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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 10, 2005 19:27:09 GMT -6
Okay, I gotta use this forum as a "Bitch Board" today. I was scheduled for Jury Duty today. Most folks I've talked to in the Chicago system go for one day, then get released when not placed on a jury. So I figured, that's probably what will happen to me. So.... I scheduled a business trip for the rest of the week. I didn't want to delay it on a "maybe".
Sure enough.... I go in today, and get stuck on a jury. The judge says it will probably last through the week. And to add insult to injury, I'm the lone "alternate" juror: number 13! I don't even get to vote to hang the guilty bastard!!!
Now I have to spend the night sending emails and calling airline, hotel, etc, to cancel all my reservations and meetings. Arghgghghg!
Oh well, I shoulda seen it coming. Just have to make the best of it. Ye gods, it feels good to vent!.....Jake
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Jan 10, 2005 22:03:48 GMT -6
They picked YOU?!!!!!!
GADZOOKS!!!! ;D
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Post by Harrybutt on Jan 11, 2005 10:17:49 GMT -6
Must be a death penalty case.....
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Post by Captain Gary on Jan 11, 2005 16:30:17 GMT -6
I LOVE jury duty!!
Nothing I like better than to perform my civic duty and send some deserving bastard away for the rest of his life!
Jake, I'm surprised that you weren't able to get out of it with the travel plans you already had. They seem pretty forgiving down here in Hickville.
Gary
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Post by Merlot Joe on Jan 11, 2005 18:56:57 GMT -6
Are any of you able to postpone your jury duty to a later date?
Here in CA we can postpone twice. The third time they don't care if you died, you better be there or they are coming to get you.
I hate jury duty. Got better things to do with my time like screw around here. ;D
Joe.
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Post by Exildo Wonsetler Briggs III on Jan 11, 2005 20:54:31 GMT -6
I would tell you all how to get out of jury duty, but that would not be ethical of me!! ................Bob  |
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Post by Harrybutt on Jan 11, 2005 22:36:26 GMT -6
Last time I got called, they asked if anybody wanted out that morning as they had too many....I wasn't going to volunteer to leave til I saw the drove begin to accumulate...
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Post by DT on Jan 12, 2005 12:20:57 GMT -6
Last time I did Jury duty it was in Chicigo. A cival suit. A woman was suing the CTA for a leg injury. Went for 5 straight days only to be settled out of court. The whole week and pay SUCKED!!!! Did I feel I was doing my patriotic duty? Hell NO!!!!!
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 12, 2005 12:28:44 GMT -6
Well, my sojourn through the Cook County Justice System has come to an end. After two days of testimony, this morning started off with Closing Arguments by both attorneys. Then as they were about to send the jury into the jury room to deliberate, the judge called me aside and dismissed me. Being an "alternate", and nobody had croaked or anything, I was no longer needed. Back home by noon!
I don't get to see how it came out, of course, but I guess that's a frustration I can live with.....Jake
P.S. - $17.20 per day for three days! Woo hoo!!!
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Post by Hedo69 on Jan 12, 2005 13:49:44 GMT -6
Don't spend it all in one place!
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Post by Harrybutt on Jan 12, 2005 14:34:52 GMT -6
Here in the heart of Dixie, you'd have to turn that over to your employer, if'n you was still paid for your time off by them. If they don't, then you sue'em.
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Post by JustIan on Jan 13, 2005 6:30:52 GMT -6
In Mass your employer has to pay you for the first three days your full pay. So... we love jury duty
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Post by Christinko on Jan 15, 2005 13:15:17 GMT -6
Folks like me and Jake are self-employed for the most part though so we get to keep our $17.20/day -- whoo hoo!
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 15, 2005 13:30:47 GMT -6
Yeah, and we get to lose the self-employment income that we would have earned those days, too.....Jake
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Post by Merlot Joe on Jan 15, 2005 14:49:40 GMT -6
Come on Jake, you did your civic duty. You should be proud of yourself. So what of you wasted 3 days of your time and lost money in your business.
I always said that they should get people for jury duty from the most current unemployment list. They are sitting home doing nothing so grab them.
Leave us that work alone. Not trying to be a smart ass here, only trying to find a way to make the system work better.
Joe.
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Post by Chicago Jake on Jan 15, 2005 14:59:37 GMT -6
Yeah, that occurred to me too, Joe. But then I thought, would I really want my case judged by a bunch of no-account slackers who can't even land a job? Probably not.
Maybe professional jurors? People employed by a Juror Company (one of several so there would be competition), hired out to the court system on an as-needed basis. These pro jurors would be properly trained, bonded, and guaranteed not to have biases by their company.
Just a thought!.....Jake
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Post by Merlot Joe on Jan 16, 2005 2:17:31 GMT -6
But then I thought, would I really want my case judged by a bunch of no-account slackers who can't even land a job? Probably not. That crossed mine when I posted the idea, but I also thought that they may listen more since they are do not have any place else to go. Joe. |
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Post by Alice on Jan 16, 2005 9:11:15 GMT -6
Several years ago, I got my notice to serve on a jury. Just filled out the form that I was a nursing mother. That was about 12 years ago. I haven't been called since then but Gary has been called twice. Give that a try next time, Jake. LOL
Georgette
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pkatcher
Member
A friend in need is a pest
Posts: 51
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Post by pkatcher on Jan 16, 2005 13:30:10 GMT -6
I was selected for my first jury in November. An assault case stemming from a New Year's Eve confrontation no doubt regretted by all. Wrote a lengthy review here: paulkatcher.com/archives/000583.shtmlIn the large pool, we were told that most people have more positive views on jury duty after they've served. That was certainly my experience. In the voir dire process, it was pretty easy to get excused simply by admitting bias, against cops, against people accused of assault, whatever. The more people took the easy way out to "serve" their all-important workplaces, the more I was proud to serve as an American citizen in our justice system. |
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Post by Hazelita on Jan 16, 2005 14:29:30 GMT -6
As always, another fine article, Paul. I enjoy your writing very much. Informative and humorous at the same time.
BTW, is an asshat the same as an asshole?[/color]
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pkatcher
Member
A friend in need is a pest
Posts: 51
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Post by pkatcher on Jan 16, 2005 15:36:40 GMT -6
BTW, is an asshat the same as an asshole? [/color][/quote] Hmmm. I would say an asshole is more venemous than either an asshat or assclown. Asshole = E-mail spammer Asshat = Guy who can't handle his liquor Assclown = Terrell Owens Glad you like my stuff. Tonight I'll be writing about Mini Me's reported five-way at the Playboy Mansion, and linking to a video of him pissing in a corner drunk and naked. I expect it to challenge for a Pulitzer. |
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Post by RumAndCoke on Jan 29, 2005 21:18:48 GMT -6
When I did jury duty here in Canada, we all attended the cattle call on the appointed Monday morning. The selected for 7 trials. Those who didn't get selected were told that they were to show up the next Monday as well for the next round of selections.
I think I got paid about $10.45 and found out at the end of the day that parking cost $15. I got selected for a stabbing trial. It took 5 days in total. I was bummed when after the guilty verdict was read, we were ushered out of the courtroom and I was never able to find out what the sentence was. How anticlimactic!
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