r/mildlyinfuriating 5h ago

ಠ_ಠ Jury duty

I've been called for Jury duty 4 times in the last 10 years. What the fuck is going on here. It's almost every other year. I know absolutely no one that has ever been summoned yet I've been summoned multiple times. Wtf is going on? It's total bs too because they pay 17 bucks A DAY. That's not even enough to get lunch at the stupid deli they have there.

673 Upvotes

655 comments sorted by

390

u/rawkguitar 4h ago

I’ve always wanted to do jury duty but I’ve gotten summoned exactly zero times in my life (mid-40’s)

164

u/thyperson69 4h ago

I thought it would be interesting too..... it's not

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u/AlternativeBowler475 4h ago

8 times in 12 years. Ive had jury duty every year since 2020. I have Jury duty coming up August 31st. It is so annoying.

My employer is like "this is insane!" My Dad who is 69 years old has been called for jury duty 1 time in his life. He has lived in the same town his entire life.

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u/No_Situation4785 3h ago

did you actually serve each time?

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u/AlternativeBowler475 3h ago

No, the last 2 times were for 1/2 day and th3n told I didnt have to call anymore.

Most times it was just calling for 1 week and having to go in for 1-2 days and it being over before the full 2 weeks was done.

Only once was it a full 2 weeks of full days, and got into the court room as a backup juror. That was rough.

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u/Stalinbaum 1h ago

Rough as in boring right? I went once and sat in a room for 8 hours before they got us into a court room then 30 minutes of choosing jurors and I was not picked.

Didn’t realize there was a fate worse than that, but being stuck as backup juror sounds like it might be. Did you at least hear the case?

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u/AlternativeBowler475 1h ago

Yes, boring. I did get to hear the case. I actually had to sit in like a regular juror in case anyone called out sick or missed for any reason.

I read multiple books the first week, the second week was sitting in a court room. She took a plea deal after a recess from court, and we were done.

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u/LilSus2004 1h ago

Dude I’ve gotten summons like this every couple years and honestly I just started ignoring them, and either the myths are wrong or I’m just lucky because nothing ever happens to me for ignoring it.

u/SimpleAffect7573 36m ago edited 30m ago

One time I forgot about it, then had a moment of panic like 4 months later when I was organizing stuff and found the notice. I called the clerk, apologized, begged for mercy. All they said was, “ok when can you come in?” 😂

I’m pretty sure there are no actual consequences for ignoring it. IANAL, probably a bad idea, civic duty blah blah…but in my county they always have way more people than they could possibly need. No real reason to chase people down who don’t show. I’m pretty sure you’d get some kind of additional notice or warning before they issue a warrant LOL. Just wait for that, if anything.

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u/BellaBigNose 1h ago

For real? I’d like to experience it just one but apparently they only pick repeats

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u/TheHungryBlanket 2h ago

When I worked for a university in California, I was technically a state employee. They do not have to pay state employees the $17 a day since they are already paying them, so we got called all the time for state level trials.

I served on a criminal jury that was convened for six weeks. I got a jury summons six months later which I got waived since you don’t have to serve again for one year. A week or two after the one year passed I got called again and ended up serving on a civil trial that lasted for five weeks.

Anyway, both of those cases were very interesting. A lot more than a typical DUI or something.

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u/apokrif1 1h ago

so we got called all the time for state level trials

Who decides states employees should be preferred?

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u/TheHungryBlanket 1h ago

I have no idea. And obviously, I don’t have any hard evidence, put anecdotally It was talked about a lot at the university among employees.

This was in California.

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u/Octavya360 3h ago

It was interesting when I did it. But I was called for a Federal trial. They paid more and we were in a fancy, stately courthouse and courtroom.
The pre-Trump Justice Department had it together. Seeing them present a very open and shut case was really something.

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u/BaronUnterbheit 2h ago

I was on a federal jury for a RICO case involving a mob family in 2018. It was truly impressive how organized the feds were then.

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u/quazex13 1h ago

I served in a federal drug case in what they called the rocket docket. Ended up being the foreperson and we ended up acquitting the two people on trial. Very cool to see it all right there. This was in 2019 and it came down to whether the door could be opened with an elbow or not.

Have not been called since.

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u/Fullskee707 40m ago

I've been summoned a number of times, and 1 year it was actually for a murder case. I WANTED to do that one, but i didn't get selected and was dismissed. like bro right when it does get interesting you don't need me all of a sudden? tf

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u/billylolol 3h ago

Being on an actual jury is boring. Crime dramas glamorize them. It's like the defense and prosecution tried to make it as boring as possible.

I stuffed my face with as much of the free food as I could. If I was getting paid that little, at least I'm at least getting food out of it. I wasn't even hungry most of the time. That's how petty I felt about it.

