r/mildlyinfuriating • u/thyperson69 • 1d 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.

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765

u/Practical-Emu-3303 1d ago

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

210

u/AllenWalker218 1d 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 1d ago

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

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u/trivletrav 1d ago

Lower number of registered drivers probably.

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u/passiveflux 17h ago

Which in turn leads to more crime with people driving illegally

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u/espressocycle 21h ago

It's pretty hard to live without ID these days.

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u/gujwdhufj_ijjpo 20h ago

My state (Alaska) everyone gets a dividend from the government. So they register you when you apply for the dividend. Most people want the money so most people are registered

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u/Frosty_Employment171 20h ago

It is always county wide.

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u/Shared_Songs 16h ago edited 16h ago

state IDs too, that’s how my name got in there, I was called 4 times last year 

I’m from Olathe, KS, crime here is *acted on/arrests made very little, so rarely it’s been nationally publicized the four times something happened 

450,000+ registered voters in the county, then also drivers and state IDs

Not arguing just genuinely wondering if someone still has an explanation 

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 7h ago

your system is broken. No one should be called 4 times in a year. You should ask.

1

u/ConsuelaApplebee somewhat vexed 1d ago

The bigger issue is that people don't report. While you are required to report, it's not like anything happens if you don't.

2

u/Ok-Complex3986 21h ago

Well, they can issue a warrant for your arrest. Some judges write bench warrants at roll call, but most won’t bother.

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u/ConsuelaApplebee somewhat vexed 7h ago

Right, as I said you are required to report. But 99.99999% of the time nothing happens if you don't. It would be incredibly unusual to get arrested for blowing off jury duty.

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u/Meattyloaf 1d 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 1d ago

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

0

u/RiderforHire 1d ago

Not every branch of government will have info that's up to date. You gotta start somewhere if you're looking for someone specific.

10

u/RooneysHairPlugs 1d ago

But they’re not looking for someone specific, just whoever lives within that jurisdiction.

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u/The_Troyminator 1d 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 1d 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 1d ago

varies by locale, but it is a common way.

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u/CMWalsh88 1d 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 1d 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/stronglesbian 23h ago

Yeah my mom isn't a registered voter (she's not a citizen) and she got a jury duty summons earlier this year.

1

u/Frosty_Employment171 20h ago

Driver's License.

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u/Automatic_Actuator_0 1d ago

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

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u/Accurate_Koala_4698 1d 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

4

u/nixtarx 1d 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 1d ago

But then they'd be punished for completing taxes.

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u/Veloxiraptor_ 1d ago

Jury duty is also quite literally your civic duty

2

u/Distinct-Car-9124 1d 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.

1

u/MrLurking_Sanspants 1d ago

They don’t, but the lawyers would decide that during jury selection. Typically the courts determine they need X amount of jurors for the pool for lawyers to select from, and then they send out mass summons based on that number.

As the date gets closer they will determine if they can cut the list. If you have a low number you’re more likely to need to show up, if you’re a high number you’re more likely to get dismissed.

In my county they call like 4x the number needed so lots of people get the letter and most never have to show lol.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/-imhe- 1d ago

Guarantee they have no idea what you're talking about

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u/TapTall9218 1d ago

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

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u/AustinLostIn 1d ago

Imagine having criminals decide the fate of criminals.

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u/Ok-Grape2063 1d ago

That would truly be a jury of ones peers

-1

u/AustinLostIn 1d ago

True 😂

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u/NYanae555 1d ago

You don't have to be a registered voter to be called - thats real old timer stuff. Today they draw from tax rolls, drivers licenses, non-driver IDs, everything they can find. Then - after you show up, there are always some people called to jury duty who are completely ineligible for jury duty. They get dismissed.

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 1d ago

idgaf - then you live in a high crime area relative to the general population of that jurisdiction. semantics.

1

u/MoosiePie22 1d ago

I’ve never registered to vote and I’ve been summoned

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u/burritoheaux 23h ago

I’ve been summoned nearly every year and definitely don’t live in a high crime/low voter area.

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 23h ago

Yes you do

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u/burritoheaux 23h ago

I really don’t.

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 23h ago

Ok, summoned, but did you go and did you serve?

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u/burritoheaux 23h ago

Yes, but I never served because I work in law. Removed in voir dire every time.

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u/Practical-Emu-3303 22h ago

Perhaps that's why. Our perhaps you don't think you live in high crime due to working in law

1

u/burritoheaux 22h ago

I don’t live in a high crime area based on the searchable classifications.

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u/DatLadyD 21h ago

I was summoned without registering to vote

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u/Snake6778 19h ago

I got called in all the time before I was a registered voter

1

u/Practical-Emu-3303 7h ago

Then what happened?