Jury Duty

[yuna628 9,680]

After 18 years or so, I have finally been called to jury duty for the first time in my life. Not an exciting prospect for me I must say considering I'm pretty awkward socially and is a person you'd least expect to be impartial on a jury due to life experiences. I filled out a brief questionnaire, and was a little worried why they were asking my husband's name and occupation (isn't this supposed to be about me?). My term of service is one week.... but I'm terrified I'll be selected.

 

Does anyone have any advice on how to handle or approach this new experience? If I am called for voir dire will I be required to answer publically to having a family member be a victim of a crime? Will I have to discuss it publically even if I will feel very uncomfortable discussing it? Does being a victim of a crime or having a family member being a victim of a crime disqualify me from serving?

[NikLR 13,227]

are you a USC?

sorry I forget and your timeline isn't helpful unless it's UTD or you're the petitioner.. LOL

Edited March 8, 2018 by NikLR

[yuna628 9,680]

10 minutes ago, NikLR said:

are you a USC?

sorry I forget and your timeline isn't helpful unless it's UTD or you're the petitioner.. LOL

I am the USC.

 

It did give me pause to know that they could potentially try and call my husband one day before he gains citizenship (they do provide an exemption for non citizens on the form). I made double sure the DMV did not register him to vote. Apparently in MD, it doesn't matter as they just take the name from whomever is getting a license or ID card.

Edited March 8, 2018 by yuna628

[NikLR 13,227]

Colorado has tried to get me for Jury duty too...  I'm not a USC.  It was rather annoying to have to provide a copy of my green card just to not have jury duty but I guess they have to make sure you're not trying to get out of it. 

 

Anyhow, as far as I remember with my husband's experience, they ask very general questions and if you are yes or no you stand up and they can excuse you.  He, an introvert, happened to make it all the way down to the actual questioning.  They asked him if basically a law said a person was guilty could he just vote guilty, to which he answered no.  To him everything is very much dependent on totality of circumstances so he doesn't believe something is right or wrong just because the law says something is right or wrong.  So they excused him too.  LOL

Edited March 8, 2018 by NikLR

[TBoneTX 45,498]

Do anything possible to get one attorney or the other to strike you.  Without lying, indicate your bias and closed-mindedness in answer to as many questions as possible.  There are a great many ways to get struck, depending on whether it's a civil or criminal case.  I haven't tried this yet, but I imagine that Googling "how to get excused from jury summons" would yield some great ideas.

 

The most mystifying aspect of this experience is to sit first in the jury pool and then in the court, hearing the judges praise the honor, responsibility, and glory of jury service as though you're getting personally blessed by the Pope.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

16 hours ago, yuna628 said:

I am the USC.

 

It did give me pause to know that they could potentially try and call my husband one day before he gains citizenship (they do provide an exemption for non citizens on the form). I made double sure the DMV did not register him to vote. Apparently in MD, it doesn't matter as they just take the name from whomever is getting a license or ID card.

California is trying to make it legal that non-citizens be allowed to be on the jury. So far the pushback has been brutal and they stopped "debating about it", but to even consider it in my book is asinine.

[yuna628 9,680]

1 hour ago, cyberfx1024 said:

California is trying to make it legal that non-citizens be allowed to be on the jury. So far the pushback has been brutal and they stopped "debating about it", but to even consider it in my book is asinine.

That's crazy to me too.  If they should ever call my husband and he claims the non citizen exemption, are there any consequences for him when he applies for citizenship next year?

 

7 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Do anything possible to get one attorney or the other to strike you.  Without lying, indicate your bias and closed-mindedness in answer to as many questions as possible.  There are a great many ways to get struck, depending on whether it's a civil or criminal case.  I haven't tried this yet, but I imagine that Googling "how to get excused from jury summons" would yield some great ideas.

 

The most mystifying aspect of this experience is to sit first in the jury pool and then in the court, hearing the judges praise the honor, responsibility, and glory of jury service as though you're getting personally blessed by the Pope.

I don't want to give the appearance of being dishonest even if I'm telling the truth. I know I will be uncomfortable with the whole thing. This is a tiny town and tongues wag, and I didn't want personal stuff involving what happened to be spread outside the courtroom. It will be difficult for me to talk about it if asked.

[TBoneTX 45,498]

1.  Nope.

2.  If necessary, explain it to them as you just have to us.

[SparkyCaliluv 25]

On 3/8/2018 at 12:24 PM, yuna628 said:

 If I am called for voir dire will I be required to answer publically to having a family member be a victim of a crime? Will I have to discuss it publically even if I will feel very uncomfortable discussing it? Does being a victim of a crime or having a family member being a victim of a crime disqualify me from serving?

I'm in a different state but thought this might help. When I had jury duty last year we were given the option during voir dire to request to answer sensitive questions in the judge's chamber outside of the rest of the jury pool and audience. A couple of people did this. Hopefully this will be available to you as well. Also, the attorneys did tend to dismiss those who were going to be retraumatized by the trial. The judge and attorneys stressed that they did not want to cause any additional trauma to anyone. Good luck.