Have you ever been on a jury?

If so, what did it involve and how did it end? I was called to Jury duty but was not selected.

Was notified once many years ago, but it was dismissed the day before. Was just notified again for 4/15.

I was a juror on a murder trial. He was found guilty.
Was also on a Grand Jury one. Very interesting process. Jurors get to ask questiins.

Quite a few times now.
Last time I was called in stayed for two 7 hours days.
4 different rape cases. All pled out and we got sent home. Never saw anything just sat in a huge court room and read a book.

I was an alternate juror for a civil case dealing with a motor vehicle accident. Heard all of the testimony for 5 days but since all the main jurors were still there, myself and the other alternate was dismissed before deliberations. Still don't know how they voted. I think it was a frivolous lawsuit.


I have also served on the grand jury. In my county when you get selected for the grand jury you are on the jury for 1 year. Normally this is one session every 4 months for a total of 3 sessions. They say it is possible to have a special session but could not think of the last time it happened. All 3 sessions I was in were done by lunch. Grand juror is pretty easy. You listen to evidence given and vote if it is enough to indict someone with a crime. You are not deciding guilt.

I was on jury duty , a semi truck driver hit a broke down pickup truck along interstate.
The guy working on it was along ditch side, lost his lower leg.

We the jury where in deliberation just over 6 hours and the trucking company settled with a large cash settlement.
I felt and still feel honored to of served, took 4 full days.
Was very interesting.

Nope. In 42 years I have not once even been called for it.

No but the court sent me letters to call a # but my # was not called.

I was on one, child molestation, grandmother supposedly touched grandson inappropriately.

Lasted all day and towards the end the boy admitted to lying about it because his dad was mad at the grandmother. We acquitted.

Once. Drunk driving, not the first time. Convicted. Tough decision. Didn’t like being on the jury one bit.

Talked to the defense attorney some time after the trial - said he learned one thing from that trial - never put drivers Ed instructors on a drunk driving jury. Their minds are made up even before the trial starts.

Once in the 80’s got selected on a jury where a homeowner was trying to sue the guy that built his house because the way it was built allowed water to come in the bedroom every time it rained from the east.

Second time was just a few years ago . A 19 year old kid was accused of sexual assault on his 13 year old step sister. The arresting officer was struck by the 19 year old with a throwing axe. He was accused and convicted of attempted murder on a police officer.

Only got to sit in for selection once, they got the jury filled before my number came up theft case

I was only called once but not selected. I've been "on call" a couple times where I call once a week to see if I'm needed, but never was.

Last time I was called for JD, Was many years ago, and I dodged a bullet!

I was selected but during the vetting process they told us we would likely be sequestered and it would be a LONG trial. A furnace guy slipped and fell and was suing the homeowner. I had to beg off because of a dog that was due to whelp any day and I couldn't be away from her for long. I heard on the news about A WHOLE YEAR LATER, that one of the lawyers said something wrong, and caused a mistrial.

Imagine going through that for a whole year for nothing?

Yes. A civil suit. Woman was drunk and fell over a paving block and sued for a million +. I set in the jury chairs listening to two young lawyers alternately lying to us (the Jury) for a day and a half on why Laverne should get the million+. We awarded her $11,000. Far short of what she wanted and she was sad. Then I'm sure those two lawyers got a healthy share of the $11T.

Overall, it was not a negative experience. It will show you how our court systems work.

Got too many family in law enforcement, they won't sit me as a juror in a criminal trial.

I was on a jury that was to decide on a case where the State of Alaska was suing a farmer for not paying his land bill. I asked to have a closed door session with the attorneys. I told them that the State of Alaska had no business selling land then suing for non payment since farming in Alaska has no financial benefit to a farmer. I went home immediately!

Then there was the grand jury case where a step father was accused of touching inappropriately his step- daughter. As more information came out all I could think of was where is Dirty Harry. He was indicted and deserved it!

The last experience with the court was when I tried to get out of serving because it interfered with my construction business. The judge came out of his chamber yelling at me at the top of his lungs. A couple years later I was in a country store and they displayed all the bad checks. Guess what he had one there. I tried to buy it and put it in the paper but they wouldn't sell it to me for 5 times the value. Probably a good thing! I had to decide if my business ( income) was more important than serving and it absolutely was and is.

