Jury Duty Coming Up

[greg775]

I have to report to jury duty the next two weeks.

So how do I approach this? My normal job I usually work noon to about midnight and get to sleep in. Now I have to be at the jury room at 7 or 8 a.m.

 

Any suggestions for me? Is it something to dread or not? Should I give a smart aleck response so I'm not picked? What if I fall asleep since I'm not used to these hours?

 

I guess my main question is ... I have jury duty. what should I expect and what should I do? And do I have to wear a tie?

 

p.s. Let me know if any of you are going to Sox-Royals games at Kauffman Stadium this year.

Edited April 16, 2013 by greg775

[cabiness42]

I like criminal jury duty. Civil jury duty sucks.

 

No, you don't have to wear a tie.

[southsider2k5]

Don't be a smart ass, and don't fall asleep. Judges tend to frown on those things.

[lasttriptotulsa]

I've gotten called for jury duty twice and loved it. I get the day off from work paid. My work has a rule that if you serve jury duty in a different county than where work is located you do not have to come in to work no matter how long jury duty last. If you serve in the same county as work, you have to come in for the remainder of the day if jury duty last under 4 hours.

 

The first day I had to go, I didn't get selected so I was home by about 9:00 and had the rest of the day off paid. The second time I had to go, I did get selected and had to sit throught the trial, but it was still only a few hours. Now if we're talking a murder trial or something like that that could take weeks or months, then it would suck.

[CrimsonWeltall]

I've served both on a civil suit (1/2 day and gone) and as a member of a grand jury (a full month).

 

Here's what to expect. You will spend a lot of time waiting around. There's a decent chance you never make it out of the waiting room.

 

But if you do, you and a group of other potential jurors will brought to an individual courtroom. The people who don't want to be there will be given a brief opportunity to explain why they need to leave (sick mother, need to work, etc). Then you'll be questioned by attorneys to further filter the group. If you get past this part, congrats, you are a juror. Hope that your fellow jurors aren't complete morons who make you lost trust in the justice system.

 

You don't need to wear a tie, but try to look presentable.

[StrangeSox]

what ever happened to civic duty?

[GoSox05]

I have jury duty at the end of the month. First time I've had to do this. I plan on watching the classic Pauly Shore movie Jury Duty the night before.

[Balta1701]

Bring documents for everything you have. Make sure you know what your employer's rules are for Jury duty; most employers have certain amounts of time that they will let people off for this purpose. Find out what those rules are, get a document that shows it, bring that document with. Bring documents showing your work schedule and any commitments you have such as travel plans.

 

If your employer does not specifically give certain amounts of time off, bring some information about your actual work duties. For example, I had jury duty while a college student. The college didn't specifically limit the amount of time I could take off, but the judge wasn't going to pull people out of school for a multi-week trial as long as I had my course and travel schedule with me.

 

Do not give a smart aleck response to anything. Be honest and professional. Carry yourself like an adult, don't give them reason to dislike you. If you have to be there, deal with it. A tie is not necessary, but don't look like a bum.

 

If you are picked, the odds are it would be on a short trial. If a long duration trial is necessary, they'll be bringing in hundreds of people because most people won't be able to make the commitment. A careful judge will make sure people document their reasons why they can't serve on that multi-month trial, which is why you should bring work and travel and schedule related documents with you and know how long your employer will give you off of work without penaltyl.

[Jenksismyhero]

Go in with an open mind and it can be a really fun experience. It's mostly boring (the waiting) so bring a book, but if you get a good trial with good attorneys it can be good theater.

[Jenksismyhero]

Bring documents for everything you have. Make sure you know what your employer's rules are for Jury duty; most employers have certain amounts of time that they will let people off for this purpose. Find out what those rules are, get a document that shows it, bring that document with. Bring documents showing your work schedule and any commitments you have such as travel plans.

 

If your employer does not specifically give certain amounts of time off, bring some information about your actual work duties. For example, I had jury duty while a college student. The college didn't specifically limit the amount of time I could take off, but the judge wasn't going to pull people out of school for a multi-week trial as long as I had my course and travel schedule with me.

 

Do not give a smart aleck response to anything. Be honest and professional. Carry yourself like an adult, don't give them reason to dislike you. If you have to be there, deal with it. A tie is not necessary, but don't look like a bum.

 

If you are picked, the odds are it would be on a short trial. If a long duration trial is necessary, they'll be bringing in hundreds of people because most people won't be able to make the commitment. A careful judge will make sure people document their reasons why they can't serve on that multi-month trial, which is why you should bring work and travel and schedule related documents with you and know how long your employer will give you off of work without penaltyl.

 

By law I don't think an employer can limit you at all. They might not like you being gone for a month, but they can't prevent you from going either.

[RockRaines]

I got racist and anti-gun and got dismissed. Best thing ever since the trial went months.

