Harris County Jury Duty (Montgomery: lawyer, exemptions, legal)

[texas7]

A guy I work with told me that when he gets a jury summons, he throws it out and doesn't go. He recently (for the first time) received a failed to appear jury summons and asked me if anything will happen to him if he throws this one out and doesn't go. Anybody know?

Yeah I do think he should go and serve his jury duty but then I guess if someone I knew were on trial, I'd want them to have people on their jury who didn't mind being there - so probably better someone like him doesn't go.

[elnina]

I heard that some people throw out summons, and go away with it. How the court can prove that the summons were received? It's a regular mail, and mail get lost or misplaced, right?
But it also can happen like here:
Legally Speaking: Jury service — doing justice for Texas | Southeast Texas Record

and here are exemptions:
http://www.txcourts.gov/tjc/juryinfo/exemption.asp

[colcat]

Unless the summons is sent certified mail, they can't prove you received it. Montgomery County sends them regular mail, so...

[Schumacher713]

I have been throwing mine away for ages. I think Texas justice is a joke.

[Oildog]

So you only want people who desire to be on a jury judging your case? Good luck with a bunch of bored senior citizens and angry people trying to be objective.

I have thought being called out for jury duty was a pain. But after sitting on a couple juries I was glad I did, and I will again. I've seen multiple instances of "I don't like the way he looks" and "that's how them people are" said by my fellow jurors...of course going across cultural lines. As well as Jurors who were happy just about the free lunches, and extended trials because it kept them busy (because they were retired or not working).

God forbid, but if I came up in front of a jury I would want them to be as objective & impartial as possible. So my thought was as much as I didn't want to be there, there were far worse jury candidates in the area.

[DJboutit]

I had jury duty back in January first one for the new yr they must have called 700 people that day. I got called for a selection when everyone heard the trial was gonna last a week nobody want to be on that trail everyone was saying they could not be fair LOL. I am sorry if you have every been on a trial 3 days or longer what a waste of time it is. They said if you skip jury duty they never do anything they are trying to change this they want to fine you big time or maybe community service. It is illegal to force you to do something against your will even jury duty

[elnina]

^^^ I kind of agree with you that letting incompetent amateurs decide the fates of accused persons is injustice.

Here is an interesting article about jurors and jury selection:
ShowArticle - DecisionQuest

[Oildog]

Beside, I'm not aware of employers that withhold pay for being on a jury. Longer than a week or two would suck, but karma would be worse.

[testmo]

i was receiving harris county jury summons under the wrong name (close, but not my legal name) and to the wrong address 2-3 times a year nearly evey year for the past 5. i appeared a few times, got selected and went through a trial once and each time tried to correct my info by letting them now. they never bothered to correct it. when the people at the address they send my summons to let me know i have a new one i now tell them to toss it. its ridiculous. after serving or being summoned a certain number of times they are supposed to leave you off the list for the rest of the year, but i must just be that good

the name and address is supposed to be tied to my voters registration and/or DL. my DL has been correct for the past 10+ years. state of Texas is never going to get my voters registration right. at this point im pretty sure its purposefully done. correct the name, now address is wrong, correct address now last name and middle name are juxtaposed. last presidential election is probably the last time i'll ever be able to vote in this state because they cant get the registration straight


the system can go shoot itself in the foot for all i care. if they stared trying to fine people id go ahead and get a lawyer and fight it its so broken


also - well known fact amongst court advocates and attorneys - if you ever find yourself in real trouble waive your right to a jury trial. the judge is going to be less biased - probably even in texas and southern districts

[colcat]

Originally Posted by Oildog

Beside, I'm not aware of employers that withhold pay for being on a jury. Longer than a week or two would suck, but karma would be worse.

I don't get paid from my employer if I go to jury duty.