CHAT Jury Summons

CaryC

CaryC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Border Collie Dad said:
I just received great news!

Got a summons for jury duty.
While I realize it's my civic duty, I have no desire to sit there.

I am considering getting disqualified using jury nullification.
Another is my religion doesn't allow me to judge another person.
Any other suggestions?
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Which type of jury duty is it? Meaning criminal or civil. If civil go ahead no problem. There is also the matter of whether it is county/state or federal court.

In either case there are several "depends" and it may vary by state. In MS, note MS, if you are over 65 just call and tell them, they will remove you, without any problems.

Even though they did mail it to the right place, are you still living in the courts jurisdiction? Getting a jury summons and NOT living in the courts jurisdiction happens. Living outside of your precinct.

In criminal cases there are way more "depends" than in civil. Giving an answer to "do you believe in the death penalty" in one case will get you thrown off and in another you are a solid in.

Medical conditions will get you an out.

If you are taking care of someone will get you an out. Especially if the jury will be sequestered. (Children going to school you have to prep them)

Some job restrictions will get you an out.

However once you go, and are in the questioning phase by lawyers, all bets are off on how to answer.

There is one other item. IN MS they will give you a number to call like the day before, and in a lot of cases, there has been a settlement without a jury. No service needed.
 
B

Border Collie Dad

Flat Earther
CaryC, my summons doesn't say civil or criminal.
It's for the Court of Common Pleas.
I do have to call after 4:30 on the Friday before.

I'm 70 so I don't know if that will disqualify me.

I won't wear a mask and will put that on the form.
But I will say unable to wear a mask.
I know you can't go in the courthouse without a mask.

All other exceptions may not apply
 
N

Nana

Senior Member
I served once many years ago.
They paid $10 a day (if I remember correctly). My employer paid me my regular paycheck and I signed my government check over to my employer.
 
CaryC

CaryC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Border Collie Dad said:
CaryC, my summons doesn't say civil or criminal.
It's for the Court of Common Pleas.
I do have to call after 4:30 on the Friday before.

I'm 70 so I don't know if that will disqualify me.

I won't wear a mask and will put that on the form.
But I will say unable to wear a mask.
I know you can't go in the courthouse without a mask.

All other exceptions may not apply
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I understand that.

I THINK Petit Court is for criminal cases.

On your age of 70 I would think that is a disqualifier, IF you want it. If you do, just call the clerks office Monday, and tell them you want to claim the age exemption, and they'll mark it down. No problem.

When I called for mine, they said OK. And I said, "Don't you want some kind of proof, like a birth certificate? And they said no they have it on file. I said Cool.
 
B

Border Collie Dad

Flat Earther
Pa may call their courts differently

The Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas refers to the trial level courts in Pennsylvania. ... This is where most misdemeanor and all felony criminal cases are disposed of, where Orphan's Court matters are addressed, and where larger civil cases are originated.
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Meemur

Meemur

Voice on the Prairie / FJB!
Good luck with that!

As for "doing my duty," I serve the community in other ways. The dweebs in the local court system can bite me. I'm
done with their games.
 
Anti-Liberal

Anti-Liberal

Veteran Member
I haven't got a jury summons in over 20 years, law enforcement status is good for more than getting out of tickets.
 
Hognutz

Hognutz

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Border Collie Dad said:
sy32748, I'm sort of expecting Lee Greenwood to start singing any minute.

I don't buy the duty argument.
In another time, perhaps.
If the law and justice system were ever fair.
I don't know. It may all be myth

However, if forced to serve, I will take the defendant's fate seriously.
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783C8B13-9556-4DC5-A198-4B0EB060452B.jpeg
 
sy32478

sy32478

Veteran Member
Dennis Olson said:
sy, I’d do it, but they’d never allow me to be on a jury.
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You'd be surpIsed. Last criminal case I was summonsed for the defense attorney had run out of peremptory challenges. I was one of two attorneys on the jury. The defendant was lucky to have us since the state did not provide evidence of the most serious charge and but for attorneys on the jury, the accused woukd have been doing a lot more time. We started deliberations at 9:00 AM and many wanted to finish deliberations before lunch and didn't take things seriously.
 
