Been Called Up For Jury Service

[Peter Parka]

I've just been called up for jury service though it looks like I'm off the hook as I don't qualify. Anyone here done it? What do you think about the laws regarding it being compulsive if you get called up? I think that's wrong. Someone who is self employed might not be able to just take time off and it could ruin their business. Also people have different moral codes where they might disagree with the law. If someone was in court for drug offenses, for example, I'd find it very hard to convict them for it because I don't think they should be punished.

 

[Niamh]

I've never been called but I'd love to be, I think I'd find it interesting

 

[HK]

I'd like to try it.

I don't know how it works for self-employed people but I'm pretty sure you can ask to be disqualified if you've got a good enough reason.

 

[Kyle B]

I've been called once. I sat in the courtroom for two hours until the judge let us go after they worked out a last minute plea bargain.

 

[Peter Parka]

I'd like to try it.

I don't know how it works for self-employed people but I'm pretty sure you can ask to be disqualified if you've got a good enough reason.

You can put that case to the judge but it's down to him and it dosen't automatically get you off, if he decides you have to do it, you have no choice but to loose your business or risk going to jail. :thumbdown

 

[Zorak]

To you have to be on the electoral register to get called up?

Although I've never voted I think I am on the electoral register. Rats. If I ever get called up I might start making some choice comments about racial purity... That should see me dismissed pretty quickly

 

[Kyle B]

To you have to be on the electoral register to get called up?

Although I've never voted I think I am on the electoral register. Rats. If I ever get called up I might start making some choice comments about racial purity... That should see me dismissed pretty quickly

People around here are always saying "I don't vote because I don't want to get called for jury duty". Apparently in New York at least, they check DMV records too.

 

[Peter Parka]

Yeah, they call you up through a lottery from the electoral register. I heard about some guy who told the court that he was Jesus which got him off the jury pretty quick! :24:

 

[Alien Allen]

I was called up a couple times. Being a small business operator / owner I pled my case but was denied to get out of it.

Peter I don't know if the same applies in the UK but over here if you were called to be on a jury involving drugs they would ask the potential jury members if they had ever been cited for a drug offense. Assuming you told the truth I am pretty sure the prosecution would kick you off the jury.

 

[Peter Parka]

I've never been convicted of drug offenses but it still dosen't mean I agree with them being illegal.

 

[Kyle B]

I've never been convicted of drug offenses but it still dosen't mean I agree with them being illegal.

I bet they'd probably also ask whether or not you agree with current drug laws.

 

[Johnfromokc]

I've been called 2 times in two states - one federal court and one for state court. They are very reasonable if you contact the Court Clerks office in advance if you need a reschedule. I've done that twice. I called or emailed and asked to be rescheduled due to business needs, and they accomodated me each time.

Most people wait until the day of jury selection to ask to be excused. Judges frown on this and will likely deny your plea to be excused. It's a whole lot easier to get a Court clerk to reschedule than to get a judge to excuse.

 

[Alien Allen]

I wrote to them well in advance to plea my case. They did not care if my business shut down while I was doing jury duty. They did not care if I had employees that would also be out of work during that time. I wrote a very polite detailed letter and got zero consideration. So while in your area John you might get relief that is not the case here. Unless you have a medical issue it is rare to get dismissed from duty.

 

[Johnfromokc]

I wrote to them well in advance to plea my case. They did not care if my business shut down while I was doing jury duty. They did not care if I had employees that would also be out of work during that time. I wrote a very polite detailed letter and got zero consideration. So while in your area John you might get relief that is not the case here. Unless you have a medical issue it is rare to get dismissed from duty.

Did you ask to be excused or to be rescheduled?

 

[Alien Allen]

Did you ask to be excused or to be rescheduled?

excused

rescheduling would not change anything

they made no offer to reschedule and just said denied

being excused in effect means being rescheduled IMO. They will put you back on the list and your name come up in due time and you go thru the same stuff all over again.

I know people make up lies to get out of serving. In my case it truly could be a hardship. I have to be available 24/7 to make decisions and I doubt the judge would like me talking on my cell phone in court. Back even 3 years ago even though I was running the business I had a brother who could fill in if there was a need. Now that he is ill that is no longer an option and there is nobody else that can make certain decisions if the situation arises.

 

[Johnfromokc]

excused

rescheduling would not change anything

they made no offer to reschedule and just said denied

being excused in effect means being rescheduled IMO. They will put you back on the list and your name come up in due time and you go thru the same stuff all over again.

I know people make up lies to get out of serving. In my case it truly could be a hardship. I have to be available 24/7 to make decisions and I doubt the judge would like me talking on my cell phone in court. Back even 3 years ago even though I was running the business I had a brother who could fill in if there was a need. Now that he is ill that is no longer an option and there is nobody else that can make certain decisions if the situation arises.

I don't know what to tell you Allen. We all have civic duty. Obviously you carried out your civic duty and your business didn't fail. Ever thought of hiring a manager so you could focus on the big picture instead of worrying about day-to-day issues? What seems like an added expense might just free you up to acquire more profit generating business opportunities.

Anyway, when I got rescheduled for federal court, the judge made a fantastic point about serving on jury duty as he addressed the jury pool. He stated:

"Envision yourselves in the position of the defendant. Just imagine if all the competent business people, truck drivers, mechanics, doctors, nurses, etc., got excused from your trial. Would you want that? Or would you want a jury of your peers that understands your life situation. Your freedom could one day be in the hands of a jury. There is no higher civic constitutional duty."

Point well taken. I'll always remember that.

 

[retro]

I was hoping that I was going to be selected for a jury. Instead I just sat there for 5 hours without ever being called into the jury box. I was one of like 3 people left sitting in the courtroom before they finally finished seating the jury. It was a child molestation case, and probably would've gone on for a long time, so it was probably for the best. It was just frustrating how long I had to sit there for almost no reason for me. Plus I stupidly ate food from the cafeteria and got food poisoning from it. :24:

 

[Alien Allen]

John you make it sound simple. You can not just train somebody overnight for what I deal with. One only learns by experience and there are no people out there to train as most are like mine that are family businesses. I have no problem with serving. It is just right now would be a bad time. And even if I could find somebody competent I could never afford it.

One day I could live with but if I had a trial of any length I was to serve on I would have to lie to get out of it.

There is a large enough pool of people available to always provide people like me waivers. Right now they should be going to people on unemployment to serve IMO