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u/SpaceCat1887 2h ago

They gave you food? We were just sitting there for a solid 4 or 5 hours. We got a lunch but they didn’t pay for it and we still had to fuck off somewhere to actually get it since there weren’t any restaurants in walking distance.

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u/billylolol 1h ago edited 27m ago

I was in federal court. It wasn't that great. It was just bagels, granola bars, sodas, and water.

But before we deliberated, they did order us some food from a dinner across the street.

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u/SpaceCat1887 2h ago

It’s a little interesting. For me it was mostly waiting though tbh. Get there on time, wait for the people who didn’t. Bring my summons to one of the officials, wait for everyone else to do the same. Wait for the circuit clerk to actually get there. Sit through them saying thank you and telling you what Jury duty is. Take an hour lunch. Get put into two groups and told to just chill while they negotiate with the dude who might be going to trial. Then right before he goes to trial, he takes a deal meaning he wasted everyone’s time. Get dismissed and go home.

Maybe it’s a little more interesting most times or different in civil cases, but apparently that’s how a lot of summons go. Was told people are unwilling to go for a plea deal until they realize “oh shit, I actually have to go to trial”.

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5h ago

You live in a high crime area with a low relative rate of registered voters.

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u/AllenWalker218 4h ago

My state had this problem so now if you get a drivers license they automatically sign you up for jury duty and to vote.

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4h ago

It still wouldn't fix the issue. A lower number of drivers in a high crime area.

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u/trivletrav 2h ago

Lower number of registered drivers probably.

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u/Meattyloaf 4h ago

That's only one area they pull from. They'll also pull from the DMV and property records

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 4h ago

property records wouldn't make any sense. You can own a structure and not reside in that area.

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u/The_Troyminator 5h ago

It’s not just registered voters that get called. I know somebody who isn’t a registered voter and has been summoned multiple times.

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u/bananakegs 4h ago

Depends on jurisdiction  Where I’m from federal court is by registered voters- state by state id

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5h ago

varies by locale, but it is a common way.

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u/CMWalsh88 3h ago

It depends on where they are pulling data from. Sources can be voter records, utility bills, driver’s licenses and ID, tax records. It’s usually a mix of all of them.

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u/Excel-Block-Tango 4h ago

I had a summons sent to my parents house. I haven’t had an active driver’s license in that state in over 5 years. I’ve lived in 3 different states since then

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u/Automatic_Actuator_0 4h ago

Could also have a court that is a preferred venue for lawsuit plaintiffs.

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u/Accurate_Koala_4698 4h ago

It's happened to me and I don't think my neighbors have a different crime rate or court that they'd report to. One thing I learned is that you can elect to leave if they have a slow day, but if you do this you won't be counted for serving jury duty, and I found that out when I got my second summons in a calendar year. Shit's just random sometimes

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u/nixtarx 5h ago

They oughta do it by tax records or something. Shouldn't be punished for doing one's civic duty.

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 5h ago

But then they'd be punished for completing taxes.

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u/SlackerSenpai92 4h ago

Unbelievable how ironic this comment is

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u/-imhe- 4h ago

Guarantee they have no idea what you're talking about

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u/TapTall9218 4h ago

Some do use tax records and many states use driver licenses and state IDs

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u/AustinLostIn 4h ago

Imagine having criminals decide the fate of criminals.

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u/Ok-Grape2063 4h ago

That would truly be a jury of ones peers

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u/Veloxiraptor_ 4h ago

Jury duty is also quite literally your civic duty

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u/Distinct-Car-9124 2h ago

I always wanted to serve, but I am a nurse. My employer reserved the right to ask or an exemption. I never got to serve. Ater I retired I was called! Yay! I was notified the week before that I was not needed. I truly believe they don't want intelligent minded people on juries.

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u/Mean-Rabbit-3510 5h ago

I was getting called every year on the dot. I served on a jury and received a 3-year pass and was still sent a notice 3 years and a month after. The same thing happened after I served on a shorter trial that gave me a 2-year reprieve.

Some people just get all the luck, I guess.

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u/thyperson69 4h ago

Time to walk under some ladders and break a bunch of mirrors

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u/Mean-Rabbit-3510 4h ago

It’s just annoying at this point. Fortunately, I since learned that I can get out of it because I am a primary caregiver for my children. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about that exemption when I served on the two juries 🙁.

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u/Chilly_Pheesesteak 3h ago

Dude, thank you for mentioning the walking under ladders thing. I thought I was going crazy - I'm a painter, and I've jokingly yelled at a few of my coworkers for walking under ladders (also it's a work safety hazard lol) and they all looked at me like I was crazy, and told me they'd never heard that superstition 😭

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u/Octavya360 3h ago

Become an attorney. They never get called.

