I feel like I make a good juror but….Modern jurors are lazy and sometimes idiots. Googling the defendant is strictly forbidden for obvious reasons but would you? (I absolutely did not) If a juror next to you smelled like booze during the trial what would you do? If a firefighter gets aggressive with me again in the jury room can I take care of business or are there “special charges” they can throw at me because of location? Should I get a haircut? I haven’t had one since last selection, 3 plus years ago.
Have always had long hair since after my Vietnam experience and when called for jury duty never selected. Here in SC over a certain age you are exempt. IMO a juror has every right to know the background of someone on trial. Juror smells like booze tell the judge
I got as far as being seated on a jury once, sixteen years ago. I was dismissed after answering a couple questions honestly. Haven't been called for jury duty again since.
I was called for jury duty once, a Federal case of firearms crimes against a Mideastern guy. Expected to be an open&shut case. But during selection, the judge asks who is an NRA member? I raise my hand, get nasty glares from judge, prosecuter and defense attorney. Judge asks who has experience with firearms? I raise my hand, saying I am a gun collector, longtime shooter/hunter and I handload. All true. The glares were utterly hostile! Judge says, "Mr. XXXX, you are dismissed!" Seems the last thing they wanted was a juror who actually knew something about the subject of the case.
He thought he was special. He loudly complained about all the waiting early on in the jury pool room and low and behold he’s sitting right across from me in the jury room later. In there he got what I’d call aggressive towards me. Just a punk. A Googler too I’m convinced now.
Traditionally, it's one of our greatest duties to serve as a juror. However, I'd simply ask one question and surely be escorted out. I would ask what jurisdiction the court is operating under, and if the answer is "Statutory", I would remind the court that as a Sovereign Citizen, we are not subjects to be ruled over as I do not recognize a jurisdiction cloaked behind Maritime Law.
My son was attacked by thug who hit him in the head with a mag flash light had a bunch if stitches and a detached retina, Tracked the thug down and was in jail for and 3 days went before the judge had his mother there and lawyer. Judge ruled time served and pay medical bills. I was pissed beyond belief, got called for jury duty told the judge my experience and I had no faith in the system -----dismissed
Been called half a dozen times, ended up in a specific trial jury pool four times, on the jury three of those four. Grand theft, drunk driving, shoplifting. They filled the jury box for #4 before they got to me, but I'm pretty sure I would have been dismissed. I know too much about the software that was being used in the business being fought over by the two estranged spouses. It can be a fascinating process to be a part of. But as Seawolf1090 pointed out, they often weed out anyone with an inkling of any subject matter relevant to the case. Which can be detrimental to the defendant. Having no one even remotely familiar with firearms on the jury in the case he mentioned probably did not help the defendant. The grand theft case I was on was especially interesting. Took a week, and there were no police involved. Just a DA's investigator. And the prosecution thought they'd caught the defendant in a lie when they played back a telephone conversation between he and the investigator. The defendant had bank accounts at two different banks, and the investigator had found out about the account at the second bank. He asked the question "So that's the only account you have there, at First Interstate?" "Yes" was the answer. And they built a huge part of the case on that apparent lie. We on the jury however, felt that as asked, the question could legitimately be taken two ways: That's the only account you have ANYWHERE, the one you have at First Interstate? That's what the investigator apparently thought he was asking. But it could also be interpreted as: That account is the only one you have at First Interstate, THOUGH YOU MIGHT HAVE OTHER ACCOUNTS ELSEWHERE? Did we think he did it? Maybe. Did we find him guilty? No. Because the prosecution failed to prove it's case, beyond a reasonable doubt.
MY son who lives in Gulf Breeze FL called me this morning on his way to jury duty 3rd time in 5 years. Told him lucky you. Odd his wife has never been called.
while I was still working called twice in the county where I worked. Tried to get on a jury but every time they went thru the do you know list of cops and attorney my hand kept going up, and a lot of times for the defendant.