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Jury Duty Again?

July 24th, 2012

I must be of the perfect demographic or something because I’m always being called for jury duty. A couple years ago I was on a federal grand jury. That meant that every fourth week I had to drive to Cleveland, a one hour forty-five minute drive) for 1-3 days during that week. This went on for 18 months. Needless to say, it was a HUGE hassle. Some things I heard were interesting and eye opening. I’ve taken an oath of secrecy and can never talk about them and they burned out notebooks after our stint was over. Last year I was summoned to state jury duty up in Akron for a 3 month period.

Just last week I got jury summons for Sept 2012-August 2013 for our county. I was also called for county jury duty during my term of federal grand jury so I got off the hook a few years ago. I’m not sure why I get the ‘privilege’ of being called all the time, Mr Chiots has never been summoned for jury duty. I am more than happy to participate as my civic duty, but it’s getting a little ridiculous.

Have you ever served on a jury?

25 Comments to “Jury Duty Again?”
  1. Kathie on July 24, 2012 at 6:57 am

    When I got called to Federal jury, I only had to go to Youngstown. I’d hate to have to go all the way to Cleveland.

    Reply to Kathie's comment

  2. jennifer fisk on July 24, 2012 at 7:28 am

    I escaped for 25 years because I was in LE. After that I got out of it once because I was in the middle of a divorce and my consideration of testimony could be tainted. The second time, I got out of it because I had plans to go out of state for my Dad’s 90th birthday.
    You could always tell them you are in the midst of moving or that you’ve read the papers and have preset opinions. I know one of our rights is trial by jury but often times the sentences make a mockery out of the judicial process and a jurors time a waste.

    Reply to jennifer fisk's comment

    • Susy on July 24, 2012 at 8:21 am

      Yes, I did send in a letter that I was moving out of state. Since it’s a year long term there’s not way I can do it.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  3. Andrea Duke on July 24, 2012 at 7:44 am

    I’ve recieved a questionaire to fill out, but have never been called upon. I would like to do it sometime once, just to be part of the process.

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

  4. Fawn on July 24, 2012 at 7:53 am

    Susy,

    I agree with you that it is a good thing to participate in this civic duty as well. I think you have done your far share though and it seems you could have a break! I would imagine that since you have plans to move soon you wouldn’t be considered for the latest request.

    It’s good to know that good, level headed, objective people are jurors though!

    Reply to Fawn's comment

  5. Nebraska Dave on July 24, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Susy, I got selected by my friends and neighbors twice in my life. Once it was two years in the Vietnam era military and later to serve on a jury for an injury case. Oh, yeah, then there was the polling place commitment. All were interesting but are long in the past. I haven’t been chosen for any public service for many many years. I’m glad to hear that you are happy to serve. Most dread the in convenience of having to go through the service of jury duty. Thank you so much for serving with a happy heart even through it was an extreme in convenience.

    Have a great day preparing for moving day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  6. Sherri on July 24, 2012 at 8:35 am

    Suzy, I’ve been called twice, but both times, I could not commit. The first time was due to nursing our baby and the second time was due to my husband working out of town. I had no family in our province to care for our young children if I was to serve.

    Reply to Sherri's comment

  7. Bethany on July 24, 2012 at 9:06 am

    My husband gets called something like every 6 months. The funny thing is, he’s not a US citizen. Sure, he’s a legal permanent resident, but you have to be an actual citizen to serve. I keep telling him that he should apply for dual citizenship, but the jury duty calls do not really give him more incentive.

    Reply to Bethany's comment

  8. Kim on July 24, 2012 at 9:24 am

    I just got called for Criminal Court for Orleans parish. We have to serve 9 days in the month so it should be interesting to see if I end up on a jury. We are a lively area with lots of criminal cases. I doubt I will be chosen because of my work background, but look forward to seeing the process.

    Reply to Kim's comment

  9. BeccaOH on July 24, 2012 at 9:35 am

    I recently finished serving grand jury for my county. It was only one day once a month for six months. I found myself enjoying the time I served and getting to know the prosecuting attorney staff and other jurors. It is sure eye-opening to know what all criminal activity goes on though.

    Reply to BeccaOH's comment

  10. Candi @ min hus on July 24, 2012 at 9:44 am

    I’ve been called twice, served once. But only one jury was called during the entire time I served and I wasn’t on it so that was a bummer. Since I was there, I wanted to participate. Still, that court had a nice jury program. We could watch certain courtrooms, and there were fieldtrips to places I’d never seen before, like the county jail. It actually ended up being educational and fun.

    Reply to Candi @ min hus's comment

  11. Jessica on July 24, 2012 at 9:46 am

    I was summoned earlier this year for a month-long term in my county. I reported initially, but they never ended up needing me. I just had to check every day to see if my number was called up. For me, it’s actually more convenient to be on jury duty (at least in my county) than to go to work. :-) My normal commute is a 50 minute drive, but the county courthouse is only 2 miles from my house!

