Have you ever sat on a Jury?

I've been a registered voter for twelve years and I've never once been called. Not that they'd let me serve on a jury if they did.

No, I haven't. I've only been summoned for jury duty once (it was only a month after my 18th birthday, and I was still in HS at the time) and I didn't actually get chosen to sit on the jury.

Korimyr the Rat said:

I've been a registered voter for twelve years and I've never once been called. Not that they'd let me serve on a jury if they did.

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Yeah, they ask you questions during selection.
If you don't answer them right, you don't get picked.
It's pretty easy to tell what the "right" answer is.

Once, attempted sexual assault was the young man's intent, but he was way too drunk, so all he got charged with was breaking and entering, IIRC. It was a long time ago, but I do remember that the prosecutor was inept, and the 2 cops called told conflicting stories. The young man was probably guilty, but we had to find him not guilty, as the prosecution was a farce....even to those without legal training.
I think it must have been the prosecutors first case...
One of the jurors was a young emotional female who lived alone and identified with the victim so much that she wanted a guilty verdict, but she was the only one voting that way.

I have in a DUI case involving a Hispanic, the lack of evidence sent him home a free man. It's amazing how level headed and fair mindedness one becomes while sitting on a jury being overwhelmed from the sense of duty.

I've been called three times.

The first time, my girlfriend was the Judge's assistant. I never made it in the door.

The second and third time they never got far enough down the list for me. I really would love to do it sometime though.

The first time, my girlfriend was the Judge's assistant.

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I thought you were gay.

I must have you confused with someone else.

Yes. I, too, was voted jury foreman.

1069 said:

I thought you were gay.

I must have you confused with someone else.

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How much money you got? I'm "economically versatile."

No, I'm not gay. Or if I am, I'm really bad at it.

Groucho said:

I've been called a few times, but when they find out I'm a trial attorney, I get excused. Understandably; no lawyer wants another one on the jury second guessing him or her or seeing through the objections and whatnot...

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Ive never been called, but being in law enforcement means I'll never get picked for criminal juries anyhow.

megaprogman said:

This statement makes me a bit sad. In my mind the best use of the legal system would be to have it be something that everyone can understand and participate in with the goal of discovering the truth of a situation in order to establish guilt. Unfortunately, trials are often a lot of showmanship and bluff. It seems to be as much about good presentation as it is about facts or laws.

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They are ALOT of showmanship and bluff. Pretty much if the defense knows it doesn't have an easy case to defend, you will see them misconstrue the words used by witnesses, nitpick at very small unimportant details that are not important in any way in order to paint witnesses as not trustable. There are other times where Ive seen defense attorneys make completely assinine arguments, knowing that they are doing so, knowing that they are going to lose, just to make a good show for their client. Which by the way, I completely understand that part of the game.

The prosecution, when it has a ****ty case, just kinda presents its case, and hopes for the best. Ive not met any hardcore prosecutors yet (never dealt with any major cases). Most of the prosecutors Ive dealt with will be cross examining me on the behalf of the defendant in the near future, as most prosecutors are recently graduated law school students on their way to private practice.