Our system is in need of wide spread reform

[nadinbrzezinski]

first we need to get the money (special interests) out of politics, but right now I am also thinking of something else. Your lovely jury duty.

We are told that the system, whether state or federal is fair and equal opportunity. Well, since I became a citizen I have been called REGULARLY for jury duty, and right now having the joy of not getting a deferral until the end of the convention season form our lovely feds.

Don't get me wrong, service is not the issue, but I have to wonder, who or what exactly do our courts call? You see my husband has been called a total of two times in his lifetime, since he became an adult. I have been called seven times since I became a citizen. That is in ten years.

So I was thinking about it. What is wrong with this picture, and if this is truly lottery, why can't I get this damn luck while playing the lottery?

So the more I think about it, the more I have concluded, we need a top down review of our political, and even legal system.

Feel free to discuss, unrec, rec, whatever.

These are just my observations...

[OhioChick]

1. Wow....You've been called 7 times within 10 years??

Seems excessive.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Five for the state courts, and now twice for the feds

and I tried to raise this point a couple times, been thinking of writing a letter to the editor to our wonderful, we hate the guv;'ment right wing paper, or better yet, an editorial. My sis too.

[OhioChick]

3. That's overkill....I've only been called once in my life. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. And that my dear is my point

I am starting to wonder if this is not through the DMV list, but a certain demographic

Think about it, immigrants will respond to the summons more often, and perhaps in our addled system of justice they believe immigrants are more right wing, the better they can speak English. Given some evidence, there might be something to that, but this is why I think, at least locally, there is a problem.

[OhioChick]

5. I wouldn't be surprised one bit.

I was always told that it was through the DMV list, but I don't buy that, either.

I'm still shocked....7 times in 10 years. :wow:

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. It gets better, the current one with the Feds

they used my maiden name, aka the one that goes with my naturalization certificate.

[OhioChick]

8. That sounds fishy to me....

You should get in contact with someone regarding all of that. I have no idea of whom to contact though. That's ridiculous.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. I contacted jury services, they don't want to hear it

that is why I am thinking editorial to the paper... trust me, local paper might jump on it

[OhioChick]

12. Go for it...

I surely would. Sounds like you're being singled out and discriminated against.

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. I would not say discriminated... just that they are trying

to build their juries with a certain demographic.

[OhioChick]

14. Either way, it doesn't sound right. n/t

[Oregone]

6. Heh, Ive never done jury duty in my almost 30 years

:)

I deferred it until I moved out of the states

[amerikat]

9. Of all those calls to service did you ever get on a jury?

I've been called about 6 times never got selected to be on a jury.

The lawyers have the option to disqualify a certain number of jurors
and don't have to give a reason.

They ask questions like, are you a relative of a police officer(cousin was a cop).
Have you ever been a victim of a crime(yes, car theft, burglary).
Both answers will make the defense lawyer disqualify you.

I always felt cheated that I never got to sit on a jury.
And neither of those reasons would have influenced my decision.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I was disqualified a couple times

but have talked to people in jury rooms, and most who are there, get called often, while they report a similar experience. Relatives or friends never, or seldom ever go there, Truth be told, having served as a medic for ten years, and having family in the police (now retired) tends to disqualify me often... but the point is, they tend to call some folks far more often than others.

In an ideal world, I'd call EVERYBODY, not just some. Even if I end up disqualifying people

The system is not doing that.

[amerikat]

15. I think the selection process varies by state.

Some states use voter registration, others use Motor vehicle registrations.
Sometimes I think throwing darts at a phone book would be better way the select jurors.

Would you be more open to being called if you actually got on a jury?

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. It's not the being called or not, service is a duty

it is the fact that they are not being equal in who they call.

Also the Feds locally seem to have this, open ended, until you are physically called you have to be at our beck and call. I find that annoying actually.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Actually it is a month on call...

never mind I did point out that I had some important things to do... marketing wise.

If I miss the two marketing conventions.. oh never mind

[abumbyanyothername]

21. I think that there was a case on voter registration

and they don't do that anymore.

In LA they use a number of sources . . . .phone listings, DMV, real estate records . . . not sure what else.

I figured out a way to get out of it last time, and they haven't called me since. Maybe they got the message.

(Essentially, I admitted to having been on a misdemeanor jury where because I didn't think the case was worth my time, I just caved and went with the stubborn people who were voting to acquit. (Their reasoning? Defendant was obviously innocent because, Police Officer testifies that defendant did crime. Now as everyone knows, LAPD always lies, so if they said he did it, it means he didn't do it. Oy. I might have been more insistent if I had felt the guy was innocent and others were intent on conviction.)

[omega minimo]

17. Jury duty, like the UnRec system, reveals how little regard people have for each other's lives

[WillowTree]

19. I've never understood why people consider jury duty to be such a burden.

I've always been pleased when I was called and pleased when I was selected to serve. I've found it an interesting and rewarding way to participate in and make a personal contribution to the running of our system of government.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. First it is the selection process... if it is based on the registrar of voters

sorry... it is not. Fer god sakes my maiden name was removed a while ago, I thought.

Second, I told them, don't mind serving, but can we do this in October, AFTER the two Conventions I need to go to for MARKETING reasons?

No cigar. And that is why people consider it a burden.

I AM a small business owner,,, and if this gets in the way of my marketing, I will be more than just annoyed

[amerikat]

22. Agree 100%...

Participating in the system that we have.

[hfojvt]

23. I didn't mind the first time I was called

but being called again within two years makes it seem non-random. Having lived some 24 years as an adult without being called and then suddenly being called twice like that in such a short time made if feel like the county clerk was targeting me. There are 50,000 people in this county over age 18. If 500 people are called every year for jury duty, then I should get called about once every 100 years. Certainly not twice in a three year period.

[Hun Joro]

24. Many people are not reimbursed by their employers for missing work.

I couldn't afford to serve on a jury. I've only been summoned twice in my life, and never selected. I always wondered how people financially manage serving on juries for long, drawn-out trials.