Jury Duty

[Tattylou]

I am techinally self employed (1099). So, if I'm not working then I'm not getting paid. If I'm at jury duty and can't be flexible with my schedule then I'm also paying someone to get my kids off the bus and watch them until I get home. So not only am I not being paid, but I'd be losing money to pay a babysitter. Makes me angry honestly because it is not a fair set up financially and so I am not the least bit interested in having jury duty. If I was getting paid a fair wage then I would be more positive about it.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The compliance rate in many Florida counties is something like 14%. I was told.

I read that where I live it's 22%, and that nationally it averages 44%. Hard to imagine that with 78% of people not responding to a summons that there is any real consequence for not doing so. Though here you risk being "fined and/or imprisoned, or both". How do you like that wording??

 

[wgeo]

I am techinally self employed (1099). So, if I'm not working then I'm not getting paid. If I'm at jury duty and can't be flexible with my schedule then I'm also paying someone to get my kids off the bus and watch them until I get home. So not only am I not being paid, but I'd be losing money to pay a babysitter. Makes me angry honestly because it is not a fair set up financially and so I am not the least bit interested in having jury duty. If I was getting paid a fair wage then I would be more positive about it.

This is where I'm at - except that now my kids are old enough that I don't have to pay a sitter. We are 1.9 miles from the school so they don't get bussed, so I'll either have to arrange for transportation or they'll have to walk, which is annoying but not undoable.

I really think they need to address the wage issue. THey are not really getting random samples of jurors if the only people that are able to serve are the ones that can afford it.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My son just got a jury summons last friday. Since he's a full time student currently living 4 hours away, he should get excused. He's getting the proper paperwork together for that.

I've served on one jury for 3 day and another time got a summons but was excused before they got to my number.

My Mom got jury duty and when they got to her she told them the person wouldn't be there if they weren't guilty so she knows they are guilty. She got excused. For some reason that cracked me up because I could picture her saying that.

 

[tvguy]

Never had an issue fortunately with pay because,while my employers balked at jury duty, they always ended up paying me.

But the Judges here are very hard on people claiming financial hardship. They want proof that you have no savings etc.

Although a past employer had the squeeze put on them by a Judge who wanted to know how a (public) company that made $30 million dollars the previous year couldn't afford to pay a guy $800 (a week's pay) while he was on jury duty. The Judge called the boss and asked his full name for the subpoena he was going to issue to have him come chat in chambers about the situation.....oh, and if the boss couldn't work something out, cancel any plans for the weekend, because you might be getting 2 nights in jail for contempt. Amazingly, they found a way to pay the guy.

 

[Marchand63]

As soon as I turned 18, I got called. I had to go 5x in 7 years. I get disqualified every time because of having a criminal justice degree, extensive contacts within law enforcement, AND relatives who are/were police officers and/or hold public office, but I have to go and answer those questions, which disqualify me, so the day ends up not counting. It's a PITA.

I got called again recently, but I didn't have to go, as I'm a SAHM with a 2-year-old. Once he's in all-day school, I'll have to serve again.

The only thing that bugs me is that we have a superior court in the town where I live, but for whatever reason, town residents have to go into the big city, where the superior court is located in a really bad area. Yet residents of surrounding towns get to do their jury duty at our town court. I'd be more than happy to serve if I could stay here in town!

I work in LE and have been seated twice. You may not get criminal but civil is another ballgame.

 

[Tattylou]

But the Judges here are very hard on people claiming financial hardship. They want proof that you have no savings etc.

.

That's ridiculous. No one should not be expected to use their family's emergency fund for jury duty. That is not an emergency.

 

[kaytieeldr]

The place I live now is a one day/one trial requirement - which is nice, except when you end up on a long trial ...

My mom had to serve jury duty long before the one-day one-trial. First day, my dad had a heart attack. Mom got exempted but was told she'd be called again soon. Never happened in the 20 following years.

I've gotten jury duty twice. First time, the defendant took a plea before we heard any evidence. Second time was, like iloveSnippyjon, calling the night before and being informed that no potential jurors were needed.

