car theft....3rd time offender....uh....no! The second time was attempted murder. Vehicle was the weapon. The guy ran a man down, who was leaving an encounter, back to him, walking away. Left him for dead. We were told it could last a week and the very next day I was closing on a house. I stood up, said I'd seen the whole thing on the news and the guy was guilty...did they still need me!?!

I'd like to know where you all live to get called so infrequently. I've had jury duty eight times. I've been called nine times, but my mate made contact with the jury supervisor (I think that's what the office was called) and told them that medically I could not make it. I had to get a doctor's letter, too. They asked when I would likely be well enough. She said probably in in two months.

So just before two months, I got another summons. I still wasn't well but went in any way so I could get on the "don't call again for a couple years" list. Went through voir dire, at which point I told them that my short term memory, which was affected by the illness, was not good enough for me to be a juror. I was asked if I could handle it if I were allowed to take notes, which normally is not done here. I had to tell them "no," but was not given time to explain that my memory was so bad I could not hold a bit of info in mind long enough to use it in any kind of reasoning. I felt the disdain of the lawyers who surely thought I was just trying selfishly to get out of jury service, but I was dismissed anyway. I mean, really, you might as well have had a ten year old on the jury as have me at that point.

In total I've been through voir dire four times, but never chosen. The other times I had to come on a Monday and was dismissed either Thursday just before lunch or Friday morning after they determined they were not going to form another jury that day.

It's been about five years since I've been called, so I am sort of due again.

Nicole, it depends on the state, I believe in CT you have 2, or possibly 3, years of grace, if you are selected or not.

Matthias, I lived in CT for bundles of years since I moved there late 70's from college. I was not called until that 2007 or 2008 case. They've noted me a bit more frequently since then.

Waiting to see what happens here in MA. I am willing to serve. JUST BRING AMPLE READING MATERIAL to the jury duty selection meeting date!!! They have a TV in CT, but it's on junk channels. (Laughingly, in 2014, it was set to Judge Judy!!!)

I'm in Virginia, and the relatively small number of people I've spoken to about jury duty, many have never been called, and no one's been called more than two or maybe three times in their whole lives. Luck? Population? Number of court cases? ???

I've been called many times. Once I served, the rest of the times either I didn't have to report or was excused. I'm surprised you could post. Our county court house has a policy of no cell phones. If you bring it into the building with you, it is placed in a locked case after you silence it. The case is given to you and when you leave the building the case is unlocked and the phone given to you.

I've served 5 times, and only one of those services was for a one day trial and non violent crime - it was a DUI. The others, pretty ghastly. You aren't likely to know anyone else who has served on two murder trials. And yes, the prosecutor was fully aware I'd served on that type trial just a few years before and that I resented being asked to do it again. Speaking to a lawyer at a dinner party later that year, he was stunned I'd been included, found it 'above and beyond'.

DH and I went through a period of about 12 years where we were both being called every other year. At my annual appointment with my endocrinologist one day, I asked her if we'd become close enough friends I could impose on her to write a letter of excuse for me and she happily did that after hearing how many weeks total I'd served on jury duty for violent crimes. I am permanently excused. DH is still called, but he's so social, has such a good memory for faces and names, he will inevitably know someone in this county connected to the court proceedings and he's never chosen to stay and serve.

We're allowed cell phones in our courthouse until you're called back for voir dire and beyond... maybe that's when the original was posted?

Was it something I said? ...lol. I registered to vote the day I was eligible and voted in every single election, primary and general and have not been called ONE time to serve. I think they get the list from registered voters?

Those lists can come from voter registrations, but they can even come from unemployment lists. Loads of places they can find jurors

;)

In Washington state for the last 25 years: "Jury source list" : the list of all registered voters of a county, merged with a list of licensed drivers and identicard holders who reside in that county.

Here, if you vote, drive, or carry an ID card you are eligible for the jury pool.

I've served 5 times in my 67 years. Since relocating, they haven't called me. I prefer they don't. I'm retired and too busy right now.

I don't like when people purposely try to get out of it by being extra opinionated. They always have excuses that they think are more important than others. The judge should decide.

Only one group of about 70 jurors were taken to the courtroom. The rest of us jurors were dismissed about an hour ago. Eight out of nine cases scheduled today settled or pleaded guilty.

