Civil Service…

I am one of those weird people who honestly love jury duty. If it were possible, I would make a living out of watching court proceedings. I mean, I guess I can, but I don’t have time for law school and a couple dozen years serving at a law firm until I could sit on a bench as a judge.

As much as I love jury duty, I rarely get the chance to go. The courthouse hasn’t requested my service for three very long years. I’m like the annoying kid in class who is always raising her hand but never gets called on.

Four weeks ago, I opened my mailbox and… rays of sunshine shone from heaven and the angels sang the halleluiah chorus as I opened the cream colored summons.

Last night I called the juror hotline for my reporting time and…

My services were not needed.

What’s next? Why don’t they just off Santa and the Easter Bunny while they’re at it!

I’m ‘on call’ for the next 5 business days. Since it’s a holiday weekend, I can’t imagine the courthouse will be a hoppin’ place.

Darn.

Three years totally wasted.

Posted by Beks on September 6, 2010 at 5:00 AM in About Me, Confessions | 17 Comments »
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Leslie responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 6:54 am
Wow. Just wow. So… you’re one of THOSE!
Jeff responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 9:27 am
I am one who jokes that I would tell them Everyones guilty regardless. But honestly I would do it just becuase I have never been called up.
Rachel responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 9:43 am
I’ve always wanted to be called for jury duty, and I never have!
munchkin responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 9:58 am
I never have!! I would go just to see what it’s like.
Another Reader responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Once the courts learn you work for a government agency or contractor, you can expect to be called regularly. They know your employer won’t retaliate and in many cases will pay you while you are on the jury. I had several coworkers that ended up on very long criminal cases and were paid while serving.
jaye responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 10:48 am
Good for you for wanting to be there. It’s really the cornerstone of our democracy, yet many people seem to find it annoying that they are expected to participate. It really is a privilege. We need to remember that (even if it usually comes at the wrong time).
Vicki responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 11:46 am
And here, I thought I was the only one who enjoyed jury duty. I was fortunate enough to get picked to be on a jury, in fact I was the jury foreman. The court I had to go only had criminal cases, so it was pretty cool. When I lived in San Diego County, and the one time I got jury duty, I was pooled for a civil liability case, however, it was an personal injury case, and I work with data and statistics to support or deny claims in that arena. Imagine my delight when moving to Southwest Riverside County, and finding out the court house I had to serve ONLY tried criminal cases. YEAH!!
Nan responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
I’ve been called 4 times, but only the last time did I make it into the court room. After answering questions about myself, the attorneys dismissed 3 people–me and 2 felons! Wow, did I feel like a reject! I’ve moved out of the city and into a quiet county and haven’t been called for 7 years. I’d love to try again!
Dream Mom responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Good for you! I’ve only been called once and that was many years ago, but it was a one day deal. Just sat around and dismissed at the end of the day.

On the flip side, a friend of mine has a co-worker whose spouse was called to jury duty. Unfortunately, his employer didn’t pay him while he was called for jury duty so he was left with jury pay of $12.50/day for a week now. He was hoping it would be done soon since he needs to get back to his regular salary.
Dream Mom responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Just an FYI on my last comment-this spouse just started a new job so perhaps that’s why his employer didn’t cover his regular salary. I don’t have any more details than that as I don’t know these people.
Danna responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 10:18 pm
I was a juror on a capital murder case. Talk about stressful! I do believe that it is your civic duty to serve. If I were on trail for my life I would want a jury of my peers not just those out of work or retired.

By the way…I am going back to school to become a paralegal. Love the law but don’t want to go to law school.
emmi responded:
Posted: September 6th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Where I live you can go down to the courthouse and sign up to be short listed for Grand Jury duty. (They are supposed to call within a year if you sign up, rather than every 5-9 years) If you like Petit Jury duty you’ll love the sometimes 6 cases a day of Grand Jury duty. It’s fascinating stuff.
Just Me Again responded:
Posted: September 7th, 2010 at 1:55 am
You can go sit in on cases most any time. I have a county courthouse annex near me and it’s a great place to drop in for an afternoon of fun and education. I’m planning to volunteer for a Grand Jury next spring.
Amanda responded:
Posted: September 7th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Jury duty is ridiculous. You have to take off from your job that presumably pays a living wage and instead get paid $13 a DAY (in Wisconsin, anyway, which pretty much just covers your parking) to sit around and wait to be called on. If you don’t get chosen, that’s hours of your life you never get back. If you do get chosen, you’re a pawn in a justice system that barely functions. I’m so glad I have at least 3.5 more years before I’ll be called again.
Danna responded:
Posted: September 9th, 2010 at 7:07 am
Amanda – I’ll take our system with all its flaws over those in most other countries. Just think…a lady in Iran is going to be killed for adultry. Could be us.
Elmer Willaims responded:
Posted: September 9th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I must admit you are a little strange because I have yet to meet a person who actually likes Jury Duty. Some of us do it mainly out of civic duty and to avoid becoming part of the system.
Nicole responded:
Posted: September 10th, 2010 at 12:12 am
Hey, the next time I get one I’ll let you have it : ) Deal?