i’ve was on a federal jury about an irs agennt who said he was dismissed from his job because of an non work related injury. he wanted damages because he said the office wouldn’y accomodate him. during this time he was also doing some national guard training. when we diliberated, the minority business owner wanted to give him $5000 to help his kids go to college. 2 of us said he gets $0 andn as we were independant contrators and jury duty paind $40 a day plus lunch, we said we can sit here all week. i eplained i had done exactly the same job as he described in the national guard and, if he had the injuries claimed, he could not do that. we won out and he got nothing.
second time i was asked if 2 witnesses saw the same incident and related it differently what would i beieve. i said both could be telling the truth as they saw it (meaning neither was lying) defense lawyer dismissed me and 2 jurors said “good answer.”
After I got out of the Navy, I got called every three years, like clockwork. (In MA, I think it is/was a three year interval for jury duty)
The first few times, I went willingly. The middle few I went grudgingly, and the last two, I stewed the entire time and generally acted like an immature pain in the ass, but I was angry. I knew very few people who ever got called for duty, but here I was, getting tagged every few years.
I went six times. On the sixth time (this is eighteen years!) I dug in my heels. I showed up late. I completely scribbled the form and got the stupid court jester angry at me, and he forced me to fill it out right. Then, when it came time to seat a jury, I got picked as one of the pool to select from. We came out and heard the particulars of the case while they did jury selection. It was a case of two guys who got stopped by the State Police with guns in the trunk, and the guys were saying the guns were planted.
When they asked if anyone thought they couldn’t impartially listen and participate in the case, I shot my hand up.
They brought me up to talk to the judge, and the attorneys. The judge asked why I thought I couldn’t impartially participate, and I said I didn’t trust the police in general, and thought it would influence me.
I remember as I said this, the defense attorney was looking thoughtfully at me, stroking his chin, and I swear I could see the cogs turning in his head...”How do I get this guy on the jury...”
The judge said “Well, we can send you home, but we will call you back another day.” At that point I flat out said (With no hesitation) “Fine. I can be impartial.” I went back and sat down, but they didn’t pick me.
I was steaming mad, though, and when I got home, I immediately sat down and typed out a scathing, nasty letter to the Commissioner of Jurors, or whatever that public “servant” was called. (Look at me...I am getting pissed again, even as I recall and write this, and this was around 1996!)
I have never been called back for jury duty since then. My main beef was that it was not being fairly distributed. I have no problem sitting on a jury or being considered for it. Nowadays, I might even welcome it. But back then, it really bothered me. Now, an excuse to get out of work and read a paperback book and possibly get on a jury doesn’t make me angry, but it really ate at me back then.
So I agree. We should serve when called, and do our best.