- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
What is jury duty like in your county/parish or state? Jefferson Co,AL is a dumpster fire
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:42 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:42 am
Had jury duty this week. Show up by 8:30 as instructed yesterday but they allowed stragglers to come past 9. Judges come in around 9:15 and swear everyone in and then proceed to give a dissertation about how hard it is to be dismissed from duty.
Half the room looks like "the People of Walmart." So of course the judges' plea persuades few.About 70 people line up and I think 2 were let go.
We wait another hour and they finally call a group. Another 90 minutes go by and a group I am in is called. Like a 5th grade field trip we march single file to the judge's courtroom, with 5 people on the elevator at a time. Finally everyone gets there. Okay,finally normal ,legitimate things take place and we go to lunch at 12:45 with instructions to come back at 1:45.
Again, while seemingly normal we hear the plantiff's attorney warbling on with his Desi Arnaz accent for an huor and then the defendant's attorney for about 20 minutes. Break time for 10 minutes, be back at 3:45.
We get back at 3:45 but then sit around until 4:35 while the in the judge's chambers someone tells the judge and lawyers about some 'bad incident' they had 20 years ago with a lawyer.
I'm struck along with others as we then proceed back on our field trip to the assembly room. Finally at 5:20 we are dismissed for the week.
I'm glad its over,but the ordeal is so annoying. I can't believe the court can't be more prepared than they are. They whine about "backlogs,etc" but in turn do a pitiful job of preperation.
Half the room looks like "the People of Walmart." So of course the judges' plea persuades few.About 70 people line up and I think 2 were let go.
We wait another hour and they finally call a group. Another 90 minutes go by and a group I am in is called. Like a 5th grade field trip we march single file to the judge's courtroom, with 5 people on the elevator at a time. Finally everyone gets there. Okay,finally normal ,legitimate things take place and we go to lunch at 12:45 with instructions to come back at 1:45.
Again, while seemingly normal we hear the plantiff's attorney warbling on with his Desi Arnaz accent for an huor and then the defendant's attorney for about 20 minutes. Break time for 10 minutes, be back at 3:45.
We get back at 3:45 but then sit around until 4:35 while the in the judge's chambers someone tells the judge and lawyers about some 'bad incident' they had 20 years ago with a lawyer.
I'm struck along with others as we then proceed back on our field trip to the assembly room. Finally at 5:20 we are dismissed for the week.
I'm glad its over,but the ordeal is so annoying. I can't believe the court can't be more prepared than they are. They whine about "backlogs,etc" but in turn do a pitiful job of preperation.
29
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:45 am to I-59 Tiger
Jury Duty Hack: Become a felon...you won't be called.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:46 am to I-59 Tiger
Stop crying and be an adult. The wheels grind slowly everywhere.
ETA: Just noticed you got dismissed for the week on Monday after enduring one whole day of the horror you described. Oh the humanity.
ETA: Just noticed you got dismissed for the week on Monday after enduring one whole day of the horror you described. Oh the humanity.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 11:09 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:48 am to I-59 Tiger
Had it in Mobile last summer. Actually enjoyable, but we had a good group of people on it and a good judge. Lunch downtown each day, partied on the last day after we finished up.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:49 am to I-59 Tiger
The wheels of justice turns slowly.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:50 am to I-59 Tiger
I had jury duty in Jefferson County, AL last March. I ended up in the criminal court as a prospective juror for a capital murder trial. Sat around in the big jury room for half the day until my group was finally called. Go to the criminal court building and then we all have to stand up and state where we live in the county, what our job is, etc. Attorneys then talk some and ask some questions. We finish for the day. Have to go back the next day for the actual jury selection which takes 2-3 hours. Luckily I was not chosen, which is partially thanks to me being an attorney. However, they made those of us who were not chosen return to the big jury room because they thought we might be needed for another courtroom. Luckily, after sitting there another hour they didn’t need us and dismissed us.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:51 am to Commandeaux
quote:
Jury Duty Hack: Become a felon...you won't be called.
On a jury selection few years ago one of the reasons for excusal was "habitual drunkard". Old black man got up and said "thats me". He looked like he was telling the truth too.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:52 am to Roll Tide Ravens
as an attorney in JeffCo, is there not anything that can be done to streamline the process or is their sloppiness the norm across the country?
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:53 am to I-59 Tiger
quote:
as an attorney in JeffCo, is there not anything that can be done to streamline the process or is their sloppiness the norm across the country?
