Jury Duty

[harley89]

Minding my own business. Went to get mail and what did I see. A summons for jury duty just for me. Wish it was a April 1st joke. But no such luck. 

My service starts May 1 Pray for the judicial system if I have to go

[bubblegum]

where I live at the courts only pay jury members 10 bucks a day plus bus fare if you need it.  Hope they pay you more than that

[harley89]

My letter said I will get 35.00 a day.

[Homer]

My letter said I will get 35.00 a day.

That's pretty good. It's only $8/day here unless it's the higher courts.

[bubblegum]

shoot if I took jury duty I'd lose money.  After taxes and health insurance at work, I end up with about 73 bucks and some change a day.  10 bucks a day isn't worth it to do jury duty for me.

[missminimouse]

I served jury duty once,   sat in a court room all day while they pulled people up and questioned them.  At the end of the day they hadn't gotten to me,  they said that was it,  i'd served my jury duty,   couldn't be called back for another 4 years.  You might be that lucky.   If you are questioned,  just act like you might be partial to one party or the other.  If they think you might be partial for whatever reason,  then they won't let you be on the jury.   The case I was called into,  was a high school football player suing a doc for malpractice,  he couldn't play football anymore cuz of the doc's mistake.   Had i been brought up for questionning I would have said that I'd be partial towards the kid cuz he went to the same High School I had attended,  and I was a huge football fan.  They ask you not to be partial,  but both lawyers have to agree who's gonna be on their jury,  so if the other lawyer thinks you could be partial,  they won't choose you,   then you just gotta deal with it for 1 day and that's it.  

[harley89]

The only problem I have is a dislike for the court system and lawyers. I dont think the word justice belongs in the same sentence with courts. My husband will be standing by with bail money. I tend to speak my mind. 

[bubblegum]

The only problem I have is a dislike for the court system and lawyers. I don't think the word justice belongs in the same sentence with courts. My husband will be standing by with bail money. I tend to speak my mind. 

Oh dear  :)) reminds me the last time I went into court to do jury duty.  I really tried to explain to them this was a really really BAD time.  My father in law had just died the week before and our then puppy, now a full grown st Bernard, just had surgery to repair a heart mummer.  They said they were sorry for my loss and sorry about our dog but that wouldn't get me out of it.  Then I had a bright idea....I told the judge I was socialist.  Probably not the brightest idea on the block.  Truth is hubby and I are liberal-so far left we're in our own zip code.  :))  Anyway the judge and the lawyers for both sides got this really concerned look on their face, they all excused themselves and came back 5 minutes later and said I was free to go and didn't have to do jury duty this time around.  Don't know if that will work for you or not.

[harley89]

I cant lie I'm a conservative ULTRA ULTRA ULTRA conservative. And I just wrote a letter to the major newspaper trying to start a ballot drive to remove all lobbyist and special interest from the halls of government. My idea was they would have to lobby the public then we could use the money to build parks libraries and improve schools

[Sweet_Karamel]

I know what you mean. Too bad it's not a joke.

When I had to do jury duty I was thinking of was to get out of it. Being that it was snowing and freezing. When I got there it was pack. Then they call me. I told the lawyers that I had a friend who is in this mess. It was about a hit and run. The other lawyer want me. I stay for two days. Then just out of the blue they told all of us to go home. I was so glad I just run out of there before they change there minds. LOL. It was going to be for two weekends. Just glad it was over.

Good Luck To You...... O0

[Homer]

I think there should be professional jurors. It should be a full time paying job. You should have to pass a competency test as well.

There are people I know that have served on juries who just plain had no business or the mental capacity to perform the job adequately. I certainly wouldn't want to have them in my jury. :-\

[Libra]

Honestly, I think jury duty is an honor and a privilege.  Take these facts into consideration:

1. Trial by jury is guaranteed in the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Amendments.
2. Jurors decide between guilt and innocence, liability and non-liability.
3. The decisions that jurors make affect millions of lives everyday and have a profound impact on our economy and our society.
4. Few activities in our civic life provide such a direct contact with our democracy as does jury service.
5. Besides voting, nothing is so active and participatory in nature. In fact, Thomas Jefferson believed that serving on a jury is more important than voting. He said, "I consider trial by jury as the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution."

Although jury duty is rarely a convenience, I always serve proudly. 

Lib

[bubblegum]

like you'd do anything wrong homer  :)

[harley89]

At one time I would have agreed with you Sunny. But times Have changed and I firmly believe that if our founding fathers knew what they were giving birth to they would have had an abortion

[nightperson]

I think there should be professional jurors. It should be a full time paying job. You should have to pass a competency test as well.

There are people I know that have served on juries who just plain had no business or the mental capacity to perform the job adequately. I certainly wouldn't want to have them in my jury. :-\

i agree with 100% i have never had to serve but i have never voted either but that dont matter anymore

[Libra]

At one time I would have agreed with you Sunny. But times Have changed and I firmly believe that if our founding fathers knew what they were giving birth to they would have had an abortion

What?  You don't think a jury of 6 (or 12, depending on the type of case) have the ability to decide guilt or innocence?  Liability or non-liability?  And how do you know what type of case it is?  I know from experience that hundreds of people are called in for jury duty on any given day, and are assigned a case.  The selection process then begins, wherein you are questioned by the attorneys from both sides.  I mean, you could be be called on for the selection process involving a DUI, petit (and yes, that is spelled correctly, it's a legal term) theft, 1st degree murder or something as simple as two neighbors fighting over a tree on their dividing property line.  And if not a jury, then who else is supposed to weigh the evidence and hand down a verdict?

Lib

[nightperson]

on a small dispuite i could be ok on the jury but if some1 did some to a baby are a child i would be no goof they would in up putting me in jail cause i would be out of that chair in no time doing the same of what they did tou the baby are a child sry i just cant stand ppl harming babies are a child  >:(

[foxx]

At one time I would have agreed with you Sunny. But times Have changed and I firmly believe that if our founding fathers knew what they were giving birth to they would have had an abortion

Really?  You describe your self as...

I'm a conservative ULTRA ULTRA ULTRA conservative.

...and you aren't happy with the United States of Duyba?  Yes, the justice system can be flawed at times, but so is everything else. I just got back from Burger King and my Whopper didn't have any cheese. Doesn't mean I won't be back in the drive-thru next week...

We all have our own preconceived notions about government and its effectiveness or ineffectiveness...but like Libra said, Jury Duty is one of our rights as a citizen...i would much rather have a jury of my peers decide my fate than some radical right wing judge...

[Libra]

The only problem I have is a dislike for the court system and lawyers. I dont think the word justice belongs in the same sentence with courts. My husband will be standing by with bail money. I tend to speak my mind. 

One other thing.. If you DO find yourself being held in contempt of court and thrown in jail (which is highly unlikely) you, too, will have to go to trial.  Whom would you rather decide your guilt or innocence?  A judge who is probably buddy-buddy with the judge who held you in contempt, or a jury of your peers who will be more likely to sympathize with you?  :-\

Just something to think about.  O0

Lib

[harley89]

I did not intend to start a political debate. I have lost faith in this country but I still have hope and will never give up. Change comes slowly and can be painful. But from what I see changes need to be made or we will self destruct. I am out of here. Homer doesnt need to break up a fight today.