I have to report for jury duty one day next month (Johnston Co.). What can I expect that day? How long do they generally keep everyone?
Last time I received my letter for jury duty, it instructed me to call the night before. I ended up not even having to report. Several years before that I was called. It was before they started the call system. I showed up and sat there for several hours. Once they found out what I did for a living, they dismissed me saying it would have been a burden and I was needed more at my job than there.
I have to agree. I was called to Wake County jury, I too called the night before and my number was in the range to show up at the courthouse. I got there at 8 or 9 whatever time they requested showed them my ID and just sat down...and waited...and waited...and waited. Eventually they called my number (or the range in which my number was in) I went into the courtroom with 50 or so other people in front of the judge and then they just called out random numbers and asked you a question. You could be asked to leave immediately or asked further questions. Basically, its potentially a long day....bring a book or work to do...
I have been on jury duty several times. 1)was on 2 week murder trial 2)sat on small claim stuff 3)sat for full day while they were satisfied with jury & then dismissed about 4:00. Also I do know that at Wilson court they do not allow you to wear shorts or revealing blouses. Also you do have to be careful if you smoke. Each county and judge has their own rules. Good luck!
I was there from about 10 until 5 or later. I was called one of the first to sit in the box and got dismissed the very last question asked for the day. haa haa. It was more comfy to sit up there the box than it would have been to sit in the bench part of the courtroom. Question that got me dismissed was about my job and my degree. But yes, you will have to call the night before to find out whether or not to report and what time to be there. I brought a book, but since I was called right away I couldn't read it.
I got a letter for next month, too, but wrote and explained my current situation and asked to be deferred and they wrote back, said my request was approved. I've been there one other time (and wanted so badly to be picked) but they seated the jury before they got to me. When we first got there, there were quite a few who'd gotten letters and showed up but didn't speak English well enough to serve, so they were dismissed (how they got in the jury pool, I don't know). We were sworn in and led into the courtroom. The judge called everyone who claimed that it would be a hardship, or they couldn't serve for whatever reason and heard each story and dealt with them...one of the guys went forward and said he couldn't serve because he had a conviction...and it was by that very judge! Made us laugh...people who said that they'd had a relative that'd been killed couldn't be excused...(it was a murder trial). My dad had been in law enforcement, so I didn't know if they'd let me serve...was there until mid-afternoon, but didn't get chosen. I think you get about $12 for your 'time' (MIGHT cover the gas to and from the courthouse!).
What constitutes a hardship? We are primarily a one-income family. If my husband had to take a long time off work to be home with our children for me to be on a jury, that would be a hardship. If only for a few days we could work something out and it would be okay.
I don't know how they determine a hardship. I just asked for a deferral so that's what I got. I gave them a date and asked to be reconsidered for service after that date. Often, when you call the night before, they don't need you or you just have to serve that one day. I did have a friend who had to serve a couple of weeks (murder trial) but a trial that long is unusual.
I've been asked twice to go to jury duty. Both times I wrote them stating that I stay home with my children, and have no family or anyone to watch them. I got out of it both times.
I was just on one a couple of months ago, lasted 3 days. Bring a book. The selection process is random. Once you get into the courtroom to be picked, they'll call a dozen at random and then both the prosecution and defense will ask a series of questions of each juror. Once they've chosen the 12, the rest go home. They'll pay you something like $15 a day for your service. Everything will be explained in the letter. Make sure to call on the day they state in the letter, you may not even have to show.
