Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Jury Duty...Again

I received notice in the mail today I've been called for jury duty, again. This is the 3rd time in my adult life that I have been summoned. The first time I had just turned 21, still living at home. The first day I had to call there was a message that the judge had died over the weekend and all trials had been postponed. I was sorry that the judge had died, but so glad I didn't have to report. The second time, (Mandy was 2 or 3 years old, she's 16 now), I served on a jury that acquitted a prominent civil rights activist and local clergyman of sexual harassment. And now for what is called Petit Jury Service. I have to be available August 28 - September 8. How many out there have been called and how many times. My husband has never been called (he's a registered voter too, why don't they call him?). Mandy thinks it's so funny that I've been called AGAIN. All I can say is they better let me in the building with my pointy sticks if my number is called. Please pray they don't call juror 48 during those 2 weeks. I know it's my civic duty and all, but I really don't want to do it. They only compensate $5 a day if your called but don't get placed on a jury or $10 a day if you do get placed on a jury. They do give you daily parking passes though. That's a lot of lost wages that I can't afford to lose (if my number is called).
This is the second post with no pictures. Sorry. I'll try to do better next post.

8 comments:

Ginger said...

I have been called 3 times. I served the first time, about 10 years ago, city court, waited and read, no trial. The second time was about a month later and was called by county court, I explained that I had just served in city court and was excused. The third time I was called my son was very small and I was breastfeeding . . . I was excused since they wouldn't let me bring him to court. gee, I can't imagine why now.

monica said...

Tony just got that little letter too. This is the 3rd time in 7 years he has been called. We have a 3 month window that they can call you in here. I think it is so funny and am just happy it is always him and not me,lol

tatt3r said...

I've been called 4 times, only selected for a jury once. That one took a plea bargain just as it was about to begin. Our city recently discovered there was a glitch in the computer program that selected potential jurors. Certain zip codes were omitted from the data, which made for unbalanced juror selection. So if it seems like you get called more than you should, it might not be your imagination!

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

I remember up here (in Canada) that a lady I used to work with got served a letter for jury duty. She asked about lost wages, etc. and found out that she wouldn't get paid to sit on a jury, nor would her wages be paid at work. I don't know if she ever ended up going on the jury or not.

My brother also got a letter for him to appear for jury duty but the case ended up not going to court or something so he didn't have to go.

Rebecca said...

I have been called about 8 times but have never had to go. The first couple times I got out of it because I was a SAHM with toddlers (they don't let you out for that nowadays). The other times I was just on call and they selected a jury before they got to me. My DD, who is 21 and out-of-state in college, has already been called twice! I'm thinking we may be called more because we are not in a city. Hmmmmmmmm....it seems like I've been called up more than your blogging buddies but then I am probably older.

Mrs. Worthy said...

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wendy said...

Knocking on wood for you...my DPNS no less

kathy b said...

Oh Karen

You have my sympathies. I loathe jury duty. I know that when I am older and retired and the kids are grown, I will feel differntly.

GOOD LUCK. I got to knit a personal best in yardage the day I did Jury duty in Chicago last spring.