Jury Duty

[surlygirly]

So I have to report for Jury Duty on Tuesday. I got called once before, but I was a full-time student and was exempt. This time I have to go. I'm not sure what to expect. Everyone keeps telling me they're sorry. I don't really want to go, but I know it's my civic duty and all that. Plus, I'm not working, so I don't have anything else going on right now. You get one free pass and why use it now, you know? Maybe next time I'll have just started a new job or I'll be sick.

So...what's it really like? What do they ask you? If you've been on a jury, is it really boring, or kind of fun? No one my age has ever gone before (they've all been in school or just haven't been selected), and my parents can't remember much, except that my mom got stuck on a trial about a improperly installed stove that dragged on for three weeks. She obviously didn't tell us about it until after it was over, and we all thought it was some cool case to be so long, and then when she told us it was about a stove, I remember thinking I didn't ever want to sit there for 3 weeks and listen to that.

[Barry]

So I have to report for Jury Duty on Tuesday. I got called once before, but I was a full-time student and was exempt. This time I have to go. I'm not sure what to expect. Everyone keeps telling me they're sorry. I don't really want to go, but I know it's my civic duty and all that. Plus, I'm not working, so I don't have anything else going on right now. You get one free pass and why use it now, you know? Maybe next time I'll have just started a new job or I'll be sick.

So...what's it really like? What do they ask you? If you've been on a jury, is it really boring, or kind of fun? No one my age has ever gone before (they've all been in school or just haven't been selected), and my parents can't remember much, except that my mom got stuck on a trial about a improperly installed stove that dragged on for three weeks. She obviously didn't tell us about it until after it was over, and we all thought it was some cool case to be so long, and then when she told us it was about a stove, I remember thinking I didn't ever want to sit there for 3 weeks and listen to that.

We get it here, most times you are not called for Jury Duty, so a good book and a bag of sandwiches are useful. Claim for all expenses !

[Leo Lakio]

I've been called for Jury Duty three times in my life. First time was nine years ago, at a point when I would be working out of town for four months, so I was granted an exemption. Second time was just a couple months ago, third time will be in about a month (they've got me in their system now!) Last time was Municipal Court, this upcoming one will be Superior Court.

In Municipal Court, the first day started with a brief video and discussion of juror responsibilities. Then, we sat around in a very comfortable room with nice chairs, computer access (controlled by the court to some extent), television sets, etc. A LOT of waiting to be called up as a potential juror. The first day, I didn't get called up. Near the end of the second day, I did get called, and I was also selected for a jury (I even ended up as the foreman.) The misdemeanor trial lasted part of the second day and part of a third; a young guy crossed the street against a light and disobeyed a cop who yelled to him not to do so. Then he got mouthy with the cop. Not the brightest bulb in the marquee.

Most courts, if you don't get chosen for a jury in two days, you are released. My advice is to bring something to keep you entertained and occupied. If you like to read, bring that thick book that you've been wanting to get into. Bring an .mp3 player to listen to. Bring any small crafts projects that you enjoy doing. Prepare to spend most of your time waiting...waiting...waiting.

The kind of case you might hear will depend upon which court calls you up. Same with the length of a potential trial. What court is it?

[Kaonohi]

Those friends have already given you good advice re: the physical imposition. But there is also an emotional imposition:

Like WTF am I to judge a fellow human being? What are my decisions going to do to their lives? Etc. Been there, done that.

You are asked to interpret whether or not the person in question transcended (broke) the law. That's all. Not whether they deserve it or deserve another chance.

YOU are the barrier between a police state and anarchy! It is a hard choice to put upon any citizen, but if not us, then who? They have juries of 12 so that there is no blame to an individual; it is a group decision.

If you get a case, pay attention to the facts, know the law, and render a determination whether the person is guilty of breaking the law. Let the judge carry the burden of judgement based on your group's take - that's why they make more than us.

You will survive. You may have regrets, or you may be bored and never get called.

Thank you for your service. If it wasn't for people willing to take the responsibility to serve on juries, we would all be judged by...

those innappropriate to pass judgement.

Best luck. Do right. Make the world a better (righteous) place.

[Walkoff Balk]

Is it true that the jury duty list is taken from people with a drivers' license? I don't think people who registered to vote are on the jury duty list.

[anapuni808]

I've served on 3 juries - both civil & criminal cases. The civil cases were SOOOOO boring but the criminal cases were very interesting. On one of the cases - we KNEW the defendant was guilty, the JUDGE knew he was guilty - but the prosecutor didn't prove "beyond a reasonable doubt" that the guy was guilty so we had to let him go. It really gave me a picture of how the justice system works and proved to me that it really DOES work. If you have to opportunity to serve on a jury - do it and appreciate the education you will get. Sure, it's inconvenient and most of us don't really want to have to pass judgement on our fellow citizens. But, it's necessary and is a duty of being a citizen. It's serious work - but it is also an opportunity for education.