Aw Yes, 3 days meth lab. Guy was found guilty and likely was, but I was younger. Today I would have said not guilty because I don't believe the state made a strong enough case the lab was his. Guy was living in his brothers garage lab may not have been his. They didn't tie him to it. Like see him check on it give the amount of time the lab took to get to the stage it was at and prove he was the only one there for that amount of time.
The only thing they proved was he was living in the garage and was there at the time the cops showed up and there was a lab in the trunk of a car on the back of the property.

But the guy was down to living in his brothers garage most likely because he hit bottom due to drugs but that is just my guess. We didn't hear what he was giving but a few years later I was at the court house and asked the prosecutor. He got 5 years.

I've been on 2. First one was for theft, it took longer to pick a forman than t find them guilty. Second one was theft and stealing a car. Again took 10 minutes to elect a forman and 5 minutes to convict him. Don't know why they didn't take the offer from the DA.

I was on a trial once, A guy was wandering around a junkyard and the junkyard dog bit him! He lost! I heard stories of mean junkyard dogs that made me a believer!
Was on a grand jury, but got out of it as my wife was a court reporter, I use to proof read the testimony there are some sick SOB's out there.

Yes twice. One was attempted rape. Pretty open and shut case, no doubt about his guilt. The second one was a claim of sexual assault. It didn't make sense because the girl had invited this guy into her room and just so much about her story didn't add up. Found him not guilty.

I was on one Drug dealing trial. Guy was found guilty, but died before going to prison.
Always remember this about a jury….

I’m 36 and have not been even summoned. I have a desire to be on one. I see it as a civic duty and would feel honored to be a part of the system. It irritates me when I hear people lying to get out of it. Then they would be the first to complain about a ruling they don’t like. If I were charged for something like a gun violation or something there may be one good person on that jury that could find me not guilty. I would want to be that person that can think critically and keep an innocent person out of prison.

My wife was on 2 different jurys. I have been sent letters
for jury duty also,but sent back a letter saying that a could not
hear very good,even with hearing aids.
I thought that it would not be fair,because of my hearing,for
all involved.
My wife said it was very interesting!

Grand Jury and regular jury duty. I definitely have a different view regarding our justice system now vs back when I served on the juries.

Yep, years ago, He was found guilty, he took the stand and the fireworks started flying, entertaining..

Judge & Jury, 1970 thru 82. Small town, bedroom community, population +/_ 1900. During that tenure was referred to as "The Hanging Judge". Not a fun position, But the voters ask me to do IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tut Ps, Was called for jury at the county level about 20 years ago, During midday was called up for Q&A , was asked my previous tenure when known, I was dismissed. Took my rope with me................

My wife has been on a couple different ones. Actually went through a criminal case all the way to sentencing..

I'm on call right now for the first time. I was summoned once but they had a number to call the night before court and it had been resolved. Still on call till the end of March. It's a three month deal in my county. Or I think if you're in trial for 10 days your done. I have no interest in being selected.

I got called and selected once when I was in college and cooked to pay tuition. When they brought out the defendant, I got excused because he was my friend. I cooked for him at the club every night. Didn't know he got a DUI.

Sat on 2 juries. First one someone was smashing phone booth phones with a sledgehammer and stealing all the change. The phone company guy that had to fix them staked out phone booth’s until he caught the guy and filmed him in the act. Fingerprints tied him to the other phone booth’s. This was way before cell phones and game cameras and security cameras were pretty rare. Guy pleaded not guilty right off the bat they played the tape. Didn’t take long in the jury room to send him up the river. Second one was possession of crack cocaine. Guy plead not guilty because it was it was his third strike took most of the day but once the body cam footage was played early in the trial it was pretty much a done deal. Body cam showed the drugs being removed from his person and him and the three very large women he had in the car giving the officer a wicked cussing. Didn’t take long in the jury room for that one either. We actually had an attorney on the jury. He was fascinated seeing how that side of the law worked. Said he gained a great amount of respect for jury’s.

I've never served on a jury. The closest I've gotten was as an alternate on a case that was settled.

