Have you ever been on a trial jury?

[Chaos Descending]

Another question about the Yank system, if I may: Do you get 'drafted' for just one trial, you sit it ,and however long it is, you go home at the end? Or do you get drafted for x days like us (unless you're still in a trial that's run over the x days, obviously) and sit on more than one trial (potentially) during that time?

Every state is different. In Arizona, if you get picked, you have to go in on the day they tell you and see if you get selected for an actual trial. If you do not get selected for a trial, you have to spend the day at the court. If you don't get picked by the end of the day, you go home and you are off the hook for 18 months. If you do get picked, you have to serve for the duration of the trial, which could be a day, or a week, or more.

 

[Captain Ice]

Another question about the Yank system, if I may: Do you get 'drafted' for just one trial, you sit it ,and however long it is, you go home at the end? Or do you get drafted for x days like us (unless you're still in a trial that's run over the x days, obviously) and sit on more than one trial (potentially) during that time?

Every state is different. In Arizona, if you get picked, you have to go in on the day they tell you and see if you get selected for an actual trial. If you do not get selected for a trial, you have to spend the day at the court. If you don't get picked by the end of the day, you go home and you are off the hook for 18 months. If you do get picked, you have to serve for the duration of the trial, which could be a day, or a week, or more.

Not entirely true. In Maricopa and Coconino counties, if you're called are called for jury duty, you are given a lot number and a telephone number that you are to call after a certain time the day before. You call that number to find out if your jury number is going to be required to show up at all.

The last two times I've been called, we've been instructed by phone not to bother showing up. I believe the defendants entered into plea deals in both cases.

 

[Alpinemaps]

Out of interest - can you get excuse from a murder trial if you oppose capital punishment?

The second trial I was called for was a murder trial. Even before the selection process could begin, a prospective juror said 'I don't believe in capital punishment, can I be excused?' to the judge. The judge just laughed and said 'this isn't a capital case'. Not all murder trials may call for the death penalty (the prosecutors didn't seek the death penalty).

Another question about the Yank system, if I may: Do you get 'drafted' for just one trial, you sit it ,and however long it is, you go home at the end? Or do you get drafted for x days like us (unless you're still in a trial that's run over the x days, obviously) and sit on more than one trial (potentially) during that time?

As you've seen from others, it depends. In my jurisdiction, if you show up, and don't get called, you're good for a year. If you get on a case, you're good for three years.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Another question about the Yank system, if I may: Do you get 'drafted' for just one trial, you sit it ,and however long it is, you go home at the end? Or do you get drafted for x days like us (unless you're still in a trial that's run over the x days, obviously) and sit on more than one trial (potentially) during that time?

Every state is different. In Arizona, if you get picked, you have to go in on the day they tell you and see if you get selected for an actual trial. If you do not get selected for a trial, you have to spend the day at the court. If you don't get picked by the end of the day, you go home and you are off the hook for 18 months. If you do get picked, you have to serve for the duration of the trial, which could be a day, or a week, or more.

Not entirely true. In Maricopa and Coconino counties, if you're called are called for jury duty, you are given a lot number and a telephone number that you are to call after a certain time the day before. You call that number to find out if your jury number is going to be required to show up at all.

The last two times I've been called, we've been instructed by phone not to bother showing up. I believe the defendants entered into plea deals in both cases.

That's what I meant by "if you get picked".

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I got called for jury duty once, in a US Federal District Court, and was totally amazed that this was my first summons and it was on the FEDERAL level!!! Unfortunately, I had to move within weeks of when I got the notice, so I had to send in a form to get excused. I wish I could've at least found out whether I was going to be on a grand jury, or whether this was an actual criminal trial. Dammit!!! (Oh, and add to this I was a college student without debt. I didn't even have to work then, so I probably would've broken even on the deal between gas costs and jury pay!! The only thing that could've sucked would be missing class.)

Too bad, because something in federal court isn't just your garden-variety lawsuit. You're just two steps away from the US Supreme Court!

 

[paudemge]

I got called for jury duty once, in a US Federal District Court, and was totally amazed that this was my first summons and it was on the FEDERAL level!!! Unfortunately, I had to move within weeks of when I got the notice, so I had to send in a form to get excused. I wish I could've at least found out whether I was going to be on a grand jury, or whether this was an actual criminal trial. Dammit!!! (Oh, and add to this I was a college student without debt. I didn't even have to work then, so I probably would've broken even on the deal between gas costs and jury pay!! The only thing that could've sucked would be missing class.)

Too bad, because something in federal court isn't just your garden-variety lawsuit. You're just two steps away from the US Supreme Court!

