Jury Duty is Mandatory- Correct?

[Mai72]

I was summoned for Jury selection this month. I've asked other people about jury duty. Whether if they had gone, etc. I'm getting bad information I think. I was told to just ignore the notice. Isn't this a crime that is punishable by a hefty fine and time in jail? I'm going btw. I'm not messing around with this. Hopefully its a quick procedure.

Has anyone done jury duty in the last few years?
Do you know of anyone that ignored the notice? Were they in trouble?

 

[lxskllr]

It's mandatory, but your local situation may differ. Probably depends on how good their local pool is. You'd have to check your local laws regarding punishment. What they *actually* do will range from nothing, to full implementation of the law. Most likely nothing though.

 

[Brainonska511]

It is generally mandatory; will they go after you if you blow it off? Probably not. But it could make your life difficult if an angry judge issued a bench warrant and you were pulled over one day. For many, you often get a number and you just call in the day before to see if you'll need to report.

As for ignoring it: we live in a society and we have a duty to contribute back. If it is such a hardship, just ask for an exemption.

 

[Torn Mind]

Good chance the fella is just going through the criminal process and the trial gets cancelled at the last minute because a plea bargain was struck.

Or it could be some civil case like a car accident matter...that...you'll have to accept the risk you might have to serve

 

[Mai72]

It is generally mandatory; will they go after you if you blow it off? Probably not. But it could make your life difficult if an angry judge issued a bench warrant and you were pulled over one day. For many, you often get a number and you just call in the day before to see if you'll need to report.

As for ignoring it: we live in a society and we have a duty to contribute back. If it is such a hardship, just ask for an exemption.

True. I have no issues with going. I was just asking if its truly mandatory, because I believe that I'm getting bad info from people.

 

[pete6032]

I was summoned for Jury selection this month. I've asked other people about jury duty. Whether if they had gone, etc. I'm getting bad information I think. I was told to just ignore the notice. Isn't this a crime that is punishable by a hefty fine and time in jail? I'm going btw. I'm not messing around with this. Hopefully its a quick procedure.

Has anyone done jury duty in the last few years?
Do you know of anyone that ignored the notice? Were they in trouble?

Just tell them you were raised by abusive catholic nuns and now spend most of your free time watching and sharing obscure YouTube videos on a dying computer technology forum and they will let you off.

 

[Mai72]

Good chance the fella is just going through the criminal process and the trial gets cancelled at the last minute because a plea bargain was struck.

Or it could be some civil case like a car accident matter...that...you'll have to accept the risk you might have to serve

True. Who knows. I'll find out soon enough.

 

[Mai72]

Just tell them you were raised by abusive catholic nuns and spend most of your free time watching and sharing obscure YouTube videos on a dying computer technology forum and they will let you off.

lol. I live in an area that is heavily Catholic. They'd probably look at that as a plus.

"dying computer technology forum"

I've always considered ATOT as the next Reddit.

 

[Torn Mind]

The reality is that jailing isn't usually going to happen for a first time offender. One, is that jailing creates the risk of a an appeal chain for a civil rights advocate. This might be different in more money-starved locales, but where I'm at, the system is making plenty of bank already to not pursue such small things(MD suburb bordering DC) and they also plea bargain as a matter of course.

They say ignorance of the law is not an excuse. It's not something that contradicts a violation occurred and that the government has power to punish. It is, however, a basis to claim damages imposed ought to be less severe.

In addition, the state likes easy money and hence the fine is a much less messy affair.

 

[Mai72]

The reality is that jailing isn't usually going to happen for a first time offender. One, is that jailing creates the risk of a an appeal chain for a civil rights advocate. This might be different in more money-starved locales, but where I'm at, the system is making plenty of bank already to not pursue such small things(MD suburb bordering DC) and they also plea bargain as a matter of course.

They say ignorance of the law is not an excuse. It's not something that contradicts a violation occurred and that the government has power to punish. It is, however, a basis to claim damages imposed ought to be less severe.

In addition, the state likes easy money and hence the fine is a much less messy affair.

Yea. I live in NJ and my state needs and looooves money.

