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HFSSC posted 12/2/2019 20:50 PM

Y'all, once again, I wish I was making this up.

I had jury duty starting today. I was actually looking forward to it this time. Usually I am trying to get out of it. In SC, or at least in this courthouse, jury selection isn't done like in the movies or TV. Once we had identified ourselves and given our basic info, the judge asked a bunch of questions that we had to answer from where we stood. Any connection to the defendant, any of the attorneys or witnesses, etc. Finally, they asked if we or anyone close to us had ever been the victim of any type of crime, regardless of whether charges had ever been filed. Had we or anyone close to us ever been accused of committing any type of crime, again, regardless of whether charges had been filed.

"Oh, good lord," I thought. " We are never gonna get out of here. " So I joined the line that was formed because the judge told us to come down and discuss with him and all of the attorneys would listen and take notes.

Everyone else had like a sentence or two to say. The judge asked if their experience would leave them unable to be fair and impartial as a juror. Several were excused. Then it was my turn.

First I asked if I could clarify something. If charges had been expunged due to pretrial intervention, was it necessary to disclose that. It was. So I started with that. I was charged with obtaining controlled substances by fraud and obtaining prescription medication by fraud. Worked through PTI requirements and my record was expunged. That was in 1997. I was robbed at gunpoint in 1988. No one was ever arrested for that. My sister was a Victor to domestic violence. (Refuse to use the term "victim" for her). My husband killed a man in a bar fight, in self defense.I don't know if charges were officially filed and dropped or if he was never even charged. Then I got to my mom. She's been charged with disorderly conduct twice, with a nice little assault charge added to the second event. At this point they'd all filled up all the space for notes by my name. And the judge looked at me and said, "I'm not trying to be funny here, but did you say your MOTHER?" Quite incredulously. I said yes. He security was simple or aggravated assault. ( Oh good grief!! I don't freakin' know!) I said, "Well, she took out a guy's front door with a baseball bat and tried really hard to hit him in the head with the bat.". The lawyers and the judge all just looked like, " I got nothing. " I said "She was really mad."

Anyway, I still had a couple more things I could add, but he just asked if I could still be fair and impartial after all that, and I said "Sure!". He said I was still eligible and sent me back to my seat. Finally time to select the jury. My name was the 4th or 5th one called. I had to turn around and face the attorneys and they'd accept or excuse me. And the prosecutor excused me before I even got turned around all the way.

I'm gonna guess they felt like I was a hot mess and/or a wild card. Joke's on them. If I lean either way it would be for the prosecution.I

All in all,I was a little insulted.

Adlham posted 12/2/2019 22:16 PM

I'm sorry, I really shouldn't laugh, but I would have paid good money to watch the expressions on all of their faces while you were going through your litany of interesting life experiences!

Don't feel like you're the only one, though! While not quite as impressive as your list, I've had my own interesting times, including a dismissed drug charge for LSD! What can I say? I was 18 and bored haha!

Jeaniegirl posted 12/2/2019 22:59 PM

I've been summoned for jury duty a few times. As soon as they find out I'm an attorney -- dismissed!

minusone posted 12/3/2019 05:52 AM

Good to see you HF....You can’t make this shit up.....but you could write a sitcom and be a big hit! I am not laughing at you ...... I am laughing with you.

You are one strong woman.....who rolls with the punches and somehow manages to laugh. Don’t be insulted about the rejection, I have been on jury duty and it sure does sober up one’s sense of humor.

TrustedHer posted 12/3/2019 07:44 AM

I was in the jury pool for a drunk driving accident case, and they asked us if we had ever been affected by a drunk driver.

My first car: totaled by a head-on with a drunk.
My wife's first car: totaled by T-bone with a drunk.
My mother-in-law: Several accidents involving drinking (hers).
And at the time of the trial, my niece was in the hospital with a broken pelvis from an accident with a drunk.

I didn't get selected for that trial.

tushnurse posted 12/3/2019 09:00 AM

HF Thank you for this.
You did a great job describing it, still I would pay money to see it in video.

ChewedMeUp posted 12/3/2019 09:24 AM

I've previously gotten out of more than one jury by mentioning that my FIL had done 25 years for murder 2, but your list is much more entertaining!

cocoplus5nuts posted 12/4/2019 06:45 AM

All in all,I was a little insulted

Rude! 😂

lieshurt posted 12/4/2019 07:47 AM

ZenMumWalking posted 12/4/2019 08:51 AM

Bet they expunge your name from the jury system!!

thebighurt posted 12/4/2019 19:26 PM

Well, HF, no one can say your posts are dull or uninteresting! It's good that you take such a situation so well.

I have been called twice for jury duty. First was a civil case and I knew both parties. Second was a Federal case and I was dismissed because of my job. Luckily, we were questioned where we sat for both. It has been many years, so I might be due... unless I'm too old!