At least it wasn't shoplifting or jaywalking!:eek:

I've served once. Also a gun charge. Just before we were about to deliberate, the guy did a plea bargain, because I think he realized that he had incriminated himself on a technicality during his testimony.

Up until that happened, we had had a couple breaks. I was amazed during those breaks by my fellow jurors. Some of them didn't follow simple instructions, they discussed the case before they were supposed to. I'm not a bossy/confrontational type, so I didn't tell them to stop discussing the case. As I listened to what they had to say, I was a little dismayed by their cluelessness. They latched on to trivial aspects of the case and ignored the "smoking gun," and they assessed the credibility of witnesses bases on their clothing. Granted, it was just the few jurors who were the same ones that didn't know enough to not deliberate until it was time that were also the ones who were so clueless, but I left with some concern about the state of the jurors in Arlington county, VA. It's probably the same or worse elsewhere.

You hear a lot of people complain about those crazy juries out there that will award someone $8 million when they get burned by hot coffee. We need level headed citizens to serve on the juries. Everyone should do their part.

several times... once you show up, you're on the list for life. Sat on three juries -- just Municipal Court DUI stuff. But I was once in the pool for a murder retrial -- first trial ended in a hung jury. It was my next to last day so I decided that if I didn't get called up on the 1st day of voir dire, I would uhh... get sick. So I got sick. Second verdict after a month-long trial was: not guilty.

I was hoping to be called for the Kazinski trail so i could write a book. ;)

One guy on a jury I was on drew a little hangman on the initial paper vote.

I've been called on twice. First time, it was a drunk driving case and, well, I'll say that my life has been touched by a drunk driver, so I got let off that one. The second time, I spent 2 weeks calling in each day to see if they wanted (needed?) me and never had to show up.

I don't think they will ever call me. Hee, hee, hee! Besides, I can spot a guilty person the way George Carlin can: Just like that *snaps fingers*

I've been called four times. Only ever got questioned twice. Both times, I was excused from duty. Once was because the prosecuting attorney knew my mother. (she was a court reporter for 17 years or so). The second time, I was so aggravated by the defense attorney (the man was a tool of the first order) that I told him I couldn't give an unbiased decision because I was, and I quote "so much smarter than him that I sincerely doubted that he could convince me of anything." Immediately realizing the arrogance of that statement (justified or not), I looked at the judge and said "with due respect to the court". I *think* that helped keep me from being held in contempt. I'm sure I burned some karma on that one as I probably deserved to get smacked in the head for being a jerk/dolt. It *did* get me excused though.

In my first post,.... I said something about in 12 hours showing up for summons...

Now, (the next day) its almost that same time at night that I posted that.... and I spent 12 hours messing with the jury thing today. They took allllllllll day and came up with 15 different juries.

I got picked for one....

Oh well, the worst is over (the day of the summons)

When I go back we can't bring our mags, books, or mp3 players..

(which is too bad, because I was listening to Ann Rice's book... something about Sleeping Beauty and what happens after the prince awakes her... ahahah it reads like porn romance novel with S&M)

Hey, your in court....you're supposed to tell the truth. Fuck 'em, if they can't handle the truth. :D

Tis because it _IS_ a series of porn romance novels with S&M.

HAHA! Truth!? In a court room??? gawd, that is the funniest thing i heard ALL DAY!! ;)

I was called to Jury Duty once, made it into the courtroom for Jury Selection, and dodged that particular bullet.

Of course I went out of my way to dress for the occasion. I do not typically go out in public in really bright tie-dye and ripped jeans, but the attorneys didn't know that.

I vote in every election, and am always surprised that I do NOT get called.

If I were, though, the chances of my actually having to serve are somewhere between slim and none. I know nearly all of the cops in my county, several of our more active judges, quite a few public defenders, a good number of the criminals, and the psychiatrist who does the competency evals for the PD's office. Under ordinary circumstances I'll have enough of a connection to at least one of the participants in the case that I'll get exempted on that basis.

[On the motley group of guests present]
Nora Charles: Oh, Nicky, I love you because you know such lovely people.

Why don't y'all want to serve on a jury? Don't you believe in your own country's system of justice? Which country do you live in? Who do you want to be on your jury if you are wrongly accused of a serious crime?