tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post7615814052118957262..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: "Shirking civic duty for 40, Alex."By Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31115248835820035592008-01-10T23:28:00.000-08:002008-01-10T23:28:00.000-08:00Holy moly, I was called for jury duty in 1982 and ...Holy moly, I was called for jury duty in 1982 and the pay back then was $15 a day! Guess the courts aren't keeping up with inflation. Anyway, I spent three boring weeks in a jury room doing jigsaw puzzles and reading 10 year old copies of <I>Reader's Digest</I> waiting to see if a case would be going to trial and a jury would be needed. Finally my group was called down for voir dire. It was a civil case, two accountants suing one another. I was asked if I'd be able to pay close attention to testimony that involved long columns of numbers. I admitted that I'd probably doze off, and was excused.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43377180222919369482008-01-09T13:59:00.000-08:002008-01-09T13:59:00.000-08:00I am an attorney.You are not "selected" for the ju...I am an attorney.<BR/><BR/>You are not "selected" for the jury. <BR/><BR/>The jury pool is assigned numbers and the lowest numbered remaining 6/12 + alternates become the jurors.<BR/><BR/>If your answers to the questions lead to an impossible result: The Plaintiff is a screen writer. Do any of you have any reason why you could not follow this Court's directions knowing that the Plaintiff is a screen writer? "I hate all screen writers and would just as soon use them for land fill" would allow that juror to be struck for "cause."<BR/><BR/>There are a limited number of "preemptory" challenges and jurors can be struck for no reason (except, you can't strike a juror because of race, gender, ethnicity, religion...etc).<BR/><BR/>I once had a potential juror - a white male in his 40's dressed in a suit. He was somewhere in the low 30s in juror numbers and we were seating 12 jurors + 2 alternates in a medical malpractice case. His juror information form was filled out nicely - he was a "retired" engineer. He never raised his hand or answered "yes" or "no" during the voir dire - so I asked him how he had come to be retired at such a young age.<BR/><BR/>He replied, very slowly, "They say that I haven't been right since the accident." He had suffered a closed-head injury and had the functional brain of about a 5 year-old. His wife filled out the form for him and dressed him up and dropped him off for jury duty. He was struck from the pool for cause.<BR/><BR/>Trials can be deadly dull or not - I strongly suggest that everybody interested in seeing a fine trial in a film go rent/buy Anatomy of a Murder. That is about as close to a real trial as you will find in a film.grolawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08652107155333792472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64687284821882583512008-01-08T16:18:00.000-08:002008-01-08T16:18:00.000-08:00"peet" moss? Nope, it's "peat."Sorry darling, it's..."peet" moss? Nope, it's "peat."<BR/><BR/>Sorry darling, it's Pete Moss. He was my first studio publicist. When I made my WWII service musical, PRIVATES ON DISPLAY, he came up with the slogan, "They can kill you, but they can't kill a song!"<BR/><BR/>Can I get off jury duty for drinking mash?<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Tallulah Moreheadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07416330735326405496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13972789544469326602008-01-08T15:47:00.000-08:002008-01-08T15:47:00.000-08:00Eric could be right. I have a Canadian friend who...Eric could be right. I have a Canadian friend who was called for jury duty in NYC. <BR/><BR/>In many states, you get excused if you mention that you watch MASH.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64989510291019969742008-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:002008-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:00All I can say is Art Fleming never would have gott...All I can say is Art Fleming never would have gotten out of jury duty that way.J Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15175515543694122729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-31877369138574457602008-01-07T18:58:00.000-08:002008-01-07T18:58:00.000-08:00Breaking News...Golden Globes ceremoney cancelledBreaking News...<BR/>Golden Globes ceremoney cancelledAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-74946572692328668912008-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:002008-01-07T16:41:00.000-08:00My one jury experience was both fascinating and sa...My one jury experience was both fascinating and sad. A young wife and mother was killed in a car accident, and several other family members were severely injured. The family sued the manufacturer, claiming the accident was caused by a substandard part. Unfortunately, they couldn't prove it, and there were plausible alternative causes. It was heartbreaking, but based on the evidence and the judge's instructions, we really didn't have enough to find the car company liable. I still think of that poor family, and even though I know we reached the only fair verdict, it hurts to know we contributed to their further devastation.<BR/><BR/>Ironically, if they'd drawn a less conscientious and rational group of jurors, they might have won.