Federal Grand Jury Duty - How to Get Out of It???(Vanity)

N/A | 30 Dec 02 | Texson66

[texson66]

Instead of winning the Powerball lotto, I just won the federal grand jury lotto. In case you are unaware, the term of a FGJ(Federal Grand Juror) is 18 MONTHS! Sure they "pay" you for your public service: $40/ a day and 36.5 per mile. They are sure not paying the per diem rate for federal workers!

Essentially, you are required to take a 20% pay cut for a year and a half of "public" service!

Well, I am not willing to go into "indentured servitude" for the feds. I have a family and a mortage with a demanding job that requires a lot of travel.Plus 21 yrs of military service has to count for "public duty"!

Any suggestions on how to get out of this "duty"???

[texson66]

Yeah, I know ....a great and noble duty yada yada yada! But here are a couple of links to "FGJ duty" experiences:

Our Unjust Justice System

FGJ Experience & Critique

[dirtboy]

Any suggestions on how to get out of this "duty"???

Be sure to bring one of those pocket Constitutions with you when they initially call you in. When asked about your political beliefs, state your honest belief about the importance of limited government and that you believe the feds have usurped powers. They won't want you on their rubber stamping machine, and you won't have to lie to get tossed out...

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

Did you just get a letter in the mail? Simply do not respond.

If it was a registered letter and you picked it up, better go to plan B.

(Hint: never pick up a registered letter, they are always bad news.)

[texson66]

I certainly agree with your statement! Will try this approach then!

[dirtboy]

I got off regular federal jury duty honestly by questioning a SCOTUS decision relevant to the case - I genuinely believed that it allowed double jeopardy in certain cases, and it would affect my ability to impartially judge the evidence. Of course, it also didn't hurt that my ex-wife had clerked for the federal prosecutor in the case (don't think you'll be able to try that approach, that's why I didn't mention it).

[jigsaw]

Called for jury duty and being pre-interviewed by the opposing attorneys to see if any of us should be dismissed because we knew any of the parties, etc., I told them (the attorneys) that based on prior court experience I had had that as far as I was concened the instant I believed one of the attorneys or clients or witnesses was lying, that side immediately lost the case in my mind.

Both attorneys immediately dismissed me.

They realized I was damn serious.

[AlaskaErik]

Ask the court clerk what type of pistol you can carry concealed while in the building. When they say you can't, act horrified and tell them that the bad guys will get you and you fear for your safety. Act really paranoid. They may reconsider. I've never been called, but as a LE professional, I would simply state that they must be guilty, otherwise the police would not have arrested the perps.

[texson66]

Well, it is a duty IF you feel that the Federal government is right in usurping many of the former state government functions. I dont. I pay taxes, vote, and served for 20 years in the military. How much civil duty do you do??? :-)

[Recon by Fire]

SO telling the GJ that I am a drunk won't get me off?

[texson66]

Unfortunately, this is a grand jury not a trial jury. So, I
would have to listen to the Feds ONLY in making a bill of
indictment. No defense attorneys are allowed in the GJ room.

[ContentiousObjector]

tell them you are a white supremacist and your against the death penalty

[MeneMeneTekelUpharsin]

Several good tips have been given already. I was called for jury duty, did not want to serve and in the review process stated some VERY strong opinions. Was quickly excused. The worst thing you can do is appear to be neutral and remain quiet.

Any indication you can give as to either the innocence or guilt of the parties involved and stick with it will probably cause you to be released. Best wishes.

[Alberta's Child]

This specific post involves a grand jury, which is only used to determine if indictments will be drawn up. A trial jury does not last nearly as long in most cases.

[mbynack]

This is a little off the point, but I thought I would throw it in. I believe it was Steven Wright who said:

"If you are ever accused of a crime in this country you feel confident in the fact that you will be tried by a jury consisting of people too stupid to get out of jury duty."

[max_rpf]

I got off a jury once..

They asked me if I thought the defendent would lie on the stand.

I replyed:

Why not? Our president did, and look what happend to him -- nothing!

Needless to say they did not select me...

[Alberta's Child]

I have no problem serving on a trial jury as long as I don't get stuck in court for months. However, in my experience lawyers do not like to keep professionals on the jury because they are not easily swayed.

I once had a lawyer tell me that he always does his best to get engineers and accountants off the jury in his cases.

[GovernmentShrinker]

$40/day is a 20% pay cut? You make $250/week for "a demanding job that requires a lot of travel"? This doesn't sound right.

[PAR35]

I would simply state that they must be guilty,

The summons was for a grand jury, not a trial jury. Since a prosecuting attorney wants a grand juror who will rubber stamp the indictments, your statement would probably guarantee that you would serve.

[lorrainer]

Any suggestions on how to get out of this "duty"???

Just got out of Federal jury duty last week. I have MS, and had to have my doctor fax info to the clerk. They wouldn't take my word that I can't see well enough to drive to court, among other things. I wonder if the fact that I spend much of my time FReeping would have made any difference in voir dire.... I'd like to think so.