Sometimes I wonder how completely ignorant and boring you have to be to be on a jury. I can think of at least twenty subjects offhand where any lawyer would kick me off of a jury almost instantly.
Mike | Email | Homepage | 07.09.09 - 7:38 am | #

I've been on one jury at the county level. The Feds called me once and didn't pick me. They've never called back. I think that the reason that I was on the county jury was that I was down the list and they'd used all their strikes and needed 12 plus alternates.

Normally, they don't choose engineers for juries. They want sheep they can lead, not critical thinkers.

The trial was not like TV. If I ever get prosecuted for anything, I want that guy prosecuting me. There's no way I'd hire that defense lawyer to shine my shoes. They were both bad at their jobs. We had to find the guy not guilty because the prosecutor overreached on the charges and his star witness provided reasonable doubt for the defense. The defense attorney was too stupid to realize it when it happened.
1911Man | Email | Homepage | 07.09.09 - 9:14 am | #

Is Arizona "One day-one trial" like California? If it isn't, you could wind up cooling your heels in the Jury Assembly room for the entire term of your service (formerly 2 weeks in CA) while you get sent out to courtroom after courtroom only to get bounced from the panels after the lawyers question you
Windy Wilson | Email | Homepage | 07.09.09 - 1:28 pm | #

"What do you do for a living, Mr. Borepatch?"

"Internet Security, sir."

"Your honor, move to dismiss from the jury pool."

I don't think they like people who understand process and can think logically on the jury.
Borepatch | Email | Homepage | 07.09.09 - 8:11 pm | #

Ayup, exactly.

Thankfully it is one day, one trial.
Chris Byrne | Email | Homepage | 07.09.09 - 8:27 pm | #

I have never been called to jury duty, despite being a registered voter most of my life.

I too doubt they'll want me, should they ever call. If for no other reason than I'll blast them on juror expense compensation. Around here, they don't even cover the cost of parking for the day.

I'm a teacher..... nope, can't have that! Someone who is used to evaluating rules and critically examining people's actions and motives? Heavens NO!
Carteach0 | Email | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 4:56 am | #

You know, having worked in the local coroner's office for years, and being a physician, I'd really LIKE to be on either a homicide trial or a medical malpractice trial. Somehow, I don't think that will occur.
WilliamtheCoroner | Email | Homepage | 07.10.09 - 2:05 pm | #

Thank you for doing your duty, and being a member of my peers!

I've been on grand jury before, and called to jury duty. (They dismissed me from the pool when I answered the prosecution's blatantly trying-to-slant-the-case question honestly, truthfully, and in such a manner as to point out that he needed to stop being such a fool.)

In Alaska, I've learned we have some of the most conservative juries in the nation. Part of this may be the seasonal nature of the work; a jury pool is just as likely to be filled with lumberjacks, long-line fishermen between runs, small business owners, immigrants who came freeing worse countries eager to prove their duty as legal citizens, crabbers after the season is over, and guys who work in oil production on their two weeks off, while people with cushy office jobs or no job at all don't want to deal with the hassle.
Wing & A Whim | Email | Homepage | 07.14.09 - 7:36 pm | #