Jury Duty

JustBonee

JustBonee

SF VIP
Location
Texas
Your experiences with this joy in life?

I got a jury summons today in the mail. I normally dread when these come every 2 or 3 years. I dread because they usually come from the big courthouse in downtown Houston, which is a major trip (over 20 miles away/and an hour or more in traffic) ) and the cases can be pretty brutal.
But I received this one from a county courthouse away from the city. They do smaller scale offenses.. traffic issues, etc., and so I'm okay with doing my time again at this courthouse. Well, maybe they won't pick me anyway.

And they pay so well .. $6 payday!
 

Thanks, age 70 is the limit in Texas too. Soon I'll be free.:)
 

Thankfully I am no longer eligible for jury duty in the U.K., I was called for jury duty only once and that was 39 years ago but because I was eight months pregnant at the time, my doctor wrote a letter to excuse me.:)
 
I got called for jury duty once in 1990 in Fort Worth. There were about 100 people summoned on that day and I noticed in the group was a fellow that I had a contentious lawsuit against. At first I thought, no big deal unless we both get picked for the same courtroom. As they called the potential jurors for their assigned courtrooms the group dwindled down to about 20. Realizing the chances were now good that he and I could be called for the same case, I went to the court clerk and explained the situation to her. She immediately dismissed me and I never got called again in the remaining 20 years I lived there. I often wondered if he got picked.
 
I don't believe in involuntary servitude, and neither did our founding fathers. I don't care what the courts have decided over the years, jury duty is involuntary servitude.

The other trouble with our jury system is that only those not smart enough to get out of jury duty are the ones sitting on the juries! Now, that's a bit tongue-in-cheek, but there is an element of truth therein.

I was called about 15 years or so ago and was sent to be seated for a trial of the EPA vs some local company. At the end of the inquisition about our ability to be fair, I told the judge that I wouldn't believe the EPA if they promised the sun would come up in the morning. I was promptly sent home. Whatever it takes!

In 1999-2000 I served on the county civil grand jury every week for a whole year. I figure that was time enough and haven't had to report since, although I have been called. Just a note that I'm now a senior and that sitting causes me pain is enough to beat the system now. :)
 
I actually enjoy jury duty. The court room experience is very interesting and I feel as though I'm doing my civic duty. Have served on many and was even foreman on a complicated case that went on for a month.
 
In my corporate life I was a security officer for a large retail company for 14 years, ending my career there as a security manager responsible for security operations for 9 stores in four states. Throughout the years I arrested many shoplifters and employees for theft and spent much time dealing with various police agencies, district, city and defense attorneys, signing complaints and court room presentation of cases. In two of the states I worked in they had civil penalties, as well as criminal for shoplifting, which required me to file and represent my company in these civil cases.

I also worked as a private detective for a few years after that, which is a whole other story, and no it is not a glamorous job, As Seen on TV.

I have a very jaded view of the court system, attorneys and perps who find themselves in trouble. It really would not do to have me on a jury, and no defense attorney in his right mind would pick me as a juror, anyway.

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Ozarkgal said:
I have a very jaded view of the court system
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Well, I actually do too, and I've lived a sheltered life;) , nothing to compare to your experiences.

It's really hard to believe in the system anymore, whatever it's become, because it's so broken.
 
I've been called to jury duty seven times and have served on four juries, two civil and two criminal cases, in 44 years. I'm glad I want be called anymore.
 
I served on a jury over 30yrs ago. The case lasted 3 weeks. It was for Incest , Rape and corrupting the morals of a minor. It was a very upsetting case and I am so happy I have never been called for jury duty again..
 

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