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30219037596174534952008-01-07T16:25:00.000-08:002008-01-07T16:25:00.000-08:00I suppose I shouldn't correct spelling when I have...I suppose I shouldn't correct spelling when I have so many typos, but I know how to spell most of the words I use. <BR/><BR/>Change mu to my and they lawyers to the lawyers.<BR/><BR/>Oh, one other thing, they usually excuse people from jury duty here for pretty flimsy reasons. My wife got off jury duty that would have started today by claiming she was needed at work.Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-22070168875647481222008-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:002008-01-07T16:20:00.000-08:00I've been on five juries: four criminal cases and ...I've been on five juries: four criminal cases and one civil. Here in Tacoma we get $10/day plus mileage. Being a federal employee, I get the day off with pay, but I have to give Uncle Sam the $10. The mileage is mine. I love being called for jury since it allows me to stay away from work. I also like the challenge of being a juror. <BR/>Mu last case was remarkable for a couple of reasons. One was the voir dire process. They lawyers seems to focus on about six people to question, including a retired colonel who said drug dealers should be shot. One woman's answers made her sound like a blithering idiot. She was picked to serve, the others weren't. The day we were supposed to deliberate one of the jurors told the judge that another juror had been discussing the case in the jury room. In fact, her started to make a couple of remarks about the demeanor of the lawyers and was quickly told to be quiet by the others. But in the interest of fair play and making everything on earth ridiculous, a mistrial was called. I wanted to kill the blabbermouth and the fink, not only because they wasted our time, but I was really interested in seeing how the other jurors would perceive the evidence. The charge, BTW, was possession of meth.<BR/><BR/>"peet" moss? Nope, it's "peat."Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-60612503034068601252008-01-07T15:07:00.000-08:002008-01-07T15:07:00.000-08:00Once I was in a jury pool with porn star Ron Jerem...Once I was in a jury pool with porn star Ron Jeremy. He was excused because he was a hung juror.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57270218286460442722008-01-07T13:27:00.000-08:002008-01-07T13:27:00.000-08:00i'm disappointed in you Ken...you haven't been del...i'm disappointed in you Ken...<BR/>you haven't been deleting the anonymous comments.<BR/><BR/>this makes you unreliable. which means you shouldn't serve on juries. that's your ticket out.The Bumble Bee Pendanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11782074071758250824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82050394731021126282008-01-07T13:16:00.000-08:002008-01-07T13:16:00.000-08:00I served in a civil case involving three parties; ...I served in a civil case involving three parties; each with a team of lawyers trying to pass the blame along. <BR/><BR/>A woman ran a red light, and hit a pickup truck with an aftermarket camper body. There was a young man (17ish) in the camper, who was thrown out and wound up a quadriplegic. <BR/><BR/>The kid was suing the camper body mfg'r, who pointed out that nobody's supposed to be riding in the camper. Kid's lawyers pointed out that the sign was in English, which the kid didn't speak. And everybody was ganging up on the woman, but it was clearly the camper manufacturer who had the most money to sue for.<BR/><BR/>In any event, I strongly recommend jury service. It sure isn't Law & Order, and will give you a new respect -- or contempt -- for the system.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-19275096288048832462008-01-07T12:42:00.000-08:002008-01-07T12:42:00.000-08:00My one and only experience with jury duty was bein...My one and only experience with jury duty was being a potential juror on a civil case over peet moss. Really.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, my girlfriend sat on a jury in a child abuse case. She had a hard time letting go of that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-18186622869757231242008-01-07T11:46:00.000-08:002008-01-07T11:46:00.000-08:00I'm with Ned, I read that and thought, "My God, th...I'm with Ned, I read that and thought, "My God, the woman was 8 1/2 months old and still called for jury duty? Insanity!"<BR/><BR/>I, too may have to serve Jury Duty here in L.A. this month. But mine is U.S. District Court so I would get $40 a day if called. Sadly, that's a good gig for me at the moment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6275172953940148332008-01-07T10:51:00.000-08:002008-01-07T10:51:00.000-08:00A woman who was 8 1/2 months was not excused.Not e...<I>A woman who was 8 1/2 months was not excused.</I><BR/><BR/>Not even after she spit up on herself and soiled her diaper?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-81036674138459467552008-01-07T09:45:00.000-08:002008-01-07T09:45:00.000-08:00In Houston (where they pronounce "voir dire" as "v...In Houston (where they pronounce "voir dire" as "vore dyer") you're assigned a day to show up, and if you're not called that's it you can go home.<BR/><BR/>I've been selected to a criminal jury three times, with one guilty, one hung jury, and one case where they settled before the prospective jurors could be questioned.