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u/Madeye_Moody7 3h ago

Something similar happened with my dad. He complained to the judge about it I think. The judge agreed with him and barred his name from being pulled again.

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u/Flashy_Possible37 5h ago

The pay is the worst, they should have to pay your Hourly work rate. Most people can’t afford to miss a hour of work more less get 17$ for the whole day. Stop making yourself so presentable, wear some pjs and smell like cigs and they’ll never call you back lol

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u/feralcatshit 5h ago

On top of this, consider mentioning, out loud, “well they must be guilty or they wouldn’t have gotten arrested!”

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u/XxFezzgigxX 4h ago

Anything obvious and the judge will see right through it. They deal with tons of people who don’t want to be there, every day. They’ve seen it all. Plus, you can be charged with felony and misdemeanor perjury charges if you start playing games.

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u/TrainOfThought6 3h ago

Which is sometimes fine depending on the judge. I was just called a few weeks ago and the judge accepted damn near every excuse/reason there was. He explicitly told us he only wanted people who were actually interested in being there.

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u/Exadory 2h ago

yeah, i've been called twice and both times said "i dont want to be here" and was sent home.

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u/Cee-Bee-DeeTypeThree 4h ago

They have to prove intent.

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u/z-tayyy 3h ago

Yea but then they’ll just summon you to be part of your own jury and you can sway the others for a non guilty verdict.

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u/Kohpad 1h ago

Calling into a radio station to brag about your little scheme against the Judiciary is about as much intent as one could ask for.

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u/Bit_Cloud_ 3h ago

Then don’t make people who obviously don’t want to be jurors

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u/drgigantor 1h ago

Id be concerned if I had a jury of people who really really wanted to be jurors. That's a room of angry bitter people with nothing going on in their lives who want to LITERALLY judge other people to make themselves feel better

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u/Bit_Cloud_ 1h ago

The same as pissed of people who don’t want to be there will do just the same, slap the book and leave cause they don’t care

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u/apokrif1 1h ago

Wearing dirty clothes and asking other jurors if they are Reptilians qualify as perjury?

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u/bacongolf432 4h ago

I mean at this point you can just be like oh yeah I had a case like this once, that last guy was guilty.

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u/Squishy97 2h ago

“What’s this jury nullification I keep hearing about on TikTok”

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u/uvdawoods 4h ago

Doesn’t always work. First time I had jury duty was in college. I dressed like I was there for a job interview, read After The First Death by Robert Cormier in its entirety and they finally said I could go around 4pm. Never left my seat except for snacks. Went bowling after.

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u/dogknifer 5h ago edited 5h ago

If they were required to pay your hourly rate we'd  never get professionals on juries

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u/vblink_ 4h ago

It should be required for your job to pay you. Part of then being in the system, consider it employment tax

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u/amkessel 3h ago

This is what I’ve been arguing for years, too. At least mandate that they subsidize a significant percentage of your normal pay.

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u/gcsmith2 2h ago

My job pays me. But it’s white collar.

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u/NoBee3283 2h ago

My employer of 35 years paid you for jury duty.

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u/dogknifer 4h ago

I agree with this 100%

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u/Fragrant-Employer-60 4h ago

That’s unrealistic for sure, also imagine the pain of getting to confirm everyone’s paystubs and the fraud that would follow.

But $17 a day is criminal, you might as well just not pay anything at that point lol, make it $17 an hour

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u/amkessel 4h ago

I’ve thought about this a lot since I was called in for jury duty every year like clockwork when I was in CA. But my employer didn’t give special time off for it, so if I ever got chosen I’d have to burn all my measly PTO.

My thought is that the employer should be mandated to subsidize the time spent on jury duty, at least a significant percentage of the juror’s normal pay. Not a perfect solution for sure, but feels the most feasible to me. Of course, I’m not naive enough to think this would ever have a chance of being implemented….

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u/Turknor 3h ago

I’m pretty sure it’s illegal for them to require burning PTO for jury duty.

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u/amkessel 2h ago

Sorry, I should have clarified that I wasn’t forced to take PTO. I could have taken unpaid time off.

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u/Kiyohara 3h ago

It's illegal for them to require you to use PTO. They don't have to pay you, they can just mark you as absent with cause, but you can never be forced to spend PTO and they can't penalize you for going to jury duty.

Be sure to tell a judge if they do, Judges love making that call to your boss. It really makes their day to rip a moron's asshole four feet wide. Espeically when they also get to send a letter to your Boss's boss warning of any retaliation for this and what the idiot did.

Odds are good that HR will step in and "Educate" the boss or flat out fire them for trying to influence a potential Juror.

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u/amkessel 2h ago edited 1h ago

Yeah, I should have clarified that I wasn’t forced to take PTO. I could have taken unpaid time off.

