Serving on a Jury

[Mike 03]

Poll question: Serving on a Jury

This poll is intended only for persons who have served on a jury. It was composed rather quickly, and I am sure I have left out important elements, for which I apologize in advance.

[JuniperLea]

1. Called to serve every year since age 21...

And have never, ever once been chosen to sit on a jury. Never. Weird, huh?

I'm smart, well-groomed, well-spoken, don't have bad breath or rotten teeth... and I'm really kinda cute! I don't know what the deal is!

:rofl:

[ShortnFiery]

4. Lucky you. I have served on one jury trial and look to be ...

tagged again.

Maybe THIS TIME I should exclaim to the defense attorney during the selection process, "Where's the guilty bastard?!?" :silly:

[JuniperLea]

8. Hey! That's my trick!

Hahaha! I kid...

The only time I got off the hook and knew the reason why was a rape case... the judge asked if anyone knew anyone who had been raped... well, yes, yes I do. When I was 17 my best friend was raped by her uncle... good-bye Ms. June... thanks for coming! :)

[goddess40]

2. Never been called to serve nt

[quiller4]

3. Called to serve on a federal grand jury.

Our job was not to convict but to determine whether there was sufficient grounds to indict. We sat one day a month for 18 months. Each time we sat, we heard at least three different cases. Our grand jury was seldom unanimous.

[SPedigrees]

5. I was part of a sequestered jury, sitting on a murder trial that lasted 2 weeks.

We acquitted the defendant.

I sat on other juries, but they were less memorable.

[enlightenment]

6. I sat on a jury (as foreperson) where there was

intelligent and reasoned discussion of a clearly presented case and one juror disagreed with the remaining 11 jurors for reasons that had nothing to do with the law or even the case at hand - she freely admitted that she 'didn't care' about the facts because she believed that even if the defendant wasn't guilty of the crime with which he was charged, he was undoubtedly guilty of something else.

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that we ultimately strong-armed the hold-out to change her vote. Verbally strong-armed, not physically.

I have also sat on a jury that reached a unanimous verdict in less than an hour.

[Stevenmarc]

7. Served but they settled before it went to the jury.

[depakid]

9. I've yet to be seated

and probably never will, unless the right sort of case comes along.

[driver8]

10. Sat on a murder trial...a very heinous one.

Found the defendant guilty of second degree murder.

[ManiacJoe]

11. Selected for the jury, but

before the jury made it into the court room, a plea agreement was worked out. We were held at the door.

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Mistrial. Yappy cop blew what looked like a slam-dunk conviction.

Rookie didn't know when to stop talking, judge called a mistrial. Senior detectives present weren't too pleased with his performance.

[ThomWV]

13. I was the Foreman and we had complete agreement within 2 hours

On a case of multiple counts of incest and rape we were in complete agreement from the first moment that the fellow was guilt but it was clear to three of us that of the dozen and a half charges (don't remember the exact number now) there was one instance in which if he was guilty of one he could not be of the other. We weren't sure which one he didn't do but we were damned certain that he had done one or both of the crimes so it was pretty much a coin toss. We actually discussed this one small point for close to two hours, not in disagreement but just trying to make sure we were damned certain about our agreement - that we weren't just being carried away by the moment if you want to think about it that way. Anyway after we had sorted out that one seeming discrepancy by giving a not-guilty on one charge we were then speaking as one voice with the remaining guilty verdicts. The Defense Attorney had the Judge poll us as well, and each of us individually answered that we agreed with the verdicts.

[Mike 03]

14. Your answers are most appreciated and give me hope that my case was just a fluke.

We had total disagreement.

I felt there were people on this jury who had just ignored the most important testimony.

It was a nightmare.

But I think it is crucial that people serve on juries as required.

Thank you so much for your input! It is impossible not to admire the tenacity and opinions put forth here by those participating in this thread.



:loveya:

[Liberal In Texas]

15. Is this a poll for criminal cases? Because in a civil case (only jury duty I've done)

you don't have guilt or acquittal, you either find for the plaintiff or the defendant.

[PuppyBismark]

16. He was guilty, but we found him innocent because the DA was incompetent

We got back to the jury room and quickly decided the DA did not prove his case, but most of us thought we could have. However, given the case presented, we had to let him go. The case involved stealing something and covering it up. BTW: the cop on the case was just as bad as the DA.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

17. A rather fascinating "he said, she said" civil case.

It involved an accident where she was suing for extensive injuries and a pot of money.

She and her lawyer made it all too obvious that the "extensive" injuries were a matter of imagination more than substance.

She "won" and we awarded her $1.00.

I have a feeling her lawyer probably sued her for non-payment of his fee.

[SmileyRose]

18. Hung jury - little intelligent discussion - bailiff had to break it up twice

the 2 loudmouth bloviators of the bunch both got arrested a few weeks later taking turns vandalizing each other.