Do it this time - then NEXT time, use your "out". I know I don't want to serve again.

On a funny note - I was once "excused" from a jury panel with no reason. By the prosecutor who was BLIND. What was up with that? It's amazing how rejected you feel when you get kicked out for no reason.

[Kalalau]

I have been on a couple of juries. One was a trial to award damages for a car accident that the defendant admitted he caused, the issue for us was to decide how much money to award the plaintiff. Softie that I am I wanted her to get the whole amount she was going for, $700,000 for lifetime compensation because she could not work in her profession any more--a Japanese language translator, but the other jurors held out for minimal compensation, $180,000 or so, and they carried the day.

Another case was a wife beating case from my neighborhood, which the prosecutor characterized as "high crime", which alienated my opinion right away. Neither the victim nor the perpetrator wanted conviction, if the prosecution had any conclusive evidence they didn't show it to us, so we let the guy off. I saw him coming in to the local market once a few months later, he recognized me and turned away in shame. That couple was poster material for A.A.

I do not want to do any more juries. I was in a panel of potential jurors a couple of years ago seated next to a woman with a horrible cold. Seriously, it was disgusting. Yet you cannot just get up and leave, the law has the power to compel you to sit there and get sick, something to think about if another more serious flu breaks out. Best thing the San Diego county juries have going is the free transportation pass which includes busses, trollies, and even the train. Yippie! I walked to court.

[Barry]

No way you can get out of Jury Duty here. If you are called, then you go or go to jail. You sit around a draughty hall most of the time, reading a book.
If you are called to court and the defendant doesn't like the look of you for whatever reason,,,,, then you are back into that draughty hall.



Grey Man

[surlygirly]

Is it true that the jury duty list is taken from people with a drivers' license? I don't think people who registered to vote are on the jury duty list.

Yes, it's taken from the DPS pool. I'm not registered to vote (don't lecture me...we moved to a different county shortly before moving to Hawaii, and I was a little overwhelmed by the moving process to register, then honestly forgot since we moved back) in my current county, so I know they didn't pull it from that.

Criminal Justice was my 2nd major, and I have a vague recollection of some of what I studied. I remember several classes worth of lecture on the psychology of the jury selection process. So I'll take two books (I read fast) and hope their chairs are comfy. At least I know where the courthouse is. AND there's a really yummy ice-cream parlour across the street....

[oggboy]

I was picked for Jury Duty about 3 years ago for a case that took 3 weeks. Of course at first I didn`t want to be their, but by the end of the trial, I finally got a better picture of our Judical System and was glad to be picked as a Jury Member.

By the way, make sure you have a good breakfast, also bring money for lunch.

[1stwahine]

Jury Duty?

http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthr...uty#post137977

Auntie Lynn

[Kaonohi]

I do not want to do any more juries.

I don't either. I don't like judging other people and having to impose laws that are flawed because the creators couldn't see far enough ahead.

But, until they get another system that's better - I do believe it's better than leaving it in the hands of the few as opposed to the many.

[escondido100]

after living in oregon for 25 years and never having been called, i always wondered if it would be interesting. i had several friends that had been called several times so i was puzzled as to why i never got invited. well two weeks before we plan to leave the state and live in kona i get called up.
i had to explain that i was moving so i was excused.
now i have lived here for 10 years and have never been called. however my wife has been called 3times. english is not her first language and doesnt read it ior write it well. she is also not a citizen. we explain this everytime anbd they excuse her, but every few years she gets an invite.
go figure!

[Nords]

Been a while since the subject's come up, but I got my jury summons yesterday. (IIRC I filled out the questionnaire last year.) The summons says to check the website or the phone recording on the evening of 5 July and be ready to show up at 777 Punchbowl's Ka'ahumanu Hale at time "TBA" on the 6th.

Anyone else been there lately for jury duty or other reasons? Any new jury-duty experiences to report? Any recent changes to things you should do or you're not allowed to do?

Any idea what time "TBA" is? I wouldn't mind showing up at 9-10 AM but somehow I have this bad feeling that I'll be sitting outside an office at 6:55 AM for a couple hours watching the staff trying to get organized after a holiday weekend. Any idea when they're done for the day? Or are we basically locked in the building from 7 AM to 5 PM?

This may be anecdotal or apocryphal, but I've heard that retired military are not favored for juries by either prosecutors or defense lawyers. Is it worth showing the court staff my ID card as soon as I show up so they can just send me home at 7:01 AM and save everyone a lot of paperwork?