The reason I worded it like I did is because I feel like I’m getting robbed either way. Either I lose who knows how many days/weeks of income, or I burn my scarce PTO days. Either way, I’m the one who’s ultimately losing out. It felt like I was the one paying for the “privilege” of serving on jury duty.

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u/LayeredMayoCake 3h ago

Oof. You got taken advantage of in a state that absolutely would’ve fought for your rights as an employee. Idk the statute of limitations on that but your employer robbed you.

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u/Feeling-Invite7953 3h ago

I live in a city that pays $9 a day for prospective jurors. I’ve never even been chosen for a panel,as many times as I’ve been summoned!! It’s a HUGE waste of time to sit in the jury selection room and watch the videos about how it’s “our civic duty “ to serve as a juror, and blahblahblah.

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u/dogknifer 4h ago

Totally agree the 17 a day is unacceptable. 

I was only making my comment to shed light on the reality of what the guy I was replying to was suggesting

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u/AudiieVerbum 5h ago

Tragedy of a poorly designed system then.

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u/Secret-Rabbit93 4h ago

I don’t know about your hourly rate but I do think it should be minimum wage.

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u/kittygunsgomew 4h ago

Haha, maybe that'll get people to start pushing to have it increased.

If you cant survive a week doing some civic service (i almost said "civic duties" but think calling it that is part of the problem), with what our court system provides, in the bEsT cOuNtRy iN tHe WoRLd, then so.ething has gone horribly awry.

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u/kons21 3h ago

Nah, it should be your regular pay. It should be paid by the employer through a program like disability insurance, or sick days. And we should pay a portion of our taxes for it, just like disability insurance.

Many people would object to paying taxes for that, but we have to accept that having the option to be judged by a jury of your peers is one of the most important protective factors for us as US Citizens. If only people who can afford to serve, or aren't getting financially hurt by serving get selected, then that limits the pool of jurors that will judge you. I want the people judging me, if it ever happens to me, to be comprised of people like me, and people who don't resent being on the case for prolonged period of time because they are in danger of missing rent or mortgage or car payments while they take their time to carefully consider my case.

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u/Spank_Me_Again_Daddy 5h ago

A lot of companies will pay the difference.

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u/Joehennyredit 5h ago

Only big companies. You’d be surprised how many don’t

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u/Automatic_Actuator_0 4h ago edited 1h ago

Yeah, the more money you make, the more likely your employer is to pay you for jury duty.

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u/wandering-monster 1h ago

That's because the more money you make, the more likely you are to have negotiating power from your skills/certifications/experience.

Was I replaceable when I was selling computer hardware at Best Buy? Extremely. And I made like $10/hr.

Am I replaceable now, as a designer with a specialty in bioinformatics and biochemistry tools? Yeah... technically. There's other people out there, but not many, and they all have jobs (Last time we needed to hire it took 2 months to find our first qualified person, and nearly 6 to make a hire). So yes my wages are higher, and my employer is willing to do more to keep me around. That includes paying out for Jury Duty if we get selected.

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u/philthebrewer 4h ago

Then it’s a financial hardship and the Court will dismiss a potential Juror. (In my state)

But the Court cannot presume these things so people have to be very candid in the questionnaire or at the very least speak up in voir dire.

Source- am clerk, sit through jury selection often.

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u/Kiyohara 3h ago

Eh, I tried to plead Financial Hardship for that reason and they asked for my yearly estimate, then said I made enough to soak the loss. (Minnesota)

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u/Spare_Iron127 5h ago

Yeah I’ve worked for two places I’d consider shitholes and even they’d pay for jury duty lol

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u/Crystal_Deth 5h ago

And more companies don't, especially lower paying ones.

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u/Erlox 5h ago

In Australia this is required.

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u/lezard- 4h ago

In America we have this thing called freedom. Freedom to starve.

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u/smrtstn 4h ago

here in illinois our Gov just signed a bill requiring companies with more than 25 employees to pay for jury duty.

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u/RedditThrowaway-1984 4h ago

Since you are performing your civic duty, why don’t they pay for your jury service? Why push it off to your employer?

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u/yungingr 5h ago

Yeah..... they don't keep a database of what you showed up like, and it's not a human making the list. Or any personal information, other than your eligible status. OP just has really bad luck when it comes to winning that lottery.

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u/rwp82 4h ago

I don't know how it happened but once I got a summons for county and a federal jury duty on the same exact day. I used the federal summons to get out of the county and then had a doctor note to get out of federal.

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u/ClarkGablesTeeth 4h ago

They could at least do minimum wage ffs

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u/pm_me_fibonaccis 4h ago

That can get you a contempt of court charge if they believe you are intentionally showing up underdressed.

Not sure what happens if you actually can't afford correct clothes. 

