Doing my civic duty...

[vizio93]

There you go- plead the fifth and start drinking from a fifth of Jack.

That will probably get him off the jury and into the defendant chair

[berr13]

When I lived in Texas (Lubbock), I used to get called for jury duty every 18 months, regular as clockwork. I never minded it, though, because I found the whole process pretty interesting, and my employer (the city) paid me as if I was at work instead of at the courthouse. The last time I was called, before I moved, I was selected for the grand jury. It met at least one day a week, for a month, and usually for a full day each time. During those sessions a member of the D. A.'s office presented cases, by the dozens, for our consideration so we could vote to indict an individual or not. As I said, I thought it pretty interesting, if mighty depressing--it's amazing how many ways humans can prey on other humans, and I think all of us on the panel found the crimes against children particularly disturbing. On the plus side, though, I had the honor of being able to vote to indict my next door neighbor on several counts of burglary, and that just made me feel GOOD, 'cause if there was someone who deserved jail time, it was him. At any rate, I found grand jury service an eye-opener, and I was glad I had the chance.

Edited December 18, 2009 by berr13

[Scott H.]

Harry,

I've been on a Federal Jury myself. Here's the advice I was given when I inquired about what was and wasn't allowed at the court house:

"Take a good THICK book to read and have another couple of books in your car, you can be escorted out to the car to exchange them. Leave any and all electronic devices at home, they aren't allowed what so ever even if you're sequestered for the term of the trial.

Take plenty of bottled water, it's cheaper than what you can buy at the courthouse and tastes better than the stuff in the drinking fountains. If you want snacks, bring 'em too for the same reasons. Chewing gum isn't a real good idea, most Judges hate it.

Unless it's an honest and real reason, don't try getting out of it. The Judges have heard it all and can tell when you're lying just to get out of it.

A small, comfortable cushion to sit on isn't a bad idea either. Those benches are rock hard."

Sorry to hear ya got nailed,

-Scott H.

[Guest]

Cook County Circuit Court-26th and California... nice neighborhood! I hope my car will still be there when I get out!

Even if it is thre, the question still remains, how much of it will still be there?

[mikemodeler]

Cook County Circuit Court-26th and California... nice neighborhood! I hope my car will still be there when I get out!

Three words for you.........Rent-A-Wreck !

I remember working near there a few times about 7 or 8 years ago. Never felt safe despite the constant presence of police cars. I had a great boss who didn't mind us "packing heat" when working within the Chicago city limits.

You might want to take a bus and not that nice blue Mustang.

[RyanSilva]

I had my jury duty 2 weeks ago! Take a book with you, or a laptop..and some snacks, Normally jury folks are allowed to eat in the waiting room.

mention you know all about jury nullification, they wont like that

[charlie8575]

I had my jury duty 2 weeks ago! Take a book with you, or a laptop..and some snacks, Normally jury folks are allowed to eat in the waiting room.

mention you know all about jury nullification, they wont like that

Ryan...were you terrorizing our dear friends on County St.??

I've been called three times. Excused first...was moving the second and excused for a change in juridiction.

Got impaneled in June for an assault trial. Ryan and I live in the same district court jurisdiction (and not too far away from each other,) so we had similar experiences probably.

Massachusetts uses a one-day/one-trial system, so you're either done by noontime or on a trial and excused for three years after.

Charlie Larkin

[RyanSilva]

lmao! Actually I got summoned to the one in fall river, on 45 rock street. I wish it was local, but hey..at least I ate at the popeyes chicken I didnt know existed again.

They didnt get to kick anyone out, as my group was just told to wait for the duration with out going through the selection proscess. We got lucky.

I got another at the taunton court..but that should be wavered since I' did my civic duty for the next 3 years.

[Harold]

I got a certified letter today. Looks like I've been called to serve on a grand jury!

Hmmmm... Chicago...Illinos...grand jury... I wonder which crooked politician we'll be indicting?

Those grand juries can go on forever- God only knows how long you'll impaneled. I know a couple here and the gal witnessed a hit and run. Well, this thing turned into a whole investigation involving people bringing in drugs, hookers and stolen cars from Chicago. Good luck.

[Terror]

My first experience with jury duty was at the least real boreing.I forgot I had a 4in.lock blade knife in my pocket when I got there.I told the cop before I went through the metal detector,he said thats ok go ahead.??I sat there all day.After lunch,around 2pm., I finally got asked 1 question.Do you think this guy is guilty because he is here today,Mr.Iocco.I said,no I'm here and I'm not guilty.They said you can leave now.I never open the envelope now.I like how they can throw you in jail if you don't respond.Have fun Harry.

[jeffb]

in wayne county, where detroit is..they will come and get you if you live in da burbs.. i know people who live within the city that regularly throw the summons away. but they came and picked up a neighbor who didnt show up

[crazyjim]

Hey Harry - maybe you should think about moving out of Cook County.

[RyanSilva]

I've been called to jury duty twice. The first time I blew the whole day for nothing and got sent home. Never went back!! Second time,I stayed until we were given our first break. And again never went back. I'm pretty sure that law enforcement officials have more pressing things to do rather than hunt down people who skip jury duty.

Over here.. you skip jury duty you face 1000 dollar fines.

[MikeMc]

Just follow George Carlin's advice, Harry.

"Some people try to get out of jury duty by lying. You don't have to lie. Tell them the truth. Tell them you'll make a great juror because you can spot guilty people (snaps fingers) just like that."

If that doesn't work, arrive at the courthouse with an aluminum foil hat and say you're trying to block out messages from the Mother Ship .

This might be your ticket Harry!!!! BTW whats a "yeesh"?

Edited December 18, 2009 by MikeMc

[Dingo]

my oldest sister is the only one of us siblings that have done jury duty, must be the fact that the rest of us have small time criminal records and speeding finds, my brother is the small time crim my other sis & I are the speeders even though she doesn't really drive a car she got caught when the vehicle she was sitting in ran away without a driver and she climbed into the drivers seat to try and stop it but didn't succeed crashed into 4 other cars parked on the roadside, lousy mungrels booked for reckless endangerment and exceed the speed limit in a school crossing, I got done for 114kph in a 100 zone on our local one way road even telling the cop I needed the toilet didn't get me off rotten mungrel again.

Dingo

[Bridgebuster]

civic duty huh ?

no wonder i as a foreigner never got asked

i came close though, got to be in front of a jury but never on one

Like my boy Lewis Grizzard once said . . . "Dern brother, I don't believe I woulda told that!!"

Phil

[lordairgtar]

Just show up dressed as a Klingon or in a Star Fleet uniform.

[charlie8575]

Over here.. you skip jury duty you face 1000 dollar fines.

Don't forget six months in jail.

Charlie Larkin

[Harry P.]

According to the letter, if you don't show up you're liable to be fined "not less than $5 nor more than $100."

Jeez... it almost seems worth it to pay the fine, just to get out of driving all the way down there and sitting all day waiting to find out if you're picked or not...

[Scott H.]

According to the letter, if you don't show up you're liable to be fined "not less than $5 nor more than $100."

Jeez... it almost seems worth it to pay the fine, just to get out of driving all the way down there and sitting all day waiting to find out if you're picked or not...

I don't know about there, but if you don't show up for roll call here there is a bench warrant issued for your arrest immediately. They also call roll after every break to keep people from skipping out after the first roll call.

I've seen it happen live and in person. Trust me, they don't play here anymore.

-Scott H.