I got summoned a few years ago during the summer so school wasn't a valid excuse. Luckily for me, all the cases I could have been put on were settle so my two weeks passed without ever having to even set foot in the courthouse.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
I've Never Been Called Into Jury Duty, Why?
- Thread starter HappyDude20
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My mother has been called for jury duty multiple times, but every time she shows up she gets thrown out of the pool during voir dire because she's an attorney. Apparently having someone who actually knows the law on a jury is a bad thing, for both the prosecution and defense
-Don
It is more they would have way WAY to much sway over the other people on the jury because people would look up to them as they are a lawyer. Hence the reason they tend to get tossed.
I know for me if a case involves constructions or the oil industry I would get tossed in a heart beat because I would have to much insider knowledge on how those system work due to family or education and work history. One of the lawyers will want me tossed out because harder to sway someone who would know how things work there.
I would defer it just to be safe
Usually, yes, but the Casey Anthony jury worked last weekend - a holiday weekend no less. So it's not guaranteed.
I have never been called to jury duty either. I have voted every election since I was able. Makes no sense.
I was summoned once but for some reason the summons got sent to my old address and by the time the mail got it to my new one it was literally one day after I was supposed to be there. I called the courthouse and a NASTY woman on the phone yelled at me and criticized me for not being there on time so I offered to bring in my summons that had the postal dates and everything stamped on it and she shut up and hung up. Very strange.
I get called every few years. Never made it on a jury. Apparently, lawyers don't like outspoken people on juries. 
As for how you get called, most states use voter registration lists and DMV lists. Some states use unemployment insurance claim lists.
As for how you get called, most states use voter registration lists and DMV lists. Some states use unemployment insurance claim lists.
The good thing about LA, is if you go for the first day and you are not called you will be let out of jury duty. However you might get another notice sooner then later.
Which court are summoned to?
I've never been called in, I've just been wondering.
The selection part is random, and the so-called biased people are often don't make it to the point of serving. Also, college graduates are disproportionally not used either. I asked my law professor why that was and he honestly said he likes to be able to work with a blank slate, or more of one.
When we started to work on the part of evidence and working towards convincing juries/judge, a lot of the fancy double-talk we learned could still be seen through by many people who went to college, usually.
Overall, his Harvard training was towards working with those who were less educated and "easier" to convince. That being said, his supervisor he spoke many accolades of didn't have a college degree and went to an unaccredited law school, and isn't traditionally educated, but considered one of the top prosecutors in the county.
Sometimes you may get a case thinking that it's too difficult for the jury and you can mold their belief as to what happened and that the outcome will be predictable. Just when you think you have everything you need to convince the jury, they don't bite and instead you get bit in the butt.
If I were a prosecutor or defense counsel, and the case was a construction one, I wouldn't use someone in that industry like Rodimus Prime in the jury (see above) as it would be far too much work to convince a jury. If there were more than one construction/building professional on the jury, that could be a real mess. As soon as any lawyer (or lawyer not previously in the construction field with basic knowledge) opens their mouth, they will be seen as an idiot to the jury of construction professionals.
Last edited:
Do you vote?
In our County court, that lasts only three days.
Sure! The judge does, and ya can't have a trial without a judge. BUT, if the jury is sequestered, you're put up in a hotel. You can't even go home til the trial is over.
I've served on 3 juries, the last time I was "elected" to be the foreman, oops, the "foreperson". Two of mine were medical malpractice suits. Both patients died. I found it to be a stimulating and rewarding experience.
I've never been called into a court room and then not selected to serve on the jury. I've never been an alternate. That would suck. Here, they select the alternates randomly just before the jury goes into deliberations.
I've been called twice for jury duty since moving to LA. My lack of citizenship disqualified me both times.
I guess I'll be able to ride that excuse for a few more years......
I guess I'll be able to ride that excuse for a few more years......
I don't know if this relates to the OP and their education level or expertise, but here's an interesting essay with pretty much what a whole semester of law school tells law students is the "way".
http://www.customessaymeister.com/customessays/Ethics and Law/2046.htm
What I find kind of sucks with this is that, early on one finds out the law is about winning (if you are an attorney) and has nothing to do with justice. All you have to do is talk over everyone's heads and make sure they don't understand what is going on. I wouldn't go so far to say, as this essay does, to brainwash a juror, but the basic reasoning is in the essay.
http://www.customessaymeister.com/customessays/Ethics and Law/2046.htm
What I find kind of sucks with this is that, early on one finds out the law is about winning (if you are an attorney) and has nothing to do with justice. All you have to do is talk over everyone's heads and make sure they don't understand what is going on. I wouldn't go so far to say, as this essay does, to brainwash a juror, but the basic reasoning is in the essay.
Jury duty in NH is for a month (can be longer). They do pay you up to $20.00 / day
.http://www.courts.state.nh.us/jury/juror_faq.htm