slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

An old editorial from the Waco Tribune Herald follows. In this instance, I agree wholeheartedly. I have always accepted jury duty as part of being a good citizen. In all honesty, I know few family or friends who agree with my stance on this matter.
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An old witticism holds that the problem with juries is they're made up of people who aren't smart enough to get out of jury duty. One wonders if that will be so amusing after District Clerk Joe Gimble sends out letters informing the 270 people who simply blew off jury summons this month that they can now explain all this to State District Judge Ralph Strother and why they shouldn't be held in contempt of court.

Onerous government overreach? Hardly. And it's high time.

In laying out the Bill of Rights, the Founding Fathers stressed through the 6th Amendment that citizens charged with a crime had a right to trial before an impartial jury, a right that can be traced all the way back to the Magna Carta of 1215. And while this amendment originally applied on to federal trials, the 14th Amendment helped ensure this also applied to trials involving the individual states.

But federal and state justice systems can't function if citizens ignore jury summons, as is reportedly the case in McLennan County. District Clerk Gimble says on average 70% of people summoned for jury duty don't bother to respond to court notices. We're not talking about people who show up for jury duty to then seek waivers before the judge. And, we're not talking about people who understandably seek to change jury service dates because of other unavoidable obligations. We're talking about scofflaws who in the past have probably gotten away with ignoring jury summons and so feel free to do so again. Happily, Judge Strother is giving the 270 people in this particular case a chance to reschedule their service. Our advice: Take the offer...and fast.

Some of us were a little doubtful when district judges and Gimble warned late last year they would take more seriously those who ignore jury duty, but we're glad to see them actually laying down the law. It's overdue. People held in contempt for failing to appear for jury duty can face fines ranging from $100 to $1000. And those who think they can also ignore Gimble's forthcoming letters are subject to a personal visit by a sheriff's deputy with orders to haul them into court.

Americans should revel in jury service, given it's one of the very few obligations a citizen has. It ensures our courts operate properly. And, with controversial trials continually coming up, citizens should be a part of the equation ensuring that any justice dealt is truly just.

Bad Bob Loc: Virginia

Peaver Bogart Loc: Montana

I've had jury duty a couple times, and never tried to get out of it.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Good for you

Smedley_buzkill

Last time I had jury duty I had the flu. I showed up anyway and the judge sent me home. He basically told me to get my ass out of there before I infected his entire pool.
(Please note: I do NOT recommend this as a method to avoid jury duty.)

son of witless

I had jury duty several years ago. It really really sucked. We were put in a giant room and either you got picked on a jury or you didn't. Most did not. They picked the last jury and I thought thank God, I am out of here. I was the last alternate juror picked.

While the case was interesting, I h**ed the entire process. I was claustrophobic. I had to sit through the trial, and not move or show expression. I'm sorry, but I found the process stressful.

You will be happy to hear that I did my duty, even though as an alternate I was not allowed to sit in deliberations. I did my duty, but I sure as hell didn't revel in it. Hopefully I will be too old next time my name pops up.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

You did your duty as a citizen, Son. I, for one, am both grateful and impressed with your diligence. JFYI, I wasn't exactly thrilled sitting in muddy foxholes during my stay in Viet Nam, either. But, I also dutifully served.

son of witless

Were you drafted ?

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

No.

FallenOak Loc: St George Utah

A small comment. Those who have immigrated from other countries and gone through the citizenship process seem often to be better citizens than those given citizenship because of birth.
I have been called four times and attended three times. The last time I was called to Salt Lake from St George. Over three hundred miles each way but my age (over 75) excused me.

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

Every time I was asked if I was friends or relatives of police officers I would tell them I had a cousin who was a chief of police and several cousins who were cops or married to a cop. It is the t***h and I was never chose

Blade_Runner Loc: DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Well, that's all just peachy, doing your duty and all that, but as dutiful and American as jury duty may be,
in some cases, it can be a life changing event. And not necessarily in a good way.

As a juror in a civil case, or a white collar crime, or some other minor crime, the experience is generally non-threatening and absent a load of emotional and psychological burdens. However, as a juror in case of violent crime, the experience can be daunting.

Jurors in these cases can, and most often are, exposed to graphic testimony and photos, even videos, including images of victims, blood, and corpses. Oftentimes, these images would be shown repeatedly over the course of the trial.

For example, in an alcohol-related traffic accident case involving the death of many teenagers. The jurors had been exposed to graphic pictures of dead students, and were subjected to detailed testimony about how each of them had died. The judge in this case was so concerned about the jurors' reactions he called Dr. Roger Bell, a psychology professor at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, to help him deal with it. The judge and Dr. Bell described the jurors as "going through terrible agony."

Because jurors may be given so much disturbing information over the course of a trial, a juror may leave the trial with a much more fearful psyche than when the trial commenced. Jurors can suffer from a variety of symptoms following a criminal trial. The most frequently reported symptoms are sleeplessness and anxiety. Other symptoms include: stomachaches, headaches, heart palpitations, depression, sexual problems, chest pain, ulcers, elevated blood pressure, intrusive thoughts, and restlessness.

Jurors have reported avoiding certain locations or triggers that remind them of their jury service. In one study, 29% of jurors reported specifically avoiding doing things or going places that would remind them of their time on the jury.

In addition, Jurors also suffer from the sudden and often overwhelming responsibility given to them in a criminal trial. They recognize that they have the duty to drastically change the outcome of the life of one or more human beings. They fear making the wrong decision, and living with the guilt. Even jurors who believe that they made the right decision -- legally speaking -- may feel sick about the consequences.

Then there is the isolation when sequestered.
Away from home and family,
can't talk to anybody about the trial,
not even another juror.
Kinda like a C***d lock down.

On top of that there are the personalities of the jurors themselves.
Been fist fights during deliberations, some of them were knock down, d**g outs.
And hung juries and dead locked juries.

But this wasn't on your mind when you brought up our wonderful privilege of doing our duty on a jury, is it?

I'm reasonably certain you are thinking about all those fine, honest, upstanding citizens who would be called to duty should Donald Trump ever go to trial. They must absolutely do their duty for the good of the nation and find him guilty on all counts.

If you tell me I am wrong, I probably won't believe you.

“I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by man,
by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution."
Thomas Jefferson

We can only hope ....

nwtk2007 Loc: Texas

I have never been picked but have been summoned many times. The closest I got to being picked was for a Pot possession case. Over half the potential jurors proclaimed that they thought it should be legal and would not find our guy guilty, no matter what. They asked me if I had ever smoked pot and I told them I hadn't, that I always thought it stank. I was released at that point and don't know how it turned out. But I always go. Last time I found it interesting that the attorneys roaming the halls were either white or black guys in suits too small, like Trevor Noah or short and fat Hispanic guys in super baggy suits that were way too long in the pants, sleeves and jacket lengths.

rjoeholl

One of the best experiences of my life was serving on the Grand Jury.

Big dog

I told the judge I’d be great for jury duty. I told him I could spot a criminal anywhere. “Look, there’s one now”, I said, pointing at the DA.