I'm not sure why, but I've never served on a jury. My wife has several times. I've been called for jury duty a few times, but have never been assigned to an actual jury. I think it's over 20 years since I was even drawn for jury duty. Not that I'm complaining, but it seems a bit mysterious.
Back when I was a graduate student called for jury duty (a really long time ago ;-)), someone told me that the lawyers don't like to pick highly educated people. I don't really know how true that is.
This was hysterical. Mine was a much more boring experience. Civil trial, I recall it was a janitor who had done something that damaged the other party. I am pretty sure I was dismissed via random chance. I don't think I gave any answers that would have made me seem out of the ordinary. Haven't been called back since.
I did make it to a tiebreaker round to be township tax collector. They sent me an official letter saying I was in the running and that there was a tiebreaker vote coming up. I received the letter the day of the tiebreaker vote. Received a call from my political party asking if I was serious about being tax collector. I said I wasn't all that serious and I have never heard about it again. I assume I lost the tiebreaker, which is fine. I am not sure I am cut out to collect taxes. Especially where I live, where many residents like myself are one step away from being feral.
Thanks for sharing your jury duty and tiebreaker experience! That is really funny. You are there if needed, and not seeking power - exactly the kind of person we need in more offices.
Re the lasso: it might interest you to know that they used to go out and collect homeless people to serve on juries, in my hometown, but I think the practice eventually ended due to bad press.
I too have never served on a jury. I have friends who get called often; my husband used to, and he really couldn't spare the time. I was called twice - once cancelled the day before; and once we sat for awhile and I guess they settled - we were sent home.
Another friend, Catholic but married to a Muslim, used to bring both the Bible and the Quran, to read ostentatiously during selection depending on how the wind seemed to be blowing.
My mother used to get called regularly, and because my brother knew everybody in town, it happened more than once that one of the lawyers would recognize her and as a courtesy say, Oh, Mrs. X - you can go home. Which wasn't a ringing endorsement of the service perhaps.
One friend sat on one "fun" oil and gas case; but she also - as I later learned - served on the jury for a horrific, locally notorious crime. I would be a terrible juror because I would feel - I don't want to hear about this. This is nothing to do with me. I have my own troubles, I refuse to admit this into my mind; this should be contained, kept secret. I'd be looking around the courtroom, thinking - where is the real man, this should have been dealt with already.
ETA: but I appreciate the spirit in which you approached it!
Thank you, luciaphile, for sharing these intriguing stories about jury duty and your hometown's unique practices. I guess their homeless people weren't drug addicts, or mentally incompetent , and were literate, if they could serve on juries. Sounds like an unusual hometown.
Loved the anecdotes about creative book choices during selection and the recognition of your mother by lawyers. Your honesty about your own feelings towards serving on a jury is very relatable. Thanks for sharing your insights!
Sounds like a wholly 2023 Floridian experience to me. I hope the cancellation of your fine went through, Insha Allah.
During my several decades of adult life in the US, I got called for jury duty twice. On one occasion, my attorney then-boss pulled some strings and got me out of it. On the other occasion, I showed up, but all the defendants that day pleaded guilty. So we all went home early. The. End.
These days, I'm registered to vote in Texas, and there's a possibility I'll get called there... but I'm told that if I get the notice, all I have to do is call and tell them I live outside the US. However, Texas, like Florida, seems like one of those states that will try to fine you at the drop of a hat. We'll see what happens.
Thank you for your kind wishes, and yes, the fine cancellation went through, praise G-d!
I enjoyed your anecdotes. It's funny how things can work out with guilty pleas and attorney bosses. I hope that the people in Texas will understand your international situation and not fine you.
Thanks for sharing your jury duty experience! Being interviewed by lawyers must have been an interesting experience, even if you weren't ultimately selected.
A full week in the waiting room is quite the ordeal. I'm curious, did you have books or anything to pass the time, or was it just endless anticipation? Did you make any new friends?
I had a few books to read and did some work. No, didn't make any friends. There were about 15 of us and most of others got selected. They obviously did not like me :-)
Sorry I tagged you with the wrong name, but I am happy you found it.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the jury selection process. I didn't know about jury nullification. It's unfortunate that your libertarian views led to being removed from the jury. Better luck next time?
