Jury Duty

debodun

debodun

SF VIP
Location
way upstate in New York, USA
It's been 17 years since I was summoned for jury duty. Now that I have a lot of time, I'd like to do it again. I just wondered if there was a senior age exemption for jury duty. If not, is there a way I can get called up?
 

I don't think there is an age limit for serving on Jury Duty. I do think you have to be at least 18yrs old to serve though. I was on Jury duty many many years ago and I remember another Jurist who said she was 70yrs old. I would check the information about the State where you live.
 
Around here the age limit is 70. I served once as an alternate. I suppose you could call and volunteer. Some people go to court rooms to witness trials as a hobby.
 

A couple weeks before Rick died he got one of those Jury Duty surveys....I think they are just checking to see if you still qualify. He filled it out, but never got a summons. I get one every few years, but have never been called in
 
I got called for jury duty in 2009 and my boss told me not to go. I had just started at the job cleaning and didnt want to lose it. Made me curious if I missed an interesting life experience.
 
I submitted my last audiogram, when I was called, about six months ago. Result: Permanent exemption.

I never liked the process, I never was picked. A waste of my time, times four.

Don't even get me started on the whole very unfair jury trial system, with lawyers manipulating the selection process to try to slant things in their favor even before opening arguments.
 
This brought memories back to me of when I served on Jury duty when I was in my early 20's which was a very long time ago. The case was about Rape, Incest and corrupting the morals of a minor. After all these years I still remember almost every minute of the trial. even the defendant's name and address. After that experience I really would never want to serve again. The trial was heart breaking.
 
The cut-off for jury duty in Texas is age 70. They wanted me to serve just before my 70th birthday, but a storm/power issue cancelled the last order I received.
 
10 yrs ago,I got a letter in the mail summoning me for jury duty.
I had to call every day to see what # they were at,luckily I didn't have to go
A month ago,in the mail,got a questionnaire to fill out in case I was called again.I really didn't want to do it,but I did
 
You don't have to be on a jury to see a case-you can just go to the courtroom and take a seat, when they are hearing cases. Years ago, a coworker murdered her husband. I saw part of her trial. It was pretty obvious she did it.
 
Most federal courts allow seniors 70 and older to request to be excused.
As for state courts, states have the option to set their own age requirements to be excused.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
You don't have to be on a jury to see a case-you can just go to the courtroom and take a seat, when they are hearing cases. Years ago, a coworker murdered her husband. I saw part of her trial. It was pretty obvious she did it.
Click to expand...

High profile cases in your area, you may want to get to the courtroom early. Seats tend to fill quickly.
 
Yes, jury duty is not as glamorous as the portray in the media, Most of the time you just sit around. In December 1991, I was summoned and was selected for the case. We sat in the jury room all day, then the Commissioner came in and said the parties had settled and we could go home. I had to drive 18 miles home in a sleet storm.
 
treeguy64 said:
I submitted my last audiogram, when I was called, about six months ago. Result: Permanent exemption.

I never liked the process, I never was picked. A waste of my time, times four.

Don't even get me started on the whole very unfair jury trial system, with lawyers manipulating the selection process to try to slant things in their favor even before opening arguments.
Click to expand...
^^^ Bingo!
When I ignored repeated summons' by mail, someone called me. I told them I'd be glad to go, but since I'm half deaf, the trial would have to be constantly interrupted. The idiot on the phone said I would have to have a hearing exam & send them the results. I said, "Fine. All you have to do is pay for it." She said, "No, you have to pay for it." I said, I can't afford it." She said, "You have to figure it out." I laughed, said, "You're stupid - just like our legal system," & hung up. They never sent me another summons.
 
hypochondriac said:
I got called for jury duty in 2009 and my boss told me not to go. I had just started at the job cleaning and didnt want to lose it. Made me curious if I missed an interesting life experience.
Click to expand...
Here, your employer cannot prevent you from jury duty. No matter what we think of the judicial system, it's still a duty to serve on a jury. You employer still has to pay you, so you would not have missed a paycheck.
 
hypochondriac said:
And i wonder how often real jury duty resembles the movie 12 Angry Men?
Hardly ever?
Click to expand...

Well, the best answer here is yes and no.

I have been involved in cases where jurors almost came to blows. The deputies in the courtroom had to go into the jury room and separate three of them because of one holdout and the rest of the jurors wanted to settle the case and go back to their life. The one deputy came out of the jury room with his tie cockeyed and his hair in a mess. I had to laugh, but not out loud.

Then, again, I’ve seen juries come back in 45 minutes. But, jury deliberations can turn contentious.
 
I've been on three juries in the mid-nineties. Now that I'm retired and don't have to worry about work, I would be more than willing to serve again. Just haven't been called again since then. Here in Hawaii there is no age limit for state courts.

The juries I have been on have been quite all right. On one of those, there was a woman who wanted us to just immediately have us all declare guilty at once because she had to go home to make dinner. Yeah, there are those who shouldn't be on a jury. I'm sure she never wanted to. The way at it is, is that a person's future is in your hands. I take that very seriously. Even though, in that one case it resulted in a guilty verdict, for heaven's sake be serious about it and take some time to discuss the case. I remember the young man didn't have a mother and the dad was there for him during the whole trial. At least give some consideration and take some time to deliberate. Wouldn't you want that for a son or daughter of yours?

Yes, 911, I have watched Twelve Angry Men a number of times. You're not going to find a Henry Fonda in most trials. That type of foreman would probably be beaten up. Really sad.

I always got paid at work in addition to jury duty time.
 
Last edited:
I was called and went in for the interview and was excused. I said if he is not guilty of this he is probably guilty of something else. Other times I ask to be excused because of personal issues and it always worked. Now that I have the time, I'm to old.
 
Speaking of courtroom scenes, wow, I just watched the final episode of Big Little Lies. What a scene, with a furious Nicole Kidman cross-examining her beastly mother-in-law, played by Meryl Streep, who is trying to take her kids from her, because she is an "unfit mother."

Anyone else watch this series? I loved it.
 
win231 said:
^^^ Bingo!
When I ignored repeated summons' by mail, someone called me. I told them I'd be glad to go, but since I'm half deaf, the trial would have to be constantly interrupted. The idiot on the phone said I would have to have a hearing exam & send them the results. I said, "Fine. All you have to do is pay for it." She said, "No, you have to pay for it." I said, I can't afford it." She said, "You have to figure it out." I laughed, said, "You're stupid - just like our legal system," & hung up. They never sent me another summons.
Click to expand...

Here where I live they would have sent out the sheriff to haul you in. They do that routinely.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top