I have been summoned

For jury duty, I have no more allowances for postponement.. can someone walk me through the process... I have a ballot here, with a date in which to appear, and a fine to pay if I fail to comply... What questions do they ask? and how can I make myself as useless to them as possible? other than admitting to far right views, like capital punishment which though I digress, am in fact in very strong favor of.. Pls anyone who has done this before... walk me through it.
thanks

I've been summoned for jury duty before. It does have a financial impact, but I see it as an important civic duty. That is how the justice system functions.

What do you mean by financial impact-- is it other than missing days of work? --I don't believe it to be an effective way to run a system personally.. I won't get into the dynamics of that right now-- but I think that is why we have judges and lawyers, who have dedicated themselves to studying the law--what do lay men know about the law? Anyhow, what will happen if I don't go on assigned date? Also if I go this time and serve do I have to do this again? I can't think of a worst way to inconvenience a private citizen!

Actually I'm surprised to hear that you would want to get out of it. It is almost as much fun as reading through WA threads.

I only got selected for Jury Duty twice in my life. I could not come up with anything wild enough to get kicked off the jury.

You have to remember that both the Defense and the prosecution will question. They each get to select 6 primary Jurors and 6 back up ones each. The less people that show up the greater your chances become to be selected. Remember if you say something that one of them see's a reason not to choose you, the other will see as a strong reason to select you. The best bet is to just be as close to average as possible and at least the odds be greater that you will be one who is passed over. anything that you do or say to make you "different" will draw the attention of the attorneys and increase your chance of being selected.

lol akhi you are funny.. how long does this last? I mean is it more than a week?-- basically I have to pick answers that make myself less desirable to both defense and prosecution... like a wishy washy opinion?...
sure I am in support of capital punishment and then say something really racist... like capital punishment toward people only from the canary islands? that would work right?
I have as much interest in the law as I do in economics and finance -- There isn't a number negative enough to describe my disdain... least of which to a trial by jury.
.. thanks for replies.. will let you know how it goes.

Keltoi said it best, it is our duty . the purpose of us peons being the jury is to keep convictions out of the hands of politicians, judges and lawyers. we are the only ones that can help keep the rights of a defendant from being overrun. It is true too many people do not take take it seriously and sometimes a judgment is bought through the lawyers.

the jury selection is the most boring part of the ordeal jury selection can take anywhere from a few days in a country town to over a month in a large city. It is usually by alphabetical order. If you are interviewed on the first day chances are you will not have to return until the last day of the selection portion.

Once the trial begins be prepared from the first day that the Attorneys might call for the jury to be sequestered, which means locked up in a hotel room each night and no contact with anybody until the trial is over. that does not happen often but it is always a possibility.

Most jury trials last about a week, but that does not always mean the jury has to be there every day. as a rule the jury is in the court room for about 4 hours per day.

If it looks like it will be a long trial, the judge will ask right from the start if anybody has any reasons to be excluded such as School age children, illness, aged themselve or caring for an aged parent. Things that will not be considered reason for being excused are:

Lack of transportation
Financial burdan
loss of income
Conflict with school

During my IM rotation, I met with an "oriental" doc so to speak, who had to fork over $900,000 for a woman who sued him, simply because the jurors wouldn't have wanted a woman like that go home empty handed. if I gave you the details of the case you'd have thought it absurd, as she had no case and was a heroin addict.. not to mention her actual Doctor had died and he simply inherited her two days before she delivered her twins... I didn't think that sort of system was fair, and I thought anyone familiar with the law and has justice in his heart would see that a great injustice has been dealt this man, simply because he wouldn't fit so well with a down town jury due to both his profession and his "oriental status"Than say a trial by a judge, who with any hope can put his ethics above his feelings.. they were in fact jury of her peers not his... but I don't want to turn this into a moral dilemma.. and I use that example as it is more innocuous than others which I have seen on "court TV" which are actually worst... Anyhow, if that is how the system works, then that is how the system works... I'll give it my best shot!

thanks all

Woodrow said:

If it looks like it will be a long trial, the judge will ask right from the start if anybody has any reasons to be excluded such as School age children, illness, aged themselve or caring for an aged parent. Things that will not be considered reason for being excused are:

Lack of transportation
Financial burdan
loss of income
Conflict with school

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I wonder if people have ever been fired because of jury duty... it really is an inconvenience now that I have reread how long it might take... sigh :'(

Salam Alaikum Sister:

I was called to Jury Duty twice. The first time as a Non-Muslim and I was actually the Jury Forewoman lol It was very interesting and I didn't mind it at all. Then, shortly after I reverted I was again called for Jury Duty. I had quite a few people tell me I could not be on the Jury. I honestly can't remember why though. Maybe someone with more knowledge on the Islamic ruling of this could help. However, it didn't matter anyway, as I was unable to serve due to the fact there was a good chance we would be sequestered and I have a son to care for.

