Henry Rifle Forums

I have never been eligible for jury duty in the past due to my previous two careers. As active duty military... Nope. Then law enforcement, double nope. Now that I am retired... I got a screening package from the district court back in June. Pages of questions. I filled them all out and didn't seek an exemption. I got a notice last week.... I am on call beginning Nov 2 for three months.

Anyone stood jury duty? Interesting cases, snooze fest? Liar vs. Liar?
I'm retired, other than doctor's appts, nothing much happening. If called, I'll be taking a trip to Muskogee.

my 30+ year old career in NC's prison system pretty well killed my jury service .... have been retired over 10 years and haven't been called .... wonder how long that will last

Got voir dired a couple of times. Somehow, the defense didn’t want me on a jury. 28 years in law enforcement makes them a little gunshy, evidently.

I've been called several times and have just sat and waited in the jury pool only to be told to go home a couple of hours later.
Jake

Guess I'm different. Have had to deal with Jury duty call several times over many years and the last time was for Federal District court and got out of that one. Was NOT going to walk the streets of Richmond from parking to the court without my conceal carry!

Last month me and wife both got a jury questionaire for local duty for the 2022 session. Will see where that goes and if covid still running around no way can I sit in a room full of people wearing a mask all day....nope that won't happen! Come April 2022 at 68 I'll have only two more years to deal with the call then be exempt. Plenty of 20 somethings running around doing nothing they can pick from!

I emailed the Jury supervisor, told them I was happy to serve but wanted to make sure my chair wouldn't be an access problem for the court, courtroom, or jury box; nor would my prescription pain meds if I'd be sitting all day. Didn't want to drive two hours to the district court and be told, "Nope: can't use you."

I haven't heard back yet, but...

I never sat on a jury in the Corps either, but did serve as a bailiff in a court martial. Guy went into a fellow Marine's room at 2am while he was sleeping, took money while he was sleeping. Woke up and caught him. His defense? Too drunk to have criminal intent. Didn't work.

My doctor gave me a letter for permanent exemption from jury duty. Didn't give the specific reason in the letter, but it was due to my BPH. Didn't think the judge would be too happy with frequent bathroom break requests.

Got called and served many many years ago on a petty theft case. Pretty much a yawner.

Got called once when I lived in NJ just before I moved to Georgia. When I told the judge I was in the process of moving out of state and trying to get my house packed up. She said you're dismissed. Then a few years later in Georgia I had to report for jury duty in downtown Atlanta (ugh). I sat in the jury room all morning and we were finally dismissed at noon. About 2 years ago I got a questionnaire from Virginia and once I saw that I could opt out because of my age, I immediately checked that box.

Paul

What is the age to opt out?, or does it vary from state to state?

It varies. No exemption due to age in WA state. 72 in NC.

https://www.juryduty101.com/states/nort ... ty-excuses

70 here in OK, I think. Several other reasons.
Medical of course
Sole caregiver.
Single Parent
Essential at work.
Federal Government Employee
Law Enforcement Agencies
Active Duty Military
Medical Professionals, etc.

dave77 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 20, 2021 5:38 pm

It varies. No exemption due to age in WA state. 72 in NC.

https://www.juryduty101.com/states/nort ... ty-excuses

Thanks Dave, guess I'm still on the radar.

Several years ago I was on a jury. We found a drug dealer guilty. He had a very bad defense, good lawyer but really bad defense. Basically it was that he couldn’t be a drug dealer because the police had never arrested him before.
My wife was selected for a very high profile murder case. College student female was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and raped. They sat through the evidence presentation phase then both defendants opted to plead out guilty. Probably saved her a couple of weeks of more gruesome details. She was glad to be home from that one early.
She sat on another one that ended early that was for a police officer who was on trial for corruption. He decided to plead out on reduced charges.

Due to my occupation, straight commission sales, I was able to be exempted from jury duty. When I retired I felt it was my duty to serve. My very first time I was ready to be released from a case when I was asked to go to another case. The lawyers asked me why I wouldn’t be a good juror and I told them I was a black or white, no grey area type of person, they said great and I heard my first case. I think being retired and having the life experience that we retirees have, we should serve.

Ive done it a few times but never been called into any trials as they usually get dismissed.

I've been called several times. Usually they would settle just before the jury was seated, but once
I was the Forman on a case that should never have been prosecuted. The cops thought the guy was
innocent and even the female victim said she had lied about it because she was mad at him. We
turned him loose.
The last time was a Federal Jury for a drug dealer and he plea bargained before we were seated.
Well, actually the last time was a few weeks ago and I took the old age exception.
I felt like I'd done my duty enough times.

I’ve sat on two jury’s, one a six person DV case and the other as an alternate on a unreasonable termination case. The DV case was just plain dumb, the guy was guilty as hell but the two prosecutors who looked to be no older than 15 were very inept. It took us jurors more time to elect a foreman than to find the party not guilty. Stupid!

The unreasonable termination case was very interesting as it lasted for three days. I found myself switching between the parties as testimony was presented. In the end had I been a deliberating member I would have ruled for the terminated guy. Even tho I didn’t get to deliberate the lady who coordinated us jurors called me and gave me the results. Exactly as I would have found so that made me feel good.

All this with the declaration that my brother was an active Law Enforcement officer with the local Sheriff’s Dept.

I enjoyed the process and will serve again if called.

markiver54 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 20, 2021 5:23 pm

What is the age to opt out?, or does it vary from state to state?

My guess would be state-by-state requirement. Here in VA it's 70.

Paul

Headhog wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 22, 2021 3:51 pm

markiver54 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 20, 2021 5:23 pm

What is the age to opt out?, or does it vary from state to state?

My guess would be state-by-state requirement. Here in VA it's 70.

Paul

Will have to research that here.
If I do, I'll probably get a call right afterwards though!