[bloviatrix]

Rail Paul, on Feb 18 2006, 07:41 PM, said:

How long is the period of jury service in NY? In most of NJ, it's one day or one trial, whichever comes first. Essex County is two days or one trial.

It's one trial or 3 days. But typically, you get excused after 2 days if you don't get called.

[bloviatrix]

rancho_gordo, on Feb 18 2006, 07:47 PM, said:

ranitidine, on Feb 18 2006, 09:06 AM, said:

And don't get me started with your complaints about doing your duty.  If you don't like it, you can always move to Mauritania or Darfur.

But what is reasonable? So far, I've had one robbery, two DUI and a murder trial under my belt. I've sat on 4 juries. The murder trial was three and a half weeks. I've been called to jury duty 9 times, and most of those were under the old system where you are on call for 2 weeks and call each night to see if you're needed. Because the trials were not hung juries, the lawyers salivate when they interview me. I know many people who have never even been called for jury duty, let alone sit on a jury. This was a week of living hell and I am sooooooo behind I am going to pay for this for weeks. So what's fair? I get punished because I've already done my duty and because I drive and vote. I think I'll be ready to serve again in about 10 years when I'm 55. Untuil then, maybe they canb work out a system where they call everyone once before they call on me again.

Sorry to rant but it's been a really frustrating week.

You need to come up with a better story. For example, if you're ever asked "what's your opinion on crime?" your response should be "I'm for it because it provides employment for so many people - the cops, the lawyers, the judges, bailiffs, etc."

[mongo_jones]

you should just start taking your clothes off in court. i mean, you like to do that kind of thing anyway, so why not make it work for you for a change?

[tanabutler]

You can espouse the death penalty for misdemeanors, or say, "I'm sorry, I can't be objective about this because _____________."

Or be super religous and lie.

Or marry a cop. That usually works!

[mongo_jones]

i cannot retire early.

[tanabutler]

mongo_jones, on Feb 18 2006, 09:19 PM, said:

i cannot retire early.

Oh, go to bed already.

[Suzanne F]

Thanks for correcting me. I had no idea -- it's been about 3 years since I was last called.

Actually, I love jury duty. I get a lot of reading done, and now I can even bring work with me so that I can bill for the time I sit there. And best of all, I always run into someone I haven't seen in years and years; one time the re-meeting led to work for Paul at a client that has since repeated several times, all with interesting projects.

[alexhills]

One of my relatives who lives in CA is a jury-selection specialist lawyer and has a stock line for when he really really really doesn't want to be on a jury. It begins, 'Judge, you know that bit about matters of law and matters of fact, as some one who has a Phd in the sociology of law, I was just wondering....' Apparently it works pretty well... I think he's served plenty of times too, which must make for an interesting juryroom. Here in Britain the paucity of jury trials makes it very rare for people to be called, I only know one person who has been. I don't know if this a good thing or not.

[ranitidine]

I took a verdict in the Bronx week before last. I seem to recall the judge telling the jury when he discharged them that they were free for six years. It could be that with the full implementation of the no-exemptions regime the time between being called is getting longer. I also believe that if you get called for federal court, you can extend the time between your state call-ups. By the way, federal court never had the long list of exemptions the New York courts used to have. I remember being very surprised the first time I encountered lawyers on the panel.

[NeroW]

A lawyer on a jury does seem a little strange to me, now that you mention it. I'm not sure why.

[GrantK]

These send me your bank info so I can steal your money letters are evolving (I wonder if anyone is keeping track of how they're changing). Notice how this one ties together the tsunami, cancer, and Africa. It came from a purported MSN email account, but the one in the text is a .ro address (is that Romania?).

Dear friend,
My name is Mrs. Mary-Ann Williams, a wife of late Mr. George Williams, an American Businessman based in West Indonesia. I got your contact through the listed postal address in your country. I lost my husband to the international disaster in West Indonesia (the Tsunami attack) and I am also in the hospital receiving treatment after the exposure to the hard conditions of the Tsunami. I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer .It has defiled all forms of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live, according to medical experts.
My Late husband and I before is death once asked members of his family to close one of our accounts and distribute the money which he had there to charity organization in Ethiopia and Somalia; they refused and kept the money to themselves. Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended with what we have left for them.
The last of my money, which no one knows of, is secured in a security film in Europe worth US$15,000,000.00 (Fifteen million United States dollars only) and secretly defaced and is coded for security reasons; this could be released at short notice when a willing and acceptable partner emerges.
I will want you to help me collect this deposit and dispatched it to charity organizations. I will give you more details when I get your assurance and willingness to help me in this my present state of predicament please send to me the following details below:
Requirements:
Name in full
Contact home address
Tel/Fax#
I have set aside 20% for you and for your time as well as any expenses incurred during this process. Get back to me A.S.A.P.
Please reply to my private Email:maryannwilliams8@personal.ro
Regards,
Mrs Mary-Ann Williams.

[GG Mora]

Quote

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment.

Uh-huh.

[tanabutler]

GG Mora, on Feb 19 2006, 09:49 AM, said:

Quote

It has defiled all forms of medical treatment.

Uh-huh.

Sounds shitty.

[ranitidine]

NeroW, on Feb 19 2006, 12:29 PM, said:

A lawyer on a jury does seem a little strange to me, now that you mention it. I'm not sure why.

The fear is that the lawyer will use his knowledge of the law to influence the other jurors in their deliberations. In voir diring lawyers, you ask them if they will be sure not to use their knowledge of the law in that way. They will promise not to. Then you challenge them anyway. Of course, sometimes you run out of challenges, like the DA who couldn't keep me off a felony jury a few years ago, even after the defendant's attorney had told me she wanted to speak to me after the trial was over. I guess the DA improved his offer. The guy pleaded guilty.

[Aaron T]

I'm annoyed I got a cold that has been going around. Caused me to miss an interesting training at work, and more significantly, a culinary expedition with several other intrepid explorers.

The only good thing about it was that a coworker brought me Kleenex on her way home as she lives 1 block away and I had run out. That was beyond cool.