L.A. County really, really wants me to report for jury duty

[image=http://img853.imageshack.us/img853/5421/summonsii.png]

I got that in the mail this past Saturday, after my failure to appear for jury duty many months ago (I forget the date). They're giving me little over 3 weeks (from today, 30 days officially when I got the summons) to respond by either reporting for duty (BOOOO) or phoning in a reason not to attend (of course, they may require me to report anyway. Of all the problems going on out here, they're taking this **** too seriously.


Laker games cancelled (so far) due to the current NBA lockout: 8

 

In all likelihood you'll sit around in a courthouse for a day and not get called for a trial. If you do get called for a trial, you probably won't be picked (statistically). Suck it up. If you can't afford to be off work (I'm guessing Wal-Mart doesn't pay you for jury duty), say so.

 

Don't you get compensated for jury duty? And don't you get paid more than you would at Wal-Mart?

 

I'm sure Wally World pays for a day or 2, but I would have to inquire about that. When I do call (at the last possible minute because my middle name is Procrastinator), I will also point out that the courthouse listed on the damn summons (all of them over the past 3 years) is one in Beverly Hills, which would be quite a task for me to get there via public transit.


Laker games cancelled (so far) due to the current NBA lockout: 8

 

So? 'It's hard' is not a valid excuse for not doing your civic duty.

 

No, no, not Wally World. I meant the government compensates you.

 

Not for the first day it doesn't. And some employers pay for jury duty.

 

True, Marcus. Rather, if I get a live person on the phone (or if I have to show up), I'm going with the truth: I've got very, very little faith in the jury system. History here in L.A. has tainted that view (ie: O.J. Simpson & Robert Blake verdicts).


Laker games cancelled (so far) due to the current NBA lockout: 8

 

i heard if you tell them you're a racist they'll let you off

 

You think not guilty verdicts for likely guilty men "taints" the court system? Try the other way around, especially for capital cases.

 

I didn't mean to infer that only those kind of cases (where the guilty get off) taint the system. Far from it.


Laker games cancelled (so far) due to the current NBA lockout: 8

 

You probably shouldn't sit on this one, they're more likely to give in if you call them early than if you wait until the last minute.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3A_jeCAfn0E not always.

 

Possibly..............but what if I end up in a jury full of people who are so swayed by ridiculousness or straight stupidity? I could get into a shouting match or be so annoyed by them that I would end up getting kicked off the jury, and thus having basically the same effect as if I hadn't been there.


Laker games cancelled (so far) due to the current NBA lockout: 8

 

In case you didn't know, jury decisions have to be unanimous on criminal cases. You could hold out and cause a mistrial.

 

I forgot about that.


Laker games cancelled (so far) due to the current NBA lockout: 8

 

I had jury duty a few weeks ago. I just sat on the JC the whole time and didn't qualify for anything they were calling people up for because I'm a student. Which begs the question of why they didn't just let me use that as an excuse in the first place.


-sj loves kevin spacey

 

I've never been summoned or whatever. I guess I am lucky.

I do have to spend all day at the DMV next week though. That should be a fun experience.

 

I am jealous of you for being summoned. Not for being summoned in Beverly Hills, mind you. Bit I want an opportunity to be a part of legal system in such a way. It's frustrating how so many people seem to be so apathetic about it all that they try to get out of it, especially when you're someone who actually is civic minded.

 

Because they make you sit there for HOURS while they question each and every prospective juror. You can't read. You can't do anything but sit and listen.

 

Not being able to read would probably be annoying initially, but I'd probably start to have fun listening about people's lives anyway. It might be fascinating.

I refuse to be swayed on my opinion of the matter. Even if it's annoying for a while it's for the greater good and should not be treated like the way it is.

 

It's not that I have no sense of civic duty. I would love to be in a jury if I were at some job where I got paid to be on jury duty and just sat at a desk all day anyway. Right now I'm trying to make connections to get a job, though, so being on a jury for like a month would have been really horrible. Not to mention would destroy my thesis.

 

Having it destroy your thesis I can sympathize with. Not caring unless you're paid I can't.