Jury selection - finally the saga is over
By winterose
@winterose (39887)
Canada
April 2, 2008 3:34pm CST
for those of you who read my feelings on jury selection and how I was a bit apprehensive about it, I have a follow up.
Well I was scared, I was called for Jury selection and was to report on march 17th at the courthouse. I was afraid I would be selected and end up on the jury for a mobster case and we have big time mobsters here, biker gangs, hells angels, rock machine, mafia, etc.
Some people suggested that I try to get out of it because I am on disability but I thought about it and decided that I would just take my chances.
Then I get a letter saying the case was postponed and I should now about on March 31,
then I get another letter saying the case was postponed and I should appear on April 7th,
Today I get a letter saying the case is cancelled and I am no longer required for jury selection.
I am so relieved.
Have you ever been called to jury duty? What was it like for you?
Would you like to be called if you had the chance, why or why not?
4 people like this
8 responses
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
3 Apr 08
I do not do jury duty. It is not for me. When I get those pink slips, I ignore them. I have anxiety attacks from just being in a court house. I would have to be directly involved with a case to ever be there and it would have to be for a very good cause. I do not know if I could be a part of deciding a strangers fate.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
I don't know where you live but in canada and the usa, you cannot ignore them the officers of the court will come and pick you up. All you can do is prove to them that you are disabled and they will or will not grant you the ability to stay away.
You can go to jail if you refuse to do jury duty and you have not been dismissed by the sherifs office.
1 person likes this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
5 Apr 08
I do live in the USA and I am disabled. Though I have never proven it to them. Even before I became disabled, I just knew that I would never want to be put under that kind of pressure. If they have given me a psych. eval. back then, they would have excused me. So I was never really worried about it.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
they always pick at least 100 people to settle on 12 for a jury, they have to have the right ones for the case
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
3 Apr 08
I would be totally freaked,
to just think that I could make a mistake and send a maybe innocent man to jail and I would feel really guilty and it would eat at me. I am so glad I haven't been called to do jury..yet and if I do I am hoping to be able to get out of it. Wouldn't you be scared if it was a gang or mafia?
You always hear about cases that have been tried then the jurors get knocked off one by one i n revenge.. got scary for my blood.
.
to just think that I could make a mistake and send a maybe innocent man to jail and I would feel really guilty and it would eat at me. I am so glad I haven't been called to do jury..yet and if I do I am hoping to be able to get out of it. Wouldn't you be scared if it was a gang or mafia? You always hear about cases that have been tried then the jurors get knocked off one by one i n revenge.. got scary for my blood..2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
of course I am afraid of that the mafia can infiltrate a jury and beyond, they are very powerful with people on their payroll all over.
@sunrisekn (1466)
• United States
3 Apr 08
I have served on 2 juries and it really wasn't a big deal. You just listen to what both sides have to say and do what the judge instructs you to do. In one case, we found a man not guilty and the other case the man was found guilty. It's not something that I want to do every week but I feelit is my civic duty to serve when I get called.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
I'm just crazy enough that if I were called, I'd probably go for it, but then you know me, and you know how daring I am. I know you, and I don't blame you for wanting to get out of it.
My mother was called once, but she got out of it, because she knew the defendant.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
6 Apr 08
well thank goodness I don't have to go, I would have been honest if I had to and answer the question truthfully, but I am glad that I don't have to go anymore.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
2 Apr 08
That is great to hear. My husband was also selected and he didn't have to go either. He said he would serve on it for the money. I got a letter also but did not have to go, thank god. I know that I wouldn't like it at all either. I never want to serve on one right now. I may change my mind some time later though. Who knows?
2 people like this
@desertdarlene (8910)
• United States
3 Apr 08
The last several times I was called for jury duty, I got out of it because I don't get any pay from work when I take days off. So, it would have been a hardship for me. But, way back in college, I served and it was really boooooring! We also have a lot of gangs where I live, but I wasn't worried because I've had dealings with a member or two of them and nothing ever happened to me. But, I can understand the fear.
I think if you expressed a real fear to the judge during the interview, you might have been able to get out of it.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
4 Apr 08
well i was going to answer truthfully what ever they asked me and just take my chances, but I don;t have to worry about it now and that is a good thing, less stress on me.
@Deea48 (1166)
• United States
4 Apr 08
Years ago when my children where small I was called to do jury duty. I told them unless they paid my child care I could not do it. I never heard from them again. I think now though if they were to select me, I would go ahead and do it. It could be rather interesting I think.
1 person likes this
