I've got out of jury service recently because of my history. It would be to triggering for me.
Today I mentioned To T about this. I asked her if she's ever done it, she said no. I asked if she would do it?
She said no, I don't think they'd want me on it.
I asked why?
She said, because I'd be saying "I know why he/she/they did that"... LoL

[HazelGirl]

I got out of jury service for the same reason as you once.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I also get out of jury service all the time. Because my mental health issues have been documented over such a long period and because it's actually why I receive disability income, I can get out of it.

I can imagine the poor person reading my letter about why I can't go. Lol.

My grandma-in-law gets out of jury service too. She's from Italy so she just writes that she can't speak English.

[unaluna]

Originally Posted by ScarletPimpernel

My grandma-in-law gets out of jury service too. She's from Italy so she just writes that she can't speak English.

My mom wrote that in, and a local university wrote back saying, hey we can teach you english heres a course. She was like, im old quit botherin me!

[angelene]

It might be unusual but I would love to be on a jury! I almost was once; when it didn't work out, I was sad.

[ScarletPimpernel]

Originally Posted by hankster

My mom wrote that in, and a local university wrote back saying, hey we can teach you english heres a course. She was like, im old quit botherin me!

Lol

They were sure determined.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Originally Posted by angelene

It might be unusual but I would love to be on a jury! I almost was once; when it didn't work out, I was sad.

I've been on jury twice - it was interesting tho' both cases were a serious waste of public money on trivial matters and both collapsed thru unreliable police evidence.

I rather feel that if you want the protection of the law you have to do your bit when called upon (if you can).

[H3rmit]

Originally Posted by angelene

It might be unusual but I would love to be on a jury! I almost was once; when it didn't work out, I was sad.

It might be neat, I agree. I've worked for the courts, and I often learned a lot through it. However, for that reason, I can never be on a jury.

Originally Posted by ManOfConstantSorrow

I've been on jury twice - it was interesting tho' both cases were a serious waste of public money on trivial matters and both collapsed thru unreliable police evidence.

I rather feel that if you want the protection of the law you have to do your bit when called upon (if you can).

Perhaps living a law abiding life is doing ones bit.

[Partless]

I would hate to be on a jury. I would try to get out of it any way I can. I already feel terrible guilt because of my depression and PTSD, I can't be involved in a case where I have to make those kinds of decisions about other people's lives, I just can't.

Ditto. .

[dark_sweetie]

I got a summons and thank got it was postponed. I don't know what I'm gonna do when it's my time again. I was terrified... like.. I'm just a kid, don't give me responsibilities ;w;

[feralkittymom]

I've been called a few times, served once. Minor civil case, so no upsetting info. Now being overseas, I'm off the list, but I will call and let them know when I return. I just think our system works best (maybe only works) when it involves democratic participation.

[InTheProcess]

Thats funny! I got out of it too. I received the letter and tried to be a good citizen by going (assuming i wouldn't get picked) made the journey into manahatta. Thankfully my bf came with me (hate being in public, alone especially).. and i was chosen!!!!!!
I had to go back a week later, alone. And explain to them why i couldn't. I was in a small room with all the lawyers and the stenographer and judge and explain my anxiety and my job is a small office and needs me and started crying and all >. <
I got another letter sometime after anf wrote them a letter. I never heard anything back from them, idk if it was the letter or just coincidence.

[InTheProcess]

Originally Posted by angelene

It might be unusual but I would love to be on a jury! I almost was once; when it didn't work out, I was sad.

I agree, mostly. Depending on the case it could be interesting and if it was yhe court near me in Westchester county and NOT the one at the tip of Manhattan.

[ThingWithFeathers]

I'm one of the strange ones who would like to do jury duty. Alas, I have never been called.

I don't think it's a matter of being strange for wanting to do it.... I think it comes down to our histories.... I'd end up having flashbacks and transferring my history onto the suspect.... I'd find it difficult to disengage my past.... I could not be sure my thinking would be free of my past.... It wouldn't be fair to myself or any person in court deserving a fair and just hearing....

[ThingWithFeathers]

Sorry, I was being silly writing 'strange' - I just noticed that most others don't want to be called (not just on this forum, but in general!).

I'm not sure why I don't think I'd be triggered by the content, I just feel confident I'd intellectualise it all - which is probably what you'd want from a juror. I haven't been through the criminal court system in any form though, and can definitely understand if someone had been a victim/witness in a case that that be retraumatising, along with the content of the trial for others.

I almost got on a jury once - went through the whole sitting in the jury box area and answering questions from the attorneys - but I was ultimately not chosen. I was bummed but sort of glad at the same time. I think it would be really interesting to be part of the whole process one time, but then again I think I would have a really difficult time having to decide someone's guilt or innocence because "what if I'm wrong".

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

Originally Posted by ThingWithFeathers

Sorry, I was being silly writing 'strange' - I just noticed that most othe...been a victim/witness in a case that that be retraumatising, along with the content of the trial for others.

I don't think you were being silly as it is a part of how Anglo-Saxon societies work so why would you not be curious?

However, it is in fact, as least in the UK, very, very mundane, with lots of sitting around, waiting, shuffling in and out, dull as ditch-water lawyers and after direction by the judge not much is left to the jury. I will risk breaking the rules of the jury room by saying I was foreman at the last trial and that was interesting and I did my best to help my fellow jurors have their say. It seemed to me that the common-sense opinion of 12 ordinary people is a good way to get justice. I would like to say I got to say 'Guilty, m'lud, guilty as hell!' but in truth I was expressly briefed by the Clark to say just guilty/not guilty and not a word more.

[tinyrabbit]

I have been excused once on medical grounds.

I'm in the UK and my T says he knows some T's who have tried and failed to be excused which seems awful to me as it means abandoning clients for an unknown period of time.

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

As well as jury service being a civic duty it is one of the few times most people come into contact with the criminal justice system. Prepare to be enlightened; most cases are not very serious, some are of course and could involve distressing violent crime, but many, perhaps most defendants appear to lead sad lives ruled by drugs, alcohol, poverty, family breakdown, loss of employment and much MI too. Then a costly, slow and archaic process of law is wheeled out to imprison them at enormous cost to the taxpayer in over-crowded violent prisons with precious little rehabilitation. One cannot help but feel that there ought to be a better way.

[~Christina]

Due to my Chronic pain and Bipolar I'm a quick no thank you. They have taken me off the list for good.

I read somewhere, thst all the smart people avoid just service..... Lol

[Mike_J]

I have been on a jury twice, the first time was a good experience, the second time not so much...

The first case was a DUI, and was VERY clear cut and only took one day start to finish, the second was not fun, a child molestation case diffucult to hear, and the deliberation was horrible, started off with a majority of us (7-5) thinking he was guilty.. but it soon became me as the lone holdout thinking he was guilty and I was sure he was, and wasn't going to be bullied into changing my mind, though I was open minded and if there was a logical point that I was overlooking or not looking at correctly I would have been willing to reconsider my vote, but it devolved into a discussion on what "unanimous" meant, seriously, the judge had to give us instructions on that word 3 times, the forman insisted that sense we all agreed that we disagreed, that was the same as a unanimous verdict of not guilty. Finally the judge told him that if we came back with a verdict she would poll the jury and ask us all for our decision and if we didn't all say the same thing we would be sent back. Eventually it was a "hung-jury" not sure if he was prosecuted again or not.