Jury duty

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 7:38pm

I got called for jury duty this week - never done it before. A couple of questions I thought someone here might be able to help with:
1)Is it generally OK to bring iPods in while I'm waiting?
2)I was called for petit jury - term of service one week. I have a flight very early Monday morning -- they wouldn't keep me, would they?
3)Anyone ever heard anything about teachers not often getting picked for juries?

Any help would be great.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 7:52pm

I'm sure an Ipod will be fine..as long as you can hear them when they call your name. Most of the time you just sit around...depending on how many cases they have.

Usually it's over after a week...you may just want to let them know that you have airline tickets and bring them with you, so they don't put you on a case that they feel will go over a week.
Most don't.

[justme2]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:03pm

If you have a flight, you can apply for a 3 month extension on Jury Duty..I did that a couple of years back and believe me, when the three months were up..there was my new invitation in the mail.

I brought a book as I didn't dare risk missing my name called. I waited all day and at 4pm they called us up to to the court room. I was selected and ened up serving on one of those "They weren't my drugs" cases.

Although I wasn't happy when I received the jury notification, I actually loved serving and would do it again if called.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:08pm

I served 1 day 2 years ago & it was a colossal waste of time. Judges coming in @ 10 , leaving for a 2 hour lunch & than calling it a day @ 3. I now see why court cases are so backed up

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:14pm

justme -- well, a 3 month extension doesn't work for me because I'll be in school then. So, I figured it was better to do it now, and hope that I can avoid a problem with the flight on Monday!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:17pm

jasonf, I think teachers are fair game to be picked for jury duty, as long as your subject isn't law- or criminology-related. (There aren't any written rules saying law or crim professors/students can't serve, but usually, for several reasons, they are left out.)

[RobbO]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 8:57pm

i was amazed when i served. it was about two months after i turned 18 and it was an eye-opening experience. bring an ipod, bring a book, food, magazines, pillow, etc.

i learned that anything goes. the people there (in new brunswick, nj anyway) had no respect for the process and seemed very uninterested in the whole thing.

as far as the flight, just tell them as soon as you get there.

Updated On: 8/23/05 at 08:57 PM

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 9:28pm

I have had to report for jury duty several times. I never got picked to serve on a jury. however, I crocheted 2 afghans and read four books.

[suzycat]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 10:02pm

I had a bizarre jury duty coincidence. In the past 3 weeks, myself and 4 of my co-workers have all had jury duty of some kind. Bizarre.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 10:09pm

The ultimate jury duty excuse, often used in my family over the years: I'm not a citizen. Get me out of green card hell and I'll gladly serve.

[The Grovers Corners Yenta]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 10:18pm

The newest hit on Broadway.............JURY DUTY: THE MUSICAL

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 10:32pm

heh -- good idea - maybe I'll write it while I'm sitting waiting...

[HamletWasBipolar]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 10:52pm

When I was on the jury it was 11 Angry Men...and one theatre fag!

Seriously, it was a great experience. I felt like I was giving something to society.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 10:55pm

It is your civic duty to serve if called. Teachers, lawyers, and judges are called to serve. In some states there may be a statute that allows teachers to choose to be exempt.

[Pinguin]

Posted: 8/22/05 at 10:59pm

I am dying to serve on a jury, but I doubt I'll ever be picked. I'm way too opinionated :0)

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 2:27am

I post-poned mine to Nov, so I wouldn't have to give up my Fringe shows.

I'm not happy that I have to miss work and that I can't bring my phone (it has a camera), but I am happy to to do my duty.

I will just get some backed up reading done.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 2:59am

High school teachers love jury duty! It's a legitimmate excuse to get away from the hellions.

Sadly, I never get chosen for a jury because I have too many policemen and corrections officers in my family. Also, my nextdoor neighbor is a corrections officer and we have too many conversations about prisons, prisoners and the judicial system. As a result, I always get dismissed.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 3:41am

brdlwyr, do you know if it's a normal occurence for lawyers or other people familiar with the criminal/civil legal process to actually be chosen to join a jury, after getting calling to serve? I ask this because a few of my old profs told me it was unlikely that someone with high academic/professional knowledge of the justice system would be chosen in the end, for a few reasons (mostly based on biases and worry about the influence one such member could unfairly have on the others).

[Pinguin]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:03am

"I ask this because a few of my old profs told me it was unlikely that someone with high academic/professional knowledge of the justice system would be chosen in the end, for a few reasons (mostly based on biases and worry about the influence one such member could unfairly have on the others)."

-Every once in awhile, I sit and wonder if lawyers purposefully seek stupid people to be on juries, because OBVIOUSLY any intelligent and knowledgeable people would have too much INFLUENCE. Oh, no!

Mainly, this happens when I listen to the people on the Michael Jackson jury speak...

It drives me crazy :0)

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 4:14am

I hear ya. God forbid that someone who KNOWS the justice system should influence the thinking of those who couldn't tell a gavel from a steak! Well, you know what some naysayers say about the judicial system. "Do you really trust your life in the hands of twelve people too stupid to get out of serving?" (I jest, I jest.)

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 7:52am

Teachers can be called. I was called last year.

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 10:10am

i've gone in twice and i'm always excused because i have been sexually harrassed by on duty police officers.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 12:22pm

"11 Angry Men and One Theatre Fag"

Now, THAT would be a musical!

[jasonf]

Posted: 8/23/05 at 8:24pm

Thanks everyone - I was in for 3 hours this morning and they sent us home. I don't even think I'm going to have to go back, so it was pretty easy.