Some of the FAQs enclosed with the summons:
- As mentioned earlier in this thread, names are selected from the lists of voter registrations, driver's licenses, and state income tax.
- "No slippers, shorts, or tank tops"--?!? Where are we, Wash DC or Manhattan? Sure, whatever, jeans, t-shirt, & sneakers it is. The sheet claims the courtrooms are pretty cold anyway (perhaps to ensure wakefulness). I just hope it's not too hot a walk from the parking lot. Nothing like a bunch of foot-swollen, overdressed, chilled, pissed-off jurors.
- "Parking is limited. You might find it easier to take the bus or have someone drop you off. If you choose to drive, please allow time to find parking. There are two state parking garages available with limited parking open between 7 AM and 5 PM. If South Street garage (corner of South & Pohukaina) is full then proceed to Makai Garage (corner of Halekauwila and Punchbowl). You will receive a spitter ticket which you must bring to the courthouse for validation. Parking in municipal lots is allowed but you must pay for your parking and provide the courts a receipt for reimbursement. You may park in metered parking stalls around the vicinity of the courts. You are not required to feed the parking meter. If cited with an expired meter violation, the courts will process your citation in compliance with HRS 612-8."

"Spitter" ticket? Is that a typo? Do I use my saliva or do I have to stand in line for a court officer's sputum? Just kidding.

I get into town maybe once a month or less, outside of rush hours, and usually in the financial district for validated parking on Bishop Street or at Harbor Court. In other words, I have no clue on traffic or parking. I live in Mililani so it's easy to get to the Mililani Transit Center (by the high school/Towne Center) and take a bus down. Would I need extra time for the bus? Any surprises or pitfalls to watch out for? Any particular bus numbers or times I want to seek out or avoid? Looks like my choices are 84/84A and 98/98A, destinations Alapai/King or Beretania/Punchbowl. I guess there'll be a bit of a walk to the court.

If the bus is a bad deal, any advice on parking? Is it worth trying for one of the state garages or should I just go for a municipal lot? (Don't think I care to try the bureaucracy of HRS 612-8.) I'm not sure which is better-- sitting in a bus for 90 minutes reading a book (like I'll be doing all day in a court office) or sitting in my car reading a book dealing with rush-hour traffic.

I'm bringing a backpack with a warm jacket, books, snacks/water/lunch, and my iPod. I doubt there's WiFi for my laptop but I could catch up on some writing. Should I bring anything else?

[craigwatanabe]

preponderance of evidence...vs beyond reasonable doubt. I prefer criminal cases because civil can get so convoluted using preponderance of evidence to try a defendant. In criminal cases typically it's the state vs the defendant so beyond reasonable doubt is typically used making it much easer for the jury to come up with a verdict based on the judge's instruction and admitted evidence.

[Kalihiboy]

Been called twice, bot got out of it both times, once I was moving out of state and actually got the summons in the mail it was forwarded to me.

Other time was recently and I had too many family commitments with my little one's so I got out of that one.

As for being picked via drivers license? I dont get that I still have my Arizona drivers license which was issued to me 16 years ago and is still good until 2032, dont have a local license, but I was hit with a summons in Hawaii.

[Nords]

My pool has been delayed until Friday.

The status voicemail/website seems to be updated sooner than the night before, although that may just have been done since it was a holiday weekend. Maybe it changes more often during the work week.

It looks like half a dozen pools are on tap this week. Each pool seems to be assigned to a courtroom/trial and would go straight to jury selection with the clerk randomly picking names.

Two of this week's pools have been canceled, although their members may be summoned again later this year. One pool is starting 7:45 AM tomorrow morning, another has been delayed until Thursday, and two more until Friday.

Considerable effort seems to have been put into their website FAQs, and even the 16-minute juror video is online.
http://www.courts.state.hi.us/genera...ion_video.html

[surlygirly]

- "No slippers, shorts, or tank tops"--?!? Where are we, Wash DC or Manhattan? Sure, whatever, jeans, t-shirt, & sneakers it is.

I'm bringing a backpack with a warm jacket, books, snacks/water/lunch, and my iPod. I doubt there's WiFi for my laptop but I could catch up on some writing. Should I bring anything else?

When I went, I wore khaki pants and a button down shirt because I thought it was a business-casual type of dress code. Oops! Everyone else was in jeans or cute capri/trendy shirts.

