I got on jury duty today

[paulney]

After one day of phone standby I got called for jury duty. When I arrived and saw the number of people in my panel, I knew I was going to get it: too few showed up for them to miss.

At least I am juror #7 which means I get to sit in the rightmost chair, and there's plenty of leg room.

I honestly told them I believe police officers should be held to a higher standard, but after a short questioning by the judge and the DA, they had no problems. The defense did not drop me either.

Too bad the case is boring as hell, and so are the proceedings. At least, two years ago when I was called in, they had a guy who was arrested in the park for wanking in his car. I was glad they didn't call me on the bench, because I would have just busted out laughing, and the judge would have thrown a book at me.

Oh, and SJ has free wi-fi for jurors, but I couldn't get on: the login and pass wouldn't work, and I was too lazy to ask for another one.

Update: I tell about the case a couple of pages later.

 

[KK]

whats the case about?

 

[vrbaba]

Originally posted by: KK
whats the case about?

lol, i dont think he is legally allowed to tell u or discuss it...i may be wrong

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: KK
whats the case about?

he prolly cant talk about it.

P.S. the last time I got duty, I told them I work for the DA's and the defense kicked me immediately.

 

[JoeFahey]

Originally posted by: KK
whats the case about?

He cant talk about it.

 

[tomywishbone]

Go "Not guilty"and there's $100 via paypal for you.

 

[Juno]

Originally posted by: tomywishbone
Go "Not guilty"and there's $100 via paypal for you.

he needs monk to help him.

 

[KK]

does involve titties, I seen this one movie and the one attorney banged this hot defendant. couple of others involved in the case also got it on.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: KK
does involve titties, I seen this one movie and the one attorney banged this hot defendant. couple of others involved in the case also got it on.

believe it or not, it MAY not be an ethical violation.

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: KK
whats the case about?

Yep, as other said, I can't talk about it until the end of the case.
I brought in my laptop today and was going to read the e-book, and as soon as I powered it up, I realized I left the actual PDF file on my hone network. Doh!

You get one perk of being a juror: they issue you a badge, and you can cut in front of the entrance line to the metal detector. Yay! Oh, and they pay you $15 a day

 

[apac]

Silly question, if you get jury duty while salaried with a company, do they make you take paid time off for it? If so, fvck $15 a day, I want my paid days off!

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: apac
Silly question, if you get jury duty while salaried with a company, do they make you take paid time off for it? If so, fvck $15 a day, I want my paid days off!

depends on the company, they all have their own policies

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: apac
Silly question, if you get jury duty while salaried with a company, do they make you take paid time off for it? If so, fvck $15 a day, I want my paid days off!

They are legally required to let you do the duty and keep your job. They are not legally required to compensate you for it. I don't think they can make you take PTO, but it's certainly your option.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: paulney

Originally posted by: KK
whats the case about?

Yep, as other said, I can't talk about it until the end of the case.
I brought in my laptop today and was going to read the e-book, and as soon as I powered it up, I realized I left the actual PDF file on my hone network. Doh!

You get one perk of being a juror: they issue you a badge, and you can cut in front of the entrance line to the metal detector. Yay! Oh, and they pay you $15 a day

Letting you use your computer doesn't seem very conducive to the jurors paying attention to the case. I'd just end up missing the whole thing.

 

[jadinolf]

Originally posted by: apac
Silly question, if you get jury duty while salaried with a company, do they make you take paid time off for it? If so, fvck $15 a day, I want my paid days off!

$15 a day? Not here.

 

[touchmyichi]

Do you mean San Jose by SJ? I actually was an intern in the superior court there last summer and yeah some of the cases can be kind of slow.

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: Indolent

Letting you use your computer doesn't seem very conducive to the jurors paying attention to the case. I'd just end up missing the whole thing.

You can't use the laptop in the actual court room, of course. But you can use it while waiting in the jury assembly room or during the recession - which is very convenient. Check emails, get the news, etc.

 

[paulney]

Originally posted by: touchmyichi
Do you mean San Jose by SJ? I actually was an intern in the superior court there last summer and yeah some of the cases can be kind of slow.

Yes, San Jose. This is my first time in that building - I've only been to Palo Alto court before.

 

[EGGO]

Ugh, I wanted to be a juror in mine. It looked promising. Oh well.

 

[silverpig]

The trick to avoiding jury duty is to tell them you're prejudiced against all races. - H. Simpson

 

[Atlantean]

Thats why you tell them that you would find the defendant guilty no matter what the evidence suggests, or innocent, or that you have extreme prejudices against some race or something so they don't select you to be part of the jury process. Then you don't have to sit through a boring court case.

 

[AlgaeEater]

Originally posted by: Atlantean
Thats why you tell them that you would find the defendant guilty no matter what the evidence suggests, or innocent, or that you have extreme prejudices against some race or something so they don't select you to be part of the jury process. Then you don't have to sit through a boring court case.

That old trick gets you in trouble; espcially in California where they specifically weed that out of people immediately. It use to work back in the 90's, but it won't fly 5 seconds out of your mouth before they catch you and fine you for lying to a court.

Better option is to say you're not interested whether or not the defendant is guilty or not guilty, and that his/her conviction means little to your morals, beliefs, and time. That's the new 100% way to get out of jury duty, guranteed.

 

[chowderhead]

I just finished sitting on a one month murder trial. It was probably one of the most difficult and stressful things I have ever done. I am glad that I sat on the trial but I hope to never do that again. The case was sad all the way around because the people involved were so young. I've never served on a jury before and the way the trial went felt nothing like those Law and Order type shows.

I do feel that even though the trial was very inconvenient and disruptive to my life, it is a civic duty and part of being a citizen. I don't think we can have an impartial jury system where only motivated people or people with an agenda will serve and everyone else finds excuses.

Anyway, my case was a boyfriend/girlfriend thing and after two days of deliberations, we found the guy guilty of 2nd degree murder.

Technically, OP should not discuss even peripheral aspects of his jury service. This thread is inviting him to continue discussion i.e. (paypal $100 for not guilty). I wish him well on his service but hopes he refrains from this thread until the end of the trial.

 

[toolboxolio]

I'm pretty sure hell isn't boring.

Change your sub-title to "boring as Montana"

 

[SirStev0]

i think jury duty would be somewhat entertaining. Plus it would give me an excuse to dust off that sweet Pauley Shore VHS I have. Juuuuuurrrrrrrry Duuuuuuuuuuuuuutaaaaaaaaaaaaaay