My Florida story today

[kozar]

LilBit, ( my challenged 35 y/o daughter) got a summons on Monday for jury duty. I made my phone calls to court clerk on Wednesday, only to get VMs. I get a call back yesterday afternoon, and I explain, I’m her Dad, she is nonverbal and in a wheelchair. And they said I need to bring her in so they could verify her identity.
As a Democrat, of course, and being a bit older and believe in our ( even LilBit) civic duty to our community, we stopped by today.
I will say the woman who helped us was very friendly, and apologized 3 times too many. But , she told me one thing that is still in my head.
“ you wouldn’t believe the stories we hear from people who don’t wanna do jury duty. So when I heard a male voice, on a female’s duty summons, we are instructed to verify that “
And I’ve been taking since
Is lying becoming so easy now? Is this the state of our country? The old rule of law which states “ presumed innocent until proven otherwise “ need to be changed to “ lying, until proven truthful” ?

It seems so.


Koz

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Glad Things Worked Out

I've only been on one jury ever.
I felt better about myself that I made no effort to get out of it, but of course, I have no excuses.
I'd be getting out of it just to get out of it. Since you did the civic "right thing", I figure you understand.
Fortunately, it was short. A day & 3 quarters of testimony. 10 minutes of jury deliberation. I took the first vote. 12 not guilty. TEN MINUTES! I was actually annoyed that the DA bothered to take it to the grand jury. There was no case.
Here, once you served you won't be called for 12 months. But, that was 3 years ago, and never heard from them.

[RainCaster]

2. Well, you do live in FL...

Where the politicians are incapable of speaking or recognizing truth.

I don't think the whole country is that bad, yet. I sure hope we can turn this shit around.
GOTV!!

[MOMFUDSKI]

3. Had a 2-month vacation all planned for and

I get a jury summons here in Florida. I called (this was 2012) to say I had this 2-month vacation and had all my motels booked from here to Alaska and back. They couldn't have been nicer. Said never mind and have a great trip. WHEW

[tblue37]

4. I am severely hearing impaired, and I don't sign. During one 6-year period, I got a jury summons

every year and had to appeal in writing each time. Finally they sent me a letter providing a long-term exemption, but warned that it wasn't permanent and that I might still be called in the future.

[vanlassie]

5. The last time I was summoned...

There were over 100 people in the summons room. They took roll. Then, they asked anyone who had a trip or other upcoming plans for which they thought they would need to be excused to step to the front. About half the room thundered forward. Then the clerk told the rest who were still seated “You’re all excused. Thank you for coming in.”
We laughed all the way to the parking garage!

[70sEraVet]

14. Thats a GREAT story! Those who thought they had an easy out, got caught!

[ecstatic]

18. Lol!

[eppur_se_muova]

6. I wonder how many controlling husbands or boyfriends would lie to keep their SOs ....

out of a courtroom ?

[kozar]

12. Yep

I accepted the clerks response, was kinda my point

Koz

[alittlelark]

19. That was my thought at well. n/t

[BlackSkimmer]

7. Lol, I remember some threads right here about how to avoid jury duty.

Usually people here seem to go for the age outlet, but I've seen some other creative excuses.

No doubt that clerk who helped you has heard it all.

[MOMFUDSKI]

9. I wound up getting called to a

specific courtroom with a group of other people. Then they announce this is a MURDER case! Wow. So now the judge asks the group of prospective jurors some questions and to raise your hand if you have something to say. We had people that can’t stand the sight of blood, don’t like cops, medical professionals with scheduled surgeries and so forth. Judge dismissed them all. I didn’t get picked. Was thankful for that.

[usedtobedemgurl]

20. I was excused at one time.

I went to the courthouse fully planning to serve. (If they wanted me). We sat around and sat around some more. Finally, we were brought into the courtroom. They called up some folks and asked questions. I was called up. By then, I had a huge range of emotions.

At one point, under an old name, I posted a letter to George Will here. It was about my rape. About how I did not go to the cops. I am a huge rape survivor advocate. Even so, I did not go to the cops because of the way they treat rape survivors. I did not want my case to go to court and for me to be raped all over again with their questions.

I was asked if I could be an impartial juror. I said, “No.”. I explained my history. I brought up how one person on the Supreme Court stopped a rape trial to ask what the person was either wearing or drinking. (I was in an accident, so now my memory is not as good as it once was). I said I could not trust the cops or the court system. That I came in wanting to do this, but now my stomach was churning to a point of nausea. I was quickly dismissed.

If I had been pressed, I could produce a lot of writing about my rape, as well as advice to others who had been raped. I went in feeling proud to do my duty but realized I had a huge prejudice against our system.

I recently was sent a letter for jury duty. Because of my brain injury, from an accident, my concussion dr wrote a letter stating I am not able to do what would need to be done in a jury. If pressed, I could produce 13 professionals who work on me since my accident. I have tons of medical files and a folder 2” thick with medical bills. The only time I can halfway function and get past the unrelenting pain is when I take edibles. They don’t want high jurors, especially if I will need to grab someone’s arm just to walk to the bathroom, the jury box or wherever else I might go. Also, I have light sensitivity from my accident, so I don’t go anywhere without a hoodie pulled up and sunglasses on. I don’t feel fit to go grocery shopping, let alone serve jury duty.

[Skittles]

8. they're being cautious

what if you were holding her captive, for example

[kozar]

10. Agree100%

That’s why my original post stated what I did.
Koz

[Maeve]

11. Served on two juries

The last one I wanted out (small baby to care for) but so many others had excuses, I had to serve. Never been called since (moved to different county)

[Lonestarblue]

13. Lying is a badge of honor to Republicans.

It is as if there are no consequences to lying—and indeed Republican voters don’t care—but how do they even keep them straight? Every utterance has become a lie.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. Civics education is sorely lacking. . . nt

[70sEraVet]

16. I made it through the weeding-out process, and was on jury of a murder trial.

When called upon to introduce ourselves, and explain any interactions with law enforcement in the past, etc., I asked if this was a case that could result in an execution, because I wouldn't vote to condemn anyone to death. The Prosecutor apologized, said they should have made it plain up front that this was NOT a Capital case.
Anyway, I was RANDOMLY chosen to be an alternate juror, and went home, disgusted by the whole process. I was there long enough to see a 'witness', who was obviously coached by the Prosecutor, and whose testimony was allowed to stand, even after the outraged objections of the Defense Council!

On edit: This was in Nashville TN

[ShazzieB]

17. I've only been called to jury duty twice.

The first time, we had just moved out of the county that was calling me to serve, so I was no longer eligible. I let them know my new address, and that was the end of it.

Second time, I was eliminated during the jury selection process for reasons unknown to me. I had to go to the courthouse 2 days in a row before my turn came up, got sent home early the second day. Le sigh.

So many people will do anything to get out of serving. I was perfectly willing, but oh well.

[ExWhoDoesntCare]

21. Been called up a few times

First, third and fourth time, sat around most of the day doing nothing.

Second time, got to the voir dire. It was for a rape trial, and I was eliminated as a rape survivor who got a conviction--and was absolutely honest that I would fry anybody shown to be guilty of it. Bye, love.

Fifth time, got to serve on the petty crimes for whites docket. They're the only ones around here who can afford not to settle and go to trial for things like drunk and disorderly. assault or petty theft. Our jury hung on an aggravated assault for a frat boy because all the tears of his character witnesses about what a good boy he was only made me angrier at him for giving his girlfriend a black eye and knocking out one of her teeth.

He'd probably walk with the next jury, but not with one where I was serving. Enjoy the mounting legal bills, scumbag.