It’s an interesting question. It seems my views are more nuanced now regarding drug legalization, but that’s a longer story. At the time my views were not the norm, and is it true that the prosecutor is looking for normal views? Normal being the views that representative most of the community. What if the normal views are flawed? What if the legislation which the prosecution is relying on to criminalize the defendant is flawed? What would Jesus do in this case?
When I lived in Baltimore I had to do jury duty every year. They call in hundreds of people, usually only a few dozen would have to go to the courtroom for selection and most were rejected.
You got to watch whatever movies they had and observe "your peers". In Baltimore, I was not impressed with my peers.
My wife did end up on an attempted murder trial. It was very obvious the guy did it, but one of the jurors was an extreme libtard that basically didn't think black people could commits crimes. Probably got in because the prosecutor wanted another white on the jury. He pulled a Twelve Angry Men that included asking everyone to read his self published book and going on long rants people had to sit there and listen to for days. A week later he convinced nobody and it was an 11-1 hung jury. The prosector was stunned. My wife did learn something about libtards and the Baltimore underclass.
My grandfather used to get out of jury duty by saying he was racist against all races, including his own.
I would like to extend my apologies for the delay in my response. Currently, I am dealing with some real-life matters that have temporarily taken precedence. This situation underscores why I have chosen not to pursue monetization or maintain an excessively professional demeanor at this juncture. It is imperative for me to retain the flexibility to disengage when necessary, as I have come to recognize the potential for excessive strain.
I want to express my gratitude for your comment. To be honest, many of the stories shared within this forum can be rather distressing. Your grandpa made me laugh.
I'm not sure why, but I've never served on a jury. My wife has several times. I've been called for jury duty a few times, but have never been assigned to an actual jury. I think it's over 20 years since I was even drawn for jury duty. Not that I'm complaining, but it seems a bit mysterious.
Hi MikeW, thanks for sharing your experience! It's interesting how jury duty can be a bit unpredictable. It's great to hear your experience.
Well, the attorneys do profile the jurors during the juror selection process.
I had read about this in a book (can't remember the title just now), then had a jury duty experience that very strongly pointed to this.
Thanks for sharing. It does make sense. Did you end up on that jury?
Back when I was a graduate student called for jury duty (a really long time ago ;-)), someone told me that the lawyers don't like to pick highly educated people. I don't really know how true that is.
Hilarious! thank you for sharing Isha!
It's always a pleasure to share moments of humor. Thanks for reading and engaging with my content!
This was hysterical. Mine was a much more boring experience. Civil trial, I recall it was a janitor who had done something that damaged the other party. I am pretty sure I was dismissed via random chance. I don't think I gave any answers that would have made me seem out of the ordinary. Haven't been called back since.
I did make it to a tiebreaker round to be township tax collector. They sent me an official letter saying I was in the running and that there was a tiebreaker vote coming up. I received the letter the day of the tiebreaker vote. Received a call from my political party asking if I was serious about being tax collector. I said I wasn't all that serious and I have never heard about it again. I assume I lost the tiebreaker, which is fine. I am not sure I am cut out to collect taxes. Especially where I live, where many residents like myself are one step away from being feral.
Thanks for sharing your jury duty and tiebreaker experience! That is really funny. You are there if needed, and not seeking power - exactly the kind of person we need in more offices.
I would be HARSH but FAIR.
Ooh, that should go on the jury certificate!
Re the lasso: it might interest you to know that they used to go out and collect homeless people to serve on juries, in my hometown, but I think the practice eventually ended due to bad press.
I too have never served on a jury. I have friends who get called often; my husband used to, and he really couldn't spare the time. I was called twice - once cancelled the day before; and once we sat for awhile and I guess they settled - we were sent home.
Another friend, Catholic but married to a Muslim, used to bring both the Bible and the Quran, to read ostentatiously during selection depending on how the wind seemed to be blowing.
My mother used to get called regularly, and because my brother knew everybody in town, it happened more than once that one of the lawyers would recognize her and as a courtesy say, Oh, Mrs. X - you can go home. Which wasn't a ringing endorsement of the service perhaps.
One friend sat on one "fun" oil and gas case; but she also - as I later learned - served on the jury for a horrific, locally notorious crime. I would be a terrible juror because I would feel - I don't want to hear about this. This is nothing to do with me. I have my own troubles, I refuse to admit this into my mind; this should be contained, kept secret. I'd be looking around the courtroom, thinking - where is the real man, this should have been dealt with already.
