Courting Jurors
Did you miss me?
They pick about 200 names at random for each day they need a jury for the courthouse in El Cajon, where they try only criminal cases, never traffic cases, hoping that about 120 will show up. Of those who do show up, a dozen or so will try to beg their way out of serving on a jury. Most will get their wishes granted.
We all checked in, turned in our papers and picked up trolley tickets and some forms to fill out (there are always forms to fill out). I was asked if I was sure I wanted to report for duty two weeks early; I responded that I had a doctors appointment and some classes immediately following the originally specified date and, yes, I wanted to take care of it now. That generated some smiles. Most people try to avoid serving. People who show up early are very rare.
The jury lounge had the same horrible coffee machines that were there four years ago when I served. I decided I would skip having coffee.
The judge who spoke to us this morning said there were 26 active courts in the courthouse at the moment, only two of which could possibly need a jury today. He also said that his introductory remarks would be short, about eight minutes, while other judges had been known to lecture the jury pool for 45 minutes or more; in fact, he said, he had expedited jury trials so they went to completion, from jury selection to verdict, in less than 45 minutes.
Cool!
Anyway, we were given a 40 minute break while the two judges sorted out what they needed to do. Then we were given another 40 minute break. In one case, it was decided to have a court trial with no jury. A single group of 42 names was called and told to report back at 13:15 for jury selection. From those 42, twelve will be selected as jurors and, probably, one or more as alternates. Call it about 10% of the jury pool.
The first time I served they had a lot more activity. They were able to send out two groups early in the morning and, when those not selected returned, sent out two more groups for possible selection. Then, in the afternoon, I was in one of the two groups sent out and was selected from my group to serve on the jury. That was a busy day and they used about 60% of the jury pool.
But I think they had 42 active courts at that time. They've cut back for budgetary reasons. Litigation is expensive.
The rest of us had to wait another twenty minutes for the final decision that we would not be needed, then we were released.
I will be free from jury duty for the next year.
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Comments (6)
i've always wanted to serve on a jury, but i've never been called. now that it would be a major inconvenience, i'm sure i'll get a letter any day.....
i've always wanted to serve on a jury, but i've never been called. now that it would be a major inconvenience, i'm sure i'll get a letter any day.....
i've always wanted to serve on a jury, but i've never been called. now that it would be a major inconvenience, i'm sure i'll get a letter any day.....oh, wait, I'm getting my wires crossed...duty schmooty! I did get my letter, but I'll try to get out of it.
I stopped getting those letters.
I never get them - and probably never will. I did serve in Britain once, and found one person guilty and another person got aquitted who was definitely guilty. He was accused of breaking a bottle over someone's head, and putting them in hospital. The Judge told us to find him innnocent, as there was not enough evidence to hold him on - so he walked away from it scott free. (That always annoyed me, and started me on the road of questioning the justice sysem.)
I just did one week - and then they told me I wasn't needed anymore...and I wasn't called again - except for the following year, but I was exempt because you are only eligible once every five years. My godfather and grandfather have never been called at all in their lives - actually, to be precise, they never were...as they are both passed now.
How does that work in America, James...if you are not Christian? What do you have to swear to if you don't believe in God?
"What do you have to swear to if you don't believe in God?" The oaths are now worded so that one who has no particular belief in a deity is simply affirming that what he says is true and correct. It is legally binding, just as if one had sworn by god or goddess (or other divine manifestation). :rolleyes:
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