When I lived in Montgomery County, Ohio, I was to connected to law enforcement and the judicial system to be chosen. On the last trial I was called for in Montgomery County, they asked who I knew and of any relationships. I knew the bailiff, the judge, who I had teach me in the police academy and law school, 4 of the 6 police officers who were testifying, all 6 of who were supervised by a cousin of mine, the prosecutor and the assistant prosecutor. I had eaten lunch with the judge and prosecutor on several occasions and talked to both quite a bit. I had over 60 police officers who worked in that county, work for me on a part time basis over the years.

I was called for jury duty here in Champaign County, Ohio and was surprised to be chosen as an alternate. The head evidence tech for the county used to work for me and we used to hang out socially a lot. I knew the prosecutor some. I think it was likely they knew the defendant was going to take a plea and that his lawyer just didn't bother to dismiss me.

Keith

I've had jury duty twice in the last 6-7 years or so.

1st time I was selected to be on the jury and we heard opening statements then there was some discussion between the defendent and their counsel and we were escorted out of the room for an hour or so then brought back to the courtroom and the case was over. He was accused of 1 or more stabbings that I don't think lead to any deaths. I guess he took a deal or something, that one I'm a little foggy on because it was a while ago.

2nd time I wish I could forget. Again selected to the jury and this time went through the whole process all the way through delivering a verdict. I won't go into the details on here because some of the stuff will probably get censored or get the whole thread shut down. I'll post a link to the story, but if you've got kids, especially daughters, you might just wanna take my word for it that it's bad. I dont know how much detail about the incidents the article goes into, i didnt want to read it all, its more about the sentencing, but you get the point. I'm tearing up a bit now just writing this, and the trial was 3 years ago. I'm glad I was able to do my part to put him behind bars for the rest of his sorry life.

Green Bay Press Gazette Article

I was once, selected as foreman as well. Child molestation, no evidence, poor interviews, poor prosecutor, and social service dept. He was acquitted of all charges.

Nope

Once it was last March. Traffic accident guy was sueing for like 800,000.00.after hearing the testimony for 3 days.we went in and deliberated for less then a hour.he was a fraud and didn't find in his favor.

I was on a jury in a DWI case. A good friend was the lawyer defending the driver. During his summation, he winked at me in the jury box. The police really botched the case. Was around 1971 I think. Not guilty.

Several times on regular jury duty, one grand jury. Apparently there isn't a very large pool of upstanding citizens in Nome.

Unfortunately in the last 4 years I have received notification for jury duty 4 times twice for local District Court once for county superior Court and once for federal superior court. Selected once for district Court and excused for other 3 times.
In the one time selected 3 hrs of jury deliberation returned not guilty IMO prosecutor just did not provide enough evidence to prove beyond shadow of doubt, even though I personally believed the person was guilty not not proven

Yess, just 1 time. It was a 1 day trial.

Bryce

I'm not sure I'll be called. My ex-wife is an attorney, so I was automatically disqualified. I know all the judges due to that relationship and of course she practices before all of them. Took us 3 years before a judge was willing to hear our divorce case in the county. He would only accept the case if we both agreed to allow him to preside over the case.

yes i have been on one in 2019 civil case over a ski hill it was 3 weeks long very boring worst 3 weeks of life they wanted 7 million and got 4.5 million

Selected on a ticket to a female truck driver for some violations years ago , the state cop that ticketed her everyone including me lied to get selected because we all knew this arse of a state cop . She was found innocent of all charges, she may have been guilty but the SP’s character decided the case lol that was 40 years ago have been called twice more and not selected

Called for duty at County level 3 separate times but never seated. Probably my charming disposition !

Served in US District court for a week long Civil case involving a table saw injury. A far more positive experience than at a local County level !

My wife was seated on a local Murder trial. They convicted !

She later served on a rape trial at local level. They acquitted !

Been on it three different years after seeing the mentality of some of the jurors that if you sue someone you got give them money. I sure increase my insurance on my farms and vehicles.

Been called 3 times

never picked

I was twice, but got bumped both times because each case involved insurance companies. I was an insurance agent at the time.
I was asked if I would be prejudice in a case involving an insurance company? I said it depended on the case. I was dismissed.