It is interesting to hear about everyone's experiences. My county goes out of its way to express gratitude, be efficient, and provide a comfortable environment. The jury commissioner kept us informed all morning.

When I was an alternate I was glad to go home but a bit bummed not to know the outcome. I have been called twice in the 40 years I have lived here , husband only once. Most everyone I know about my age (late 60's) has been called one or two times. People 70 and above are excused from jury duty.

Security was tight like at airport with the exception of removing shoes, but everyone was "wanded". Electronics are permitted and there are ports for charging nd free WiFi. The group appeared to be fairly balanced male to female. The demographics of the county were represented but probably not proportionately.

I agree that jury duty is an honor, duty, and a very tangible reminder of the freedom.

happy....I agree with your statement. "I agree that jury duty is an honor, duty, and a very tangible reminder of the freedom."

In my 2nd case...the guy was convicted/guilty. I really felt strongly about a "sucker punch", "turn your back" and attack case, left to die. It was for the best I was not on that jury.

When we moved here, we had a newborn, a toddler and a kindergartner when I registered to vote. I was called for duty shortly thereafter, but I asked to be excused since I was nursing my baby. They did not call me for duty for another 18 years! Once I was called in with a few hundred potential jurors for a 6 week trial. An older man, a multi millionaire manufacturer, was being sued by his common law wife for alimony. She was terminally ill, and he abandoned the relationship after living as her husband for decades. I explained that I could serve if the case were not going to be tried till the following week, but I had to take my son on the visit to colleges the next
week as that was his spring break, and the judge reluctantly let me go.

Since I'm the one who first used opinionated, I'll reply to you chisue [ETA: meant chi]: I wasn't trying to get out of jury duty. They didn't like someone who seemed to have their mind made up. To be honest, I was unlikely to be swayed over their splitting of hair defense. It was more a case to unravel oneself from their sticky wicket into which they'd fallen. There were two other defendants and they were trying to play it off as wrong place, at the wrong time. As my witty son said last night, play in the mud and your hands are gonna get dirty. More opinions like that. Not opinionated about why I shouldn't serve. I would've. Gladly. I'm betting you can see any excitement I had previously (truly!) somewhere on GardenWeb. I know I posted about it ;)

To clarify, I didn't mean giving legitimate reasons or giving honest opinions. I mean people who lie or exaggerate their work or personal obligations, or who purposely give exaggerated opinions like "all cops are lying criminals" with the purpose of trying to get kicked off. I saw several people do that during my jury service.

rob -- I've just started reading this thread, so I can't have replied to you. Maybe Chi?

I disliked being called when I had to go downtown to serve. It would take me over an hour each way. If I drove, there would be a parking fee. After a while, people were called to serve at one of the outlying courts; I was 20 minutes from ours.

DH and I were called somewhat frequently. I served twice. I think he did too. Now we have 'aged out'.

I was foreperson the last time I served. A two-day trial went on for a week -- downtown -- because the judge was dying of cancer and could only sit a few hours a day. We were not happy campers to have to drag in and out of the city for five days. The jury believed the defendant (driver's insurance company) was culpable, but the plaintiff's callow (ambulance-chaser) attorneys failed to prove it. We found for the insurer, although we didn't *want* to.

Despite the fuss of turning up. we've felt proud to serve.

Last time I was called.....sat and waited in the court room, and was told about an hour later that they had reached a settlement.

yep, chi

I served on a murder-with-special circumstances trial and it was quite eye-opening. During deliberation, we were all in agreement with a guilty verdict, except for one juror. He was retired and enjoyed coming to court everyday to argue his points. After an unproductive week, the judge ordered us to reach a decision or a mistrial would be declared. Fortunately, the dissenting juror had an upcoming cruise departure date and endorsed that the defendant was guilty on the day before he had to leave. Gave new meaning to "the wheels of justice turn slowly."

Interesting comments. I have lived in Maine since I was 18 (now 68) and I have never been called/contacted for jury duty. I have always had a driver's license and registering to vote is one of the first things we do when we move. My DH has been called once, but didn't need to serve or even go in.

I was called for Federal Grand Jury duty in 1991. This jury sat 3 days a month for a year, on various cases.

I had just found out I was pregnant. I went the courthouse w/papers from doctor in hand, they informed me it didn't matter that I was PG. I was willing to serve, but didn't want to be waddling in to court 9 months along and go into labor.