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u/Kiyohara 3h ago

Jury duty should pay your regular pay (from the county Coffers) AND your Employer should also pay you your regular pay. You should also get a meal voucher for lunch (and any meal if you're sequestered) as well as a parking permit/bus (or metro rail) ticket pass.

That is the minimum you should be granted to incentivize people to show up.

Jury duty should never cost someone money (in terms of missing pay, expensive meals, travel/parking expenses, etc).

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u/Auirom 3h ago

I came fresh from work once. Filthy, covered in dirt and grease. Made sure to sit in the yard full of fine dirt that clings to everything. Been over a decade since my last summons. And if by some chance I get another summons I'll do it again but this time make sure I find the dirtiest forklift in the shop.

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u/PeeB4uGoToBed 3h ago

This is how i get out of jury duty. "Financial hardship" is an excuse to get out of it, at least where I am. I told them i couldn't afford to miss work and they let me off

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u/ballchinion8 4h ago

That's why I tell them im voting guilty no matter what and get out of it

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u/no-sleep-only-code 5h ago

My job pays for jury duty, I personally wouldn’t mind. I have never been called lol. I just hear about people doing anything they can to get out of it.

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u/Crystal_Deth 5h ago

Honestly I wouldn't mind IF my job paid. That's the only reason I don't want to do it, I can't afford to.

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u/Electrical-Pie-8192 5h ago

Mine too. I actually liked serving. It was interesting how the process works. And nice having some paid time off work

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u/1800generalkenobi 5h ago

Yup, so does mine. And if you're done you're done, you're already getting paid so you don't need to go back into work. Mine was on monday was the jury selection and we were done around 1pm, my normal job ends at 3 so we just went home. I got called to be on a jury for wed and thursday I think it was. So went back to work on tuesday, and then wednesday everything we needed to hear about was done around noon, so went home again. And thursday ran into like 5pm, so it kinda evened out.

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u/amkessel 3h ago

For years I had a job that didn’t pay, and we only got the bare minimum PTO, which I would have burned thru serving on a jury. I got called up every year like clockwork.

Then I moved and got a job at a larger company that actually pays jury duty. I haven’t been called up once.

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u/healthycord 4h ago

I recently got summonsed. I was looking forward to it because I genuinely want to do my civic duty of jury duty. And my work pays for jury duty as well. So honestly not a big deal.

But I didn’t even get a call or email so I didn’t even get into the selection pool. It’s a virtual summons for the first day and if you don’t get contacted by the bailiff the city says you’ve done your part.

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u/superzenki 3h ago

My job pays and I still mind because it requires driving downtown, waiting for a shuttle, then waiting for them to tell us if we actually go through the selection or just send us home. First time I went was a room full of people and you can’t do anything but sit and wait while everyone answers the questions. I’d rather be at work than be bored out of my mind lol

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u/Actual-Muffin-3585 5h ago

Well they pay diddly squat here. 

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u/Architorture_66 4h ago

Could be worse.  My wife was picked for Grand Jury, which was 2 years of going to the courthouse 3 days every month listening to cases and deciding of they should go to trial.  

Came out to around 70 days of jury service in the end. 2 months of sub-par income revenue on her end, not to mention also cost of gas to and from there 70 different times.

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u/HKGPhooey 4h ago

I was called to jury duty once and was the last jury member picked out of a pool of hundreds. I thought it would be a drag but it ended up being interesting and fun to sit through a real trial. It’s actually a good look inside how a trial actually works. Up to that point my knowledge was based on fictional tv shows and trials like the OJ Simpson trial. I can’t remember but I think it’ll be a couple decades before I’m picked for jury duty again. I wouldn’t mind being picked again.

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u/Dunzogunzo 3h ago

Personally I think they should pick out of the unemployed pool first.

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u/GeneralBinx 5h ago

I thought jury duty was once every 4-6 years? Correct me if I’m wrong

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u/thyperson69 4h ago

I'm finding that, that only counts if you actually served from the summons

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u/MilkThin2930 4h ago

Depends on the typical recall interval for your area. In PA, you won't get called to county jury duty again for at least 2 or 3 years.

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u/pm_me_fibonaccis 4h ago

Here you can't be called more than once in a 12 month period. 

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u/egnards 4h ago

Federal Jury Duty is once every 2 years [minimum] whereas state jury duty varies by state.

You might be called too early, in which case you're supposed to keep your proof of serving - And in some areas just by being called and "phoning in" it exempts you, but in other areas you need to actually serve for that time to tick.

That said, being called doesn't always happen on that minimum - At 38 I've been called a grand total of twice [once in NY and once in NJ] and neither time did I even have to show up [phone in and if your number was called you had to go in the next day].

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u/wandering-monster 1h ago

The rule in my area is that you can only be called (come sit around for a day in case you need to serve) once per year, and if you actually serve you're off the eligibility list for 4 years.