<BR/><BR/>In the hung jury case, the sticking point was this: we had two guys in the front of a car, and the passenger had a backpack full of empty baby food jars in the back seat behind the driver (within easy reach, typically where a passenger would throw his stuff in the back). The backpack was open. There were also loose baby food jars with crack in them in the back behind the passenger. The loose crack jars were the same kind as the empty jars in the passenger's backpack. The jury was hung on whether the crack-filled jars were the passenger's or the driver's.Michaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15001530336692435773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89182310794381087322008-01-07T09:23:00.000-08:002008-01-07T09:23:00.000-08:00I was an alternate on a rape trail a few months ag...I was an alternate on a rape trail a few months ago. It was odd - like half the jury pool was Asian but every single one of them was excused because in Asian households they don't talk about sex so the word PENIS made all the Asians uncomfortable. Well, all except that one guy who admitted he doesn't like black people.<BR/><BR/>There was one guy who was clearly trying to get out of jury duty by making up all kinds of emotional issues so the judge got her vengeance. Even though we were in our second day of jury selection so everybody who got rejected went straight home, she made him move to a civil trial.<BR/><BR/>They didn't pay me because I'm a state employee, but they do pay you mileage now. I got like $12 for a week's worth of work.<BR/><BR/>The guy was found guilty because he very much was.Emily Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02163221455899041141noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73321396676808412252008-01-07T07:54:00.000-08:002008-01-07T07:54:00.000-08:00"Will the nation’s literacy level go down two poin..."<EM>Will the nation’s literacy level go down two points if a JEOPARDY taping has to be postponed?</EM>"<BR/><BR/>It's low enough already... would you <EM>really</EM> want to take the chance?The Curmudgeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14723009641287783218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-70845273436249025712008-01-07T07:28:00.000-08:002008-01-07T07:28:00.000-08:00Gang-related shooting trial in San Diego. The ban...Gang-related shooting trial in San Diego. The banger was one mean dude, but the DA did such a crappy job, we had to let the little shit go. Won't happen when I'm King.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-86209575239663092122008-01-07T07:23:00.000-08:002008-01-07T07:23:00.000-08:00I must be caught in some jury rotation hell. I've...I must be caught in some jury rotation hell. I've been called to come sit in various rooms through out the greater Puget Sound to wait to be called for jury duty, no less than 6 times in the last 10 years. Um, hello, there are other people in this federal district. <BR/>The big one that got away however, was a triple murder where the trial was supposed to last at least 6 months. It took two weeks to even get to the point where I was excused, 1500 people were called. Boy that was fun! I was excused because I was single and unemployed. I could have been looking for a job, but instead I had to claim the jury riches on my unemployment claim...rotten bastards.<BR/>This last time, the week before Christmas 07, they finally replaced the introduction to Jury Duty 101 tape starring Raymond Burr, with a new jazzy and hip psuedo court room drama. Who knew that Perry Mason is no longer useful.yoo hoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17918978945701905213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-63888176056490835612008-01-07T07:09:00.000-08:002008-01-07T07:09:00.000-08:00Isn't it reasonable to excuse someone like Alex Tr...Isn't it reasonable to excuse someone like Alex Trebek because their presence would be a distraction?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32566897607354087492008-01-07T06:34:00.000-08:002008-01-07T06:34:00.000-08:00i love that MASH, twenty + years after its gone of...i love that MASH, twenty + years after its gone off the air, is still thought of as code for being very liberal. you guys did something right. :)rob!https://www.blogger.com/profile/17556471244882205031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-51005906814624362392008-01-07T06:19:00.000-08:002008-01-07T06:19:00.000-08:00Ah, So I am seeing a trend here...I was at San Fer...Ah, So I am seeing a trend here...<BR/><BR/><BR/>I was at San Fernando Courthouse during the time that L.A. was waiting for the verdict in the Rodney King Civil Trial. The Civil Trial followed the Criminal Trial that had caused the Riots, so it was a bit tense in the courthouse. The judge says "This will be a murder trial, no excuses." I raise my hand anyway and say, "I work in Television". He immediately excuses me and the other potential jurors gave me dirty looks, as I walked out of the coutroom. I loved it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-64371280459614487682008-01-07T05:55:00.000-08:002008-01-07T05:55:00.000-08:00"Civic Duty for 40?"It's gotta be 20 years since t..."Civic Duty for 40?"<BR/><BR/>It's gotta be 20 years since that's been an amount on the board.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00648438549121320566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-6879174602101009302008-01-07T05:53:00.000-08:002008-01-07T05:53:00.000-08:00Clearly they rejected Trebek because he's Canadia...Clearly they rejected Trebek because he's Canadian.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18351452512636422112noreply@blogger.com