The quieter you become the more you can hear ~ Ram Dass



Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Alphabe-Thursday


For the letter V,  I chose the word verdict.

If anyone's ever been called for jury duty, most people I think don't like it because they have to be gone from work and lose money.  Plus, it is kind of boring if you sit around all the time and don't get on a case.  

My reason for not liking it is, the verdict.  You have to figure out who is and who isn't telling the truth.  I'm sure sometimes it's perfectly obvious but there are times it is not.  Give me a good sob story and I'm with you LOL. 


In 2002, I was called for jury duty for the Common Pleas Court.  I hoped and prayed that I would get a civil case and not a criminal case.  One case I was supposed to be questioned for, they picked the jury before they got to me, it was civil.  The second one I got questioned but because my husband was in a related field, they didn't pick me.  Again that was civil.  On the very last day I was supposed to serve,  which was a Friday , I got picked for a criminal trial, figures.  I had to come back on Monday, the trial was held.  It was very short as there was only a couple of witnesses and we reached a verdict quickly. Lucky for me although it was criminal, it was not something violent and there were no victims involved.

Since then I've been called to jury duty twice but it was for a local court.  Both times I had to fill out a questionnaire saying why I may not be able to serve.   I don't drive, so the first time I wrote if they could provide transportation I could come.  They never called me.  The second time was when Mom was in the hospital and I told them I would be bringing my mom here and she couldn't be left alone.  They never called me.  But they did have this time, that they provide transportation.  I like to think because of me that happened LOL.  If they send a letter again, I will go.

I know it's my civic duty and it's valuable and vital to our judicial system but I would like it a lot better if you didn't have to come to a  verdict ;-)


 Go on over to Jenny's for Alphabe-Thursday and see what others came up with for their letter V http://jennymatlock.blogspot.com/2010/06/alphabe-thursday-v.html

33 comments:

Unknown said...

I ways called for jury duty right after JDaniel was born. Thankfully I was excused because I was nursing. Deciding someone's fate isn't something I would like to do.

A 2 Z said...

Very interesting! I was never contacted. It seems to me that they keep a list and the same people are always on it. Not sure how that works. I agree that its a very big responsability and it must be heavy to bear the faith of someone's future. Thanks for sharing.

Anne-Marie

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

I was called for jury duty three times but never picked for many different reasons. I don't think I'd like to decide a verdict either!

jingle said...

wow,
that's neat!

Jo said...

I have never been called ... i guess that's a good thing for now ...

Jamie said...

I love the idea of jury duty, I've only been called a few times, and only had to go through questioning once. They didn't pick me because it was for a DUI and I don't drink. The defendant's attorney said did I really think I could render a fair verdict if I didn't know what it was like to be drunk. I told him I could render a fair verdict in a shoplifting case and I've never stolen. What did he think? He used one of his strikes on me...

Pondside said...

I've never been called for jury duty, and as long as I work in this job I'll not be able to serve. I really believe that educated and responsible citizens have to step up and do this duty.

Short and Sweet said...

I've been on one case and I didn't agree with the verdict! I wasn't crazy about the prosecuting attorney either because he kept using the same phrase over and over again...but I have since forgotten what it was! You did your civic duty and served well I'm sure.

Mary said...

I served once & was amazed that everyone on the jury, from all walks of life, came to the same verdict in a very short time. It reaffirmed my faith in the human race :-)

Kat said...

I've been called for jury duty numerous times, have served on both a civil and criminal jury. It was very interesting, but it sure is a lot more boring than they make it look on TV and the movies :) Kathy

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I'm a proponent of our justice system, but I will admit I'm always torn between it and "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

Debbiedoos said...

I was only called once...when I just had my youngest son....I would not mind a really good case...I think it is neat to be part of the system....now to decide someones fate in life prison or not...may be trying on the mind...great post.

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

This is interesting, and I would feel like you about handing out the verdict deciding someone's fate.

Cathryn said...

I was called to serve but I was in school at the time--getting my social work degree. I was excused! LOL So I'm wondering if I'll ever get called to serve.