I don't know how much of a difference there will be between Texas/Hawaii, and your county and mine, but we had to go through metal detectors and they searched our bags. iPODs were not allowed during jury selection or anytime anyone important was in the room. Laptops were not allowed either. And any devices that were capable of taking pictures or video had to be shut off- including phones. Quite a bit of growling about that one from Moms who were insistent that their children needed a way to get in touch with them. They were given the number of the courthouse and the room number and a fast chance to inform their child or caregiver to contact Mom/Dad at that number instead. CNN or MSNBC will most likely be playing on a TV in the room, and there will be random pamphlettes sitting out, begging to be read. Maybe, if you're lucky, your room will be stocked with magazines including: Parenting, US Weekly, Town & Country, Fly Fishing, Forbes, and a copy of People from November 1996. Have fun!

[Nords]

I'm on a jury. I guess the good news is that today's selection business was done by noon, but we start up again on Monday.

Other good news is that while the jury pool staff starts around 7:45 AM, the judge doesn't need to see us until 9:15 AM. We've also been promised to finish by 4 PM. Easy bus rides... and $30/day plus 33 cents/mile.

I'll post about it when I'm done-- hopefully by next Thursday or Friday.

[Frankie's Market]

Other good news is that while the jury pool staff starts around 7:45 AM, the judge doesn't need to see us until 9:15 AM. We've also been promised to finish by 4 PM. Easy bus rides... and $30/day plus 33 cents/mile.

You consider the $30/day pay to be "good news?" Man, that doesn't even amount to minimum wage.

To add insult to injury, the state of Hawaii doesn't even mandate that companies have to pay anyone while they're on jury duty. Understandably, this puts many working people in the situation whereby they simply can't afford to be on jury duty for very long, no matter how civic-minded they are. This issue should be of concern to attorneys. If jurors face financial pressure because their normal wages are reduced to the pathetic pittance that the court pays, one can easily imagine some of them making rash/hasty decisions just to get a trial over with as quickly as possible.

[Leo Lakio]

You consider the $30/day pay to be "good news?" Man, that doesn't even amount to minimum wage.

Here in Seattle, it's still only $10 a day. Embarrassing. Even the courts dislike that, but every movement to raise it has failed.

[Nords]

Apparently I need to reset my sarcasm from "subtle" to something a little higher.

All of that "good news" was the best of a sucky day. I certainly wasn't going to compliment the air conditioning or the judicial bureaucracy. But I don't want to post even about the jury-selection process until we jurors have been dismissed. I'm pretty sure the judge will ask "Did any of you talk about the case over the weekend?" and I want to be able to answer truthfully. I suspect judges have finely calibrated lie-detection antennae, and I don't want to get into "Nords, what exactly did you misunderstand when I said not to talk about the case?"

After eight years of retirement I find it difficult to contemplate the thought of a "full" workday without a lunchtime nap. And hanging around a courthouse is a bad way to restore one's faith in the American judicial system, let alone in the concept of working for a paycheck.

[Frankie's Market]

Here in Seattle, it's still only $10 a day. Embarrassing. Even the courts dislike that, but every movement to raise it has failed.

Interesting. Were those failed efforts to raise the pay legislative bills or ballot initiatives? If by the former, then voters should be up in arms, as the lawmakers themselves are oftentimes excused from having to serve when their name gets picked.

OTOH, if it was by the latter, then "the people" have no one to blame but themselves.

[Leo Lakio]

Interesting. Were those failed efforts to raise the pay legislative bills or ballot initiatives?

The movements came from within the court system itself - from panels of judges, attorneys and other judicial employees. These panels have appealed to the State Legislature, but have been repeatedly rebuffed - especially at present, when the State's budget is in such severely dire circumstances. Past efforts to increase juror pay have failed, in part because some lawmakers weren't convinced it would have any real impact.

Most Washington counties still pay jurors only $10 a day, the same rate set in 1959. Back in 2006, the state Board for Judicial Administration recommended paying jurors about $61 a day.

[timkona]

Once upon a time, I got summoned to Jury Duty. It was okay. I was in business for myself, not too much on my desk, so I figured I'd be a good American and go, even though it was all the way in Hilo, and I could get the "Kona" exemption.

So I'm cruising early AM past South Point and heading up past Pahala on the way towards the Volcano, sipping my coffee, listening to tunes, looking forward to my first exciting time at Jury Duty.

BAM!! Oncoming police car, with RADAR, pops me at 77 in a 55. (I was prolly doing near 90, so I figure the cop gave me a big break.) I pleaded my case to no avail. Got the ticket. No big deal. Ain't had one in several years anyway. Pay a price to live in Paradise.

Get all the way to Hilo, only to find out that my day was SWITCHED, to some other day later in the week. So I filed my Kona Exemption, and never went back.

Oh Well. At least I tried.

PS - I paid the ticket cordially to a nice lady at the courthouse.