I’m sure there is, but nothing in government is fast or efficient. Obviously, Jefferson County is as slow and inefficient as they come. Fortunately in what I do, I rarely go to court.
I do real estate transactions and sometimes have to call the Jefferson County Tax Assessor’s office about stuff with property taxes. Only in about 1 in every 7 or 8 phone calls I make to them can I actually get someone to answer. Meanwhile in Shelby County, I get an answer every time.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 10:57 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 10:54 am to Roll Tide Ravens
I've only been called once in my life in BR. I sat around in a room with about 100 other people for 3 hours or so. They decided they had too many and started calling names for dismissal. I was the 2nd name called. That's my only experience.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:00 am to fallguy_1978
When I had it last March it was right before the NCAA Tournament so I spent a lot of my waiting time filling out my brackets for our office tournament challenge. The time was well spent because I won it. 
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:01 am to I-59 Tiger
I've only been summoned once and didn't get picked. By my estimate about a third of the people never showed up. They just moved on to the next name. If you got called the judge was unlikely to excuse you. One poor bastard was working out of state. Sorry bub, you have to take a week off and serve.
Generally both civil and criminal cases settle before trial so if you get a summons, more than likely it will be cancelled before you have to show up.
Generally both civil and criminal cases settle before trial so if you get a summons, more than likely it will be cancelled before you have to show up.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 11:03 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:02 am to I-59 Tiger
I did Jury Duty for 2 days - it wasn't bad aside rom sitting around most all day both days and not being selected. didn't bother me any - i got off work for 2 days and they paid me for my time.
for my 1st jury duty, it was pretty painless.
for my 1st jury duty, it was pretty painless.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:03 am to I-59 Tiger
Gonna find out how Lake County, Colorado does it tomorrow.
But really need to postpone. Middle of ski season isnt exactly a slow time at work.
But really need to postpone. Middle of ski season isnt exactly a slow time at work.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 11:04 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:03 am to I-59 Tiger
One effective way to be dismissed as a juror is to disagree with the defendants right to not incriminate himself. Simply state you your opinion of the guilt or innocent of someone would be affected if they refuse to take the stand on their own behalf.
I happen to believe that to be true in certain instances, so it was a pretty easy stance to take on my part. I was gone before lunch.
I happen to believe that to be true in certain instances, so it was a pretty easy stance to take on my part. I was gone before lunch.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:04 am to I-59 Tiger
I've actually served twice, one civil case and one federal mail fraud case. Both in BR area. Also got called and dismissed once. In BR and Ascension you get called for a specific trial and judge. I think in NO you get called to a jury pool and they pick from that pool for different trials all day.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:05 am to LSUBFA83
quote:
I think in NO you get called to a jury pool and they pick from that pool for different trials all day.
can confirm
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:10 am to Commandeaux
quote:
Jury Duty Hack
Don't respond to the notice and claim you never received it if questioned. USPS loses mail all the time.
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:10 am to I-59 Tiger
I got called for a civil trial and made it to voir dire.
The case had something to do with an accident where hydroplaning was involved.
One of the first guys questioned was an engineer and was able to scientifically describe how hydroplaning works, whether the tire is actually making contact with the pavement, etc. I don't remember everything he said but it was impressive.
Then, before they got to me, they chose the jurors and alternates....including the engineer.
I got up, went to the restroom and on my way to the exit passed the courtroom where the selected jurors were walking out. They said they got excused b/c of a mistrial. I'm assuming everything the engineer said was the reason.
ETA - I did go home and research the case and it had been declared a mistrial at least 5x before that day.
The case had something to do with an accident where hydroplaning was involved.
One of the first guys questioned was an engineer and was able to scientifically describe how hydroplaning works, whether the tire is actually making contact with the pavement, etc. I don't remember everything he said but it was impressive.
Then, before they got to me, they chose the jurors and alternates....including the engineer.
I got up, went to the restroom and on my way to the exit passed the courtroom where the selected jurors were walking out. They said they got excused b/c of a mistrial. I'm assuming everything the engineer said was the reason.
ETA - I did go home and research the case and it had been declared a mistrial at least 5x before that day.
This post was edited on 1/9/24 at 11:12 am
Posted on 1/9/24 at 11:12 am to Packer
quote:
Don't respond to the notice and claim you never received it if questioned. USPS loses mail all the time.
My sister (no pics) gets summonses at my parents address from time to time. She hasn't lived in this state for 25 years. They keep saying they'll take her name off the list but they never do.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News