I got a letter for jury duty. What are the chances they will actually pick me? To be 100% honest I have a very hard time focusing on anything, a terrible memory (my grandma has a better memory than me), bad at taking notes and on top of that I have bad anxiety and zero nice clothes that fit me at least because my only dress pants are too short and big in the waist and my only dress shirt is too big. I can't stop thinking about it because I don't want to screw anything up. I'M STRESSED OUT even though I know I probably shouldn't be. Any tips besides calm down because I'm trying that and it's not working.
If you dont want to do it just come out and tell them you are biased by nature and you dont think you would be a fair candidate. They will have to pass on you
I'm sorry but if you want to engage in the democratic process (i.e. Vote) then it's your duty to make yourself available to serve on a jury. With freedom comes responsibility. Just think of it this way- maybe it will be your vote that puts away a serial rapist. Or maybe you will help a father win custody of his children from a drug addicted mother. Just be fair and do your duty.
Shane not sure how you got selected for jury duty if you have not voted, unless they changed things in Minnesota the lists for jury duty are taken from a pool of registered voters?
i assumed you got selected b/c you were registered to vote, but upon further review I see that a lot of districts also use DMV records, which I did not know. My bad!
No wonder the BLM movement can not expect a jury of their peers, the jury pool comes from people who vote and evidently have a valid drivers license.
Why not look at this as a way to improve yourself? Go out and purchase a nice set of clothing, dress pants, shirt, tie, belt, dress socks and decent shoes. It will be money well spent that in that their use will carry over to other things besides jury duty. After shopping go to the jury assignment with an open mind, listen, watch and learn. If you are asked a questions try answering it to the best of your ability. If you dont understand something that is asked of you ask the person to clarify the question. Focus on coming away from the process with a new understanding of something, it really doesn't matter what that something is as long a your taking something away from it. Make it a positive experience and profit from it.
I have always wanted to get chosen for jury duty, actually was chosen to be part of the poll but there was not a trial during the time I was in the pool. Shane run to Kohls the day after Christmas you can pick up the new dress clothes cheap.
Been called to jury duty before but didn't get picked. I had to sit there and listen to what is expected of us if we were to get picked. Took a few hours out of a day. Drive time would have been the real PITA. I was at college at the time, 2 hours away. Living in rural MN, chances are pretty good you may know that person or relation of that person on trial which is a conflict of interest and you cannot be on the jury. Happened to my sister two different times. Friend of mine in her first year of college was on jury duty in federal/district court in the cities. Not sure how much she ever had to go but I think that was pretty strenuous; for obvious reasons.
When you walk in just ask them if you decide the punishment first or the verdict. They should show you the front door pretty quickly. I had jury duty earlier this year and I had to call in the night before, for 5 days. I ended up not needing to go in at all.
I also believe that if you value our democracy it is your duty to vote, show up for jury duty, and pay your taxes. Being a good citizen does not always fit into our schedules.
If it's for something worthwhile then of course, but I have better things to do than sit in a courtroom listening to a Turd Ferguson arguing with a cop about a traffic violation.
Judges can get pretty sick and tired of that old method of trying to avoid jury duty. Some will threaten you with contempt if you continue to push that avenue. I sit on an appointing committee that interviews applicants for our district court and magistrate judge positions and they really don't have much patience for that in their courtrooms. They consider it your civil duty to show up and put forth your best effort to be impartial and attentive. I would be looking for some new dress clothes if I were the OP and go make the best of an interesting situation.
