I used my “I’m a journalist” card for many years, works like a charm. Then, like you, I figured it was time to do my duty, and just said I was a writer. But got dismissed over and over again. So I have yet to serve.
Doesn't work in Washington, DC, where everyone is is a journalist, lobbyist, or politician. If you get called up in nearby Maryland, you get treated to a video featuring a Supreme Court justice who didn't get excused.
Props to your LW for her forthrightness. I have no problem with cops — at least, not all of them — but I did have some choice words for the administration on that questionnaire.
I was on a consulting gig and jury duty for the 2 or 3 week case would have cost me a ton. I just stood up and asked the arresting officer if he has played basketball at Roosevelt Island because he looked familiar to me. I was back at work 30 minutes later.
Good one! We had a couple of people who said they'd gone to school with the judge or the bailiff decades earlier, but they weren't dismissed on the spot.
In the 30-some years I was a registered voter in Northern Virginia, I was only summoned once: to the E.D.Va. federal court in Alexandria. There were fellow jurors who had had to travel there from Fredericksburg (for God’s sake), which precluded my whining about getting to the court from Oakton, where I lived. At least I had the Metro!
After I was “rehoused” in the Phoenix suburbs about 20 years ago, I was called a number of times, to both county and federal court, but only had to show up twice. The jury experience was very interesting; it was the logistics involved that made it daunting. Here the maximum age is 70 in federal court, but 75 in county court. I was greatly relieved when I aged out of the obligation a year and a half ago. It’s noteworthy that in some states the maximum age is 80!
Eric... unlike most citzens I welcomed any opportunity to perform jury duty. Always turned down, except once a few years ago. I was out of everyday journalism by then but I wanted everyone to see and appreciate how the law works.
Having served as a jury foreman in a major felony case that stretched over a week, I encourage one and all to stop trying to wriggle out of jury duty, despite the inconvenience — not just because it’s good for society, but it’s good for you, too.
Hey, you can have mine… Hernia surgery on Friday… Though as with statins, CPAP machines, chill pills, I’m discovering that most guys I know have already been through it… Twice!… So I’ve got some catching up to do… Though I’d prefer my doctor get it right the first time… Wish me luck!… Is it true that with modern robotic laparoscopic incisions you’re up and running again in a day or two?… Well, the jury is still out… (see what I did there to make my TMI response seem on message?)…
I was recently summoned and have to call in for the first week in May. In the past, I got out of serving on a case involving the Volkswagen company by claiming that I was raised by Jewish parents who passed along to me their prejudice against all things German. But years later, when I served on a jury for a gang murder trial, I found it fascinating as a writer, hearing from ballistic experts, detectives, gang members, etc. It was like an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit come to life. Plus, we got in free to the downtown museums during our lunch hours and afterwards.
I've always been dismissed after questioning. One lawyer who spent most of voir dire playing with a rubber band asked me what I did for a living. I told him I was a street artist in San Francisco, that I sold jewelry I made at Fisherman's Wharf. He then asked me if I thought I'd be able to understand the proceedings. Last time I got called I was teaching, so I pushed it until Christmas break. I called in the Monday before Christmas and was told there would be no court that week, and I was off the hook.
After performing my civic duty over the past 40 years and served on five jury's, I've used the excuse of old age (over 65) to avoid any further jury calls. We are allowed to use that exception here in Tallahassee. Don't know if that works elsewhere. I have had similar experiences to what you described in your post. Thanks, Bob
Good to hear from you, Bob, and thanks for your service! (Even though you're not in California.) I actually asked if I could use age as an excuse, and the woman said no, but I know some people in California are doing it. I may find out for sure next time.
I used my “I’m a journalist” card for many years, works like a charm. Then, like you, I figured it was time to do my duty, and just said I was a writer. But got dismissed over and over again. So I have yet to serve.
Yeah, I’ve used that in the past. It’s a totally valid excuse, imo.
Doesn't work in Washington, DC, where everyone is is a journalist, lobbyist, or politician. If you get called up in nearby Maryland, you get treated to a video featuring a Supreme Court justice who didn't get excused.
Wow. In the rest of the country, they’re a dying breed.
Well, maybe here, too.
I don’t think Substack has a crying emoji.
My lovely wife has on two occasions told the judge — “I don’t like cops” — and that’s a free pass home.
Props to your LW for her forthrightness. I have no problem with cops — at least, not all of them — but I did have some choice words for the administration on that questionnaire.