    Reply to Jessica's comment

  12. Rhonda on July 24, 2012 at 10:26 am

    I’ve only been on “regular” jury duty, I don’t know what it’s called. But anyway, it was a week long and every morning I was there in the jury pool and NEVER got called one time. Thank goodness for my iphone (pre-ipad days) I watched movies the entire time. It really made the time go by faster.

    Reply to Rhonda's comment

  13. DebbieB on July 24, 2012 at 10:27 am

    Good grief! Our jury duty is county (parish here in LA), and it’s only a week long (shorter if they dismiss you early, which happens a lot, as things get settled before they start trial). We serve once every 2 years, if that. I haven’t been selected for at least 3 years – my clock is ticking.

    (Oh, now, watch – I’ll get a notice in the mail today…)

    Reply to DebbieB's comment

  14. Donna B. on July 24, 2012 at 10:53 am

    What I don’t understand is why they call out to citizens that live an extreme distance away from the court house and then only give them 5 bucks a day. >m<;;
    Which yes, I have served my time in J.D. – as a Grand Juror for eight weeks. It wasn't terrible only because the court house was only 5 miles away from my job, so instead of going to work I went there. Thankfully my work also compensated me for my time spent there, so there was no loss of funds. If I had been called to the OTHER state location for J.D. it would have been a 3 hour drive ONE WAY… I would do anything in my power to not do that. Getting on the road at 5am and then coming home [maybe?] by 8pm? Not worth my 5 bucks.
    I don't know how they pick the names out of the hat, but I agree that it's ridiculous…
    Wonder how soon it will be till you're called to serve in Maine? Hee hee. :D

    Reply to Donna B.'s comment

    • Susy on July 24, 2012 at 11:02 am

      So true, I had to be on the road early and didn’t get home until late. Then with paying for parking and gas I definitely not coming out ahead. While I didn’t lose pay, I did have to work weekends to get my work done.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  15. Mary S. on July 24, 2012 at 11:13 am

    It’s so funny how some people are called again and again. I’ve never had jury duty, but my Dad has been called multiple times, including serving as the jury foreman for a case that lasted more than 6 months. Talk about disruptive! Still, he is very proud of having served on that jury (it was an extremely complicated business case). Thanks for serving!

    Reply to Mary S.'s comment

  16. Maybelline on July 24, 2012 at 12:07 pm

    Oh yes.
    The last time I served (2011) I read Huckleberry Finn.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

  17. Mich on July 24, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    I’ve been called twice for Crown court in Oxford city and twice I’ve done the jury service, 2wk duty stints each time.
    It was a pain as commuting into Oxford in rush hour is a nightmare…
    Lucky for me once you have done service twice, you can opt out if you get called up again. :)

    Reply to Mich's comment

  18. Jennelle on July 24, 2012 at 2:52 pm

    As an attorney, I’ve always wanted to serve on a jury, but I’ve never done it. I got called in once as part of a jury pool for a special asbestos case, but was not chosen. I wonder if your federal grand jury experience was anything like my sister-in-law’s father’s was. He started talking about people “ridin’ dirty,” which is hysterical since he just turned 70. He said he had to look up a lot of the terms the witnesses used in urban dictionary dot com.

    Reply to Jennelle's comment

    • Susy on July 24, 2012 at 2:58 pm

      Oh yes, certainly entertaining and eye opening!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  19. Daedre Craig on July 24, 2012 at 4:58 pm

    I’ve been called up to serve jury duty twice already (and I’m only 26), but I got out of it both times because I was a student.

    Reply to Daedre Craig's comment

  20. Michele on July 24, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    3 months of Grand Jury….one whole summer shot to hell.

    Reply to Michele's comment

  21. KimH on July 24, 2012 at 9:57 pm

    I’ve been called several times but most of the time, I had little kids and no one to watch them.
    The worst time though was I got called and it turned out that both parties were people I knew. I was friends with one couple, and I went to church with the other 2 couples. Talk about very uncomfortable.
    I told them it would strain my relationships with all of them if I sat on this jury.. and besides that, I already was biased. They didnt call me back. ;)

    My mom was on a grand jury and they sequestered the jury for almost a month. I cant even imagine such a thing.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  22. DebbieR on July 24, 2012 at 10:26 pm

    I was just summoned by the county two weeks ago for a small 1-3 day case
    Fortunately, I am breastfeeding an infant and the county acknowledged my inability to comply. I am happy to complete my civic duty, as well, but I am certain that a breastfeeding mom on the jury may be a bit of a distraction. :)
    (I can’t imagine driving to Cleveland for that long, Susy! Especially in the winter!).

    Reply to DebbieR's comment

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This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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