Jury Duty, Ugh!

[BadBoy]

I guess my good Karma didn't last long, I just got a summons for 2 weeks of on call jury duty, Federal, apparently. But, I will say I got lucky with my last summons, which was 2 months ago. I ended up not having to go in and do anything. This time, probably not so lucky.

However, I do have a gripe. I personally think they should be making those that are unemployed and collecting benefits be the pool from which to pull jurors from.

Now I know some of you might say its my duty to serve, blah, blah, but I did my duty to this country by serving for 5 years in the Marines during a time of war, mind you. I should be exempt, as should all past and present military members. I'm not going to be happy if any of the cases I get assigned to go for longer than 3 days, I won't get paid and if I have to dip into my vacation days, I'm really gonna hate life. You don't mess with two things in a man's life.... His woman or his money.

What are some of your thoughts on having to serve on jury duty?

 

[JuggsBunny]

I figure it's my civic duty... that being said... the process is not streamlined and is quite convoluted. I sat around for three days and never even sat in on a trial. Husby and I are child-free and at the time I was called, I wasn't working. However, I can see how taking three days out of work can put a financial strain on someone.

Personally, I think you ought to get paid living wages if you serve on a jury (say a minimum of $8.00/hour) AND if you do work, you should be allowed to take the days WITHOUT taking any personal or vacation time.

 

[Niamh]

I would love to be called for jury duty! Would like an exciting case though

 

[porterjack]

so your commtiment to serve your country ended after just five years

you should however be compensdated for loss of earnings

problem with imposing this on the unemployed is that you just gave them a reason to stay unemployed i.e cannot be looking for work and doing jury servie at same time

 

[BadBoy]

so your commtiment to serve your country ended after just five years

you should however be compensdated for loss of earnings

problem with imposing this on the unemployed is that you just gave them a reason to stay unemployed i.e cannot be looking for work and doing jury servie at same time

I'm pretty sure my 5 years of sacrifice for my country earned me the right to make this statement.

Are you saying the company I work for should be obligated to pay for me or should the government? Personally, I don't think my company should be on the hook, its not their fault. The $40 per day of jury duty doesn't even equate to minimum wage, let alone come close to my working wage.

You really think imposing this on the unemployed is a burden on them searching for a job? I personally know of 3 people that are collecting unemployment and spend about 10 minutes a week job searching because they would rather go to college and get paid while doing it. Yeah, great system we got there. There are millions of people sitting on their asses collecting unemployment sending out the required job applications that could serve on jury duty without issue and get this, another $40 in their pocket per day! How about that.

 

[porterjack]

I'm pretty sure my 5 years of sacrifice for my country earned me the right to make this statement.

Are you saying the company I work for should be obligated to pay for me or should the government? Personally, I don't think my company should be on the hook, its not their fault. The $40 per day of jury duty doesn't even equate to minimum wage, let alone come close to my working wage.

You really think imposing this on the unemployed is a burden on them searching for a job? I personally know of 3 people that are collecting unemployment and spend about 10 minutes a week job searching because they would rather go to college and get paid while doing it. Yeah, great system we got there. There are millions of people sitting on their asses collecting unemployment sending out the required job applications that could serve on jury duty without issue and get this, another $40 in their pocket per day! How about that.

the govt not your employer

point taken about those who spend miminal time searching my issue is that they now have an excuse to not look

 

[Panacea]

While it would be super convenient to have only unemployed people serve jury duty, what could that potentially do to the justice process? Unemployed people likely have a common bias, be it an anger about not being employed, or a poverty consciousness, or a set of common biases if they choose not to work.

Juries really do need to be a good sample of the population, unfortunately for workers.

I was called in last year, my mom was having life-threatening surgery that day, and I do not get paid for jury duty by my employer. I stood to be in a huge mess, so I certainly understand why people get annoyed by jury duty. It's inconvenient, especially when you know there are thousands of people who could fill your place easily.

 

[BadBoy]

While it would be super convenient to have only unemployed people serve jury duty, what could that potentially do to the justice process? Unemployed people likely have a common bias, be it an anger about not being employed, or a poverty consciousness, or a set of common biases if they choose not to work.

