Jury duty

[Sparkchaser]

This is something I've wondered about for some time...
The company I work for, will pay my wages less jury pay for a period of up to 2 weeks... Ok, no problem. Very few trials last that long anyway. But what about some of the hotly contested high-profile cases... Say, the McMartin Preschool case a few years back. The jury was empaneled for over two years!
While I acknowledge my civic duty, my recurring expenses VASTLY exceed what I would earn on a jury ($4.00/day last I checked)
So my question is...
Do Mortgage companies, credit card companies, public utilities, landlords, etc. etc. have some sort of legal requirement to suspend payments and interest while empaneled as a juror, or are people required to lose everything they own to creditors while performing their civic duty?

[Switchback]

You get paid by the court, but it can be laughably low. Many employers have you sign the check over to them and they pay you your normal salary. If you are sequestered to a hotel, it will be paid. Meals are also supplied when you are sequestered. Finally, if you are not sequestered, you are on your own for all your meals until deliberation. For the duration of deliberations, you will be supplied meals.

I was sent paperwork to stating that I may be called for jury duty. My wife and I received the paperwork at the same time. It was a typical biographical questionair. They never called me, but did call my wife. She was excused as soon as they found out what I did... even after she said she could be fair and objective. That was for state court. There's not a federal court in the land that would call me (or my wife). LOL

[yahcanmicrowave]

No Sparkchaser - your mortage company could care less. They want their money. I understand the need for jurors in a criminal case, and the civic dudty, but I do feel in a civil trial, especially where there are major corporations involved, the loser ought to be made to pay the normal wages of the jurors. The judge, bailiff, attorney's and court reporter gets paid, why not the jurors?

I was called to a civil trial once. It was an asbestos case. When asked by the judge if I could render a just verdict in this type of case, I stated NO. (In CA, a Corporation and a citizen have the same rights - but obviously not the same responsibilities) The judge looked at me bewildered (every other drone was saying yes). He asked me to elaborate. I told him that for example, I shot someone dead in front of him, I would most likely spend the rest of my life in jail. If a CEO knowlingly sells a substance after he knows it will kill, the most that can happen is a civil penalty. I said that was an unethical law. If I am just as dead through the direct actions of another, then the CEO should be shackled and jailed. Because he is not, it is an unethical law, and therefore I could not render a just verdict. Of course I was dismissed.

[sparrow803]

Ya Sparky - I work for a mortgage company - there are no provisions for jury duty. I'm sure the problem has been addressed somewhere but I have not run into it.

[Stump]

I have been called to jury duty quite a few times. I actually did serve on a jury for a shooting. We reached a verdict, and also had to be sequestered. Just to touch on some things that some don't know/TV has lied about:
-- the first juror picked to serve is the foreman. There is not a vote.
-- you are free to go home each night and leave for lunch each day until the judge "charges" you (after lawyer's closings the judge reads the letter of the law -- it is right before the jury goes into deliberations). After that, you have to be under the constant survellience of the court baliffs. The exception to this is the high-profile trials (OJ, the "sniper" trial, etc)
-- Once the jury deliberates, they are stuck in that little room all day. If they want food or drink, they tell the baliff, and they will be provided.
-- Once the deliberations start (as soon as the judge "charges" you), you are to be sequestered until reaching a verdict. In my case, we started deliberating at 1000 (the trial ended the day before, but the judge waited until the next morning to charge us). We were provided lunch, dinner, and snackies. By 10 PM it was clear we wouldn't reach a verdict soon, so they brought in a jail bus that took us to a hotel down the street (Sheraton - classy hotel). The hotel provided us with toothbrushes, etc, and we had to share a room with a member of the same sex. We had all TVs taken out, and phones shut off, and a baliff was placed in the hallway. The next morning we trucked down to the court again, and were able to reach a verdict by 5 PM. Afterwards, the judge and lawyers let us come back into the court and ask questions, etc. Mostly, the judge/lawyers wanted to know what the hell took us so long!!!

[yahcanmicrowave]

Your last statement shows the arrogance of some lawyers and judges. It is easy for one person to make up their minds, but to get 12 to agree is a pain.

We elected our foreman for a criminal trial.

I think they should sequester the judge, bailiff and all attornies involved. If they had to put up with being locked away trying to decide a verdict, then they would understand (most don't).

Another thing I would support. A maximum 12 year term for all appointed and elected officials including judges, DA's, etc. I would exclude the Supreme Court. I have found that the longer a judge or DA is in office, the more arrogant they become. The power goes to their head.

During the last criminal trial I was on. I was on three. We found the guy not guilty. The DA questioned us after the verdict to find out why we found the guy not guilty. After the usual not enough evidence to convict statements I added that the DA's conduct didn't help the case. I felt that the DA belittled and talked down to not only the witnesses, but to the jury as well. I told him that was not acceptable. He didn't like that statement, but the way I look at it, he is here to serve the public, and not the other way around. If he was offended, he should heed the advice and come to court better prepared and to leave the attitude at home. Just my two.

The last case I was on was in San Francisco about 6 years before I became a deputy. The judges in my area are definitely the good ole boy types that have been in office for years. One is quite funny.

[mcsap]

Jurors here get free parking, mileage for driving in, a lunch stipend and get paid $5 a day for their civic duty.

Glad I have an automatic exemption. My wife is a teacher plus being related to me gives her a double exemption.

[yahcanmicrowave]

Originally posted by mcsap
Jurors here get free parking, mileage for driving in, a lunch stipend and get paid $5 a day for their civic duty.

Glad I have an automatic exemption. My wife is a teacher plus being related to me gives her a double exemption.

Really? More and more states no longer have that automatic exemption. We didn't get lunch or free parking. We did receive a grand total of $8.00 a day. Wow. That barely paid for the BART ride.

[Stump]

Why is being a teacher an automatic exemption?

[danah]

just tell them when interviewed that everyone in this world is guilty and deserves the dealth penalty. i dont' think you will be selected.

[Switchback]

Here, being a cop or lawyer is not an automatic exemption. It jsut so happens that you don't get selected. LOL I am not aware of any truely automatic exemptions.

[rdp]

ex-felon is one.........wanted persons they usually pull from the room too.

[Switchback]

LOL RDP!

Yeah, yeah.. I was thinking in the way of professions. I imagine if you are in a psych ward you may be excluded too!


We'll have to ask Darin if he's been called for duty.

lol