First-time jury duty

My mom was on a jury years ago, and several jurors insisted a guy was guilty because someone had called 9-1-1. I believe she ended up as the lone holdout on a conviction.

She vowed to never, ever end up on a jury again.

 

Did you share the ketchup with the other jurors?

 

Why would working at a newspaper be a cause for dismissal? Someone at a newspaper expected to be biased either way?

 

Had to report for the first time about three months ago but wasn't selected. It was for the retrial of sexual abuse case. Heard enough before I was dismissed that made me kind of glad I wasn't picked.

+1 to all who have suggested taking a book.

 

I echo taking a book to keep you occupied. A couple of people mentioned using your phones for entertainment. I'd caution against relying on that because one of the two times I was called, we sat in the courtroom and were told that unless we were official court personnel or notified the court that we were working as journalists that we were to keep our phones off.

Both times I was called, it turned out to be for naught. First time, we sat there for a couple of hours, then were told the case was settled. Second time, they just decided they didn't want me for some reason.

 

I have been called three times, made it to a courtroom once, but never selected. And, oh, yeah, bring a book. My last two trips I polished off Jonah Keri's great Montreal Expos book and Joe Nick Patoski's Willie Nelson bio, each in one day.

 

Your point on phones is a very good one. In my case cited earlier, the judge threatened to hold in contempt anyone who had a phone go off.

 

Seems like she's exactly the type of person who SHOULD be on a jury. Sad to hear that her experience might deter her from ensuring justice might prevail again on another day.

 

I believe I had the chicken fried steak that day, so no. Delicious cream gravy.

Damn, now I'm hungry.

 

The only time I got called where I actually had to show up I got out of it because I was a fulltime college student. But I still had to sit in the courtroom for about an hour while the judge listened to excuses. It was close to Thanksgiving so there were a lot of vacations. One guy, however, who didn't have one of the approved excuses proceeded to lambast the judge about the prospect of serving so close to the holiday. Judge let him go rather than dealing with him. Because of that asshole, the judge almost forgot to ask if there were any students. Luckily he remembered right as I began to panic and immediately let me go when I said I was taking 17 units.

 

Other memories of my very dull case... the federal prosecutors were abysmal. They would have had a hard time convincing me that the sky was blue on a sunny day. The defense lawyer was an old schooler who would have been comfortable in an 1890s courtroom. He looked so happy as I read off the verdicts (there were numerous charges), until I got to the last one -- perjury. His guy was guilty as sin on this one. That popped him off on a lengthy pleading rant.