3 ms·

This is of course a major problem in and of itself. The (grand) jury system selects for people that are either too stupid or indifferent to getting out of duty.

ghaff 12y ago
I'm not sure "too stupid or indifferent" is quite fair. You have retirees who see it as a change of pace or just people who feel strongly about their civic duty (and whose companies will presumably continue to pay their salaries). That said, it's absolutely fair to say that it's far from a random slice of the population to an even greater degree that juries in general. I suspect that most (but not all) US readers on this site would try fairly hard to get out of a three month, five day a week grand jury commitment.
- Spooky23 12y ago
  Grand Jury service is usually one day a week for a few months. In my case, it was 8 weeks, and we were frequently dismissed before the end of the day. If your employer doesn't suck and pays you your normal salary, it's not a significant hardship. I've found my jury service in all instances a fascinating and educational experience the was worthwhile in the end.
  - ghaff 12y ago
    It really depends on the state and county. In Worcester County in Massachusetts, they said it would be three months for typically five days a week. (My understanding is that the term of service is standard across the state but the number of days a week is a function of the typical case load in the specific county so the more urban counties require more days than the more rural ones.) I know someone who was on a grand jury in a New Hampshire county and it was (I believe) for a shorter period and only one day per week. The degree of inconvenience obviously also depends on your job. For example, if you normally travel a lot, it's going to be tougher.
- 15155 12y ago
  > try fairly hard Talk about being interested in learning about "jury nullification" or mention those words at all. If that doesn't work, a casually-dropped slur or two directed at the defendant's race/nationality/etc. is sure to seal the deal.
  - vinceguidry 12y ago
    Jury nullification and prejudice are only things in trial juries, not grand juries. Nothing to nullify if there's no case yet.
protomyth 12y ago
This is one of the costs of being a citizen in the USA. You do it because your fellow citizens depend on it.
pdkl95 12y ago
The idea that it is smart to get out of jury duty has probably done more damage to our democracy than anything else. Abdicating the duty to sit on a jury means someone else will need to fill that role. When smart people apply those talents to get out of jury duty, leaving the job to someone who is "too stupid or indifferent", they produce the situation we have today of juries deciding based on emotional influences and fast-talking lawyers instead of judging the facts and the law. Yes, it can be annoying and it probably impacts your work schedule. These are insignificant costs compared to safeguarding justice and being able to exercise the most political power available regular citizens.
jbuzbee 12y ago
There was an interesting story recently from a small mountain town here in Colorado. Seems the town had exhausted their current jury pool so court officers literally went out on the street and pressed people into service. "You, over there. Come here. You're now on a Jury". All quite legal.

ghaff 12y ago

I'm not sure "too stupid or indifferent" is quite fair. You have retirees who see it as a change of pace or just people who feel strongly about their civic duty (and whose companies will presumably continue to pay their salaries). That said, it's absolutely fair to say that it's far from a random slice of the population to an even greater degree that juries in general. I suspect that most (but not all) US readers on this site would try fairly hard to get out of a three month, five day a week grand jury commitment.

Spooky23 12y ago
Grand Jury service is usually one day a week for a few months. In my case, it was 8 weeks, and we were frequently dismissed before the end of the day. If your employer doesn't suck and pays you your normal salary, it's not a significant hardship. I've found my jury service in all instances a fascinating and educational experience the was worthwhile in the end.
- ghaff 12y ago
  It really depends on the state and county. In Worcester County in Massachusetts, they said it would be three months for typically five days a week. (My understanding is that the term of service is standard across the state but the number of days a week is a function of the typical case load in the specific county so the more urban counties require more days than the more rural ones.) I know someone who was on a grand jury in a New Hampshire county and it was (I believe) for a shorter period and only one day per week. The degree of inconvenience obviously also depends on your job. For example, if you normally travel a lot, it's going to be tougher.
15155 12y ago
> try fairly hard Talk about being interested in learning about "jury nullification" or mention those words at all. If that doesn't work, a casually-dropped slur or two directed at the defendant's race/nationality/etc. is sure to seal the deal.
- vinceguidry 12y ago
  Jury nullification and prejudice are only things in trial juries, not grand juries. Nothing to nullify if there's no case yet.

protomyth 12y ago

This is one of the costs of being a citizen in the USA. You do it because your fellow citizens depend on it.

pdkl95 12y ago

The idea that it is smart to get out of jury duty has probably done more damage to our democracy than anything else. Abdicating the duty to sit on a jury means someone else will need to fill that role. When smart people apply those talents to get out of jury duty, leaving the job to someone who is "too stupid or indifferent", they produce the situation we have today of juries deciding based on emotional influences and fast-talking lawyers instead of judging the facts and the law. Yes, it can be annoying and it probably impacts your work schedule. These are insignificant costs compared to safeguarding justice and being able to exercise the most political power available regular citizens.

jbuzbee 12y ago

There was an interesting story recently from a small mountain town here in Colorado. Seems the town had exhausted their current jury pool so court officers literally went out on the street and pressed people into service. "You, over there. Come here. You're now on a Jury". All quite legal.