Jury duty in the US?

Question

Much of my knowledge about the US judicial system comes from watching drama's and sitcoms. In those shows people always seem to detest a summon for jury duty.

How is that in real life, do people really feel it is that much of an inconvenience? Have you ever been summoned, what is your personal experience?

Answer 1

It used to be that if you were summoned you had to spend 10 days at the Court House.

Now a lot of Courts use the one day one trial system. You get your summons, call the court, the automated system assigns you a group number, you call each day and they tell you if your group number has to come in. When you come in they send you to a court room with lots of people. If you get selected for a Jury then you sit trough the case and your done. If you are not selected then you are done.

Answer 2

I have not had to register for jury service in Michigan since I stopped driving a car.

I stopped driving a car because of my disability & the cost to maintain a vehicle.

I have not given up my citizenship, nor am I incapable of determining right from wrong in regards to the actions of another & the written law, however, I am not even provided with the opportunity.

I was born in the US.  I am a citizen.  I vote every time I can.  I can't be called to serve on a jury.  Why?

Answer 3

The judges make big money. The lawyers make big money. The expert witnesses are paid handsomely. The jury is tossed a few nickles. If they won't pay me appropriately, I won't play.

It's easy to get out of jury duty. I just tell the truth. Our justice system is a joke; therefore, I would never vote guilty on anyone for anything.

Answer 4

never had it yet and don't want it

Answer 5

I have been summoned 8 or 9 times.  I have been chosen to serve on a jury about 6 times. Three times as the Foreperson .   I like jury service because I think I am a fair person and can look at and listen to the evidence presented and make a fair determination.  I was on both civil and criminal cases. I know a lot of people dislike jury duty because it can be long and tedious.  They don't feel like they want to give up their time.  Also, here in Miami there are lots of Spanish speakers who dislike serving because of the language problems.  All courts are in English, (thank goodness).

Joe c doesn't know what he is talking about.  The intelliegence of the juror is important for the side that is the correct side.  Why would both sides and the judge want a stupid person

Answer 6

Here's the thing, when you are really busy and cannot take of work, or are miles away from the courthouse it really does suck.  However, it is worth it and sometimes you can get on an intersting jury.  Personally, I went to jury duty (75 mile drive b/c I was in school), waited in a room for 4 hours, and then they came in and said the two sides had just settled and sent us all home.  It was a bit frustrating but I got it out of the way.  I have heard people say that they enjoyed jury duty but just imagine if you ran a business and could not get out of jury duty but you had a lot of appointments coming up or something.

Answer 7

Well it is your duty as an American to service on Jury Duty. It pay very little, not like your job, And it not like that what you see on sitcoms, it is very  a serious position to hold while you are there. People lives are in your hand. And you learn a lot  about the Judicial System also.

Answer 8

I was summoned for County Court and it was set up where you called in on Monday mornings for a month and the recording told you whether or not you had to show up.  I never had to go.

Answer 9

Jury duty is probably the most important duty other than voting for citizens...For complete rights and powers of the Jury------google

Citizens Rule Book ***JURY HANDBOOK***

Answer 10

I have been summoned twice to serve on a Jury.  The first time, I served on the Grand Jury and I was the foreman (only because other people didn't want to do it!).  The second time, I served on the 12 panel Jury.

It's true that serving is an inconvenience.  It only pays $12.50 a day.  Some companies will pay you while you serve and some companies allow the time off but w/o pay.  My company allowed three days or 24 hours of service.

At first, I think all of us feel the dread of serving.  But once you're there, you take pride in what you have been assigned and most people take the assignment quite seriously.

I did my duty with seriousness and I was glad to serve.  HOWEVER, it does knock a shock in being called!!  You must pre-empty everything on your schedule to serve the Justice System.

Answer 11

It is a pain. $7 a day if your unemployed  and i think its 60 if you work. This one guy before me told the judge he was racist against all races. I did my jury duty. I did mine because it was clear cut. A s*x offender didn't register. More jail time. it took one day to select the jury and one day to convict.

Answer 12

Juries here are hand-selected for their stupidity and ignorance. Smart, knowledgeable and principled jurors are weeded out by lawyers and judges. They are also misinformed and told lies that they can only consider the facts in the case, but not the validity or constitutionality of the law, itself.

Jurors have the power to nullify bad laws and they also are meant to be free to vote their conscience. Many judges and lawyers don't want them to be aware of that.

If you tell them that you undestand the law, they'll drop you like a hot potato.

Answer 13

I served on a jury once and I was shocked at the lack of respect shown toward the judge by so many prospective jurors.

So many people consider this to just be a pain, but I see it as a responsibility (that's why they call it jury DUTY).  Unfortunately, many people are completely focused on their "rights" while failing to recognize that rights carry responsibilities with them.   Whine, whine, whine.