Have you ever been called for Jury Duty?

[chadtm80]

I'm interested to see who has been called for jury duty. And also what kind of case was it? I was called once, but got canceled before I even showed up

[Stormsfury]

Yes ...

Had two cases to deliberate on, actually three...

One was a theft case... found guilty..
The other was an aggravated assault with attempt to kill case -
The third one (was actually the first) didn't go to trial because the defendant changed the plea to guilty.

[wx247]

I would like to, but haven't.

[Stephanie]

Once back in the late 1980's. It was an automobile accident case. The girl did not get hurt, the bike wasn't damaged that much yet the parents wanted to get more money than the settlement of $10,000 the insurance company was offering to them. The thing that stuck in my mind and everyone else's was when the put the girl on the witness stand, she was asked to tell the jury what she said to the guy that hit her (she road her bike in front of him from behind a parked truck) "my dad will be very mad and my mommy will sue you". Needless to say, they didn't win the decision AND lost the $10,000.

[stormchazer]

Yes...I served on 09/11/2001. A day I must admit I will never forget and it obviously had nothing to do with the jury duty.

[HurricaneGirl]

No, but I've always wanted to be picked! I think it would be an interesting and educational experience.

[stormraiser]

Once. Last year. A woman was injured and her husband was suing the estate of a the man who hit her for his emotional distress due to the accident. I wasn't picked to sit on the jury though.

[azskyman]

Have been summoned several times but never called. Hope it isn't my time on Storm2k that raises the red flag each time.

I have testified as an expert witness in a couple of criminal trials on weather conditions at the time of the event.

[wx247]

Have been summoned several times but never called. Hope it isn't my time on Storm2k that raises the red flag each time.

I have testified as an expert witness in a couple of criminal trials on weather conditions at the time of the event.

Cool!

[Lindaloo]

Actually I am exempt now from jury duty. But I served on one once which also involved a car accident. Actually it was BFI versus a lady. To me it was open and shut. BFI was cleared of any wrong doing. BFI is a garbage collecting company.

[azsnowman]

Been called 4 times over the past 6 years, served once as the Jury Foreman, it was an open and shut DUI case......needless to say, "We HUNG the guy!"

Dennis

[janswizard]

I served on a Federal jury this past January. It was very interesting. It was the first time a Weed and Seed case was heard in our area. Weed and Seed is a federally funded program intended to "weed" out the high crime areas of a town/city and in return "seed" the area with opportunities.

We didn't know it was a weed and seed case until after the jury had deliberated and the trial was done. When I got home after the verdict was read, there was a huge article on the front page of our daily newspaper talking about the case. If I had gone to the end of the driveway to pick up the newspaper like I usually do in the morning, I would have known about the case before appearing for jury duty. I had already been selected the day before but the day the newspaper article came out, we listened to arguments and came up with a verdict.

[GalvestonDuck]

I served once - DUI case, max sentence. Of all things, the guys had gone to lunch and had a few drinks before getting in the car to return to work (two waterbed salesmen -- one from the national office and one from the local store). Just goes to show you, drunk drivers are out there earlier than you might think.

[Stephanie]

Yes...I served on 09/11/2001. A day I must admit I will never forget and it obviously had nothing to do with the jury duty.

Oh geez Jara - did they continue proceedings that day or did you go home? I can't imagine anyone being able to focus on what was being said.

[Skywatch_NC]

Have been only called once since living in NC...had a hand accident at work with pending surgery...so was able to get excused from the judge.

Eric

[stormchazer]

Yes...I served on 09/11/2001. A day I must admit I will never forget and it obviously had nothing to do with the jury duty.

Oh geez Jara - did they continue proceedings that day or did you go home? I can't imagine anyone being able to focus on what was being said.

I heard about the first plane just as I arrived at the courthouse. I was listening to Bob and Tom, a popular morning show and they said that it appeared there was some sort of accident with a plane and TWC. The judge made an announcement at about 10am and sent us to the jury room. The bailiff kept giving us reports about the first, then second tower collapsing and how another plane hit the Pentagon.

The judge called us back out and asked if any of us felt like we could not continue. He made the point that this proceeding was exactly the thing the terrorist were trying to destroyed. We all agreed to continue. We did our duty and then sped home to get in front of the TV. It was one heck of a day.

[vbhoutex]

Been called several times. Served on several juries.

One was auto theft-guilty.

Another was a murder trial which never happened. We went back the next morning and he pleaded rather than face the "hanging jury" he percieved us to be.

One other the guy pleaded after we were seated.

The last one was a Concaine dealer trial. Mike DeGuerin was the attorney so this was no idle little dealer. I was 1 person past the last juror picked-whew!!! This one was supposed to last 3 weeks.

I have no problem serving on juries. I do feel it is my civic duty and gladly do it. Judging others innocence or guilt is a very difficult thing to do. It seems that the evidence is never that clear one way or the other.

[ColdFront77]

I was called twice, once here in Florida and a few years ago in Massachusetts.

In the late 1990's (in Massachusetts), my parents and me never went any further than two individuals (male and female) to tell them very briefly about my condition [Asperger's Syndrome], at that moment we turned around and left.

..... and two or three years ago I was called here in Florida (Jacksonville of all places, over two hours from here) and I sent in some official documents and haven't heard from anyone since.

Side note: Counties aren't as "important" in Massachusetts ({and other states in at least southern New England} as they are in other states, including here in Florida).

[weatherlover427]

I just barely got a summons two weeks ago. Thank (insert random words here) I don't gotta do it. I dread the thought of jury servation.

[DaylilyDawn]

A few years ago I was picked to serve on a jury in a case against Orkin pest control. A couple had hired this branch office to protect their house against termites. The employee contaminated the house to the point where the people could not live in it. Then they tried to cover up the contamination by using several different chemicals. As a result of the house being contaminated to the point it was
uninhabitable, the house was sealed up and the couple moved to an apartment. As a result of the house standing empty(but fully furnished with antiques and things), it was broken into and things were stolen and pawned. We, the jury found that Orkin was responsible for the problem and we decided for the plaintiffs and awarded them a large sum as well as punitive damages agaisnt Orkin.