Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

[LBS-bass]

I was headed for jury duty in February. Got as far as filling out all the forms and waiting outside with about 20 other prospective jurors who were to be questioned by counsel. While we were all waiting in the hallway, the defendant and his attorney entered the courtroom. I know it was the defendant because another attorney in the hallways said something to his attorney that identified him as such.

About an hour later, he walked out of the courtroom by himself and about 20 minutes after that the bailiff came out with dismissal slips and sent us all home. I guess he copped a plea and was let go on his own recognizance, or something came up and the charges were dismissed.

 

[LBS-bass]

We've found a distinct difference in attitude between very polite & grateful state courts and the very authoritarian federal courts. Don't know why that is.
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In my case, this was a county courthouse, and the deputies and bailiffs were extremely good-natured.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Very, very bored was the daytime armed security guard at the ER last week. Flashed my knee replacement ID card, and she waved me past the scanner.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I’ve heard of deputies coming out of the courthouse and herding up people on the street when they are short. Best to not sit anywhere near a court building.

 

[LBS-bass]

I’ve heard of deputies coming out of the courthouse and herding up people on the street when they are short. Best to not sit anywhere near the court building.

We have a weekly jury pool system here; I've received numerous summonses (that does not seem like it should be a word but it didn't get flagged by the dreaded red line) but only had to go to the courthouse twice. You're assigned to a group and each group contains 20+ people. You check a website to see if your group needs to report sometime during the week. I've been dismissed more than not, so I guess this system provides them with enough warm bodies to get the job done. This last time my group was asked to report first thing Monday, so I knew I was in deep trouble

 

[notJaco]

In my case they maybe met their quota before getting to me. I got no further than to fill out the form on line regarding whether I'd be COVID prone. Contacted the website last night and it said "thank you for your service,
you need not call any further".
I made sure that I made a print of that screen as evidence of their decision.

Surely they can find people closer than an hour's drive away and maybe a bit younger to fulfill the need.

 

[G-Dog]

I was headed for jury duty in February. Got as far as filling out all the forms and waiting outside with about 20 other prospective jurors who were to be questioned by counsel. While we were all waiting in the hallway, the defendant and his attorney entered the courtroom. I know it was the defendant because another attorney in the hallways said something to his attorney that identified him as such.

About an hour later, he walked out of the courtroom by himself and about 20 minutes after that the bailiff came out with dismissal slips and sent us all home. I guess he copped a plea and was let go on his own recognizance, or something came up and the charges were dismissed.

We have a weekly jury pool system here; I've received numerous summonses (that does not seem like it should be a word but it didn't get flagged by the dreaded red line) but only had to go to the courthouse twice. You're assigned to a group and each group contains 20+ people. You check a website to see if your group needs to report sometime during the week. I've been dismissed more than not, so I guess this system provides them with enough warm bodies to get the job done. This last time my group was asked to report first thing Monday, so I knew I was in deep trouble

I've heard several judges, by way of thanks and dismissal, state that it's amazing how the mere presence of a prospective jury is enough to break deadlocked pre-trial negotiations and even obviate the need for an actual jury! "They also serve who stand and wait" is especially true in this case.
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[wazzel]

I was headed for jury duty in February. Got as far as filling out all the forms and waiting outside with about 20 other prospective jurors who were to be questioned by counsel. While we were all waiting in the hallway, the defendant and his attorney entered the courtroom. I know it was the defendant because another attorney in the hallways said something to his attorney that identified him as such.

About an hour later, he walked out of the courtroom by himself and about 20 minutes after that the bailiff came out with dismissal slips and sent us all home. I guess he copped a plea and was let go on his own recognizance, or something came up and the charges were dismissed.

Lucky you. I had to sit on a jury for a murder trial. Not near as exciting as on TV.

 

[MatchFive]

Several times I was selected to potentially participate in jury duty but I've never made it to being in a trial. Normally the lawyers will see me glaring at them in anger and impatience and they would dismiss me. I haven't been called in for the last 20 years or so, so I was probably added to the perma-ban list. lol

 

[Deleted member 268085]

I have a Federal jury summons in the mailbox of the last VRBO I rented in Arizona after selling my house. No way to access it and tell them. Just so long as I don't get stopped at the airport on the 28th when I (finally) leave for France.

 

[GwenOnBass]

The Carol Kaye jazz standards 1 & 2 arrived in today's post. The sheet music is being spiral bound now at Staples. Looks like I have a new hobby. It's nice to have a hobby.

 

[G-Dog]

I have a Federal jury summons in the mailbox of the last VRBO I rented in Arizona after selling my house. No way to access it and tell them. Just so long as I don't get stopped at the airport on the 28th when I (finally) leave for France.

As I mentioned, Federal courts have a much stricter attitude, and dress code(!) than state courts. An older lady was several seconds late returning from a very carefully defined (by the judge) breaktime and that judge ordered the bailiff to search the nearby halways and advise her that she was now in contempt of court! Fortunately, she appeared soon and was very apologetic about losing track of the time, so the judge let her off with a very stern warning lecture that was directed at all of us jurors. It did not happen again, to her or anyone else, for the duration of that case.

Since you are aware of the summons, if not details, I'd advise you try to contact the nearest Federal court to your previous address to advise of your situation and request release due to your circumstances, which they may or may not consider relevant! Don't take the chance.

Just my 2 cents.
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[Jeff Scott]

If I had a hobby what would it be...?

 

[GwenOnBass]

If I had a hobby what would it be...?

Antiquarian?

 

[Deleted member 268085]

As I mentioned, Federal courts have a much stricter attitude, and dress code(!) than state courts. An older lady was several seconds late returning from a very carefully defined (by the judge) breaktime and that judge ordered the bailiff to search the nearby halways and advise her that she was now in contempt of court! Fortunately, she appeared soon and was very apologetic about losing track of the time, so the judge let her off with a very stern warning lecture that was directed at all of us jurors. It did not happen again, to her or anyone else, for the duration of that case.

Since you are aware of the summons, if not details, I'd advise you try to contact the nearest Federal court to your previous address to advise of your situation and request release due to your circumstances, which they may or may not consider relevant! Don't take the chance.

Just my 2 cents.
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I went to the Arizona District webpage and sent them a message. We'll see if they get back to me.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Antiquarian?

What kind of hobby is it that one would be anti quarian?

 

[Winslow]

I've heard several judges, by way of thanks and dismissal, state that it's amazing how the mere presence of a prospective jury is enough to break deadlocked pre-trial negotiations and even obviate the need for an actual jury! "They also serve who stand and wait" is especially true in this case.

This is correct. Jury duty often entails being a collective human bargaining chip as much as it does anything else.

 

[beans-on-toast]

If I had a hobby what would it be...?

Many have asked that question. Tour guide at a museum.

…click on watch on youtube or search
Pink Martini - Que Sera Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be) (Mary and Max)

 

[notJaco]

If I had a hobby what would it be...?

Taking pictures of your attic furnace. They are stunning!

 

[notJaco]

This is correct. Jury duty often entails being a collective human bargaining chip as much as it does anything else.

Where's that little "TRUTH" pillar...