Speaking of jury duty

[pontifex]

With all the jury duty threads we get on this forum, it made me wonder something.

Knowing that most people seem to despise jury duty, how does that really work out? I've never been on jury duty and i've never been to court, so i don't really know how it works.

If I was accused of a crime or whatever, I sure as heck wouldn't want people who don't want to be there to be on my jury. I mean, what if they just go with the majority of people just to make it end sooner or something?

is there something in place to prevent this?

the other thing that occurs to me is how f-ing stupid the general population is. its scary to think the power they have.

 

[darkxshade]

1. Don't break the law

2. If you do, don't get caught.

 

[Corporate Thug]

yes, its called voir dire and it take weeks and experts on both sides to get through it.

 

[jagec]

Don't worry, if you're smart enough to use a computer, you're probably too smart for the lawyers to pick you anyway.

 

[amdskip]

So what pool of names do they pull people from for jury duty? I'm asking because I may need to update an address.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: amdskip
So what pool of names do they pull people from for jury duty? I'm asking because I may need to update an address.

Voter registration I beleive

 

[rh71]

I was on a grand jury and all we had to do was decide if the case (~3 per day, served for 10 business days) should go to an actual trial jury. Much easier and less time consuming.

 

[akshatp]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug
yes, its called voir dire and it take weeks and experts on both sides to get through it.

I love when Pesci says "If you would like to VOIR DIRE Ms Vito..." in My Cousin Vinny

Your post reminded me of that scene...

Thought I would share

 

[isekii]

I had jury duty last year.

Woke up at 7am so I could get there about 20 minutes before the required time. They scanned my card and told me I was disqualified.
Got the whole day off from work and just relaxed.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: pontifex


If I was accused of a crime or whatever, I sure as heck wouldn't want people who don't want to be there to be on my jury. I mean, what if they just go with the majority of people just to make it end sooner or something?

Actually a disinterested jury is probably your best friend. What sort of person truly wants to sit on a jury? Probably some self-righteous freak who wants to protect the world by sending people to jail. The clueless and bored who want to do the least work possible and go home are the most likely to acquit.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: amdskip
So what pool of names do they pull people from for jury duty? I'm asking because I may need to update an address.

Voter registration I beleive

i thought so too but i've been called several times and am not registered.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Corporate Thug

Originally posted by: akshatp

Originally posted by: amdskip
So what pool of names do they pull people from for jury duty? I'm asking because I may need to update an address.

Voter registration I beleive

i thought so too but i've been called several times and am not registered.

Most states don't go solely by voter registration, that's an old wives tale. My state uses voting, jobs, cars, tax and property records. If you vote here, if you work here, if you drive here, if you own property or if you pay any sort of taxes here you're on the list.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: pontifex
With all the jury duty threads we get on this forum, it made me wonder something.

Knowing that most people seem to despise jury duty, how does that really work out? I've never been on jury duty and i've never been to court, so i don't really know how it works.

If I was accused of a crime or whatever, I sure as heck wouldn't want people who don't want to be there to be on my jury. I mean, what if they just go with the majority of people just to make it end sooner or something?

is there something in place to prevent this?

the other thing that occurs to me is how f-ing stupid the general population is. its scary to think the power they have.

jury duty rocks. i was on last year. if it paid decent and was a career choice, i'd love to be a professional juror.

i didn't find that most people didn't want to be there. i was chosen to be the foreperson and so i had to direct the group and most people there were totally into being jurors.

you get a cross section of the population on the jury. it's not just the "stupid" people.