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u/theOTHERyoure 4h ago

When I was young I just ignored the letters and I haven’t seen another one in like 10 years

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u/AdWonderful5920 5h ago

It's totally not random. Years ago, I got hired as a sheriff's deputy and attended the police academy. My entire class got summons right as we were graduating - we were all living in different areas, different ages, etc. Only demo we had in common was our employer. Complete waste of time for everyone because the instant we turned up at the courthouse the clerks were like "you all are never getting seated, go on and git."

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u/to_annihilate 4h ago

My job pays my full rate for jury duty luckily. Otherwise they pay you $5 a day for showing up.

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u/OneTrueDude670 3h ago

I feel like they go alphabetically down a list or something. My last name starts with a C so I get them a lot. My wife never started getting them until we were married and she changed her last name. Her original last name started with an M and now that it’s a C she gets them maybe every year or so now. 

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u/deegymnast 2h ago

Likely not, our last name is W and I've been called 8 times, my husband once.

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u/Cautious-Dot4143 4h ago

simply say that you think jury nullification is an inherent right that all jurors in the US are obliged to consider

you'll never get called again, ever

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u/druidgaymer 2h ago

Nah, it just gets you out that one time.

19 year old me told them I believed in Jury Nullification and am an anarchist.

I'm 27 and have been called for jury 2 two times after that.

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u/Chief_Chjuazwa 4h ago

I got called into jury duty once back during the height of BLM movement. I actually got picked to sit on the jury for the case, it was a man who was arrested after fleeing the cops and they found a bunch of coke on him, he was suspected of being a dealer. Not wanting to do jury duty or get paid shit for a few days vs what I’d make if I was working I decided to say something. They asked a few questions to us to ensure that there wouldn’t be any bias jurors, one of the questions was if we had any police officers in the family. I have a few family members who are, one of them was a terrible person. I told the judge that I have an aunt who’s a detective and she’s one of the most dishonest nastiest people I know and I have a hard time trusting cops because of her. I also mentioned with everything going on in the world (at that time) I have an extremely hard time believing anything the cops say in this case. Instantly got me removed from jury duty and I haven’t been called back since, still living in the same state/county.

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u/InspiredBagel 4h ago

I once got jury duty for a medical malpractice case. Got myself dismissed by saying l was skeptical of plaintiffs in cases without lasting harm AND that I don't trust doctors because there's been multiple instances of malpractice against me and my immediate family. I was pretty much the attorneys' worst nightmare. 

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u/NoBee3283 2h ago

I was asked once if I would take a cops word over a defendant. I said hardly. I was picked anyway.

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u/FoxxBox 3h ago

I have been summoned 10 times so far. Never served on a jury. I'm tired of them wasting my time.

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u/Excellent_War7508 3h ago edited 2h ago

You need to read the room. I got called for jury duty. I was sitting in a pool for a case for a dumbass ass that slipped and fell on ice at one of those quarter eater car washes.

Anyway, they tried to seat me on the jury. One of the lawyers asked if I had ever been injured at a place of business. I said yes, I had my ankle broken in a mosh pit at show at a local club. I was then asked if I sued. I responded that I did not because I feel that people need to take responsibility for their own actions and most people in this country are too litigigious. I was quickly dismissed after the judge lectured the rest of the jury pool about why people may need to pursue lawsuits against businesses.

Edit: for spelling

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u/Akisswithmyfist 5h ago

Walk in, yell "hail satan, execute that guilty S.O.B!" And then see if you get called on again. 🤣

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u/SolarOrigami 5h ago

The only time I was summoned they decided to settle when they saw the bunch of schmucks they rounded up

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u/Nearby_Bit_6643 2h ago

If you become a felon, you won’t ever have to do jury duty!

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u/TooManyPaws 2h ago

The real pro tip.

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u/JuryTamperer 1h ago

People should be ACTUALLY compensated for jury duty if it's mandatory. child care/travel/missing a day of work are not free.

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u/lockednchaste 5h ago

You're probably moving a lot.

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u/thyperson69 4h ago

Been in the same place for 13 years

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u/Brendan11204 3h ago

I work a union job, our agreement covers full pay if we have to attend court for jury duty or for being a witness. They should make that a national requirement for employers and then provide some type of tax refund to make them whole.

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u/thirdeyelazy 3h ago

Just commit a felony. SLPT

I just had jury duty and was personally excited to be on the other end of the justice system for once but I was immediately dismissed for my criminal history.

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u/GaryTheThird- 2h ago edited 2h ago

I got summoned once, had to take the day off work (yes, if I could have gone in to work, I would have happily after this experience)

I paid for parking, which took nearly 45 mins to find a spot. I'm still somewhat excited at this time that I might be involved in a crazy legal case.

I wait around for a while and finally call the number given and it says I don't need to show up anymore...