[Iwritecode]

I've served both on a civil suit (1/2 day and gone) and as a member of a grand jury (a full month).

 

Here's what to expect. You will spend a lot of time waiting around. There's a decent chance you never make it out of the waiting room.

 

But if you do, you and a group of other potential jurors will brought to an individual courtroom. The people who don't want to be there will be given a brief opportunity to explain why they need to leave (sick mother, need to work, etc). Then you'll be questioned by attorneys to further filter the group. If you get past this part, congrats, you are a juror. Hope that your fellow jurors aren't complete morons who make you lost trust in the justice system.

 

You don't need to wear a tie, but try to look presentable.

 

I never got this opportunity. We went into the courtroom and they just kept calling more people to sit in the juror box until it was full. Then we were questioned by the attorneys while everyone was there.

 

I didn't get picked but it was about 2 PM by the time I got out of there so I lost a full day's pay.

[Iwritecode]

what ever happened to civic duty?

 

On my list of priorities paying my bills > civic duty.

[StrangeSox]

On my list of priorities paying my bills > civic duty.

Yeah if your employer won't pay you for jury duty, that's a very different story.

[StrangeSox]

By law I don't think an employer can limit you at all. They might not like you being gone for a month, but they can't prevent you from going either.

 

By law, sure, but that doesn't mean they can't really hold it against you or that they have to pay you for the days you miss.

[RockRaines]

Yeah if your employer won't pay you for jury duty, that's a very different story.

My old employer didn't pay you since you got jury pay.

[Jenksismyhero]

Yeah you certainly lose out financially.

[RockRaines]

I literally went full anti-gun racist. They called me into chambers with both lawyers and asked me questions and it got ridiculous. It was a federal trial that went on for months.

[witesoxfan]

I literally went full anti-gun racist. They called me into chambers with both lawyers and asked me questions and it got ridiculous. It was a federal trial that went on for months.

 

It dealt with Barry Bonds's biceps I take it

[Balta1701]

By law, sure, but that doesn't mean they can't really hold it against you or that they have to pay you for the days you miss.

For trials longer than a few days, you're generally allowed to claim financial hardship if your employer does not pay you for the time.

[RockRaines]

It dealt with Barry Bonds's biceps I take it

It was organized crime and whatnot. I could tell it was going to drag out and I had no interest in making little to no money for months while sitting there. I think I called him a "darkie" in the chambers meeting.

[Soxbadger]

hahaha

 

you gotta be careful to be that outlandish.

 

If you dont want to be picked, just take very hard line stances on very trivial things. Make comments about how once you have an opinion you never change it.

 

Most attorneys will be looking for people who will be fair and will listen to them.

[greg775]

what ever happened to civic duty?

I am willing to serve my country in this capacity. I'd just rather not if I had a choice.

 

Bring documents for everything you have. Make sure you know what your employer's rules are for Jury duty; most employers have certain amounts of time that they will let people off for this purpose. Find out what those rules are, get a document that shows it, bring that document with. Bring documents showing your work schedule and any commitments you have such as travel plans.

 

If your employer does not specifically give certain amounts of time off, bring some information about your actual work duties. For example, I had jury duty while a college student. The college didn't specifically limit the amount of time I could take off, but the judge wasn't going to pull people out of school for a multi-week trial as long as I had my course and travel schedule with me.

 

Do not give a smart aleck response to anything. Be honest and professional. Carry yourself like an adult, don't give them reason to dislike you. If you have to be there, deal with it. A tie is not necessary, but don't look like a bum.

 

If you are picked, the odds are it would be on a short trial. If a long duration trial is necessary, they'll be bringing in hundreds of people because most people won't be able to make the commitment. A careful judge will make sure people document their reasons why they can't serve on that multi-month trial, which is why you should bring work and travel and schedule related documents with you and know how long your employer will give you off of work without penaltyl.

Thanks for the response and thanks to the others on here, too.

 

It was organized crime and whatnot. I could tell it was going to drag out and I had no interest in making little to no money for months while sitting there. I think I called him a "darkie" in the chambers meeting.

 

You are kidding, right? That'd be pretty rebellious.

 

On another note, can I bring my computer for the waiting room? Is that allowed? Is it too risky whereas it would probably get stolen?

[RockRaines]

You are kidding, right? That'd be pretty rebellious.

 

On another note, can I bring my computer for the waiting room? Is that allowed? Is it too risky whereas it would probably get stolen?

No, I acted like and idiot and was severely anti-gun in my statements. I NEEDED to get out of that jury duty.

[greg775]

No, I acted like and idiot and was severely anti-gun in my statements. I NEEDED to get out of that jury duty.

 

I just would find it tough to say a word like 'xxrkie' in front of other people. Yikes. Were they astonished and/or upset?