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Post by Patcat on Aug 16, 2006 9:04:00 GMT -5
I was summoned for Juty Duty this Monday. I found it an interesting experience, but I'm in the position of not having children to worry about and an employer and supervisor who are very flexible. I actually got to the point where I sat in the jury box, but I was dismissed. This didn't surprise me, as I'm friends with a fingerprint expert who works with the local police and he was on the list of prosecution witnesses. It appeared to be a difficult case--one of rape and battery--and apparently involved drug dealers, so I confess to being grateful I don't have to deal with it.
The process left me a bit more optimistic about the judicial process. The pool of jurors covered, from what I could see, the spectrum of society from all classes and races, and, while everyone complained about the process, once they entered the courtroom each person became very serious about their role. As I wrote, it was an interesting process. And I don't have to worry about it for a year.
Patcat
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Post by Metella on Aug 16, 2006 10:01:46 GMT -5
I haven't be in the process myself.
A coworker got called - she complained for days - our work is one where she would have no negative consequences for taking the time off & she would be paid.
My mother also got called - she complained for days.
I don't know how they acted when they got there - but isn't this a DUTY one wants to give? Doesn't one want decent working folks on thier jury if they happen to be charged or a victim who wants to testify and see justice done? I certainly don't want a system without a jury in place - when appointed people are the only ones who deal out justice - there is corruption.
I'm proud of you Patcat.
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Post by BegToDiffer on Aug 16, 2006 13:41:37 GMT -5
I was thrilled when I was called for Jury Duty. It turned out to be the most boring week of my life. First case I was dismissed because I went to high school with one of the attorneys. The second one, the bad guy pleaded out before we ever got to hear any evidence. The remainder of the week, we watched TV. The waiting room had magazines 10 years old. And it cost me a fortune to pay for parking. Yet, I'd do it again in a minute.
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Post by SarahIvy on Aug 16, 2006 14:30:23 GMT -5
Ah jury duty. I am 29 years old and I have been called 3 times already (in each county I have lived in). However, I have never ever actually made it onto a jury, or even close to it. The lawyers come in, look around, and dismiss me every time without ever even talking to me. I'm starting to get a complex
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Post by Patcat on Aug 16, 2006 15:16:40 GMT -5
My feeling about civic duty is that if people in South Africa can stand in line for two days in 100 degree weather I can wait in an air conditioned building for three hours reading a book.
A friend of mine, a lawyer and a librarian, told me once, "If you think the world is bad with lawyers, think about what it would be like without them."
Patcat
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Post by LOCIfan on Aug 16, 2006 16:08:15 GMT -5
My feeling about civic duty is that if people in South Africa can stand in line for two days in 100 degree weather I can wait in an air conditioned building for three hours reading a book. A friend of mine, a lawyer and a librarian, told me once, "If you think the world is bad with lawyers, think about what it would be like without them." Patcat Same here!
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Post by Cassie on Aug 16, 2006 20:17:11 GMT -5
I got a summons years ago. My boss at the time, was a politician who worked behind the scenes and told me I wasn’t going. And I didn’t go. He needed me to answer his phones.
But, I have a friend, who ended up on the Grand Jury for over 2 years. At first she was not happy at all. They met on Tuesdays, which happened to be her day off from work. but as time went by she looked forward to learning more about the cases. One of the cases ended up as a movie "Echoes in the Darkness" starring Peter Coyote. A couple of years after her gig was up, she got a call from the Court House, saying that a police officer would be picking her up at 9:00 am the next morning. She had to appear at a trial. It turns out, that the day before they had a witness on the stand. and the prosecutor said they were wrong about something the witness responded with " I told that to the Grand Jury" the Prosecutor said. "you where never questioned by the Grand Jury" the witness said. "yes, I was. there was a woman in the first row, that was knitting a brown sweater" My friend, ended up being a witness for the defense showing everyone the completed brown sweater.
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Post by madger on Aug 17, 2006 7:43:55 GMT -5
I just finished a stint on call for federal court, I don't know, they keep swearing that they pick the names at random but mine shows up every four years almost to the day. I've never sat on a case, I'm too oppinionated for the lawyers, it would be interesting as long as I'm not kept for too long, my boss needs me. madger
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Post by NikkiGreen on Aug 17, 2006 17:35:01 GMT -5
I've been called on twice, about ten years apart. The first time, I didn't get selected. The second I did. The case lasted four days. We found the fellow not guilty and the judge agreed with our findings. It was all a rather interesting process.
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