Boston Gal's Open Wallet

Three years? In NYC you won't get summoned again for another 7-8 years. I was just called to serve. I postponed it once and pushed the date to a Friday this August. We got a 2 hour lunch and everybody was dismissed by 3:30pm. If I ever get called again I'm going to do the same thing.

This Labor Day weekend I'm flying back to Chicago to spend some time with my parents and my nephews.

 

Hi BG,

Is three years the window? I served twice and am hoping to be done.

 

Hi Bucolic,

I thought I would be safe reporting to an August summons - figuring what judge or lawyer wants to get into a trial during prime vacation season? Boy was I wrong. In Mass they don't pick juries on Fridays - so your trick would not work for me.

Have fun in Chicago!

Hi Anonymous,

Yes, Mass only gives you a three year grace period before your name is dumped back into the general pool. Hopefully my name will get lost in the system and I won't have to do this again anytime soon.

 

Indiana has some weird rules on Jury duty. You will be called continually unless you actually are picked on a jury. I have been called 4 times in 4 years. I have never been "picked" as I am always dismissed by the defense attorneys. They never want a someone like me due to my 4 college degrees.


Here are the usual questions:
Q) Are you a Republican or Democrat? A) Neither - Independent
Q) Have you been called for jury duty before? A) Yes
Q) Have you ever served on a jury? A) No
Q) What is your highest education? A) MS
Q) What are your college degrees in? A) All of them?
Q) Yes. A) AS-EE, AS-OLS, BS-CIS, MS-Telecom Design.

Defense attorney - Your honor, this potential juror will not work, I use one of my exclusions.

Judge - Juror #XXXX you are excused.

I go home :)

There was a Becker episode about him trying to get on a jury. In Indiana - you cannot lie when asked questions prior to a trial, and it is like 5 years in jail if you are found guilty of lying during the questioning.

 

I think it varies by state and county. My county has a 1-year, 1-trial system (being on call for a week). A nearby county has to be on call for longer (and possibly more than one trial), but also having a much longer time in between summons. Then there's also the federal courts, which do not necessarily take state service into account unless it's been grand jury or something like that. I got a federal summons recently and will be on-call soon for two weeks.

In the past, I seem to have turned up more than the average in the name-draw, but here's hoping for better luck in the future. :)

 

Oh yeah ... I am childless this weekend .. so I will go fishing in my pond and relax. The weather should be crappy. In the high 80's and humid. I wish it would rain and be done with it. Oh well, don't always get what you want.

 

I've been asked to report for jury duty 3 times and never seem to get picked. When we get brought into the courtroom, the judge asks who isn't available for jury duty and everyone gives their lame excuses and they get dismissed. When they get to me, I always pronounce that I can't wait to do my civic duty and participate in the judicial process. The lawyers usually settle those insurance cases right before lunch. In CT you get between 3 yrs off in between stints.

 

I did my county AND federal jury duty all in one year. Now I'm a parent, so I can postpone JD for a few years due to my childcare needs.

We're looking at a three-day weekend and then taking time out of work for "kindergarten orientation day." I'm also supposed to take a day out of work to show my daughter how to get on a bus. That's it, just the bus trip, no school, but forget that, she's carpooling with me for this year. Your tax dollars at work!

 

Special parking spots? Obviously you weren't serving in Boston or Lowell! There you get the privilege of paying to park.
I served 4 days in Framingham once. Interesting process and I'm glad I did it.

Weekend plans - errands and enjoying what might be the best weather weekend ina while. Enjoy!!!i

 

I love jury duty! Who would've thunk it? I work in a very fast-paced high paying business where it is frowned upon to take time off for junior level people. However if you get jury duty you have no choice. Last year I got jury duty for 3 days. I wasn't picked to be on any jury, we just waited in a room in case they needed us. I was called into a couple jury selections but not picked. It was only from around 10am-3pm each day and lunch was provided (tray of deli sandwiches, etc) or you could bring your own. The waiting room was comfortable enough with several TVs, internet terminals, large tables and desk, and lots of sofas. I spent three days not having to work, just read books and magazines, caught up on my personal mail and got home shortly after 3pm and didn't have to wake up until 9am (normally wake up at 5am and get home at like 8pm). It was awesome.

 

Weird! I just got called for federal jury duty for the month of October - i have to call every friday night for a month to see if i have to go in.

 

Well, I did get the free reserved parking spots - but maybe that perk depends on which courthouse in Suffolk County you are assigned to...

 

We get a two year reprieve where I live and I'm coming up on mine. I loved jury duty. I didn't get free lunch or parking, but we were paid about $25 a day and it was fun and educational to experience our legal system firsthand.