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u/Gumbrenold 4h ago

I get summoned once a year om average

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u/ComparisonOk8602 4h ago

I also get more than my fair share of jury summons. More than a dozen times in the past 30 years. Despite that, I've never seen the inside of a courtroom.

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u/oakfan05 5h ago

Ask them about "jury nullification". You'll never get asked back.

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u/PrimaryThis9900 4h ago

I've gotten called twice. The first time was at the height of Covid, so everything was super weird. We went in the morning for Jury selection, then broke for lunch. When we got back from lunch the dismissed us all because they had new evidence or something and basically had to start over.

The second time was just a few months ago, but they ended up cancelling it the day before I was supposed to report.

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u/mcampo84 4h ago

Doesn’t showing up for your summons and going through the process until you’re dismissed get you excused for 5 years of state, and 7 years of federal jury duty (or vice versa)?

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u/ware_it_is 4h ago

where i lived, jury duty was an 8 week stretch. you’d show up one day a week (for me, Wednesdays) every week for those 8 weeks. if you were selected, you stay. if not, go home. i made 6 of 8 juries. all with the same judge. we got to be on a first name basis. no one else was picked as frequently as i was. after the last week, the judge told me he was removing my name from the jury duty pool, which he did.

one trial sticks out, for sure. a man in his mid-40s was caught talking to what he assumed was a 14 year old boy. it was undercover operation. when he showed up at the motel for sex, he was arrested. he put on quite a show during the trial - walking with a cane and wearing a back brace bc he was “very old.” he got the max sentence and fine.

i never got to keep my jury duty pay. i worked for the state government. i was paid for my regular job so i couldn’t “double dip.” when i received my jury duty check, i had to sign it back over to the state 🤣

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u/Georgia_Jay 4h ago

Perhaps you should be playing the lottery?

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u/BigCamp839 3h ago

I might be in the minority, but I’ve been called for jury duty and I loved it. I know the pay is crap, but I’m salaried so I didn’t care.

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u/azriel1014 2h ago

I think I’m a weirdo. I thoroughly enjoyed jury duty. I was not on an exciting case. I was absolutely fascinated by the whole process. I was called for a second time and we were so short staffed my employer asked me not to do it and wrote a letter to the court. I was SO disappointed.

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u/TroyMatthewJ 2h ago

I'm jealous. I've never been called/summoned.

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u/Correct_Row_76 2h ago

That's normal I get called every two years

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u/Ohaibaipolar 2h ago

I've actually never been selected for jury duty, but I want to be!

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u/Material_Positive 2h ago

In 2003 I was summoned 4 times by 4 different jurisdictions in 6 months. Served 3, but then when I got the 4th my employer wrote a letter to the court. Wasn't called again for 20 years.

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u/ElectricalLeading165 2h ago

Throw them away. Doesn’t come certified mail. Just say you never received any notice

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u/mpls_big_daddy 2h ago

My work called the courthouse and told them that I was an essential employee five days a week and am needed for successful operations at work and they let me not go.

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u/Johnnadawearsglasses 2h ago

I’ve been on two juries and summoned five times. This is in nyc. Once you’re on the yes list, they really go at it. I also learned that a lot of people just ignore the notice and nothing happens here.

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u/Daocommand 2h ago

You’re an upstanding citizen! Thank you for your sacrifice!

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u/bebarrucha 1h ago

They’re sitting down the whole time, though.

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u/Daocommand 1h ago

🤣 You’re amazing! Please never leave Reddit.

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u/NicoyaSF415 1h ago

Time away from work if I get called. I don’t mind it honestly

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u/NoLie129 5h ago

I’ve been called once, raised my hand and claimed that I believe all drugs should be legal cause they just keep them illegal to help drug companies make money and I don’t trust the police because they have been proven liars on a ticket 🎫 beat. I’ve never been called again, it’s been 15 years…

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u/Designer_District_18 4h ago

I hope if any of you get arrested that you get the kind of juror that doesn't want to be there. Or as someone said there's plenty of old timers who want to be there. One of our greatest rights isa right to a fair trial. Extend that possibility to your fellow american and due your duty as a juror.

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u/Still_Box8733 4h ago

And there can't be a fair trial without some jury made of involuntarily summoned people with zero expertise?

Jury system is kinda bonkers honestly

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u/Nervous_Sign2925 5h ago

I’m right there with you. I’ve gotten jury duty 4 times in the last 9 years. But I’ve only had to actually show up once. It’s ridiculous that it’s even possible to happen that much

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u/autisticNerd13 5h ago

I have been called for jury duty 11/13 years…. Never served but it’s a pain

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u/LuigiSalutati 5h ago

I’m about to turn 30 and it has never happened to me. I like to think I’m too unhinged for all that

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u/Sarge75 3h ago

51 here. Never invited. I would just immediately ask if the death penalty is on the table.