ETA: but I appreciate the spirit in which you approached it!
Thank you, luciaphile, for sharing these intriguing stories about jury duty and your hometown's unique practices. I guess their homeless people weren't drug addicts, or mentally incompetent , and were literate, if they could serve on juries. Sounds like an unusual hometown.
Loved the anecdotes about creative book choices during selection and the recognition of your mother by lawyers. Your honesty about your own feelings towards serving on a jury is very relatable. Thanks for sharing your insights!
Sounds like a wholly 2023 Floridian experience to me. I hope the cancellation of your fine went through, Insha Allah.
During my several decades of adult life in the US, I got called for jury duty twice. On one occasion, my attorney then-boss pulled some strings and got me out of it. On the other occasion, I showed up, but all the defendants that day pleaded guilty. So we all went home early. The. End.
These days, I'm registered to vote in Texas, and there's a possibility I'll get called there... but I'm told that if I get the notice, all I have to do is call and tell them I live outside the US. However, Texas, like Florida, seems like one of those states that will try to fine you at the drop of a hat. We'll see what happens.
Thank you for your kind wishes, and yes, the fine cancellation went through, praise G-d!
I enjoyed your anecdotes. It's funny how things can work out with guilty pleas and attorney bosses. I hope that the people in Texas will understand your international situation and not fine you.
I was called up for jury duty once and was interviewed by the lawyers but wasn't selected.
Thanks for sharing your jury duty experience! Being interviewed by lawyers must have been an interesting experience, even if you weren't ultimately selected.
I was called for Jury Service about 20 years ago. I sat waiting for a week to be given a trial but never got selected. A week sat in a waiting room!
A full week in the waiting room is quite the ordeal. I'm curious, did you have books or anything to pass the time, or was it just endless anticipation? Did you make any new friends?
I had a few books to read and did some work. No, didn't make any friends. There were about 15 of us and most of others got selected. They obviously did not like me :-)
Their loss, and at least it was a productive use of your time!
I was excited to participate in a jury selection process once, but the prosecutor kicked me off for my libertarian views on drug legalization. Afterwards I learned about jury nullification. Next time I might try for the jury nullification strategy. https://open.substack.com/pub/daviddfriedman/p/jury-nullification-true-and-dangerous?r=nb3bl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Sorry I tagged you with the wrong name, but I am happy you found it.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the jury selection process. I didn't know about jury nullification. It's unfortunate that your libertarian views led to being removed from the jury. Better luck next time?
It’s an interesting question. It seems my views are more nuanced now regarding drug legalization, but that’s a longer story. At the time my views were not the norm, and is it true that the prosecutor is looking for normal views? Normal being the views that representative most of the community. What if the normal views are flawed? What if the legislation which the prosecution is relying on to criminalize the defendant is flawed? What would Jesus do in this case?
Actually served on a trial where we found a guy guilty of attempted murder of a number of prostitutes. It was...grim. But justice was served.
That sounds awful to experience, but that's the purpose of justice. Thank you for serving as a juror.
When I lived in Baltimore I had to do jury duty every year. They call in hundreds of people, usually only a few dozen would have to go to the courtroom for selection and most were rejected.
You got to watch whatever movies they had and observe "your peers". In Baltimore, I was not impressed with my peers.
My wife did end up on an attempted murder trial. It was very obvious the guy did it, but one of the jurors was an extreme libtard that basically didn't think black people could commits crimes. Probably got in because the prosecutor wanted another white on the jury. He pulled a Twelve Angry Men that included asking everyone to read his self published book and going on long rants people had to sit there and listen to for days. A week later he convinced nobody and it was an 11-1 hung jury. The prosector was stunned. My wife did learn something about libtards and the Baltimore underclass.
My grandfather used to get out of jury duty by saying he was racist against all races, including his own.
Dear Forum Poster 123,
I would like to extend my apologies for the delay in my response. Currently, I am dealing with some real-life matters that have temporarily taken precedence. This situation underscores why I have chosen not to pursue monetization or maintain an excessively professional demeanor at this juncture. It is imperative for me to retain the flexibility to disengage when necessary, as I have come to recognize the potential for excessive strain.
I want to express my gratitude for your comment. To be honest, many of the stories shared within this forum can be rather distressing. Your grandpa made me laugh.