Should jury service be voluntary?

[Crewman47]

A couple of weeks ago I recieved my very first jury summons for next Monday, just a month after I decided to register on the voters roll, and I'm dreading it only because I hate the idea of going to something like this.

Now I know there are people who do like going to jury service and I know that's all part of the civic duty but there are those like me who don't and wouldn't give a rats arse about the justice system so why shouldn't jury be considered a voluntary service rather than a mandatory one where those who are interested can get contacted for upcoming trials?

Not sure if it's even been considered before or even why it's a mandatory service.

 

[John Picard]

Like you said, it's your civic duty and will also enlighten you as to the workings of the legal system. I don't know what it's like where you live, but in the US, juries can nullify a law. To me, that speaks volumes about citizens who may have a preconceived notion that their service on a jury would be a waste of time.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

I can spot a criminal like THAT!

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Jury service shouldn't be voluntary because you would either have less people show up (and very few do even with mandatory attendance) or you would have people with an agenda show up. I do think it should be paid, though.

 

[SmoothieX]

I served on a jury several years ago and will be serving as an expert witness next week.

I think it's interesting.

 

[Chaos Descending]

Jury service is one of the few things that libertarian me believes really ought to remain mandatory.

 

[Mr. B]

I'm not in favor of making it voluntary... although I've been a registered voter for nearly 8 years and never been summoned.

Trial by impartial jury is guaranteed by the US constitution, so I don't think making it a voluntary thing would even be possible.

 

[Spot's Meow]

I don't understand why people don't like jury duty. I get excited when I get a summons in the mail. Sadly I lose some money at work (I am just a lowly hourly wage worker with no benefits), but I'm fairly confident I would never get chosen for the actual jury. They don't seem to like choosing young people, figure we're too unpredictable or something. I wasn't even asked any questions the last time I went, my name was randomly chosen to be dismissed first thing so I just went home.

Anyway, sitting in the courtroom listening to the questions that lawyers ask and the answers that people give plus the description of the case can be really fascinating. I'm not really interested in law very much but it is neat to see the inner workings of a court room every so often. The only part that sucks about jury duty is the waiting for possibly hours, but that isn't so bad if you just bring a book to read or some homework to do (in my case).

 

[bigdaddy]

The thing that gets me is I had mine 2-3 years ago and no one one was picked. However my grandma hasn't gotten a form to even show up in like 20 years. She would love to go. So it should let people who want to go to jury duty go to, or make everyone go every three years.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

From the stories that I've heard from people who been on jury service, you end up wanting to smack some of the other jurors around the head for being complete dicks -- having preconceived notions of probably guilt or innocence, being prejudiced, or introducing completely irrelevancies into the deliberations -- reminds me of somewhere else.

 

[knine]

When I was a witness for a case once, my friend from high school got out of jury duty since we knew each other, so both lawyers wanted him off. Looked to me they call more than they actually need for the trial so they can do things like that.

It was an interesting process with all the questions to make sure it was impartial. I'd say 60% of it was completely pointless, but still interesting.

They lawyer that questioned me was entertaining too. Nice suit with white tennis shoes.

 

[Mr. B]

Ben Stein?

 

[Lindley]

David Tennant?

 

[sidious618]

It sucks for people who get hourly wages so they should somehow be paid for that time.

 

[John Picard]

It sucks for people who get hourly wages so they should somehow be paid for that time.

Where are people not compensated for jury duty? AFIK, the court compensates them although it is not at their pay scale.

 

[sidious618]

It sucks for people who get hourly wages so they should somehow be paid for that time.

Where are people not compensated for jury duty? AFIK, the court compensates them although it is not at their pay scale.

It's a really shitty amount, IIRC.

 

[Amaris]

I would gladly accept Jury duty, but I'm wearing a fedora, carrying a notepad and harumphing a lot during the selection process.

 

[Holdfast]

Provided I continue to receive my regular salary, I wouldn't mind jury service. I don't actually know what my contract says.

If I didn't, or I otherwise lost money, I would do my utmost to get out of it by ensuring I wouldn't get picked. Civic duty doesn't override my wallet.

As for whether it should be mandatory or voluntary, it's already effectively voluntary since only an idiot would get picked if they didn't want to serve.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

It sucks for people who get hourly wages so they should somehow be paid for that time.

Where are people not compensated for jury duty? AFIK, the court compensates them although it is not at their pay scale.

Varies by state. I believe my state doesn't compensate you unless you are sequestered.

I believe the only requirement is that a business can't deprive pay because of jury duty. But if you get paid hourly or own your own business, you don't get paid.

 

[snakespeare]

In my state you can explain your economic hardship within limits. If you are the sole income of a family, you can certainly get out of it.

Even so... please do your duty. You'll never know how precious freedom is until you lose it, and nobody wants that. Justice is quite possibly more important even than Love.