Disappointed because I live close enough to the courthouse to walk home for lunch.

 

[wgeo]

Never had an issue fortunately with pay because,while my employers balked at jury duty, they always ended up paying me.

But the Judges here are very hard on people claiming financial hardship. They want proof that you have no savings etc.

Although a past employer had the squeeze put on them by a Judge who wanted to know how a (public) company that made $30 million dollars the previous year couldn't afford to pay a guy $800 (a week's pay) while he was on jury duty. The Judge called the boss and asked his full name for the subpoena he was going to issue to have him come chat in chambers about the situation.....oh, and if the boss couldn't work something out, cancel any plans for the weekend, because you might be getting 2 nights in jail for contempt. Amazingly, they found a way to pay the guy.

The judge here wasn’t quite that hard. She did ask a lot of questions but as far as I saw never asked for any kind of proof

The idea that someone would have to use up there savings to sit on a jury doesn’t sit well with me.

 

[wgeo]

Hey turns out federal jurors are getting a raise at least.

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/cou...after-nearly-30-years-doesnt-top-minimum-wage

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

The compliance rate in many Florida counties is something like 14%. I was told.

I've not been given Jury duty here in FL ever. DH has received a summons 3x, and each time he called in the night before and was not needed. Plus he got a questionaire from the federal court here, and is on tap for another 6 months (they hold it for a year) before it expires.

I did get summoned back in CO, about 24 years ago. Was on the panel being interviewed, and was released because it was a sexual assault case, and I was not going to be a very good juror for that.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

All this talk about pay made me look up what my County pays: "Jurors are paid $10 per day and a set amount per mile for their service." Welp that sucks and I live under 4 miles from the County courthouse too so not much milage reimbursement.

Dang for living in the wealthiest county in my state you'd think we'd get a bit more pay. The neighboring county it's $10 per day but everyday after the first day is $20 per day.

 

[mnrose]

I haven't been called ever since we moved to Minnesota 12 years ago. I've been a registered voter (where they get Minnesota jury pools) the entire time. My husband has been called twice, but never had to go. Weird.

Of course, I'll never get actually put on a jury. I'm a retired lawyer. No lawyer in their right mind wants a lawyer as a juror. The lawyer will, without even trying, dominate the jury. And, you're taking a big chance. I was called in California, but was promptly dismissed at the lawyer's first opportunity.

I'd love to be on a jury just to see if from the other side. I did a few jury trials in my early practice days, and am fascinated by the process.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I've been called 5 times. Yes, 5.

Once our family was in the process of moving out of state. My husband had already moved. I was excused. And once I was leaving for a 10 day Disney trip for our 25th anniversary. Again I was excused.

But I have served 3 times.

Once on a capital case. (That means that the death penalty was on table.) That trial lasted a week. And we, the jury, were sequestered in a hotel with no private contact with people outside of the jury. Our phone calls were monitored and we were escorted in and out of the hotel.

And twice I have been called for federal grand jury. Each time the service lasted a full year. We served just a few days each month.

I have to say, there was much to be learned. There were also people on the jury that didn't seem to learn a thing. Even after a year.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I am in a pool for jury duty. I will be reporting to the assigned location next week. I may be crazy, but I’m kind of looking forward to it. Of course I am also getting paid by my regular job while I’m there. I figure it will be a nice change of pace. It doesn’t take much to entertain me.

 

[aprilgail]

Last time was federal grand jury and I got excused because at that particular time I had numerous medical appointments every week. Now I think I'm past their age cut-off!

Just thinking about having to juggle my mothers Dr appts around jury duty gives me a headache! She is 90 years old and we go to at least 2 Drs every single week- what a pain it would be if I got jury duty!!

My son just got a jury summons last friday. Since he's a full time student currently living 4 hours away, he should get excused. He's getting the proper paperwork together for that.

.

