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Any tips on getting out of jury duty?


Rudyc80

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Sorry, can't help anyone get out. Just me being me almost did it, though.

 

Judge: Do you think, after this trial is over, the defendant will be satisfied he received a fair and just decision?

 

CaWingNut: Well, I guess that depends on how it turns out, now doesn't it?

 

(Whole courtroom erupts in laughter)

 

Judge: (flustered) What I mean by that, juror #6, is that -

 

CaWingNut: Yes sir, I know what you mean. Yes, I believe so.

 

Got picked anyway (or maybe because of it). The lady who filed charges against the defendant took the stand and contradicted herself about 5 times before the prosecuter decided it was time to cry 'uncle'. The whole thing was over by the afternoon.

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I gotta go in May and dont want to be chosen.....i cant afford to miss any time for my buisness.

 

any tips on how not to get chosen?

300567[/snapback]

 

Don't worry Rudy, I've got your back. I'll be all over the littlest bit of Bills news (or lack) with a heaping helpin' of "The Dark Cloud."

 

Go have fun...that defendent is....well, you know.... :D

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There's usually not much you can do to get out of jury duty, contrary to what most people think.

 

Financial hardship is generally not a reason for excuse unless it is extreme. Must judges will tell you that they are not willing to even discuss excuses for financial hardship.

 

Here's the way it goes. You meet in a big jury pool room and wait for your name or number to be called. They call 30 or so names/numbers and send you to a courtroom where they then put 12 people in the jury box. The judge comes out and asks some very specific questions to those in the jury box - mostly abouth whether you know any of the parties in the case, if you have a specific past experience or job, etc. The lawyers may get to ask a few questions. The judge then asks the jurors if they had an afirmative answer to any of the questions they had been asked and if you you do he'll ask you which one. In open court, under oath, you have to explain why you answered the way you did. If the judge feels this might be embarassing he'll take you to chambers to have you explain your answer. A few jurors may be excused and replaced and this continues until you have enough jurors and alternates to start the trial.

 

At no point do you really have a chance to stand up and start spinning a tale about how you hate blacks, how you love or hate guns, or say something radical to get thrown out. If you try and do this the judge is usually all over you (hey - they're not stupid) and forcefully reminds you that you are in court under oath - all of a sudden it's not so easy to take some sort of fake wacko position.

 

The last time I served I was self employed and didn't make any money for a week because I had to serve - I just had to suck it up and deal with it.

 

It really comes down to the luck of the draw for the most part. The good thing is that most cases are short - there's not an O.J. trial every day. The price we pay for living in a democracy.

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I got called to serve in Essex County, New Jersey about a year and a half ago. I work in investment management sales for a small money manager in North Carolina (however, I live in NJ) and it was the worst possible time. They sent me to the jury room for a murder case and when they asked for hardship cases I told them that quite frankly it was a tough time for me professionally, I was not capable of focusing on this situation, I missed a couple of important meetings during the three days it took me to get to that point and let them know that I would be an empty juror - they let me out. I understand the whole civic duty thing, but that burden is not distributed evenly because some people are less dispensable at their jobs than others - either because of the company's size or the nature of the job. I've known people that have had to close retail businesses while they served on jury duty - they weren't paying me enough a day to cover gas.

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I've been summoned for jury duty three times. The first time was for a murder case where a young talented basketball player, who was going to college on a scholarship, got involved in a drug deal that went "bad" and he shot and killed another young man (he was later found guilty). I sat there for two days, but was never interviewed. Once the jury was selected, I was excused and only had to call in afterwards. A second time, a robbery case, I was interviewed and when I was asked what my wife's employment was (she worked as a legal secretary for a large local firm at that time) I was immediately excused. The third time I simply told them that my wife worked as a legal secretary for another firm and was excused thru the mail.

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I gotta go in May and dont want to be chosen.....i cant afford to miss any time for my buisness.

 

any tips on how not to get chosen?

300567[/snapback]

Well, it's pretty simple. They usually ask (after explaining the case) if anyone has a problem with something pertinent to the case.Simply say yes and raise your hand. They will call you into a room with the attorney(s) ask you to elaborate. For example, if the case is a lawsuit say something like" I believe these types of lawsuits are a large part of what is bringing our society down..." or something to that effect. Or if it's a murder case involving a black defendant tell them you are extremely prejudiced and were brought up to hate "those people" etc. They will NOT want you and you'll be dismissed. I've done this a couple times- just make yourself out to be some extremist nut case. It's a little acting job on your part, but it sure beats the inconvenience. I was dismissed both times with no questions asked. You really can not get out of reporting for that 1st day, but it's quite easy to get dismissed once your there. :devil:

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There's usually not much you can do to get out of jury duty, contrary to what most people think.

