What's bugs me is many people complaining about jury verdicts...

[davidn3600]

...are the same ones that cry and moan when they get called for jury duty.

It's like idiots that complain about the government but claim they dont have enough time to vote.

Next time you get a jury summons, take it seriously. Federal laws (along with practically all states) prohibit employers from intimidating or retaliating against you for participating in jury service. A few states even force employers to pay wages for a certain number of days. And some companies will even pay as part of policy. So no, you can't lose your job.

Juries are a fundamental part of our society and justice system. It's part of the foundation of democracy. Juries make critically important decisions that directly impact the lives of many, many people every single day. A jury could be sending someone to prison, sending someone to death, freeing someone wrongfully accused, or forcing a company to pay millions in punitive damages. Our society relies on jurors who take their duty seriously to make these very important decisions.

So when you get that summons and get upset...just remember if you are ever on trial and wrongfully accused, wouldn't you want a jury who is taking their civic duty seriously?

[Tien1985]

1. I've got to disagree with you

First, I'll just say I don't complain about jury duty. If I get it I get it and I'm not too concerned about that.

But yes, you can lose your job if you are a minimum wage worker in one of those crappier type of jobs. I know it's illegal--that doesn't stop it from happening. What are people in that position suppose to do about it? A lawyer is completely out of the question, there's no money for it. And most the the time the worker is now scrambling for a new job somewhere else, which uses about pretty much all their time and energy.

I'm fortunate in that I have a decent job that gives me benefits, above minimum pay and time off (including some pay for jury duty). So I don't have to worry about it, but I've been there and I know how it is.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

2. Never been called. If I ever am, I'll show up with bells on

only to be dismissed during the selection process for not drooling on myself enough.

[pintobean]

14. Have some more coffee.

If you've never been called, how would you know what kind of people get selected?

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

16. If you disagree, then find a way to do so without attacking my username.

Or kindly fuck off.

[pintobean]

17. That was an attack on your username?

If so, it was pretty mild, considering you basically called anyone who has served on juries drooling idiots. That's a lot of DUers you've insulted.

[Quantess]

21. I agree with pintobean, that's an ignorant comment.

Elitist, too.

[pinboy3niner]

3. I report when called, but they exclude me as being too favorable to the defense

What's up with that?

Actually I'd be happy to serve, even on a complicated case that involved personal sacrifice to be there. But I won't lie in voire dire to get on a jury.

My older brother once steered a hanging jury to acquittal. They were ready to convict a poor minority defendant, but the judge took questions from jurors and my brother submitted one that unravelled the arresting officer's testimony.

I've always looked up to my older brother.

[steve2470]

4. I've been called twice and dismissed twice

Apparently being related to a lawyer is death on jury duty.

[JI7]

5. i complain mostly because of the timing

but otherwise i go. i served once and i actually enjoy doing it. only thing i don't like is the jury selection process which can take too much time and there are a lot of stupid people and some people just want to talk and be stupid and waste time .

i have jury duty scheduled for next week. i'm hoping i wont even have to show up because the timing sucks. but if i do i will go.

[dorkzilla]

6. In NY, almost no one gets dismissed from serving

If the judge thinks you're being dishonest just to get off a case, s/he'll likely make you stay for several days questioning you for other cases. In the last case (civil) I was on, there were 2 attorneys, who almost always were exempted before. I think it's great! If it were my case I'd want intelligent and/or aware people on my panel.

[JI7]

10. but don't defense and prosecution dismiss people ?

i think this is how most people end up being dismissed in california. but the judges themselves are very strict. when i had to serve there was a student talking about how they needed to take a test and the judge said he would call the professor himself to explain if the student wanted but that he was not going to dismiss him.

[dorkzilla]

11. Yes of course they dismiss people

But if they're dismissed from one, they may be chosen for another. I live in Westchester County, NY, just to the north of NYC, so there are always plenty of cases to go round. Our County seat, White Plains, has an extremely active court system.

[JI7]

12. that kind of sucks for those who don't want to serve, in california i think they

consider you to have served even if you are dismissed. right now i will be on call and see if i even have to go to court. even if i don't have to go i would be considered to have served . and if you serve you don't have to serve again for one year after that.

[dorkzilla]

25. For the most part, if you're there for the day (sometimes up to 3 days)

It's considered service. Timing is another issue entirely. We get one automatic postponement straight away too...have you requested a postponement?

[JI7]

27. no, timing will always be an issue, it's kind of work related

but right now i have someone who can cover for me. so even if i postpone to when i think might be more convenient i can't be sure. so it's better to just kind of get it over with now.

[Princess Turandot]

18. Before the NYS courts overhauled the exceptions procedures in the 1990's,

it felt like 65% of NYC could be automatically excused if they wished.

The last time I was picked for a jury on a civil case, there was a nurse, a social worker, a corrections department officer, a parole officer, a musician and an SEC enforcement attorney among others. And rather than being called again in two years, the interval was six years.

[dorkzilla]

24. It seems much fairer this way

And know a lot of people gripe about it, but I loved serving. It as interesting and it's also my civic duty. Sounds arrogant to say but *I* would want me someone like me on a jury.

[RedCappedBandit]

7. Jury duty sucks for people barely getting by

[Quantess]

8. When I was a public school teacher, I received the summons in August

letting me know my jury duty would be in September. Well, that just wasn't going to work out!

I called and requested my jury duty be moved up to the next week. My request was granted.

[FarPoint]

9. As recently as Mid-March, I servered 3 days...

Criminal case....It was a pleasure to serve.

[Demit]

13. How do you know that?

Are these personal friends you're talking about? What's your evidence for who the "same people" are? Have a cite?

Sorry, but this construction of "the same people who did this do that" has always bugged me. It's a fantasy construction in the speaker's mind, from one's imagination, to make a point about hypocrisy, or inconsistency, or something. Unless you can give me examples of what you're claiming, better to make your point in some other, straightforward way.

[GreenStormCloud]

15. I have never tried to evade jury duty, and never served on a jury either.

Except for small town municipal jury where I served once.

[FSogol]

19. My company pays me my normal rate for jury duty.

I do have to give them the jury duty pay I receive, but can keep the parking/food allowance. One of the partners got put on a grand jury and was gone for weeks.

[99Forever]

20. Got any evidence to support that stinking...

... pile of bullshit?

Pull "facts" out of your ass much?

[davidn3600]

23. What? You want proof that people dont like jury duty?

Are you serious? It's quite common knowledge...

In 2011, about 2.3 million people were sent jury summons in L.A. County. Just over half of them actually reported for duty. And about a quarter of jurors who showed up were excused for hardships. The most common reason was a medical condition. Marissa Batt is a retired deputy DA from L.A. County. She said jury avoidance is widespread.

“In fact, many people think only dimwits end up doing jury duty," Batt said. "That anyone with a modicum of intelligence can come up with a viable excuse.”

Batt said it can be hard to find the right people for each trial when the pool dwindles with dropouts. She served on a jury trial once in a civil case. Batt said the jurors signed on to the eventual verdict, but two of them did so without ever understanding the case. And the legitimacy of the court system depends on effective juries.

"I think if people were more educated as to how important this is, they would be more eager to participate," Batt said

http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/07/03/38022/shirking-jury-duty-an-american-tradition/

[99Forever]

26. No smartguy...

... I want proof that "many people complaining about jury verdicts...
...are the same ones that cry and moan when they get called for jury duty."

Since that is what the OP claimed. Hey, but nice lame attempt to divert the question.

[etherealtruth]

22. The jury verdict is (Zim) an abomination (as have been many in our sordid history of race relations)

I report each and every time I receive a jury summons