Served many times/

i was once but i got let go cause i said i dont trust cops,that was a long time ago,but i am now on call again untill march 8th,not sure if i wanna be called up or not

Yes as well as made foreman, 2 day trial, drunk driver with a long record, we found him guilty after a 4 hour talk, one of the best experiences of my life !!
Never have been interested in the paying aspect of the argument, seeing it as my duty to the country's judicial aspect, would recommend every one give it a go, you might be surprised at what you learn, if you can get away from having the pay aspect control your decision !!

After being on a jury, I came to see why DAs want to resolve cases by plea bargaining. Get what you can, because many in the jury pool are nuts. Those folks on that jury I was on had watched too much Discovery ID….they wanted to overthink the most obvious of evidence. I can see now how OJ walked…

So was I on a murder Trial. Ritchie County. Then again on a Child Molesting case in Kanawha County. That idiot thought he could play the Race card and get it thrown out.

I was about 10 years ago. Repeat felon beat his girlfriend while driving at 55 mph. She jumped out. He stopped and proceeded to kick her. She had multiple fractures on the face. A broken jaw, lacerated organs. She survived. He got 13 years 8 of it he had to serve. He's already out. I think he's up to 15 felonies now. California loves it's criminals.
We never got to see her until after we convinced him. Every man's head turned as she walked to the stand. How in the world does a loser like that get a woman like that.

I have had to appear twice. First time was an OWI. DA asked if anyone had regular contact with law enforcement. I raised my hand along with several other people. He called on me and asked the circumstance. I said I worked with LE regularly with my job as a paramedic. I also mentioned that my oldest son is a cop. I got dismissed from that trial.

A few years ago, I got picked for the jury on a civil trial. A woman was suing the school district. Her husband was traveling home from work on his motorcycle. The driver of a school bus made a left turn in front of him. He impacted the bus and died of his injuries. She was suing for 9.9 million dollars. There was a lot of discussion by economists hired by both sides as to the value of him as a person. The school district's economist actually gave a higher value than the wife's economist. He gave a value of 1.265 million dollars. When both sides rested their cases, the judge instructed us to go to the jury room, elect a jury foreman and deliberate. The seven women on the jury looked at me. One of them said " He said foreman, you're the man. You're it". It was tough. There were no bad people in this case. The man had five children. The bus driver was absolutely devasted by what had happened. No amount of money was going to bring him back. We decided 9.9 million felt like a money grab. We agreed on 1.265 million. One member didn't want to even give that much. After it was all over, the judge came back to talk to us. Someone asked the judge if the school district tried to settle instead of going to trial. He stated that the school district had offered 2 million dollars. That was devastating !!. The man only made $50,000 a year. The wife had thrown away 16 years of his wages and then still had to pay the lawyers. It was tough sleeping during the trial. It was tougher afterwards.

I'm glad I did it but I'd be fine if I never do it again.

Been on one and glad I was. Lasted 2 days and resulted in a meth cooker and thief going to prison for 12 years. In that trial I learned it is ok for a cop to lie to you. I honestly didn’t know that and I sure don’t like that.Had to convince one woman that a quart of iodine from the farm store wasn’t for cuts and scratches. It didn’t take long to find him guilty but the woman jury foreman didn’t want to return the verdict before lunch so she could get a free lunch. I was afraid I might be brought up on murder charges over that.

I’m glad I helped get that loser off our streets for several years. I saw he was back from prison and was caught again for the same thing, this time should be his last as he will probably die of old age in prison.

On the other hand a employee of my son just completed being on a jury and was glad he helped a guy get found not guilty. He said the guy was being railroaded by a scorned woman and the legal system.

Both these instances show that a person can make a difference by being on a jury. I don’t understand all the people that are so proud about getting out of jury duty, sad comment about society.

Got called 20 years ago, found out it was for a kidnapping/sexual assault case. They asked if anyone has any immediate reason to be dismissed. I raised my hand and told them that a few years ago my fiance was kidnapped and murdered in a very high profile case that received national press coverage. The lawyers both looked shocked and the defense attorney immediately asked for me to be excused. The judge repeatedly apologized,as well as both attorneys, and the judge instantly excused me. I've never been called for jury duty since, which is fine with me. I could go the rest of my days without ever seeing the inside of another courthouse.