Jury duty questions

[mollyringle]

So, yay, I've been summoned for jury duty. If it turns out I actually have to show up (that is, if they don't cancel my "group number" when I call the automated number on Monday night), then here's what I want to know--and I thought it best to ask you people instead of trying to get through to any actual government or courthouse numbers:

1) Is it true that all I have to do to get out of it is to develop strong opinions on whatever they ask? (Without committing perjury of course.)

2) If they want me to be a juror anyway, will the trial start relatively soon--like within a few days--or will they say, "Great, so show up on November 4th..."? If the latter is the case, then I can't do it--classes start at the end of the month and I have to be a T.A. But if they want me as a juror for a few days in mid-September then I'm perfectly available to judge my peers.

*sigh*...such a pain to cooperate with constitutional rights sometimes. :)

Comments

[kenshi.livejournal.com]

Strong opinions, an expressed love of the notion of jury nullification, declared incontinence--any of these ought to do it.

Don't make the same mistake I made. Keep your reasonable, well thought out, clearly expressed opinions to yourself.

They may even ask you "do you know of any reason why you would not be able to be impartial in this type of case?" You can always answer "yes," but be prepared to go on at length about why, because they'll press you on it.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yes, I remembered you'd had some experience with this topic. I will keep your travails in mind and be ready to play the part of Dumb but Very Opinionated Citizen.

Anyway, I just found out they rescheduled my appearance date. For the afternoon of Sept. 11. Gosh, jury duty on 9/11...and here I was wondering how I could serve my country that day. (By helping levy a fine on some poor soul who knocked down a mailbox, probably. Yolo County is a rather sleepy place.)