Shopsmith Forums

I have been called for duty several times, but only served on one jury.

Three day trial on assault charge. Result - hung jury - 6 for to 6 against.

Where do you draw the line between self defense and assault? Is it ok to kick and stomp someone repeatedly in the head once they are down on the ground, if they throw the first punch?

Most of the jury duty calls were cancelled the day before they were scheduled. Only had to show up and then have them cancel once or twice. Got paid the $15 plus millage for those. Just about covers the parking fee.

A couple of years ago my wife was called. She served on a one day traffic case early in the month. The next week she got chosen for a big case...Ended up being sequestered on a murder trial. I wasn't told where she was being housed. The next year I got called. We call an automated line each Sunday night to find out if we have to appear. I never had to go and am safe for another 4 years. My wife still holds that against me.

Just my luck. I never have been called to serve and I would love to do it!

BPR

I have been called more than a few times, but I have been excused from the jury every time. I believe it has something to do with the question: "Do you believe a police officers statement to be truthful." Although my response is not " you bet I believe the cop over the scumbag every time", my response appears to be sufficient to thank me for appearing and excuse me.
It is not that I do not wish to serve; it just appears that I am not wanted.

Gary
I had a similar experience we were told we would hear from many different witnesses and if we heard testimony from a cop would we be more inclined to to accept it over the testimony of another? I raised my hand saying I would. A woman raise her hand but said, she didn't believe anything a cop said. That she had been married to a cop and they all lie. She was dismissed.

Then the judge came to me. He said Florida penal code forbids considering a persons testimony more truthful than another simply because they are a cop.

He said how would answer now.

I said I would take the cops testimony over another witness.

The Judge then got out the penal code book and read the statue to me. I was sure I was going to be found in contempt and spend the rest of my life in jail when he asked me how I felt now.

I told him I still would take a cops word over another.

He asked me why.

I said for the same reason you do when the cop says I was speeding and I say I wasn't.

Needless to say they hustled me out of court room with everyone else giggling.

I have been summoned twice and served on the jury twice. Both times I was elected Foreman. The one I served on while I was living in Vegas was for the death of an infant due to being shaken. The second one I served one was while I was living in Tulsa Oklahoma for battery. The one in Vegas was tough to deal with. I wanted to go over and shake the parents for what they let happen to their kid.

aloibl wrote:I have been summoned twice and served on the jury twice. Both times I was elected Foreman. The one I served on while I was living in Vegas was for the death of an infant due to being shaken. The second one I served one was while I was living in Tulsa Oklahoma for battery. The one in Vegas was tough to deal with. I wanted to go over and shake the parents for what they let happen to their kid.

That would be "Assault with Intent to Do Harm".

Only called twice and excused both times - first time I was writing my Ph.D thesis and under deadlines; the last time on active duty post 9/11. They called it a "hardship excuse". My hunch is they wouldn't select a chaplain as the projections tend to go wild.

I just turned 70 on the 13th of Aug. so I am now exempt from any further jury duty. I guess getting older does have some advantages.

I received a jury summons a couple months ago, just before my 71 birthday. So it doesn't look like California has an age limit on jury duty. Have had probably 7 or 8 summons but only had to serve once, and that was a lot of years age. Now that I have retired I don't mind when I get a summons, it will break up my day, and allow me to do my civic duty. Yea like I am excited about doing that......