Have you ever done jury duty?

Question

What do I need to know?

Answer 1

You need to know several things:

1. Show up on time, everytime.

2. You will be asked if there's a reason you can't serve on a       jury. DO NOT LIE about.

3. You will be questioned by the DA and defense lawyers.          Again be honest.

4. Since they call about 100 for the pool your chances of    being pick for the 12 is about    1 in 8. Good luck.

Answer 2

Several times.  Once on a civil jury in an accident case.  Twice just sat in the jury room for days catching up on my reading.  Once on an attempted murder case.

You will sit in a room with a couple hundred others, waiting for names to be called.  If you are called you go to another room where you are questioned to see if you might be biased or already knowledgable about a case.  If picked, you may be sent home until the case is ready to start or it may start immediately.  The worst cases are the ones that last for weeks and those where the jury gets sequestered (locked up).  You can sometimes get out of serving on such juries with pleas of how the effects would damage you at work, home or school, but not always.  I got out of one by mentioning during the questioning (called voir dire) that I knew several cops, four judges, and the district attorney's sister-in-law and neice.  It worked.

Answer 3

Don't Get into Jury Duty in the First Place.

Answer 4

yeah

Answer 5

A good experience if you are selected.  Bring a good book as it is a "hurry up and wait" game. I have done a DWI and a murder trial an look back on both as a good experience.  Where I live the pay is $17.00 a day so if this creates a hardship, make sure you let them know.  Otherwise, Good Luck!

Answer 6

Yup, I did jury duty when I was 18 years old.  It was a fine experience and it taught me how the the legal system works and they pay you for it with mileage for anything over 20 miles one way.  It's not a bad thing at all just boring sitting there listening to them argue.

Answer 7

Yes, twice, and was not a problem in either of them.

I answered the questions that both the asst. d.a. asked and the defense attorney asked.

Answer 8

You need to dress conservatively, like you were in an office environment or going out to a place that wasn't too trendy.  Jeans and a regular blouse are OK.  Super-minis, see-through tops, etc.  - no good.

You need to be able to stay awake if chosen for a panel because there are penalties for dozing off during the trial.  (Though a good judge will call for a break now and then to prevent that.)

Be prepared to be bored unless you are called for a voix dire (where the district attorney and defense attorney try to weed out folks they don't think would help their cases.)

Bring enough money for lunch and possibly a soda machine visit or two.  They might have coffee but unless you are very lucky, it won't be made like you like it.  It will be cop's coffee that kicks like a dyspeptic donkey and floods your kidneys in a heartbeat.

If you have a hearing impairment, make that clear to the clerks in the waiting area.  (In which case, bring batteries.)You can probably bring a cell phone and use it in the waiting area, but in the courtroom proper, you MUST turn it off.  Ditto, iPod or other music devices.  I wouldn't bring anything expensive like a portable DVD player.

In Louisiana, our rules allow the parishes to choose how they work their jury pools.  My home parish uses a mixed pool that serves both civil and criminal courts.  So for us, it is a c**p shoot as to which kind of trial we get.

Unless the judge indicates you can do so, don't expect to take notes.  I've heard of places that allow it, but that isn't allowed here.  So be wary of what you bring along.

Answer 9

The answer of what you need to know depends on the state and county where you live, and where you were called for jury service. Each state and each county (or in federal court) is slightly different.

Just come with an open mind, and the jury commissioner, or court clerk will give you the information you need to know. Often, at least in my state, there is a short video they play to all the prospective jurors that answers most of the general questions you may have. Remember, most of the people with you have the same questions as you have. In any event, whether they have a video, or you are given a talk by a court official, or given a pamphlet to read, you will get a lot of information about how long you might have to serve, any exemptions from service, excuses for illness or hardship, and the general nature of the type of case (civil or criminal) you may be called upon to judge.

If you are called, the judge , or in some states, the attorneys may ask you questions to determine if you can serve on a particular type of case, of if you know any of the parties or the attorneys, or prospective witnesses or the judge, and so forth. Whether or not you have ever served before? If a criminal case, have you any relatives who are members of the police force, or have you or any family member been a victim of a crime, (or charged with a crime), and whether or nor that would influence your impartiality to hear the case fairly. Lots of other questions particular to a case--if a location is mentioned, whether or not you have ever visited that address or location, or know anything about it. Whether you have read anything or seen anything on tv about the case? And so forth.

If you are accepted for a case, the judge will tell you how many days it may take, or whether or not you have to be present every day, or may be excused and called back, and a tentative schedule, so that you can make plans.

If you are employed, you may require a written document for your boss or employer stating that you are serving on jury duty, and must be given time off to serve (in some states). Some employers may pay you your salary while you serve; others must make arrangements, and cannot penalize you for your absence. These rules and laws differ from one state to another.

If you serve, you will receive a small fee for your service, plus carfare or a mileage allowance for travel. (A VERY small amount of money! )  It is sent to you after your service.  

If you complete your service, then you are exempt for a period of time from being called again (in some states, at least a year--in others, more than that. It depends on the size of the county and the number of inhabitants and the number of civil and criminal cases that need jurors.) If you were not selected, you may be called upon again if you are needed within the term they specify for additional juries, until you serve, or are excused, or your term of possible jury service expires.

They will tell you not to talk to the attorneys or the parties, or witnesses outside of court, if you know who they are, during or before you come into court, or let anyone talk to you or ask you anything about the case while it is going on.  

I have served on two juries, and been called for several others, but was excused from those cases for various reasons. One case, a criminal case, lasted only about three days. Another, a civil case, involving a very complex litigation involving several major corporations and individuals, lasted almost a month. Each case was different. but I found it fascinating, and worthwhile, and impressive. I found the people I served with conscientious and interested, and got to know some of them at lunches and so forth, and we became friends. All of us felt the experience was worth our time, and we felt we contributed something to our city and our state. Good luck. I hope you can serve. You will not regret it.

Answer 10

No , and I look forward to doing my civic duty .

:0)