I'm 38 years old. Never been called before in my life. I report on Oct. 12th.
Anyone done Grand Jury duty before? Is it better or worse than regular JD? Comments, stories, annecdotes?
I've been called for Grand Jury duty.
Started by
B. Diddy
, Oct 02 2012 02:03 PM
14 replies to this topic
#4
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- VibeTribe
- 6,376 posts
Posted 02 October 2012 - 02:11 PM
I have had it a few times, and was only picked recently for a case. Then because we served 4 days, I got out of the next round of Jury Duty.
We had to do a case about an young lady who got rear ended and she wanted money from the guy.
The point where every one went "come on", but did not discuss it until we were in jury room deliberating.
She testified to not being able to go clubbing anymore. She testified earlier to have a 1 and 3 year old. She should not be clubbing with babies anyway.
In the deliberating, I was the oldest white guy in the room. The actual oldest lady looked at me and said, you are the Foreman.
I could have been convinced there was damage to her, but what to give her.
Then the first vote was 10-2 (me being one of the 2). Upon discussing we both gave in quickly and said no money for you.
We had to do a case about an young lady who got rear ended and she wanted money from the guy.
The point where every one went "come on", but did not discuss it until we were in jury room deliberating.
She testified to not being able to go clubbing anymore. She testified earlier to have a 1 and 3 year old. She should not be clubbing with babies anyway.
In the deliberating, I was the oldest white guy in the room. The actual oldest lady looked at me and said, you are the Foreman.
I could have been convinced there was damage to her, but what to give her.
Then the first vote was 10-2 (me being one of the 2). Upon discussing we both gave in quickly and said no money for you.
#5
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- VibeTribe
- 346 posts
Posted 02 October 2012 - 02:12 PM
it's longer than reg jury duty usually. I was called for Grand Jury in Boston and my letter said it could be up to 3 months serving 1-2 days a week - work did not like that idea at all! I showed up but they didn't keep me. Grand Jury votes on indictments so you never get to "hang the bastard"
#6
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- VibeTribe
- 4,808 posts
Posted 02 October 2012 - 02:17 PM
Thanks Anna...a guy I work with is on the current session of the Grand Jury and he's had to report for 8 Fridays. I imagine, if I'm picked, I'll have the same deal. When he went they picked 23/30 people who showed up for the GJ. It was a lottery.
If I'm picked, my company pays my for the first 3 days in full, and then the difference between Jury pay and my pay for 7 days, and then they don't pay at all. Not bad, really.
If I'm picked, my company pays my for the first 3 days in full, and then the difference between Jury pay and my pay for 7 days, and then they don't pay at all. Not bad, really.
#7
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- VibeTribe
- 6,167 posts
uniquely dee
- Locationboston-ish
Posted 02 October 2012 - 02:52 PM
from uscourts.gov:
Petit (Trial) Jury
A civil petit jury is typically made up of 6 to 12 persons. In a civil case, the role of the jury is to listen to the evidence presented at a trial, to decide whether the defendant injured the plaintiff or otherwise failed to fulfill a legal duty to the plaintiff, and to determine what the compensation or penalty should be. A criminal petit jury is usually made up of 12 members. Criminal juries decide whether the defendant committed the crime as charged. The sentence usually is set by a judge. Verdicts in both civil and criminal cases must be unanimous, although the parties in a civil case may agree to a non-unanimous verdict. A jury's deliberations are conducted in private, out of sight and hearing of the judge, litigants, witnesses, and others in the courtroom.
Grand Jury
A grand jury, which normally consists of 16 to 23 members, has a more specialized function. The United States attorney, the prosecutor in federal criminal cases, presents evidence to the grand jury for them to determine whether there is "probable cause" to believe that an individual has committed a crime and should be put on trial. If the grand jury decides there is enough evidence, it will issue an indictment against the defendant. Grand jury proceedings are not open for public observation.
Petit (Trial) Jury
A civil petit jury is typically made up of 6 to 12 persons. In a civil case, the role of the jury is to listen to the evidence presented at a trial, to decide whether the defendant injured the plaintiff or otherwise failed to fulfill a legal duty to the plaintiff, and to determine what the compensation or penalty should be. A criminal petit jury is usually made up of 12 members. Criminal juries decide whether the defendant committed the crime as charged. The sentence usually is set by a judge. Verdicts in both civil and criminal cases must be unanimous, although the parties in a civil case may agree to a non-unanimous verdict. A jury's deliberations are conducted in private, out of sight and hearing of the judge, litigants, witnesses, and others in the courtroom.
Grand Jury
A grand jury, which normally consists of 16 to 23 members, has a more specialized function. The United States attorney, the prosecutor in federal criminal cases, presents evidence to the grand jury for them to determine whether there is "probable cause" to believe that an individual has committed a crime and should be put on trial. If the grand jury decides there is enough evidence, it will issue an indictment against the defendant. Grand jury proceedings are not open for public observation.
#8
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- VibeTribe
- 2,875 posts
Posted 02 October 2012 - 03:16 PM
a girl at work got called for 4 months. 3x a week, an hour away from her home (she had to borrow her husbands car as she lived acoss the street from our office) she also had 3 young kids and still couldnt get out of it......just putting that out there 
she even had to cancel a vacation she had planned for a year (but "tickets hadn't been purchased" or something so they didnt care)
she even had to cancel a vacation she had planned for a year (but "tickets hadn't been purchased" or something so they didnt care)
#12
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- VibeTribe
- 4,209 posts
Posted 02 October 2012 - 03:58 PM
Even though only 2 types of jury dutys are listed, petit and grand, in NJ grand can actually be for either the state or the county.
Each duty is differrent here as county grand jury duty was for 1 day a week at the county courthouse, for 4 months I think.
State grand jury duty was 1 day a week IN TRENTON (no matter how far you live from it), and it was for 6 months!!
Anyway, I was selected this year for county grand and because I was going away for part of it, I called the grand jury manager and she postponed my unitl next year.
Each duty is differrent here as county grand jury duty was for 1 day a week at the county courthouse, for 4 months I think.
State grand jury duty was 1 day a week IN TRENTON (no matter how far you live from it), and it was for 6 months!!
Anyway, I was selected this year for county grand and because I was going away for part of it, I called the grand jury manager and she postponed my unitl next year.