But, sis, I recommend doing it. It's an amazing experience. Really, there are so many people called for duty that the chance of you actually having to sit is slim. In my case it was a very basic trial where some guy tried to rob a McDonald's with a plastic knife :rollseyes . (He was as sharp as the knife. lol) So, only a few of us were called and they basically accepted the first 12 names that were called. lol However, there was another trial that same month that was going to last for weeks and there were hundreds of us called. My name didn't get chosen for that one though.

Ok, babbling now, but I did enjoy my experience very much

Wa'alaikum salam,
Hana

lol sis.. you have made me ROFL --- I didn't think the process would take more than a week.. since I have postponed before, and this particular date isn't bad... but if there is sequestration and, it takes place further down the line than the assigned date in may.. then it won't do at all.. I'd be so grateful, if they would just not pick me.. Anyhow one last Q I have.. do I have to call anyone to let them know I'll be showing up? or do I just stroll there on assigned date?

PurestAmbrosia said:

During my IM rotation, I met with an "oriental" doc so to speak, who had to fork over $900,000 for a woman who sued him, simply because the jurors wouldn't have wanted a woman like that go home empty handed. if I gave you the details of the case you'd have thought it absurd, as she had no case and was a heroin addict.. not to mention her actual Doctor had died and he simply inherited her two days before she delivered her twins... I didn't think that sort of system was fair, and I thought anyone familiar with the law and has justice in his heart would see that a great injustice has been dealt this man, simply because he wouldn't fit so well with a down town jury due to both his profession and his "oriental status"Than say a trial by a judge, who with any hope can put his ethics above his feelings.. they were in fact jury of her peers not his... but I don't want to turn this into a moral dilemma.. and I use that example as it is more innocuous than others which I have seen on "court TV" which are actually worst... Anyhow, if that is how the system works, then that is how the system works... I'll give it my best shot!

thanks all

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Civil suits are the nastiest and dirtiest. They operate under a different set of rules and all that needs to be shown is a preponderance of eveidence and not proof. Juries are not even required for civil suits but either attorney has the right to request it, and when a civil suit is before a jury you can be certain it is because an attorney wants to manipulate the jury.

Criminal cases are a bit more in the hands of the jury. But, sadly people are gullible and can be used by a good attorney (Now that is an oxymoron) but overall they have proven to be the fairest system available in most countries.

Salam sis:

Hmmm, in Canada you just show up and "sign in" using the number they assigned you in the notice. They had people there with the names of all the people called for jury duty. When we showed up, we went over and registered with them. If we don't show, there could be a warrant issued for our arrest. Not sure how far they would carry that....but I prefered to be on the jury rather than needing the jury, so I just showed up. lol

Wasalam,
Hana

lol.... Yes I know what you mean... I don't want to be arrested or pay a fine either... I won't assume the worst.. but you can never tell here in NY.. can be a trial for john gotti junior.. or some Columbian drug lord who ended up with a tongue tie hew .... G-D have mercy..:-[

PurestAmbrosia said:

lol sis.. you have made me ROFL --- I didn't think the process would take more than a week.. since I have postponed before, and this particular date isn't bad... but if there is sequestration and, it takes place further down the line than the assigned date in may.. then it won't do at all.. I'd be so grateful, if they would just not pick me.. Anyhow one last Q I have.. do I have to call anyone to let them know I'll be showing up? or do I just stroll there on assigned date?

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Here in Texas there is a phone number on the summons you are to call the day before. Actually it can help. If you get a sympathetic court clerk you may be able to say enough to be excused with no need to show. Also you want to call, because often a trial can be canceled or postponed and then you would be making a wasted trip.

Shokran akhi... I really appreciate what you have all written.. doesn't seem as bad as my mind made it out to be....

I was going to suggest that you show up wearing a colander and rabbit ear antenna on your head and keep mumbling "Not so loud, they might hear you"

But I notice you are in NY so that would just be considered normal.

We don't have here the jury system but the employers what are they saying when their worker just vanish for x days for a trial. He is forced to pay you for this days :?

Woodrow said:

I was going to suggest that you show up wearing a colander and rabbit ear antenna on your head and keep mumbling "Not so loud, they might hear you"

But I notice you are in NY so that would just be considered normal.

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ROFL.. that is brilliant. I can see me doing that too... and You are absolutely right... as I was strolling through central park yesterday, I saw something grossly similar to what you have just described.....

Tania said:

We don't have here the jury system but the employers what are they saying when their worker just vanish for x days for a trial. He is forced to pay you for this days :?

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I have no idea... where are you located though?