I get to decide someones fate!!!

I got called for Jury duty after we had moved from the state. They threatened me with jail if I didn't show up. I didn't show up and I didn't go to jail.
Then here in BC I got called so a whole bunch of folks showed up, tromp down the stairs to the room only to find a note saying we were no longer needed. Dang it That makes twice and I actually liked the idea.
 
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jujube said:
I was "permanently excused" when I turned 70, but I got a jury duty notice last week. I called and they apologized. They said I'm permanently permanently excused now. We'll see ..... we'll see.
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I got a questionnaire a couple of years ago just confirming my status. It was for Federal trials where I would have to travel and stay in a motel. I told them my age and said, I'd rather not be on a jury, but I'd be there if they needed me (like that's going to affect their decision one way or another :ROFLMAO:), but I haven't heard back.

I was on a jury once, I was happy to cross that off my bucket list, but I didn't like it. It involved sleazy people, but not very good evidence. We did not find the guy guilty, because circumstances were sketchy. On driving out of the court house parking lot, the accused waved at me while walking to his car like I was a friend. I just wanted to get the Hell out of there. I felt dirty just being involved in the whole sordid affair. I had no idea whether the guy was guilty or not, but the situation was sickening.
 
mrstime said:
I got called for Jury duty after we had moved from the state. They threatened me with jail if I didn't show up.
Then here in BC I got called so a whole bunch of folks showed up, tromp down the stairs to the room only to find a note saying we were no longer needed. Dang it That makes twice and I actually liked the idea.
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I was called for jury duty one time. The trial had not started and a jury selection hadn't even been made, but about 20 of us were sitting in the courtroom by ourselves waiting for something to happen for two hours. Finally, the judge came in and told us that the accused got a look at the prospective jurors, and as so often happens (as according to the judge), the accused decided to plead guilty or get a plea bargain or something, and we were all dismissed. I felt gypped.
 
I've been summonsed for jury duty five times. Twice I asked to be excused and this was granted on submission of a statutory declaration. One time I turned up but the defendant did not, so after a few hours we were all dismissed and a bench warrant was issued for the defendant.

Another time I presented and was told that the trial would be lengthy. I told them that I would be in China if it went for more than a couple of weeks and offered to serve on a shorter case. I was told that was not possible because jurors cannot pick and choose the trial. Quite right too. I was excused.

Another time I presented myself to the court and before being allocated a case we were asked if anyone could volunteer for a lengthy trial. Having recently retired I put up my hand. The case was a very serious one. Five men were accused of multiple armed robberies of armoured vans collecting cash from banks. They sat behind bullet proof glass, each man with a police guard right behind. They were a very dangerous looking bunch and they sat directly opposite the jury box. Jury selection took place after we sat through a long list of offences for each man, followed by an equally long list of witnesses who would be called for each offence. I had trouble keeping my eyes open and I seriously doubted my capacity to sit through the trial.

Each defendant had their own legal council plus his assistant and the crown also had two representatives. Twelve lawyers sat facing the judge when jury selection began.

Jurors were called up randomly by number to avoid identification by name. The jurors did not speak but each could be challenged by any one of the five representatives of the accused or by the crown. I noted that the people being challenged by the defence were mostly men and then more mature women. When it was over, the jury had a majority of younger women who would have had to sit facing the brutish looking men for the next six weeks or so. It would have been very intimidating.

I was then asked to take a break and went through the same process to select a jury for a case of home invasion. A man had broken into a flat where two young women were living and held them up with a replica gun and stole their jewellery. This time it was the young women who were deselected for the jury, which I found to be very interesting and also enlightening.

Once again I was not called and I went home. I decided that I would not answer the call again because of my age and incapacity to concentrate but I've never been summonsed since.
 
Manatee said:
Isn't it confining to live in that P.O. box?
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You get used to it. But no sink, bed or toilet really mucks it all up.

I will say the people I don't EVER want on a jury, is smokers. You're stuck inside a room with 11 others, you cannot have a smoke, you cannot open a window.

They'd convict you just to get out for a smoke. When the jury is in deliberations. You can't go anywhere.
 
I got a jury summons a couple months ago. I played the age card. Just couldn’t see me sitting on a hard chair listening to God knows what for God knows how long.
 
When I was 21yrs old I was summoned to Jury duty and that was many many years ago.
the Guy who was on trial was for Rape, Incest and corrupting the morals of a miner. After all these years I remember the guy's name, and address and even how I had to describe some issues to a young male juror. We all voted him guilty and thankfully I was never asked to do jury duty again because I had a note from my Doctor that made me not eligible to serve again.
 
Sassycakes said:
When I was 21yrs old I was summoned to Jury duty and that was many many years ago.
the Guy who was on trial was for Rape, Incest and corrupting the morals of a miner.
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Those kind of cases would infuriate me. Sometimes I'm not surprised when a parent takes revenge.
 
Get out of it! I had my MD write me a permanent release from jury duty. They are not allowed to ask even what the reason is. At least in California it worked that way.
 
I was not selected the last time I was called. I raised my hand a lot. Hope I'm on a rejection list now. It was a murder trial and there were going to be a lot of pictures.
 

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