 

[Torn Mind]

Yea. I live in NJ and my state needs and looooves money.

I wasn't specific, but my impression is that if a county is more densely populated(and probably "liberal"), the more likely they let small things slide with lax or no punishments all around(like Montgomery and Peegee). I got wrote up for a seat belt violation and the choice was to pay or sit in court for a few hours to waive it. Officer didn't show up in court; but he intent was chasing fines as he could have issued just a repair order since the stop occurred in a parking lot. Someone with regular employment would pay up rather than risk the potential maximum two hours spent waiting for the case to be called.

I would say the emptier counties are more prone to arrests. My former manager and assistant manager- I must emphasize after ignoring the initial summons, so it wasn't arrest at once--got arrested in the less densely populated Charles County, MD.

Former manager got arrested because an employee claimed assault.

Former assistant manager got arrested over essentially customer service issues.

 

[purbeast0]

It was pretty easy to go and make sure I didn't get selected when they were narrowing down people. When they ask if you have kids and need to watch them, raise your hand and go talk to the judge. I wasn't lying though about it so I also didn't feel bad about it lol.

But they ask so many questions that pretty much anyone could find a reason to make the judge dismiss them.

 

[sdifox]

Part of civic duty to show up

 

[Captante]

Close.... RESPONDING to a notice of jury-duty is mandatory.

If you have time on your hands and want to do it just fill it out and mail back.

If on the other hand you want out, request an "alternate" date and choose black Friday. Judges don't work on BF and there's a 99.9% chance it will be cancelled which fulfils your obligation. (done it a bunch of times personally)

 

[HomerJS]

Yes it's mandatory. Take it from someone who has been on a few juries, you will be glad you did your duty.

If it's your first time you likely won't get picked anyway. Most cases are settled before trial.

 

[BoomerD]

Just pick up a felony conviction or 3...you'll NEVER get chosen for jury duty.

 

[BoomerD]

Yes it's mandatory. Take it from someone who has been on a few juries, you will be glad you did your duty.

If it's your first time you likely won't get picked anyway. Most cases are settled before trial.

That's what my wife thought last summer. She got picked and spent about 8 hours in court and deliberations. In the end, even though MOST people thought the guy was guilty, they let him off so they could go home.

 

[Captante]

I'd say either go and take it seriously if picked OR it's better for all concerned that you bail out.

 

[HomerJS]

That's what my wife thought last summer. She got picked and spent about 8 hours in court and deliberations. In the end, even though MOST people thought the guy was guilty, they let him off so they could go home.

In both cases we did our jobs the best we could.

First one was 2 days. Day 2 were had a decision early morning but we stalled until lunch because they were paying.

Second trial was almost a month. Yeah it was a lot of time and a PITA sometimes again, we took it very seriously. Not that much different then working a full time job.

 

[sdifox]

I'd say either go and take it seriously if picked OR it's better for all concerned that you bail out.

You understand it's jury pool, where most people don't get picked right?

 

[Captante]

You understand it's jury pool, where most people don't get picked right?

Having been called for jury duty about 25 times and actually having to show up for several (that I can remember) I'd say that yes, I do understand.

 

[Dulanic]

Maybe its because I've moved many times between states, I have yet to get called for jury-duty.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

You MUST respond to the notice. HOW you respond may get you excused. I will not discuss options.

If you are not excused in advance and get called, there are ways to be excused before being selected for the pool. I will not discuss those options.

But even if you are selected for the pool, that often means a hundred or more people in the pool and only 12 - 24 are actually seated.

Being in the pool means you MUST attend a certain number of days, whether you ever get seated or not. In general, you are paid for those days which is likely less they your regular job. Some jobs make up the difference, not all.

You may also be paid travel time and expenses like tolls and parking.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

What sucks is that in some cases, the pool must show up for 30 days and be subject to selection for multiple trials. That may mean enduring the attorney questioning several times.

 

[sdifox]

Having been called for jury duty about 25 times and actually having to show up for several (that I can remember) I'd say that yes, I do understand.

I have shown up for a dozen times and didn't even get called. Just sat there and waited multiple days.