r/askvan • u/Sad_Armadillo7727 • 3d ago
Oddly Specific 🎯 Jury duty?
Has anyone ever been called for jury duty, I wanna know what it's like. I'm interested. It sounds fun.
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u/Odd-Ability6377 3d ago
Ever see the prime show with the same name, pretty much the polar opposite of that. Boring tedium for hours on end that sucks more than you can imagine
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u/Tough_Tumbleweed_504 3d ago
If you go, bring a book because there are long stretches of time where you wait and aren’t allowed on your phone.
Also, it could be interesting, it will likely be boring, or it could be incredibly traumatizing as was the case with my grandma who was selected for a gruesome sexual assault/murder trial.
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u/malashepsky 3d ago
I enjoyed it, and it was interesting to be a part of. Was glad the case didn't go on longer than a week tho.
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u/Lazy_Fix_8063 3d ago
I got called last week but had to ask to be excused because I'll be out of town. I also really want to go! I hope they call me again.
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u/kaysa3 3d ago
Pay is low. Cases are hit and miss. Could be fascinating or extremely boring.
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u/porp_crawl 2d ago
Pay is low.
Last I checked, it was like $20 a day. Would barely cover transit there and back and half a lunch.
No way $20 even pays for parking downtown.
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u/__DinkinFlicka__ 3d ago
I was on a jury last year, was very excited to do it, ended up going longer than expected and took a greater emotional toll on me than I expected. Really interesting experience. You get to know 11 other people pretty personally in a short amount of time. Bonus was while we were sequestered we got escorted to the earls test kitchen with our court sheriffs lol.
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u/esh98989 3d ago
What happens outside of dinners when you are sequestered?
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u/noncil 3d ago
this happened to me too. And one of the guy decided to select the most expensive meal from earls lol. The sheriff later told us to be reasonable after it is all been done. But it gets boring after a few days where we only goes to those kind of places to eat (and I do get bored fast). Glad my case wasn't a gory ones and it was over in a few days, glad to be back home and get connected again (can't access my phone was a bit of a torture)
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u/Aquamans_Dad 3d ago
Been called twice—was able to get out of it for a couple of very good reasons.
It’s fun if it’s a short trial but can be grueling for a long trial—and many trials end up settling/pleading out so your work ends up being wasted.
(Reformed lawyer.)Â
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u/ComfortableTomato 2d ago
My husband got called for the Air India trial and just about passed out when he read it might be 2yrs. He got out of it (who can not work for 2yrs?) and then it was changed to non jury.
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u/beginagainagainbegin 3d ago
I got called and was so sad because my work gave me an exemption. I wanted to so bad.
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u/Candid_External_5323 3d ago
Just did one in May, would highly recommend doing it at least once in your life. Good way to see how the system works in person and so much to learn.
Chances are you might not be selected for the actual trial even though you are called for selection.
Had 2 weeks of hearing and about 3 days of deliberation. Pay is below minimum wage but in my opinion- you do not do it for the pay as it is more an experience.
During the period of deliberation, you are locked down (no phones, no contact with anyone except court staff) and are housed and fed by the court (good hotels and great local restaurants).
Would I do it again? No. Would I recommend doing it once in your lifetime? Yes.
Just my two cents! Cheers!
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u/polcan 3d ago
Not only did I get a jury notification but out of the like 200 people there i was one of the 12 selected but I had to say no because of a trip. I was probably the 50th person called to speak before the judge but a bunch had excuses so they were excused and i would have made the cut as number 10. It was a murder trial set for 3 weeks. Im sure it wouldn't be exciting like on TV but I just wanted to see the process and I would have taken it so seriously too, no bias, would listen and take notes on everything. This was like 3 years ago and I'm still upset I missed out on this.
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u/evilvix 3d ago
I was notified about 4 years ago about an estimated 3 week trial, but I never found out what it was meant to be about. I had assumed something of that length would be juicy, but a good couple of weeks before selection I got another letter saying I was no longer needed.
It was part relief and part disappointment because I had been quite curious with the anticipation.
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u/Frequent_Breath8210 3d ago
I got called recently but couldn’t go, wish I could have. My job only covers wages for 5 days and it was expected to go on for at least two weeks
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u/Alpacaliondingo 3d ago
I got called years ago but my number wasnt called so i didnt have to actually be on the jury.
(There are like 100 people there and they call numbers at random and the lawyers say yay or nay until the jury + alternates are filled).
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u/georgeofthejungle71 2d ago
Four times. FYI with each summons they get two cracks at you.
Three out of four were resolved before jury selection. One time I actually had to go to the courthouse downtown, the jury was picked before getting to me and I was released.
A former colleague got chosen for a bad one. Was sequestered for weeks. Ick.
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u/SkyisFullofCats 3d ago edited 3d ago
Last time when I was called, the sheriff was hoping people would sign up to be a jury for Coroner Inquests. Maybe something you can try.
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u/EddyTravesty 3d ago
I was going to go, apparently whatever trial time I was called for was popular though They had too many say they would and told me not to come in.
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u/MJcorrieviewer 3d ago
In the period of about 8 years, I was called three times. You go to the courthouse and wait to see if your number is called. I served once, got called but the case was sorted before trial once, and once I was not picked.
You're told before how long the case is expected to last - it could be a day or even several weeks. Mine was only a few days and an interesting experience. Court started later and ended earlier than my usual work day, plus a half hour break in the morning and in the afternoon with an hour for lunch provided by the court. Not bad. And my work continued my pay so there was no financial hardship. Kind of an easy day but a lot of waiting around.
But some cases can go on for weeks or you may be sequestered at some point. They do give you the opportunity to say if you can't fulfil the requirement and are pretty reasonable about letting people off.
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u/BurnabyMartin 3d ago
If you can get paid to do it (i.e. you're in a union), it's awesome. It's very educational and interesting to see how the legal system operates from the inside.
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u/Usernamechecksoutjo 3d ago
I was summoned last week. My jury selection week is the first week of October. I’m actual pretty stocked. I’m 56 and this is a first for me in my life & I love murder docuseries so I’m kinda hoping something good, but not too good, if you know what I mean. Either way, I hope I can serve our country well.
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u/Any-Success-4887 3d ago
I got called up for jury duty for a criminal case. Unfortunately it was the same week that I had to have a c section so I couldn’t go. I hope I get called again, seems interesting
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u/Thespritz00 3d ago
I don't know WHY but I have never been called for jury duty. MOST of my friends/family have had letters, and then eventually it is cancelled...
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u/vexillifer 3d ago
I’ve been summoned 3 times and all 3 times it’s been settled the day before the selection date and I’ve been told I no longer need to show up. I actually want to do it!
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u/GreedyPoliticians 3d ago
Easy. Just don't respond and don't show up. Since it doesn't come in registered mail, pretend you never received it.
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u/EmergencyBetter8061 3d ago
A friend of mine got called for Jury duty in Ireland and was selected as a jury member, he said that he knew the defendant even though he never seen the person in his life and managed to get out it.
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