Jury Duty Experience?

I did it 8 years ago. It was a fun experience witnessing the justice system in person. I don't know why so many people dread doing it...I'd do it again.

 

I did serve 20+ years ago. I was 1 of 2 men on a 6 person jury. It was a case of animal cruelty. A man was charged with shooting his neighbors pit bull dog. The neighbor was gone for several months (as snow birds do around here during the summer months). He left one dog on a leash in the care of teenage neighbor. The leash was on a runner that allowed the dog some movement.

After about a month sense the owner left the teen boy let the dog loose and it ran through the neighborhood for a few days. Well the man that is on trial was inside his house drinking a beer. His wife, who was outside working the flower bed began screaming his name. He came outside to find his wife up against the house and a growling dog keeping her pinned. He went back in and got his shotgun and came out and gave the dog a blast. His wife ran in the house and the dog limped out to the road and he followed. He then in the middle of the road finished the dog off. The commotion brought out all the neighbors and they saw him over the dog with the shotgun.

We got the case and went to deliberate. Everyone chose me as the foreman. I called for a vote (secret ballot) and 2 of us voted not guilty the rest were guilty. This man was going to get 5 years for defending his wife. I just couldn't see that happening and as I held my ground each person finally gave in and voted not guilty.

It was as close to a murder trial as I'd want to get. It was a great learning experience.

 

Had county jury duty twice in when I lived in Pennsyvania and had federal in Philly once. When I had federal jury duty the trial of "Skinny" Joey Merlino, South Philly mob boss was going on. Hevent gotten summoned in Florida yet.

 

Called twice and served once - drunk that hit another car and said he was sober - took about 15 minutes in the jury room.

Here the call a lot more than they need and then some cases are settled out of court before the session begins so there is a fair chance you are out by 10 or so in the morning.

 

I have served on three juries during my lifetime. Two civil and one criminal case. It was very informative and necessary for our system of justice to operate correctly. I would gladly serve again if asked to do so.

 

Second time i went for Jury Duty at a County court, I found out how NOT to get selected for any Jury. You have to be nattily dressed! I wore a suit (coat with matches pants) with a tie (I'm a male) - this is dressing up. You know - Sunday go-to-meeting clothes.

One guy & his defense attorneys came into the courtroom to pick jurors, I could tell the way they walked in who was the drug pusher, who was the lead defense lawyer, and who was the helper defense lawyer. I was right. They went right past me, they didn't think I'd give a pusher a decent break. (I found out at the end of jury selection process that He had got out of prison for the day. He cut a drug deal another day he was out of prison - can you spell HARDCORE PUSHER?) Anyway, as soon as the jury was selected, he figured he would get a better deal out of the judge or a bargain plea with the DA.

I'll tell about my week long Fraud trial Jury Experience in another post.

 

Bring a long book and cross word puzzles.

 

Served on a spousal abuse case. Tried to get kicked off, but both sides wanted me. :BangHead:

But I really came in here to see how KenH would turn this thread against Bush/McCain... jk :laugh:

 

GOOD FOR YOU!!!:thumbs:

 

I've served on two Juries.

One a Medical Malpractice case that was settled during the trial.

The other was a Grand Jury. I have mixed emotions about Grand Juries.
I got the feeling that Prosecutors use it too often to go after folks when their cases are weak. Kind of like - well if we can get it on the docket - maybe something will happen.

On the other hand I can see where they provide a real service to the community. Especially in cases where witnesses are undercover cops.

 

You attempted to shirk your civic duty?

 

Served Grand Jury just last year in my rural county. Served 3 days (the first Friday for 3 months) and heard about 50 cases - whether the prosecution had enough evidence to bring the case to trial, which is what Grand Jury is for. It was very interesting and I would love to do it again. Most of the cases were small time things, but we had a few serious ones, too. Oh the stories I could tell about the zaniness and downright idiocy of today's criminal.

 

I wrote about my jury duty experience extensively and posted it here on BB. Not sure where it is now. I also posted the experience on my blog. If you search under 2007, it is the oldest post on the blog.