tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post7913048731330671996..comments2024-03-14T18:09:09.667-05:00Comments on Do Some Damage: I Swear To Tell The Truth. Jury Duty Sucks!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-88735690651654849442010-03-15T07:39:39.973-05:002010-03-15T07:39:39.973-05:00Dear Joelle,
No surprise you were the foreman!
M...Dear Joelle,<br /><br />No surprise you were the foreman!<br /><br />My one experience was in civil court. We hung around all day and then were told the parties settled. <br /><br />Thanks for sharing your experiences and for the clip!<br /><br />Deb G.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-19009444355275113782010-03-14T22:27:19.886-05:002010-03-14T22:27:19.886-05:00I've appeared for jury duty several times. I w...I've appeared for jury duty several times. I was even questioned once, but I didn't make it because one of the lawyers moved around and postured so much I couldn't hear his questions.Mary Marvellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12015719890476028848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-32975410598556080232010-03-14T18:25:33.356-05:002010-03-14T18:25:33.356-05:00Never been on a jury but I've seen, and I'...Never been on a jury but I've seen, and I'm estimating here, about 17-gazillion trials, mostly felonies.<br /><br />As a newspaper guy, I can tell you that prosecutors, defendants, heck, even judges, tend to get along -- at least as I've seen it. I've seen cases in many different counties/districts/circuits.etc, and getting along is the rule, not the exception, in the non-phony world.<br /><br />The reason is that day-in and day-out, they have to work together. They have to make deals with each other. They have to trust each other enough to work on plea bargains every single day.<br /><br />Sadly, I'll never have the patriotic honor of serving on a jury. They don't like having newspaper people on the inside. We're a sneaky bunch.Steve Weddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03876211586767139613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-49760638605389903842010-03-14T16:07:06.785-05:002010-03-14T16:07:06.785-05:00Kathleen - Funny you mention the next summons. My...Kathleen - Funny you mention the next summons. My husband just received his in the mail last week. I only wish I made that up!<br /><br />Debra - you'll have to let me know if you get called again. I deferred once when my son was just born and my father was going through chemo. They gave me six months before sending the next notice.<br /><br />Mona - Hmmm..I'll have to try that trick next time!<br /><br />Cindy - WOW! Your jury was different than mine. Our group really wanted to go home, but we wanted to make the right decision more. I don't know how I would have done on the rape jury you served on. That sounds tough!Joelle Charbonneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13608552691748018256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-19060306825400340982010-03-14T14:51:51.776-05:002010-03-14T14:51:51.776-05:00I have been on 2 trials. One disorderly conduct a...I have been on 2 trials. One disorderly conduct and the other a rape trial. <br />The jurors on the rape trial were a bit disconcerning. The minute we got into the jury room they wanted to vote and go home with no discussion. This was disheartening to me. As a juror we have a duty to the defendent and the victim to take time to review the case and make sure that we make the right decision, to the best of our ability, not just vote because we don't want to come back another day. <br />If I am ever on trial (don't plan on it) I am not sure that I will trust the jury to make the right decision after serving on one.<br />I do believe that sometimes the judicial system does fail.Cindy Shipleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157711772938096837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-68586377951922262112010-03-14T14:20:00.174-05:002010-03-14T14:20:00.174-05:00I actually got called for jury duty for the first ...I actually got called for jury duty for the first time this past fall. <br /><br />I actually had a legitimate conflict that day, so I scribed my required excuse and asked if I could get called in the summer instead...<br /><br />We'll see what happens!Debra St. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-39882811279436916152010-03-14T12:54:36.543-05:002010-03-14T12:54:36.543-05:00I received my first jury duty two months ago and t...I received my first jury duty two months ago and thorouly enjoyed myself the whole time observing and taking notes. I made it to the courtroom but when the defense lawyer told me: you will declare him not guilty, I threw a sidelook at the defendant. The lawyer said you hesitate? and didn't choose me.Mona Riskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14923883333893160794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-68529141702824699972010-03-14T11:36:44.770-05:002010-03-14T11:36:44.770-05:00Joelle,
Loved your post. Jury duty is nothing li...Joelle, <br /><br />Loved your post. Jury duty is nothing like we see on TV & in movies (as the snorer found out!). I served, too, after they allowed cops to serve on juries. It was a civil case (a car accident), and I tried to tell them I used to assign the apparent contributing causes to accidents when I handled them in the street, but both sides wanted me. It was an interesting experience, and luckily it didn't last long at all. <br /><br />I enjoyed the clip ~ thanks for including it ~ it was perfect for your post. <br /><br />Congrats on completing your civic duty! Enjoy your time off 'til you get your next summons!Kathleen A. Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10809993168019150186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-30809690863299170902010-03-14T10:53:29.818-05:002010-03-14T10:53:29.818-05:00Karin - I was the foreperson, too. I kept reading...Karin - I was the foreperson, too. I kept reading the judges orders over and over to make sure I wasn't expressing my own opinion about how to proceed. And yes...sending someone to jail was something none of us wanted to do...but we ultimately had to make that choice.<br /><br />Paul - I REALLY wanted a 12 Angry Men moment...after 7 hours of deliberation I thought we might get one. Maybe next time.Joelle Charbonneauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13608552691748018256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-65014611184286731162010-03-14T09:18:20.086-05:002010-03-14T09:18:20.086-05:00Never done it but I'd have to have a 12 Angry ...Never done it but I'd have to have a 12 Angry Men moment!Paul D Brazillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12881642426845398389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7119990365479009764.post-34129216538303499632010-03-14T08:15:22.167-05:002010-03-14T08:15:22.167-05:00I also sat in my first jury box recently. It is ab...I also sat in my first jury box recently. It is absolutely nothing like television (the judge was doing paperwork with the lawyers presented their cases).<br /><br />We actually found the defendant guilty of one count and innocent of the other. As the foreman, I just kept reminding people of our jobs - look at the evidence and decide if there's enough to prosecute.<br /><br />No one really seemed bothered by the lack of theatrics (although it was not a murder case - theft and passing a forged document). The hardest part was for people to make a decision that could potentially send a woman to jail. No one wanted to be the one who convicted her. <br /><br />I think with court, like everything else, we HAVE to remember that TV is NOT reality. The apartments aren't really that big in NYC, people can't really eat like Lorelai Gilmore and stay that thin, and court isn't really that exciting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com