Federal district jury duty- CRAP!

[Tipsy Gypsy]

Just *(%^$# wonderful... I have a notice from the federal district court in Houston to report on Jan 26, unless I hear a message the night before saying not to report. (Some positive vibes, prayer, juju, or whatever you've got would be appreciated!) There aren't enough punctuation marks on my keyboard to fully express my @%&^ing joy. After a nasty car wreck in Houston a few years ago, the prospect of driving in downtown freakin' Houston absolutely gives me the heebie-jeebies. 

Looking at their website is confusing- I don't know whether to plan to be there for one day, or several. Any of you guys been through this, or know someone who has? I'd appreciate knowing what to anticipate, if you can shed some light for me. I really don't know anything about this.

Crap. Just farkin' wunnerful. 

[dbaldock]

...
After a nasty car wreck in Houston a few years ago, the prospect of driving in downtown freakin' Houston absolutely gives me the heebie-jeebies. 
...

Have you considered using Metro - Park & Ride?


Take Care,
David Baldock

[mpullen]

Just remember that you are invited to participate in one of our rights - trial to a jury of our peers.

For the 10 years I lived in Harris County, I was called to county court about every year (they kept redoing the lists). Twice I went to the jury selection room and didn't get picked. Twice I got selected to a jury, with one time not getting selected after viour dour {sp} because the guy getting tried was charged with stealing from cars in the same area my Son's car was broken into earlier (can we hang thieves still?). The one time I went all the way to trial was for a child pornography case. After we gave him 15 years, we found he had prior jail sentences on the same charge.

Still in Harris County, I was selected for federal court twice. Once I was on call for the week of eligibility. Every morning I called in as was told my services were not required, so I went to work. The other time, I got called in and waited in the jury room for 4 hours. After that, the court clerk dismissed us.

The parking area for the county sucks, as the parking fee costs around the amount the court pays. Federal is better, as parking is in the theater district and is cheaper during the day, plus the court pays more. In addition, my company pays for a full day wage, even if only called in for 4 or 5 hours.

When I moved to Brazoria County, I was only called to jury duty once. The parking is easy and free. The courtroom was a piece of artwork, with judges portraits all around the walls. The judge came in wearing a cowboy hat and boots. Around noon, he came back in and thanked us for our service and dismissed us.

I spent 20 years serving my Country to ensure we have the freedoms we have, so I have no problem serving on a jury.

[SirRichardBear]

Use to get called for jury duty but made the mistake of quoting my constitutional rights to the judge and now I'm blacklisted.  Judges and lawyers don't like informed jury or people that understand their constitutional rights it seems.

[Zoë]

Looking at their website is confusing- I don't know whether to plan to be there for one day, or several. Any of you guys been through this, or know someone who has?

Assuming your system is the same there as it is here in Colorado, it's one day or one trial.  Meaning, you will get assigned to one trial and will have to sit on that for as long as it takes, or you will sit there in the waiting area for a few hours and eventually not have your name called at all, and you're free to go home.  Every time anyone in my family (including myself) have ever been summoned for jury duty, we've gone and sat for a few hours before being dismissed.  So hopefully you will get lucky there. 

[Tipsy Gypsy]

The problem for me in not knowing how to plan is that it's a 180 mile round trip, meaning I'll have to stay overnight in Houston for the duration and get hotel accommodations, preferably along the Metro route so I don't have to navigate the insane downtown streets. However, if I don't plan for long enough and can't extend my stay where I am, then I've got to find someplace else in the middle of all this, etc.

(Insert mini gripe, here) My husband, FIL, both parents, numerous counsins/uncles and dear friends all wore the uniform to insure that we have the right to trial by jury. That I don't have an issue with. I do get pretty flippin' tired of being called on, however. JMO, but it seems to me that most of these issues go back to people basically being incapable of acting right and/or unable to resolve their issues like grownups, and other people having to do it for them. Needless to say, I'm not the most sympathetic of jurors. Ok, rant over- not gonna get into a flame war over that one.

Really all I'm asking is what to expect, since they don't make it all that clear.  If I have to do this, I want it as BS-free as possible.

Thanks

[Noble Dreg]

Yes it is a responsibility as a citizen to serve on a jury when called.  It is also my right to express distain for the way the courts handle their affairs and politely expressing my dislike is also my right.

Most of the people I know called to jury duty are asked to sit on civil maters!  Joe six pack got some late night TV type lawyer to sue someone else for some silly reason and feels the right to drag the rest of us in on it.

I feel for you, I really do.

[Lady Neysa]

Whenvever you have to go, take a good book with you.  I've only been called to jury duty twice. The first time they let me out of it because I was pregnant and very close to my due date.  The second time was about 2 years ago.  It can be real drag, having to sit there practically all day only to be dismissed.  On my very last day I got called for selection.  They were trying  a domestic violence case.  I was actually hoping to get chosen to help put the sob away, but I got rejected because I was once a victim.  Good luck.

[KeeperoftheBar]

I've been called for Federal Court  once, (called and didn't have to report), County court 3 times (unassigned twice and assigned to a trial once but not selected) and city court once (unassigned).

I'm all for doing our civic duty but frankly they usually treat jurors like trash.  I'd gladly give up the minimal pay for a little respect from the court workers, the attorneys and the judges.  They all make me feel like I am in the first grade again.

Guaranteed way to get out of jury duty is to take along a "controversial" book.  I have a great biography of Heinrich Himmler that works very well.  That or innocently ask about Jury Nullification.

[Capt Gabriela Fullpepper]

In my lifetime I have gotten one notice. Called them up on the day specified and wasn't required to go. Go figure.

[DonaCatalina]

I have been summoned to Federal Court twice. I was put on juries both times. I hate to tell you this but if you actually go down you will probably be seated on a jury becasue the feds don't call in the masses of people like the county courts do.
Federal jurors are treated much better than county jurors. We were escorted evrywhere we went, we had our own private break room with coffee and doughnuts, and a bathroom adjacent to the courtroom.
However it is possible that the judge will give you a hardship release because of the length of your commute. You will have to talk to the judge in person to get that though.

Here's to hoping you call in and don;t have to report.

[Pascal]

My wife did Federal jury duty in downtown Houston a few years ago -- I've only had local jury duty.

You can ride metro buses for free and they stop and pick up right near the federal jury duty building.

The feds also pay much more than the city -- it was $40 a day when my wife went compared to the whole $6.00 a day the city paid me.  The conditions are a lot nicer, too.

If you get selected, it'll be a federal case, not some low level civil matter. 

[SirRichardBear]

"That or innocently ask about Jury Nullification."

Yea what I did like I said seems lawyers and judges who are lawyers have issues with juriers who know their rights and can think for themselves.

[Tipsy Gypsy]

'K, so here's a thought- howzabout I bring along a book to be seen reading, like Anne Coulter's newest one- "Guilty"? Would that help? 

[Taffy Saltwater]

I got called in Harris County on a capital murder case.  One of the questions on the 20+ page questionnaire was (basically):  Do you think justice can be bought?  It was right after the OJ case & I wrote - yes, see OJ Simpson as a prime example.  I also threw in that I was a legal secretary for the last decade.  They declined my service. 

But Harrris CO does treat jurors like crap.  By the time you factor in gas & parking (which they don't pay for in full) and a day's work (if you are hourly), you've lost a big chunk of change.