Jury Duty

[ParkTrips]

Jury duty is a joke if you can play online!! What a waste of $$$

[SharkTums]

Yeah, I gotta say, so far this is way better than I thought it was going to be!

 

I was all prepared with a giant book, and my DS Lite...but I've been online most of the day. Read some of my book before orientation but that was it!

 

Now, as long as I can not get called, it wil actually be an okay day!

[Carnage]

Only one 'panel' has been called so far. I'm assuming I'll get called after lunch, then I'll have to try to answer the questions so I don't get chosen for the jury! There are a few trials they're selecting for all ranging from 3 - 6 days in length! Grrr!!

 

At least they ask you questions.

 

In the Canadian system the lawyers have a sheet that lists your name and occupation. They then look at you and say yes or no, no questions asked.

 

It's a pretty random system. You'd figure the lawyers would actually want to know something about the people getting put on the jury.

 

Had they asked me questions maybe I wouldn't have been put on the jury.

[SharkTums]

Well, it is Canada...

 

Are there lumberjacks and maple syrup involved in the jury selection process as well?

[BeemerBoy]

^^If I remember right, for our trial, both sides had already narrowed down a big list of candidates to interview for final selection. The day jury selection began, there was a group of about 50 potential jurors that had been chosen based on an interview form which was mailed to them in advance. Because the cities in the region were so small, and our story had been heard across the country by that point, the attorneys on both sides took special care in selecting the jury.

 

I'm not sure if this would've been done the same way in Canada, but I'm thankful it was. There were actually a bunch of potential jurors who avoided it by citing religious values. Many didn't want to decide life or death, so they were immediately thrown out. If I remember right, one person actually claimed that he simply didn't like either cops or lawyers....I can't remember. That made it pretty easy to throw him out. So if you really wanted to avoid jury duty on a much smaller scale case, I'd go with that one. Just admit you don't like lawyers very much. If there's any kind of bias, then I couldn't see them keeping you around.

[Carnage]

^^ No maple syrup or lumberjacks. However there was a defense witness who testified how she took the kid out to a tim hortons to talk. Something about them trying to prove that he wasn't abused because he didn't open up to her. Because all teenagers are going to admit that they were molested while sitting in a crowded coffee shop.

 

^ Our process was similar. I had a mailed interview I had to do, however the questions were pretty basic. We had roughly 200+ people there for a selection of 12 jurors.

 

Before the lawyers made a decision you could give the judge a reason why you should be excluded. Some people were let go, and some were ripped apart by the judge for even coming up with a reason.

[bgwfreak]

I've heard (but don't know if it's true) that if you volunteer for jury duty, then after you serve you never have to again. That's hearsay, so I say I don't know if it's true or not.

 

I've been called twice and both times never made it to a trial. Well I did get in a pool one time, but got booted because I knew a cop and the trial was someone suing the Charlotte police dept.

[crispy]

WOOHOO, looks like I don't even have to show up

 

I was on the list, and now have been taken off, my "term" ends on friday