So I went back to my office after jury duty to break the news to my boss, she immediately went into action to try to get me out of it. Now I have a letter from one of the bigwigs in the company to bring to the court Friday morning to see if it'll help me get out. But I don't know how much it will help at this point, I've already been selected.
But deep down, I do want to fulfil my civic duty. I think one HUGE deterrant of jury duty is the loss of wages. For serving on a jury you are paid $9 A DAY for the first three days and then $25 A DAY for the duration of the trial. Isn't that a little insane? I was talking this over with Lady and I suggested that one's job should be legally bound to pay you around 75% of your daily wage and the city/state/government should have to kick in the last 25%. That way, at least jurors won't have to really worry about getting into a hole for doing the right thing and not lying to get out of jury duty.
I thought about it, lying, and I didn't. I answered the questionnaire truthfully and answered the questions the lawyers asked me truthfully as well. And I got picked.
If I do serve on the jury, I [obviously] won't be posting on the matters at hand, but I'm definitely going to post on the procedures that go on. I'm sure that there are horrible problems with the system that I'd like to address and bring to the attention of the folks who happen upon this blog of mine. Maybe it'll dissuade you from wanting to serve on a jury or maybe it'll help prepare you for serving on a jury. I think it is the right thing to do, but I totally understand how a person who can't afford to do so will lie to get out of it; the system seems to discourage you from serving which is a shame.
Any lawyers, judges or hoi polloi want to chime in?
Jeez, I didn't realize you wouldn't be paid if you got picked. Who is the judge on the case?
Posted by: Mithras | April 01, 2005 at 10:28 PM
It's not necessarily that I wouldn't be paid at work, I don't know our company policy towards it, but since I'm in sales, it's mostly commission based so for the two weeks I'd be out, I wouldn't be out getting new accounts leading to new contracts leading to my paycheck. And the judge's name is DiBuono [sp?].
Posted by: dragonballyee | April 02, 2005 at 01:09 AM
Shit, I don't know DiBona.
How much do you figure you'll be out by missing work?
Posted by: Mithras | April 02, 2005 at 10:06 AM
It's hard to say exactly, but if I were to lose 100% of my pay for two weeks, that would be around $1K. But that would include both normal wage earnings and commission; the commission being from the previous two weeks of selling ads. I'll find out Monday at 9.15am one way or the other.
Posted by: dragonballyee | April 02, 2005 at 05:34 PM
So what's the deal?
Posted by: Mithras | April 04, 2005 at 10:21 AM
We've been released.
Posted by: dragonballyee | April 04, 2005 at 10:24 AM