My daughter is at college in Boston- she turned 18 in Nov and one week later had a jury duty summons for Boston!! They are so screwed up in Boston they are allowed to call college students who don't even live in Boston for jury duty. Exactly how they expect some poor college kid to miss days of classes to serve jury duty is beyond me! One choice they give is to postpone it until school ends but then we would have to put her up in a hotel while she served because she can't stay on campus when school ends and she sure can't commute from NY to Boston!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My daughter is at college in Boston- she turned 18 in Nov and one week later had a jury duty summons for Boston!! They are so screwed up in Boston they are allowed to call college students who don't even live in Boston for jury duty. Exactly how they expect some poor college kid to miss days of classes to serve jury duty is beyond me! One choice they give is to postpone it until school ends but then we would have to put her up in a hotel while she served because she can't stay on campus when school ends and she sure can't commute from NY to Boston!

I don't think it's an issue insofar that it's a "Boston" thing.

In my state as long as you're 18 and are a registered voter or have a driver's license and are a U.S. Citizen you can be called for jury duty. You are ineligible, in my state that is, only for the county you are summoned for if you are not a resident of the county but that doesn't mean if you moved to another county that you wouldn't be called for jury there.

I looked up for Mass and it says "college students are frequently called to serve jury duty, because people who are residents of the state for more than half the year are eligible."

Logistically I get it because of being in school it's just it's a common thing. The PP is correct though that it appears generally speaking being a full-time student quantifies as a "hardship" but it's not illegal generally speaking that is to call upon college students and it's still up to the judge assigned if the reasoning excuses them. *State laws/county laws may vary.

It's inconvenient for sure having to reschedule, the hotel, etc but it also comes with the territory of it being part of our civil duty of how our legal system works--jury of peers.

 

[Diznygrl]

Can you really just, like, NOT show up without any consequences?? I can't believe the compliance rate is so low. I've always been so afraid of getting thrown in prison if I didn't go! Not that I won't continue to comply, but still. If there's really that many people who don't show then the consequences must not be as dire as they want you to believe. Of course, my luck I'd be the one who gets imprisoned.

The very first time I got called, I got picked to serve on a jury. It was a dumb DUI case where this young guy was drunk and ran into someone's car parked in a driveway and drove off. I was 25 at the time and I guess they thought a young person who consumed alcohol would sympathize with the defendant. Nope.

Here you have to call in (or check online) for the entire week to see if your number is called to come in. You have to check for morning and afternoon service, but being called in the afternoon is kind of rare. One time I made it all the way to Friday without being called, thought I was in the clear when I didn't have to go in that morning, then wouldn't you know it I check at around noon, and my number is up to be there at 2:30!! So I had to go ALLLL the way downtown, fill out all the forms and sit there in a nearly empty jury pool room, and then was let go after about an hour. Grr.

 

[wgeo]

Can you really just, like, NOT show up without any consequences?? I can't believe the compliance rate is so low. I've always been so afraid of getting thrown in prison if I didn't go! Not that I won't continue to comply, but still. If there's really that many people who don't show then the consequences must not be as dire as they want you to believe. Of course, my luck I'd be the one who gets imprisoned.

The very first time I got called, I got picked to serve on a jury. It was a dumb DUI case where this young guy was drunk and ran into someone's car parked in a driveway and drove off. I was 25 at the time and I guess they thought a young person who consumed alcohol would sympathize with the defendant. Nope.

Here you have to call in (or check online) for the entire week to see if your number is called to come in. You have to check for morning and afternoon service, but being called in the afternoon is kind of rare. One time I made it all the way to Friday without being called, thought I was in the clear when I didn't have to go in that morning, then wouldn't you know it I check at around noon, and my number is up to be there at 2:30!! So I had to go ALLLL the way downtown, fill out all the forms and sit there in a nearly empty jury pool room, and then was let go after about an hour. Grr.

Ok that almost seems like they're just toying with you.

 

[Fldisneyfamily4321]

I work in LE and have been seated twice. You may not get criminal but civil is another ballgame.

In our state ( or county possibly) LE is auto excused .. they just sign the form and return it .. I have also been auto excused then moment they learn I’m married to LE , neither side really wants that I guess .
I was picked for 6 months of grand jury when I was 18 and it was ok .. there was one other 18 yr old on it so I actually ended up with a boyfriend lol