Apparently they didn't want me to either, because I didn't get called.

Edited to add.... I've never been called again.

In Oklahoma, they don't pull from voter registration, they pull from driver's licenses. People quit registering to vote because they didn't want to get called up for jury duty.

My dd got a jury notice the other day and she has 10 days to fill it out. She graduates with a RN/BSN degree in 18 days and has been studying, clinicals, and work. She was overwhelmed with the jury duty notice. I told her to explain what all is going on with her life and hopefully they will give her a break.

I've been on two juries, one civil case and one criminal, actually quite interesting and enjoyable. I've also been on the phone system twice, got excused because they never got to my number.

I've been called only once for jury duty. The notice arrived the day before I was moving to another county. I was excused.

My late father was on a civil case that lasted two months. One of the attorneys on the case was Scott Turow, the author of the book Presumed Innocent.

love, love, love attorney fiction. oh to have been in that deliberation room.

Back to the thread.

jewel, when she calls all she has to do is explain, and they'll postpone her date. It's not a big deal. Really easy to do. You could even do it for her.

It is fun to compare our experiences with the jury system. Here jurors are offered a stipend which they can accept or donate to a charity connected with the court for children affected by the legal system. I would say half of the jurors donated. I was worried about being placed on a criminal trial.

In 34 years of adulthood, called twice.

Once I was called to serve during exam week, asked for a postponement, which was granted.

Chosen for a jury zero times.

I'm with the above poster who points out that our forefathers literally gave life and limb so that we'd have the benefit of a relatively fair judicial system. Let's not whine.

I get called about every two years and was selected to sit only once. My employer pays me for the day so once they release me, it's like a snow day.

I was called once and had to "be available" for 6 cases over the course of two weeks. For two of the cases I called in that morning, as directed, and they had been settled. For two other cases about 25 of us were in the courtroom, and 13 were randomly selected to potentially serve, the rest were dismissed for the day.

For the remaining two cases I was a part of the group of 13 that were selected, but then the lawyers for each get to ask questions and then each select three jurors to remove from the panel. One case dealt with a man who claimed that his girlfriend had given him a horse, and after they broke up he sold the horse. She claimed that she had given him the use of the horse, and he had no right to sell it.

In response to the lawyers' questions I disclosed that my wife and I own several horses. I was dismissed.

For the other case where I was selected, the case was about a woman who was driving on a suspended license, who had an accident that injured another person. One of the questions the lawyers asked was "Have any of you ever been injured in an automobile accident?" I raised my hand. If they had asked for more information I would have said that it was a single car accident where the car slid on ice and hit a telephone pole, and my injury was nothing more than a bruise on my arm where it hit the stick shift. They didn't follow up and apparently that was enough for me to be dismissed.

Oddly, at the time, one of the questions that was asked was "Is there anything that is going on that would distract you so that you would not be able to pay attention to the case?" To which everyone responded and questioning "no". After I was dismissed and made my way to my office at work I found all of my co-workers clustered around a static-y TV or a computer screen streaming news watching events unfold that morning in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania.

My neighbor told me that her boss docked her pay the $15 jury stipend. I am not sure that is legal.

Happy, that is called an offset and it is perfectly legal if the employer paid the employee's salary for the day. If the employee was not paid for the day AND the employer reduced pay by the jury duty pay, that's a different animal. The majority of employers will pay the employee their normal daily wage while serving on a jury; some will offset while others will not.

I'm sorry but that is a really cheesy practice!! I would have strong words for an employer that did that. The stipend is intended to pay for transportation/parking expenses and lunches (unless in deliberation, in which case lunches are brought in).

I agree gardengal! The rules vary by state but getting one's regular pay with an offset is better than zero pay! Trust me, there are employers who do not pay their employees if they serve on a jury.

You can search on Jury Duty Offset and see what I mean.

My first jury summons, I was a salaried employee so received full pay for time away from work (and received the meager stipend as well). At the time of my second summons, I was a hourly employee and self-employed also so any time serving on a jury would not have been compensated for. And the courthouse was more than an hour drive away!! But I only had to call in for the first couple of mornings to see if I needed to show up. After that, the juries were filled and I had no further obligation, thank goodness!

Never been called.

ole joyful