Have you served in a Jury?

I've served twice, one civil (fiduciary duty) one criminal (child rape). Each took about a week. I've probably been called 4-5 other times and didn't get on a jury. I think serving on a jury is awesome, but the jury selection process does suck. Isn't this something the internet can solve now?

 

Never even seen a judge. First time was criminal, say outside a court room after leaving the summons for about 2 hours then we left.

Other time was municipal. Sat around got lunch and after I got back was released. Just have a phone or b

 

A couple years back when I got married I suddenly received a couple of jury summons. Registering for the marriage license must have reminded them of my existence.

I haven't served and don't really want to. I don't think as a contractor (currently) I'd make my salary. No work no pay.

Besides, if I want to deal with Houston morons, I'll just get in my car and drive around. Especially along Eastex freeway....my God, driving past downtown on 59 going toward Humble, exiting Little York to go to Pappas BBQ, it's like passing through a black hole into which all light, gravity, and IQ points are sucked away.

If that's what I'd have to look forward to on a jury? Hell to the naw. With my luck I'd not only not get out of jury duty despite any lies I invented ("Sure, he's guilty; I hate everyone; when I served as Grand Wizard..."), I'd wind up the damn foreman.

Although, as foreman, that's when I'd get dismissed: "Come on you a**h***s, quit making me wait. Excuse me bailiff? I can go home? Oh shucks!" Then I'd leave the courthouse dragging one foot behind me in "dejection" and once outside would transform Kaiser Soze-like: YA-HOO!

My wife is totally different. She has a real sense of justice, being from Brazil where impunity is an art form. She probably can't wait for full citizenship just so she can get on a jury and punish some scumbag.

 

If you never been called, perhaps because you didn't sign that selective service thing in high school that they make you sign?

 

Im 31 and have always thrown the paperwork in the trash when it comes in the mail.

Has anybody been fined or jailed for not appering!?

 

I think I got pretty lucky. After sitting around for 2 hours, I was selected for the first jury I was called up for. Probably sat through 2 hrs of testimony, went to lunch (paid for), came back and the defense immediately made a plea bargain. I went home by 1:30 pm.

I had the pleasure of witnessing the legal process in action, had lunch and went home in a fairly short amount of time. I felt bad for those people stuck in the waiting room all day doing nothing until 5 pm (or whenever). Not to mention those making a jury and being on a long case.

 

I haven't been selected in years. My last time was about 20 years ago in Houston where a guy was pulled over for "failing to use his turn signal while making a lane change" (at 3am...) mmmkay.... He then "didn't have a drivers license" so the proceeded to "inventory the car" before towing. mmmkay II... While "inventorying the car", they found under his seat, 2ozs of coke in a brown bag with a business card (used for cutting) and some scales. And next to the bag was...wait for it...the man's wallet. And it just so happened that the business card in the bag matched the man's ID in the lost wallet...who was driving the car...but the drugs weren't his...he's sticking to that story. We gave him 30 years. Later the judge said his next trial for another crime committed since then was for lighting his gf on fire. His story was they were freebasing and she lit herself on fire. Her story was they were freebasing and he got mad, poured lighter fliuld on her and lit her on fire.

 

Yes, I have, and in a criminal case.

 

Yeah, at first I thought I was unlucky getting on a jury. And then it turns out it helped me get the whole thing done a lot sooner! It was a pretty straight forward DUI case.

 

Montgomery County (surprisingly) has a pretty good system. You can 'check in' online and they tell you which courtroom to go directly to, instead of having to go to the jury assembly room and wait like in Harris. Once you get there, the whole process takes about an hour.

It's funny, everyone here who has served on a jury has said they enjoyed it. I never would have believed it until I served on one. It's actually very interesting to see the legal process in action. I'm actually looking forward to serving again.

 

lol

2 constables once came and brought me in to have a chat with the judge on why I didn't show up.

 

Got the notice once, went to the courthouse and sat in the room for about an hour. The judge then came out, and said that a plea bargain had been struck for all of the trials scheduled to begin around that time, so we were free to leave. All in all, it was a pretty pleasant experience, but I don't think I'd ever want to serve on a jury. I think I'd get really annoyed with all of the idiotic people that live in this country.

 

What was said to you by the judge, and what did you say back?? That's pretty crazy, and seems like a colossal waste of time and resources.

 

I got summoned once, but oddly enough it was just as I was about to move to another state. So I got to write them back and tell them that I wouldn't be around when they wanted me.