C

catskinner

Veteran Member
My first jury summons was in Mississippi in 1993. I was days away from filing for maternity leave when I got it, so I was very close to my due date. I was determined to be in the jury pool so I could get my regular pay plus whatever the court paid and then start my maternity leave.

The first day the judge asked if anyone had reason to be excused. Hands went up and one by one the people were called on to explain why they should be excused.

Breastfeeding. No, your sitter can bring the baby to the courthouse for feedings. Next.
Business owner. No, your underling can keep things going.

Then it happened.

Your Honor, I'm a habitual gambler.
What is your name?
Johnny Jones, sir.
Mr. Jones, you are excused. Next.
Your Honor, I'm Herman Smith and I'm a drunkard.
Mr. Smith, you are excused.

This went on until everyone who wanted to be excused was gone. Found out later that there was some law that did not allow habitual gamblers or drunkards to serve on a jury, but they had to say their name in open court and claim their exemption.

I was seated on a jury. The judge asked me my due date and when I told him, his eyes about popped out of his head. He told me all I had to do was raise my hand and they would stop so I could take a bathroom break or whatever. He also let me know he would inform the EMT's and they would be there in a flash, should I decide to deliver in his courtroom.
 
O

Orion Commander

Veteran Member
Luddite said:
I served many years ago. I tried several angles to get excused. Had to serve on one Civil case and so dearly wanted to stick it to the defendant. The evidence wasn't there.
I left very sad, knowing WE gave a just verdict.

Older now, there will be a great chance everyone in the courtroom will be lying except me and the judge. (Not too sure about him either)

It will be hard to hide eagerness to get picked. That in itself will keep me from getting picked to ever sit as a juror again.

Like the old saying, "you can beat the rap but not the ride", most can't get out of showing up to panel a slate of jurors.

ETA: frustrates me to watch and hear truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth, only to know the jury gets a partial truth. :rolleyes:
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Can a witness object? Your Honor I swore an oath to tell the whole truth. Preventing me from telling the whole truth is a half truth and therefore a lie. I object to forced purjory.
 
L

Luddite

Veteran Member
Orion Commander said:
Can a witness object? Your Honor I swore an oath to tell the whole truth. Preventing me from telling the whole truth is a half truth and therefore a lie. I object to forced purjory.
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Doubt that would work in any court. Lawyers sleep at night because their version of the truth is correct one.
Police sleep at night because their version of the truth is the correct one.

Go back to what the definition of Is is.
Or more recently what the definition of a riot means in deecee as opposed to Portland.
 
CaryC

CaryC

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Border Collie Dad said:
The verdict is in.
I have to be 75 or older to be disqualified.

Only 70
:(
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Well I'm sorry for that. I thought Shirley 70 would be a good cut off it is a well rounded number. At 75 ya start acting like Biden. Not you of course, just saying.

Judge: Anyone here have dementia, raise your hand?

No one does. Wait, wait there's one.

Judge: you have dementia sir?

No, I didn't hear what you said.

Well like someone said time for plan B.
 
Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Oscar Wilde said:
As you stated it's your duty, suffer through it.

You just might end up saving some guy's ass or
helping to ensure some POS doesn't again inflict harm on another.

Do it! Besides, I'm thinkin they buy your lunch.

O.W.
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Might have been mentioned in thread already, but if an honest conservative answers their nullification questions....
the chances of making it through are less than 1%.

So......go for it, on principle, and let the chips fall where they may.
 
O

Orion Commander

Veteran Member
Border Collie Dad said:
If they reject my medical reason, I have little choice but to show up
Or fine or imprisonment.

But I'm still a jury nullification guy
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I was not asked about nullification. This was a little less than a year after Rodney King event.

Frankly I would not mention my views. If I serve it's my personal trump card.

While I am all for hanging a drunk driver out to dry the police definition is crap. You know you have had to much and are impaired. You are in the car at all even in the back seat sleeping it off you are considered operating.

If the car is in gear moving you are operating.

This is what nullification is for. Over riding a crappy law.
 
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