Have you served in a Jury?

I got called for Bexar County two weeks ago; and in midst of being complemented and thanked by lawyers and judges very three seconds, even despite being dismissed while standing outside the courtroom early due to a last minute plea deal, the original screening Judge Kazen said that he felt due to San Antonio having a large military population, people seem to be more inclined towards civic duty and that in his 15 years they'd never had to go out and arrest people to fill a jury pool. He seemed to think that Harris and Tarrant counties had do that somewhat routinely, though.

 

Yeah...not sure. I've done a lot of things but that's not one of them. And googling that at work is probably not a good idea. I can't imagine that she'd make up the story because it really didn't benefit her, but that trial was going to at a later time. I think the judge wanted us to know if you had any doubts after we gave the sentence, that it was his and what kind of guy he was - then have no doubts. I mean it really was all circumstantial evidence we gave him 30 years on. Technically anyone who knows him could have been using his card to cut, but he was the only one in the car, gave a false name with no ID (he was wanted on some minor outstanding stuff), had his missing wallet under the seat next to the bag with his card in the bag...too much to not believe it wasn't his.

What was most interesting to me was that that the police used a tow inventory to do a search.

 

Lol

The constable took me in and had me wait in a hallway and then was brought into the judge chambers. The Judge asked me if I received my summons (I decided to be honest and contrite by this time) I said that I did and threw it away. He asked why and then told me he could hold me for the duration of the jury service (Which was 2 weeks) and maybe he should hold me overnight and we chat again the next day. I assured him that it wasn't needed and I was sorry to have caused the trouble and so on. He lectured me on the duties of Americans and how unique we were and other stuff. I had to wait in the hallway again and eventually brought into the courtroom with the good Americans. After awhile we were dismissed and given our instruction sheets telling us what to do and told to leave. I asked if I could get a ride back to where I live and was told that they were not a cab service. I did talk with a clerk and she told me that when there are few that show up that the judge will tell his constables to go round up jurors. I just happened to be home that Monday and answered the door. She did tell me that if I didn't answer the door that I would not be there as they will not break the door in or call S.W.A.T.

I always answer my summons now and they seem to ask me to serve every couple of years. Last year I got my first Federal court jury summons. That lasts about 6 weeks.

I also have a friend that lives near Austin and he got pulled over and taken in once. Everybody I know just tosses theirs away and nothing happens to them though.

 

Seriously? Weird. It's never occurred to me to do that. I've always viewed it has a duty every citizen has, and a roll of the dice whether you are called. I know a guy who has never received a summons, not once, and he's in his 50's (younger than me). That shocked me, but that lots of folks simply throw them away shocks me more. Not being judgemental where you are concerned, just being concerned in general. Jury duty should be called a service, not a duty. It's a service you take on when called, a service to our way of life. Heck, I guess that's a duty after all. And trust me, I know it is a pain in the arse. I've been called several times over the years, but only selected once, for that criminal trial I mentioned, which took a week. It's a pain we must always endure, though, if our system is to endure. Clearly, you figured that out, and then some! -

By the way, that criminal trial lasted a week and resulted in a hung jury. I haven't been summoned since. It was about 15 years ago.

 

Lol

I understand that now. I am in my 50's now and this happened almost 30 years ago. Since then I have served in the military and the government in other ways. I always answer my jury summons now.

I am a workaholic and always have been. At the time I was home that Monday I had not taken a day off in about 3 years. I had so much time accrued that it was ridiculous. My employees under me complained to my boss about it. I was told to start taking days off and at that time my pager was taken and my keys and everyone was told not to call me or accept my calls until I was gone for 2 weeks. That Monday was the first day off and I remember I was sitting there wondering what to do when the knock came.

I get summoned often and been through the routine many times. I just take a good book along and usually a lunch. I have never gotten on the jury though. Even the Federal jury summons last year got fun. I was much discussed and the DA wanted me on the jury and the defense attorney wanted me struck off but refused to use one of his precious strikes. Eventually after much arguing and testimony the judge used his strike.

 

Wanted to add. My brother is 2 years older than I. He also votes every election and is a volunteer fireman and he has never ever gotten a jury summons. Some reason I get one about every couple of years and we live near each other.

 

I sat on a capital murder case (that was a change of venue from Rusk County) in 2010. It was the first time I ever was called (my luck, a couple of month long trial involving the horrible murder of an infant, during a time I was out of work and interviewing for jobs). Unusual process: the original summons had the entire jury pool sit in the same theater as the defendant, the assistant state attorney general and the DA of Rusk County, the defendant's attorneys, and the judge. We then had to fill out a 20 page written survey, then we were called in to an interview with the defendant, the judge, and the two sets of attorneys. Horrible trial (state ME said it was the worst crime he had seen in 25 years as ME). They escorted us to our cars after final punishment verdict and offered us counseling.

I vaguely remember being told we would not be called again to serve, but this past year I was summoned again (didn't get called fortunately). I was hoping I satisfied my civic duty that trial.

 

I let this drunk off because she looked good. I did some snooping, and she worked at the Mac counter in Macy's willowbrook. I had a milfy looking nurse too on the jury too

 

I'd like to serve on a jury depending on the case. For example, I could be that guy who won't vote for the death penalty, or that guy who thinks that we should throw out the case of a stoner in possession of a joint. Of course, they weed out people like me who're actually familiar with the power of a jury and won't be persuaded into doing what some lawyer wants me to do. Hence, jury's are filled with morons.

 

I've been summoned a few times. I never survive voir dire. Reading previous posts shows an increasingly civic-duty-averse population. That' really sad given how relatively great our system is versus other countries.

Although both sides can weed out crazies and use their challenges to come up with a decent panel, the pool is weak in the first place because so many of you opt out. If you're ever in court, I guarantee you that you'll want a higher quality pool that can be whittled down to an even better group

For that insist on not serving, if you appear too obtuse (or close-minded), too educated (i.e. regarding the law especially on rules of evidence), or mention jury nullification, then you'll likely be excluded.

 

Yes, I sat on a civil case last year. Probably the most boring thing ever since the entire jury had made up our minds about 3 hours in. Ended up taking a whole week.

 

The Judge I had (Ken Wise) said that he once had a guy that was selected and jetted during a recess. Sheriffs ended up showing up at his job and gave him the option of going to jail or going back to jury duty. He came back.