It isn't always as glamorous it sounds. There are some pretty mundane cases in federal court. I was on 3 federal cases, one was a fairly petty drug case on indian land, another was a hostile work place between wall mart and a rape victom. And the last was the only one that was really long and exciting and was another drug case but involved the 'kingpin' law.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I actually would've really been fascinated by the 2nd one. But I probably wouldn't have gotten on the jury because I have related academic qualifications and that might well have gotten me dismissed.

 

[Gil T.Azell]

Came close, they filled the 12 seats before my name was called, plus I had an out I knew one of the names read out of one of the witnesses.

 

[paudemge]

I actually would've really been fascinated by the 2nd one. But I probably wouldn't have gotten on the jury because I have related academic qualifications and that might well have gotten me dismissed.

The second one was pretty fascinating. A woman was actually raped by a co-worker at walmart, and he was found guilty and was in jail. But it came down to whether Wall-mart was negligent and they did what i think is called an assertive defense, I can't remember exactly what it was called, but they had to prove there side. And we found that wal-mart was not negligent so no money was awarded.

And even though we all agreed that walmart was not at fault there were still people that felt walmart should pay her some money because they could afford it and felt a little sorry for her.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And even though we all agreed that walmart was not at fault there were still people that felt walmart should pay her some money because they could afford it and felt a little sorry for her.

Expecting Wal-Mart to actually give a crap about their employees is a bit like hoping Terrell Owens will shut up or that the Washington Nationals win the World Series. You're likely to be waiting a long time...

 

[paudemge]

And even though we all agreed that walmart was not at fault there were still people that felt walmart should pay her some money because they could afford it and felt a little sorry for her.

Expecting Wal-Mart to actually give a crap about their employees is a bit like hoping Terrell Owens will shut up or that the Washington Nationals win the World Series. You're likely to be waiting a long time...

So Wal-mart should pay even though they where not negligent or at fault because they should feel sorry for there former employee.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

And even though we all agreed that walmart was not at fault there were still people that felt walmart should pay her some money because they could afford it and felt a little sorry for her.

Wow...that would've been a travesty of the legal system right there. Impartial means your feelings are NOT supposed to enter into it--just the legal facts.

 

[John Picard]

And even though we all agreed that walmart was not at fault there were still people that felt walmart should pay her some money because they could afford it and felt a little sorry for her.

Expecting Wal-Mart to actually give a crap about their employees is a bit like hoping Terrell Owens will shut up or that the Washington Nationals win the World Series. You're likely to be waiting a long time...

Oh bullshit. Typical Wal Mart bashing/trolling

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And even though we all agreed that walmart was not at fault there were still people that felt walmart should pay her some money because they could afford it and felt a little sorry for her.

Expecting Wal-Mart to actually give a crap about their employees is a bit like hoping Terrell Owens will shut up or that the Washington Nationals win the World Series. You're likely to be waiting a long time...

Oh bullshit. Typical Wal Mart bashing/trolling

Really? Try looking right HERE. You may find it enlightening.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Still doesn't provide excuse to deliver a punitive verdict against Wal-Mart when the evidence in a particular trial said the defendant was not guilty of the crime in question. If you're going to punish someone legally, it has to be for something they DID do, not something they DIDN'T do.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I agree, Wal-Mart isn't responsible just because one of their employees raped somebody. I just do not expect a faceless conglomerate like them to feel "sorry" for an employee. Big corporations just don't work that way, especially not Wal-Mart.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

And even though we all agreed that walmart was not at fault there were still people that felt walmart should pay her some money because they could afford it and felt a little sorry for her.

Expecting Wal-Mart to actually give a crap about their employees is a bit like hoping Terrell Owens will shut up or that the Washington Nationals win the World Series. You're likely to be waiting a long time...

So Wal-mart should pay even though they where not negligent or at fault because they should feel sorry for there former employee.

I don't know, I can't really condemn the other jurors for feeling that way. It just doesn't seem right that if you get injured on the job your company has to compensate you but if you get raped on the property by a fellow Walmart employee you don't get a penny.

Legally there may be no recourse without Walmart being negligent, and thus the jury made the right decision, but personally I don't see anything wrong with Walmart being asked to compensate the woman for being raped in what was supposed to be a safe work environment. And while you can't put a number on what she went through without sounding unsympathetic, paying for her medical bills, any counseling, and whatever time off work she needs seems fair.

A more ethical company worth billions might even think taking care of their employees when they've been victimized on company property by a company employee might even be a responsibility they should have taken care of themselves without having to be sued. If it had happened to a customer, even if they weren't negligent, you'd bet your ass they'd be settling that for a decent sum of money to keep it out of court and save face with the public.