Comments on: Doing My Civic Duty Today

By: PatriotMom

PatriotMom — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:30:47 +0000

I usually never get called. The prosecution likes me, the defense does not.

By: Pat

Pat — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:22:16 +0000

I had jury duty once in Prince Georges County, MD. We have to go the first week, and be on call for the second week. I was an alternate for a civil trial, but heard that the deliberations got ugly, and ended up as a hung jury. Then I got on a criminal trial. I always think that a defendant is most likely guilty, and that there is sufficient evidence, because, otherwise, it would never make it to trial. But I kept an open mind. Not only did the prosecution fail to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, I actually thought, and most of the other jurors, thought the defendant was innocent beyond a reasonable doubt. Heard afterwards that the alleged victim’s father was a policeman.

Went to jury duty once in Passaic County, NJ. I was a potential juror for a big criminal case that was going to last about three weeks. When they described the charges, it was clear that there was plenty of evidence and loads of witnesses that saw these scum commit the crimes they were charged with. So, although I would have kept an open mind, my initial impression was that they were guilty. But I was excused by the prosecution for some other reason. Someone I was acquainted with ended up on the jury, and said that the jury deciding guilty was a no-brainer.

Gene, apparently a lot of defendants change their plea at the last minute. In PG County, they cannot change their plea once jury selection starts.

By: Gene in Pennsylvania

Gene in Pennsylvania — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:35:58 +0000

The only time I got close to serving was for a case of a young 25 year old who shot his gf with a shot gun and blew part of her arm off during a dispute. I acted real cool, but kept looking at the guy thinking I’d vote to hang him given half a chance. His attorny must have noticed the other 11 people looked a lot like me and he settled shortly before a trial was to begin.

By: American Elephant

American Elephant — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:28:35 +0000

Bruce,

Does your Big Journalism piece need to be gay-themed? Or can it be about anything?

By: American Elephant

American Elephant — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:27:24 +0000

I feel for you! I was called recently, but fortunately got dismissed from the only jury I was put up for.

By: ThatGayConservative

ThatGayConservative — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:04:08 +0000

http://video.adultswim.com/harvey-birdman-attorney-at-law/jury-summons.html

By: ThatGayConservative

ThatGayConservative — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:01:54 +0000

I remember going to jury duty once here in Polk County. I was excused in the morning, but we were held throughout the day for other trials. Didn’t get called for any of those either. Got sick that night and called the next morning and they told me not to worry about it.

I got summons twice in Houston and never went. I kept calling the phone number at different hours and nobody ever answered so I said “screw it!”.

By: ILoveCapitalism

ILoveCapitalism — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:54:00 +0000

In my case, I was called in the first group of 12. When the defendant walked in the room I found myself thinking, gee, I wonder what his life is like? I wonder if he really did what they’re charging him with? Or he is just trapped in a nightmare of circumstantial evidence, as sometimes happens? How did he get where he is today?

Then the defendant’s lawyer asked us, “When my client walked in the room, did any of you think to yourselves, Gee I wonder if he did it?” I decided that applied to me, and raised my hand. I might have been the only one. I was the second person she dismissed. The first one she dismissed was a university professor – as far as I can tell, only because he was a professor, i.e. likely to be intelligent and opinionated.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:36:48 +0000

Funny Story Nick thanks for the chuckle.

Last time I was called for jury duty I got out of it by calling the plaintiff a whiner

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:17:41 +0000

In Cook County – if you get picked for a courtroom and then are dismissed, you get to go home.

I’m 2 for 2 in being picked for a jury. The first one was for a personal injury by a sheriff’s deputy. We both had the same last names but he’s black and I’m white, so the attorney had to ask if we were related and I said “well, I’d have to ask my mom” and got the judge to laugh. It was awesome.

By: michael randall

michael randall — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:07:48 +0000

It would be most interesting and enlightening to read your interpretation of the history of Argentina over the last 100 years as it relates th the
future of the USA in the next 50 to 100 years.

By: ILoveCapitalism

ILoveCapitalism — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:41:27 +0000

The last time I had jury duty, I got out of it by merely being honest and straightforward when they asked me questions. They don’t like opinionated people. Their loss.