Theresa Plas said...

It is a big responsibility! Well done "V"!

laterg8r said...

great v post :D

Tina said...

I've always wanted to be picked for a jury, but not anymore. The last time I was called, I was picked, and I was the one out of twelve who thought she was guilty. (It was a counterfeit $/cocaine sale use the money to buy groceries thing). But, faced with 11 people who all wanted to go home, I caved, crying the whole time. I was traumatized. (Have I mentioned I worked as a paralegal for two years?? Yeah. Justice is hard to come by.) Great post, Viki.

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

I was on a long criminal trial a few years ago, and it took us a long time to reach a verdict. We all wanted to punch the last holdout in the face, I mean, I could have throttled him, we were all so ready to go home!

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

I know it is our civic duty, but I hate jury duty. I had to serve in December and about ten years before that I served on a case. I did not get picked at this last one because my son in law is a county police officer and several other officers were involved in the case.

Vicki/Jake said...

I got called about 3 years ago, couldn't find a reason to disqualify myself, listened to why a mother and daughter wanted charged pressed against the daughters ex boyfriend, Ahem...such drama..the ex admitted stealing something, end of guilty verdict, got paid $18.00 :)

mrs. c said...

I would love to serve on a jury but all the times I have been called, because I am a teacher, they dismiss me! I hope that someday I can serve!

Cheryl said...

Good for you for doing this. I'm on a list for about another year for the state Supreme Court pool. I hope I get contacted. I once was contacted for Superior Court but had to opt out due to other obligations. Being a big L&O fan, I was totally bummed.

PERMANENT POSIES said...

I have been chosen for two juries and they were both for pedophiles. Yuk! One was on 9-11 and that was not a good day for a pedophile. I have been called for Monday. We shall see. They seem to love me.

Sweetums5 said...

Good for you for doing this. I received a jury-duty letter years ago, but couldn't go because I homeschool my kids. They never wrote again (which I'm glad off, to tell you the truth). =)

Lourie said...

I have been called but haven't yet served. My mom came real close in a murder trial. But when it came down to it, she was dismissed by the prosecutor because after he asked her if she could send these two boys to jail--who had got hair cuts, were wearing suits etc--she hesitated. So he--the prosecutor--said NEXT!

Amanda Lee said...

I was called twice, once when I had three kids in elementary school. They were not pleased when I explained I had to leave by 2:30 for the half-hour drive back home to meet the kids after school! They wanted me to call someone else to get the kids. I said no, I wasn't comfortable with that and left without being selected. The next time I was in the middle of university finals and sent them an email saying "no, I wouldn't be able to serve at that time", they tried to reschedule me for Christmas break, but I had a son home on leave from the Navy, so I said "no" again. So then they tried to reschedule me for spring break, but I needed that week to catch up on final projects and said no yet again (saying no got easier each time)-- finally after about a year they forgot about me-- just about the time I had time to serve!
Now that I am an empty nester, I would love to serve, but haven't been summoned.

H said...

I've never been called on for jury service, but I'm sure that people over here are recompensed for lost income. Reading all of the comments, it seems to happen much more frequently in the States.

Susan said...

we are VALUABLE to the justice system...amen for your post!!

Susan

Jenny said...

What a clever "V" word to share with us on our little journey through Alphabe-Thursday this week!

I've never actually made it to JD, always get excused. And I think that's actually a good thing.

Because reaching a verdict would be really tough I think.

Great link Viki! I always love stopping by here!

A+

Sarah said...

I've served on several several times, but don't like the process. I'm uncomfortable with judging someone. And the criminal cases I've served on were disturbing. I know it's our civic duty, but I don't enjoy it.

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

I have never been called to jury duty...maybe because we moved around so much with the military? I am like you in that it would be hard...unless it was definitely a "no question about it"type of case.

Blessings & Aloha!
thank you for stopping by!

easternsparkle said...

Never been called myself but my 20 year old son is halfway through a case now - he's finding it really fascinating and appreciates the importance of it.

Unknown said...

I have never been called...now that I write this I probably will! haha......