Jury Duty! A dumb, embarrasing question and a regular question

*emeleel* · #1 12-16-2004, 03:25 PM

I've been summoned for jury duty in the US District Courthouse for next month. Yipes!

First question: I know that juvie records are sealed, but if asked if one has "ever" been charged with a criminal offense, does one include that? I don't think so, but I don't want to say no if I should say yes. (Yes, I have a very stupid, one-time juvie record!

) The question is on the questionaire that I have to fill out and return within the next 5 days.

Second question: I'm not entirely clear about the amount of time. Here's what it says: "You have been summoned for a two-week trial term; however, that does not neccessarily mean that you will serve for two weeks. All jurors will report on the first day of the term of court for jury selection. If you are NOT selected to serve as a juror on a case, your jury service is complete and you will not have to report back to court. If you are selected to serve as a juror on a case, you will be instructed as to a certain day to report back to court for the trial of that case."

So, does that mean that I should definitely find out on the first day whether or not I will be serving on a jury? Or do I keep reporting back until I get assigned a trial? Or does that mean there is only one day of selection, and if chosen for a trial, it will take place within that two-week period? I'm so confused!

**mrisch**[$] · #2 12-16-2004, 04:00 PM

1. I would say report it. You don't want to be wrong on one of these
2. Each area works differently, so you won't really know the full commitment until you get there - you might have to call in or something in some cases. Or maybe not - it all depends

frazzledspice · #3 12-16-2004, 04:46 PM

Lucky duck! I was on jury duty last year for four months. Two weeks seems so much more manageable.

And I've heard that, in my city, the federal juries call people for six months.

I don't think that a juvenile arrest would disqualify you for jury duty, and I think it's best to answer the question honestly. A concern might be that the question might be posed if you were panelled (and you might know some of the other jurors in the courtroom....)

Up here, if a "big" trial was coming up, all prospective jurors were sent lengthy written questionnaires, and only the ones who were almost guaranteed to pass muster ever got to a panel. The other panels I saw were very cut and dried....with no questions asked that might embarrass a potential juror.

Although my term of jury duty lasted forever, I only actually had to appear in court three days (and the first day was a general orientation that the entire pool had to attend.) Most of my communication was by phone.

Good luck!

**mjfrombuffalo**[$] · #4 12-16-2004, 06:26 PM

From how I read it, and I could be wrong, it would seem you go on Day 1 to find out if you'll be on a trial. If you're not, you're done. If you are picked for a trial, you'll find out if your trial starts on Day 5 or day 2 or whatever.

**jgibson2**[$] · #5 12-17-2004, 03:20 AM

Quote:

mjfrombuffalo said

From how I read it, and I could be wrong, it would seem you go on Day 1 to find out if you'll be on a trial. If you're not, you're done. If you are picked for a trial, you'll find out if your trial starts on Day 5 or day 2 or whatever.

When I got my summons to jury duty a few months ago, I got both an email address and telephone number for questions. I used both and got very gracious answers from the person in charge. I was also released from jury duty because I'm homeschooling my 9 year old and this was going to be a very long trial.

*emeleel* · #6 12-17-2004, 09:19 AM

Unfortunately, we didn't get any contact info except for a "code-a-phone" number that we are supposed to call the day before we are scheduled to start. That's to let us know if there have been any changes or cancellations to our duty schedule. And I'm guess it's automated.

**Prepoia**[$] · #7 12-17-2004, 09:29 AM

Parts are automated (in my experience) but there are leads to actual people to talk to, too.

*emeleel* · #8 12-29-2004, 10:21 AM

Y'all are not going to BELIEVE what came in the mail yesterday!

My husband got a jury summons for county circuit court.

For one week.

The week of the 31st.

I think I will definitely be calling my court number today. It would be bad enough trying to juggle one week of overlapping duty if I'm still having to go back the second week, but what if we both got a trial at the same time? Now, if we have to, we can work it out, but I'd rather not. It's kind of funny, but kind of ridiculous!

mtbat · #9 12-29-2004, 10:29 PM

Hopefully at least one of you can get excused from duty.

what are the odds?