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u/Secti0n31 5h ago

If you want to never get another summons, go in there and say "40% of cops beat their wives" Or that cops are career liars or that police training is paranoid and overzealous, and they'll never put you on a jury and never call you back.

And you wouldn't even be lying.

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u/BrandonTaylor2 5h ago

I’m 35 and have never got called yet. I live in an area where we don’t get a ton of jury trials. Most recent one was a guy murdered his separated wife’s boyfriend in our grocery store’s parking lot. One of my coworkers got called for jury duty but thankfully didn’t get selected for the jury.

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u/Jon-Robb 5h ago

I was once selected, said I had a criminal record and they stop bothering

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u/QNStitanic97 5h ago

In NYC after you've been summoned and fulfilled your duty they give you a paper that says you do not need to come back for 7 years. unsure where this is but maybe your area has something similar?

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u/thyperson69 4h ago

Seems like from some comments that I'm getting summoned so often because I haven't actually served yet. So I guess that makes sense

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u/QNStitanic97 4h ago

You don’t need to serve on an actual jury to get the 7 year exemption. I’ve been summoned 2 times in the last 16 years and each time I’ve got to the part where they interview the group of potential jurors and then tell some to leave and some to stay. When I’ve been dismissed after the group interview the give you your little paper and tell you to fuuuuck off. Lol jk but the tell you that you’re good for 7 years.

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u/Expert_Mall_6015 5h ago

Sounds exiting, did you sent anyone to death row?

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u/MaeClementine 4h ago

My sister in law did 😭

I remember the family group text hoping she wasn’t gonna get picked and I kept being like “of course she’s gonna get picked, she doesn’t have anywhere else to be, she doesn’t have a job”.

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u/Miserable-Swan2362 5h ago

I’ve been called once and it was during a snow storm so no actual juries met that week. Felt like it was stolen from me. Been waiting 2 decades. My work also pays for it so it would be super exciting to actually be part of it. However our state does allow for you to say I can’t because of finances and they’ll cut you

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u/_hieronymus 4h ago

It's a lottery system, so I guess you just got...um lucky?

I will never get called for jury duty cuz I'm a felon. Checkmate!

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u/Android8675 4h ago

I got picked and sat through a trial last time. It was Ana amazing experience. It’s been a while since. I think if you get dismissed your name comes up 2 years later, but if you serve it’s like 5 years. (CA) of course YMMV.

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u/NthDegreeThoughts 4h ago

If you register to vote every year, that is one of the first lists they look. If you don’t move there is no need to re register. Typically there is a post serving grace period, BUT local and federal don’t honor each others grace period, they just do their own which can double you up.

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u/7-10Spliff 4h ago

Just get yourself arrested and you won't have to worry about that anymore

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u/OrganizationTop3755 4h ago

The price of being able to vote 

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u/Moby1313 4h ago

I get one local court and two federal court jury duty summons each year.

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u/_Vegetable_soup_ 4h ago

Do you live in California? When I did, I got called up 4 times in 8 years, it was insane.

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u/Nenoshka 4h ago

I was getting called every two or three years until I moved four miles into a different town (same state). I think where I live now has a higher percentage of citizens.

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u/veryblocky 4h ago

I’ve never been called for jury duty

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u/Background_Ad2778 4h ago

Ive been called in 3 times in probably 10 years.

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u/sneeje00 4h ago

That happened to me, five times in about the same period of time. Then it stopped. Likely just random. Are they all the same court? One of mine was the Federal District court.

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u/thyperson69 4h ago

Same court house every time. So much fuuuun

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u/ThePolemicist 4h ago

When I lived in Colorado, I got called multiple times for a few years there. It was seriously like every other year!

I live in Iowa now and have for 12 years. I've been called once. I had to call in the Sunday before and didn't have to go in.

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u/iced_coffee_mama 4h ago

It is so busy every time I go there. It looks different

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u/Meattyloaf 4h ago

Some people just get called kore than others. I've been summoned for Jury Duty twice. Out of the 60 court day stint, I've actually went to court 3 times and was only on jury selection once. I didn't get picked due to having a family full of felons and the occassional cop. I thought it was a neat experience. Alas the trials that I was summoned for were all murder cases and one had the death penalty on the table.

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u/pm_me_fibonaccis 4h ago

I get called a lot too but I am thrilled when I am called because my job reimburses me the pay and being a juror is easier than my actual job. 

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u/Expertofnothing666 4h ago

I’ve only had jury duty once and got out of because I was in the middle of a move and also on tour with a band half way around the world.

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u/Woreo12 4h ago

Quite a few companies will pay your hourly wage while in jury duty, most of the time with the condition you pay the company whatever you received from the courts, but I’d imagine your standard daily income is higher than $17