“I haven’t received a jury summons in years.”
How does that happen? I get called every year like clockwork, though it is own fault. Decades ago the DA’s office realized that when they called me in they could get the defendant’s attorney to convince the defendant to take the plea deal during the process of the jury being seated but before the case starts.
You cannot talk about the case after it starts but there is no law about giving your fellow jurors your opinions on criminal behavior while you are all waiting in the hallway before being let in the courtroom.
“If whoever is on trial came from outside of our county to commit a crime here, they need to walk the plank just on principle. Do those crimes in your own neighborhood, not ours.”
“If whoever is on trial lives in this county, they should know that we don’t tolerate criminal behavior. They should be convicted for stupidity.”
“We need to be the balance to the cities letting all the criminals loose on society by convicting and giving the maximum sentence.’
For maximum effect these are said as the defense attorney and their entourage are waltzing through the hall after keeping everyone waiting because they are an hour late. In big cases the defense always has a spy already in the hallway listening to the conversations of potential jurors. Use it to your advantage as they are usually easy to pick out.
Then in the courtroom when added to the jury box I only need to be honest.
“Have you ever been a victim of _insert crime here_?”
“Yes.”
“Can you set aside your feelings and look at the evidence impartially?”
“Yes.”
At this point the defense attorney will try to use one of their exclusions on me only to be told by the judge they have already used all their exclusions. Quick conference between criminal and attorney and then the request to approach the bench. Lots of whispering, everyone sits back down and the judge announces the miscreant has decided to take the plea deal. Judge looks straight at me and says: “I would like to THANK the jury for their time. You are all dismissed.”
I should not have to pay property taxes with all the money I have saved my county on long protracted trials.
How do I not get called...?
That is a very good question.
Especially since I am, and have always been, a registered Democrat.
So if I’m being weeded out it’s not based on party affiliation, is it.
Wanna bet conservatives aren’t being sent jury summons...