You have got to be kidding me

[elfs]

Again? I just went last year!

It was barely a year ago when I was last summoned for jury duty. I managed to get out of in on the grounds that I did not think I could be a good juror for the case, and having read through the lawyer's tactics afterwards, I'm comfortable that I made the right decision.

So look what came in the mail this morning. I can't believe they're summoning me to jury duty again! I'm a lousy juror! I think too much! Worse yet, I have every intention of repeating my experience last year and blogging the whole damn trial from the juror's point of view. I'm sure they're gonna love that. (Actually, I did get a few emails from trial lawyers on both sides, as well as one linkback from a website for prosecutors, thanking me for revealing my insights as a juror, since they rarely get any of that.)

Oh, the office is just gonna love this. At least we're not triple-slammed with cherries on top in my division this year. Last year we were in dire straits and I could not afford to miss much. This year, it wouldn't be so bad. Still, a three week trial is a lot to ask.

Sigh. This is so gonna suck one way or another.

Comments

[lionman.livejournal.com]

See if you can find an online list of what's supposed to be tried the day you go to duty. Read up on the possible trials you would be summoned to. If you get on a pannel, you can simply say you've read about the trial. Usually being familiar with a case will get you disqualified.

MO has such a thing:

http://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

You can also get your employer to say you're too vital a piece and work is too busy to have you away for jury duty. I've written a few letters to that effect as an admin for our guys.

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

PS - Can I go in your place? I'd love to sit on a jury, but they'll probably never take me 'cause of my paralegal training.

[vik_thor]

eeek... you mean paralegal training will get ppl out of Jury Duty? :(

I SOOO want to be on a jury. my husband goes in Monday.

I should be finishing my paralegal certificate this December.

[ladyallyn.livejournal.com]

I've been summoned at least once a year since I moved here in 1996. Virtually all of the summons were from King County when I lived in Bothell on the SNOHOMISH County side of the line. Once I moved to King County I finally got summoned for Snohomish County. I've also been summoned to Bothell Municipal Court (which I served) and Lake Forest Park Municipal (from which I was excused). It's about time to be looking for a summons again, in fact.

I'm a very literal juror -- don't tell me what you think, show me facts backed by evidence -- but am still likely to be excused from most criminal cases because my ex-husband is a cop and my former partner of 8 years is a retired Fed.

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

Over thirty years, me and my brother both, and never once called. In my gradfather's time we would be the sort of respectable person who would qualify: noe they'll take anyone.

I've some sympathy with Elf: long trials and (from what I've heard elsewhere) employers who consider a prolonged absence on Jury Duty as a serious black mark.

But I find something slightly distasteful in the idea that Jury duty is something to evade as a matter of course.

[srmalloy.livejournal.com]

Something that wouldn't get him out of the first day, but would almost certainly get him tossed out if he got sent up for consideration would be wearing a button with 'FIJA' on it...

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

One of the first things my intro to law professor told us was that after that class we'd probably never be chosen for a jury again. Because we would know too much about the process.

Now, you probably remember intro to law. Outlined our judicial system. Gave some of the same basic info you probably got in your High School government/civ type classes. Yah, intro. But most people either forget so much or can't fathom it to begin with, that they're just another dumb juror.

See, lawyers don't like people who understand the process because they're harder to sway. So really, all Elf needs to do is start rambling about details of the American Justice System and what works and doesn't and how it could relate to the political volunteering he does and isn't it all just wonderful... and he'd get out of it fast.

Seems a shame to me that people like us who are educated in the process and are interested in sitting a jury (and I assume you probably have a higher sense of justice too) are considered "bad" jurors. 'Cause you know, it would be horrible to have a juror who thought.

[lisakit.livejournal.com]

And another thing... No, I don't have opinions about this atall.

Last I heard (about a year ago) it was still taking about 16 months for a case to reach trial in King County. This is because they have such a huge on-going case load (higher population density than other counties, I believe) and not enough eligible jurors. I'm surprised you're not getting summonses more often (and again, where's mine?).

[intrepid-reason.livejournal.com]

I got a summons last year...I would have actually liked to participate..
but mine was a call in summons, so I never even got to make the trip to the court house.

[intrepid-reason.livejournal.com]

They don't like me, don't want me... le sigh. It was 5 years between summons for me. I never get picked either...too opinionated.