Debbie doesn’t have anything against most cops either, but she’ll lean on that when needed.
I’ve never been asked to serve on a jury in the U.K., Canada or the U.S. Not sure if that’s because I always had press credentials.
Maybe they assumed you'd flee to another country.
Possibly or that I didn’t take Canadian citizenship until I’d been there for 10 years or so and did not seek U.S. citizenship.
I was on a consulting gig and jury duty for the 2 or 3 week case would have cost me a ton. I just stood up and asked the arresting officer if he has played basketball at Roosevelt Island because he looked familiar to me. I was back at work 30 minutes later.
Good one! We had a couple of people who said they'd gone to school with the judge or the bailiff decades earlier, but they weren't dismissed on the spot.
In the 30-some years I was a registered voter in Northern Virginia, I was only summoned once: to the E.D.Va. federal court in Alexandria. There were fellow jurors who had had to travel there from Fredericksburg (for God’s sake), which precluded my whining about getting to the court from Oakton, where I lived. At least I had the Metro!
After I was “rehoused” in the Phoenix suburbs about 20 years ago, I was called a number of times, to both county and federal court, but only had to show up twice. The jury experience was very interesting; it was the logistics involved that made it daunting. Here the maximum age is 70 in federal court, but 75 in county court. I was greatly relieved when I aged out of the obligation a year and a half ago. It’s noteworthy that in some states the maximum age is 80!
Hmm, maybe California is split like that too on aging. Thanks for responding — and becoming a paid subscriber!
Eric... unlike most citzens I welcomed any opportunity to perform jury duty. Always turned down, except once a few years ago. I was out of everyday journalism by then but I wanted everyone to see and appreciate how the law works.
I saw only a little and appreciated less — in this case at least.
I got an old age exemption as well. It was the doctor's note citing my BPH that closed the deal.
That’s going way too far for an exemption!
Having served as a jury foreman in a major felony case that stretched over a week, I encourage one and all to stop trying to wriggle out of jury duty, despite the inconvenience — not just because it’s good for society, but it’s good for you, too.
I’m sure you’re right. Now, would you mind rescheduling my medical appointments please?
Hey, you can have mine… Hernia surgery on Friday… Though as with statins, CPAP machines, chill pills, I’m discovering that most guys I know have already been through it… Twice!… So I’ve got some catching up to do… Though I’d prefer my doctor get it right the first time… Wish me luck!… Is it true that with modern robotic laparoscopic incisions you’re up and running again in a day or two?… Well, the jury is still out… (see what I did there to make my TMI response seem on message?)…
Good luck! (I had one too.)
See? We are all hernia bros under the skin!…
I was recently summoned and have to call in for the first week in May. In the past, I got out of serving on a case involving the Volkswagen company by claiming that I was raised by Jewish parents who passed along to me their prejudice against all things German. But years later, when I served on a jury for a gang murder trial, I found it fascinating as a writer, hearing from ballistic experts, detectives, gang members, etc. It was like an episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit come to life. Plus, we got in free to the downtown museums during our lunch hours and afterwards.
Yeah, gang murder — that’s what I wanted! Not child molestation. Yecch!
Let's just be grateful we weren't on one of those trials that went for months.
I've always been dismissed after questioning. One lawyer who spent most of voir dire playing with a rubber band asked me what I did for a living. I told him I was a street artist in San Francisco, that I sold jewelry I made at Fisherman's Wharf. He then asked me if I thought I'd be able to understand the proceedings. Last time I got called I was teaching, so I pushed it until Christmas break. I called in the Monday before Christmas and was told there would be no court that week, and I was off the hook.
Yeah, they're usually pretty lenient, but this time I thought I'd at least get to voir dire.
By questioning I meant voir dire. Long hair and a beard. Still carries some stigma.
I would have responded to his “would you be able to understand” question in a way that would have gotten me dismissed.
I had one of those retorts on the tip of my tongue, and it would have come closer to a contempt warning than dismissal.
After performing my civic duty over the past 40 years and served on five jury's, I've used the excuse of old age (over 65) to avoid any further jury calls. We are allowed to use that exception here in Tallahassee. Don't know if that works elsewhere. I have had similar experiences to what you described in your post. Thanks, Bob
Good to hear from you, Bob, and thanks for your service! (Even though you're not in California.) I actually asked if I could use age as an excuse, and the woman said no, but I know some people in California are doing it. I may find out for sure next time.