 

Financial hardship is generally not a reason for excuse unless it is extreme. Must judges will tell you that they are not willing to even discuss excuses for financial hardship.

 

Here's the way it goes. You meet in a big jury pool room and wait for your name or number to be called. They call 30 or so names/numbers and send you to a courtroom where they then put 12 people in the jury box. The judge comes out and asks some very specific questions to those in the jury box - mostly abouth whether you know any of the parties in the case, if you have a specific past experience or job, etc. The lawyers may get to ask a few questions. The judge then asks the jurors if they had an afirmative answer to any of the questions they had been asked and if you you do he'll ask you which one. In open court, under oath, you have to explain why you answered the way you did. If the judge feels this might be embarassing he'll take you to chambers to have you explain your answer. A few jurors may be excused and replaced and this continues until you have enough jurors and alternates to start the trial.

 

At no point do you really have a chance to stand up and start spinning a tale about how you hate blacks, how you love or hate guns, or say something radical to get thrown out. If you try and do this the judge is usually all over you (hey - they're not stupid) and forcefully reminds you that you are in court under oath - all of a sudden it's not so easy to take some sort of fake wacko position.

 

The last time I served I was self employed and didn't make any money for a week because I had to serve - I just had to suck it up and deal with it.

 

It really comes down to the luck of the draw for the most part. The good thing is that most cases are short - there's not an O.J. trial every day. The price we pay for living in a democracy.

300743[/snapback]

You're wrong. I took a "fake " extremist position two times and was dismissed immediately both times. It's NOT hard at all. :devil:

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If this thread is a indicator of the general feelings in America, no wonder it is going to sh--.

300584[/snapback]

F**K that ! There's no shortage of population with plenty of time on their hands to sit on some jury. I just don't happen to be one of them. There are actually people out there who relish the idea of jury duty and really get into it. Let them do it then. What's so difficult about that? The system is better off with enthusiastic jurors who can devote their energy to it, not someone who doesn't want to be there and is losing money. Ever think that maybe THIS is the person you don't want on the jury, as they may be motivated by outside factors to bring a swift resolution to the case? :devil:

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There's usually not much you can do to get out of jury duty, contrary to what most people think.

 

Financial hardship is generally not a reason for excuse unless it is extreme. Must judges will tell you that they are not willing to even discuss excuses for financial hardship.

 

Here's the way it goes. You meet in a big jury pool room and wait for your name or number to be called. They call 30 or so names/numbers and send you to a courtroom where they then put 12 people in the jury box. The judge comes out and asks some very specific questions to those in the jury box - mostly abouth whether you know any of the parties in the case, if you have a specific past experience or job, etc. The lawyers may get to ask a few questions. The judge then asks the jurors if they had an afirmative answer to any of the questions they had been asked and if you you do he'll ask you which one. In open court, under oath, you have to explain why you answered the way you did. If the judge feels this might be embarassing he'll take you to chambers to have you explain your answer. A few jurors may be excused and replaced and this continues until you have enough jurors and alternates to start the trial.

 

At no point do you really have a chance to stand up and start spinning a tale about how you hate blacks, how you love or hate guns, or say something radical to get thrown out. If you try and do this the judge is usually all over you (hey - they're not stupid) and forcefully reminds you that you are in court under oath - all of a sudden it's not so easy to take some sort of fake wacko position.

 

The last time I served I was self employed and didn't make any money for a week because I had to serve - I just had to suck it up and deal with it.

 

It really comes down to the luck of the draw for the most part. The good thing is that most cases are short - there's not an O.J. trial every day. The price we pay for living in a democracy.

300743[/snapback]

 

Here in San Diego I was excused right away for telling them the truth that I am self employed and it would be a financial hardship to serve on a jury. In fact they have never called me since. Knock on wood.

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F**K that ! There's no shortage of population with plenty of time on their hands to sit on some jury. I just don't happen to be one of them. There are actually people out there who relish the idea of jury duty and really get into it. Let them do it then. What's so difficult about that? The system is better off with enthusiastic jurors who can devote their energy to it, not someone who doesn't want to be there and is losing money. Ever think that maybe THIS is the person you don't want on the jury, as they may be motivated by outside factors to bring a swift resolution to the case? :lol:

300782[/snapback]

 

Ladies and gentleman, I present exhibit A. :devil:

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