Juries really do need to be a good sample of the population, unfortunately for workers.

I was called in last year, my mom was having life-threatening surgery that day, and I do not get paid for jury duty by my employer. I stood to be in a huge mess, so I certainly understand why people get annoyed by jury duty. It's inconvenient, especially when you know there are thousands of people who could fill your place easily.

You could have been excused for jury duty for your mom, by the way. That's one of the valid excuses to get out of jury duty.

I would have no problem if they paid me exactly the wage I'd lose by being forced to serve on jury duty. Some say we live in a free country. Yep, sure sounds free to me. If I fail to show, its a $1,000 fine and possible jail time or public service.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti jury duty, I'd actually love to serve and I don't even care the case. I just don't want to pay for it, I can't afford it.

 

[HK]

I've never been called. I don't know what the law is like over here but I thought my work would have to pay me as normal.

I should probably look that up!

It sounds sort of interesting to do, but I guess it depends what you get. And a friend of mine did it once, for a trial where a rapist was eventually left off because of reasonable doubt, and apparently the family of the victim were screaming abuse at them

 

[rback33]

I am lucky. My company pays my wages for jury duty up to like 3 weeks. The only caveat is I have to turn of the jury pay when the court pays me.... seems damn fair. Having had the pleasure of standing trial myself, I have an sincere appreciation for the system.

 

[Panacea]

You could have been excused for jury duty for your mom, by the way. That's one of the valid excuses to get out of jury duty.

I would have no problem if they paid me exactly the wage I'd lose by being forced to serve on jury duty. Some say we live in a free country. Yep, sure sounds free to me. If I fail to show, its a $1,000 fine and possible jail time or public service.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti jury duty, I'd actually love to serve and I don't even care the case. I just don't want to pay for it, I can't afford it.

I was not selected, but I sat through the selection process. One man had a dying WIFE, and the other a 9 months pregnant wife, and both were selected, but would be "excused" in case of an emergency. How nice. Really pissed me off. Surely these are claims, maybe they were lying, but. Bleh.

 

[Panacea]

I've never been called. I don't know what the law is like over here but I thought my work would have to pay me as normal.

Most jobs do, I'm just still considered a non-eligible employee, so I don't get any paid time off or benefits.

 

[KLD1019]

ive only been called 2 times in 8 years. 1st time was 4 days after i had just given birth...exempted

2nt time was last year. exempted again because i was a full time guardian of someone under 12yrs of age

i wouldnt mind serving, as long as its something REALLY interesting!

 

[Staci]

i was actually called again and was supposed to go yesterday but i claimed college exemption. here in houston we only get paid $6 for jury duty per day, that does not even cover parking.

 

[Panacea]

i wouldnt mind serving, as long as its something REALLY interesting!

The one I was called to was a double murder trial :eek it would have been quite amazing, but also long. He was accused of murdering his parents to take over their business. I guess the father had written something on the wall in blood, so needless to say I was intrigued

He was found not guilty, though. I swear, I've never seen a human look more terrified than that man. Never seen him before, but you could tell he had rapidly aged, and just looked like he had a trillion thoughts in his head.

 

[KLD1019]

The one I was called to was a double murder trial :eek it would have been quite amazing, but also long.

oooo! right up my alley! im so sick and twisted like that! LOL

 

[hart]

I'm queen of jury duty. I've served like 8 times. Never federal though, always county. Being a federal employee, I still get my salary, though, just turn over my jury pay minus the mileage so I am glad to serve as I know other people have to sacrifice their salary. I kind of like it.

 

[porterjack]

I'm queen of jury duty. I've served like 8 times. Never federal though, always county. Being a federal employee, I still get my salary, though, just turn over my jury pay minus the mileage so I am glad to serve as I know other people have to sacrifice their salary. I kind of like it.

you like being close to bad men?

 

[hart]

Well gee Porter, some of them are innocent too

 

[Francis]

Well gee Porter, some of them are innocent too

He was talking about himself... :24: