Last month, in December, I received my first jury summons for Oregon. In California, I’ve been summoned plenty of times, but usually by claiming that I’m “self-employed”, I get excused. Here in Oregon, that’s not the case. Last week I had to show up for Jury, along with 350 other people. No joke. Apparently, we were all summoned for a high profile murder case. UGH. That’s so NOT my thing! No excuses were granted, unless it was a medical emergency. 
On that first day, we all had to fill out a THIRTY-EIGHT (38) PAGE detailed question and answer interview. It took me over three hours to answer all the questions — and these were NOT “yes” or “no” type answers. 
They were personal, thought provoking answers on gun control, death penalty, the criminal justice system, how comfortable I am with looking at autopsy and crime scene photos, etc. Not fun. Since this is such a high profile case, and the death penalty is involved, the attorneys want to pick their jury accordingly, and I suppose this detailed interview helped them to weed out the people who they feel don’t have the qualifications they’re looking for in a jury. Makes sense, even if it its a lengthy process. 
I find out tomorrow (Tuesday) whether or not I have to return for a more extensive, face-to-face interview. I’m hoping that somehow, someway, they find a way to excuse me for this particular jury service. 
If it was a civil case, no problem, but I don’t know how well I could handle a murder case. On the other hand my husband, who finds stuff like this fascinating, would be the perfect juror! Oh, and they estimate that this case will run between 5 and 7 weeks of jury service! 
So, how many of you have served on a jury? And what was your experience like? Was it an easy case, or something more complicated? And keep your fingers crossed for me that I won’t get picked as a juror!
PS: A note from Leslie: Want to win a copy of A Blazing Collection, which includes my full-length February Blaze Play With Me? Check out the Smart Bitches site for a chance to win one of ten autographed copies!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 20 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 40 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
ANOTHER WILD WEDDING NIGHT
Hard to Hold
Love Me If You Dare
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I’ve been summoned twice but have never served. Once I had to go to a bad area in Chicago (26t & California) and the other time it was in the ‘burbs. Part of me would find it fascinating to be part of a big trial, the other part would stress out about missing work. Neurotic, that’s me LOL.
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Hey Janelle, I feel so bad for you. I have been called, but never had to serve, which is awesome. I know that some cases can be lengthy, and others not so much. I have my fingers crossed for you. You know what though, if you do get chosen, you can chalk the experience up to research, right? I know, I know, this type of case is not your cuppa, but if you do end up on it, I believe you will be fine. Have a great day jungle dwellers. See you all later.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I received a summons for the first time ever in December 2008. My mother told me just to be myself and I was sure not to be chosen
It was a civil suit of a HOA vs. a Developer. Since I have had issues with my HOA and of course you have to answer all those lovely questions, and OF COURSE I was honest, everyone, including myself, figured that I wouldn’t be picked! We were all so wrong!
It was a pretty simple case and as much as we all agreed that the Developer probably was the snake in the grass that the HOA made him out to be, they just didn’t have the proof to have us find in their favor.
It wasn’t that bad of an experience and I wouldn’t mind doing it again! Good luck to you Janelle – which ever way you want it to go!
(Oh and pardon me if this doesn’t make any sense! Both my kids has me up at 345am this morning and so I am not functioning well this morning!)
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I can only imagine what a font of information Janelle could glean from this experience.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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THis would be better research for Leslie and her Leslie Parrish books, LOL!
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They totally would be…LOL!!! I hope you don’t get called because you really don’t want to do be on the jury for a case like this. That would totally suck if you had to go through 5-7 weeks of enduring something you don’t want to do. How was the rest of your day today? Did the sun show it’s pretty little rays or did you get knocked around like a ship on the high seas being batted around by gale force winds?
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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I’ve been summonded once for federal jury duty, but was no longer in that area of the state, so I didn’t have to serve.
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The 38 page questionnaire seems a bit much.
I was called for jury duty once. Just a civil case. It was a car accident. Thank goodness they found their twelve jurors before they got to me.
Maybe from your questionnaire they will find you are too smart and not want you on the jury. I got my fingers crossed for you.
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Actually the 38 page questionaire is not unusual when so much hinges on the jury and their decisions. It’s a persons life- guilty or not- hanging on the answers to those questions, which is why they get so detailed.
I’ve been called twice but not picked. which sucks, since my education does include a pre-law degree. Oh, well. (I decided law school was just too damned expensive)
Both my husband and mother had grand jury which went on for a long time, off and on. Both were murder cases. When my daughter got called, she was recovering from mono so I had to drive her and wait. The drs. note was enough to get her out of it, but the judge coming out early, looking up and waving hello to us was the final nail in that one!
If you get picked, we’ll miss you around here, but I am a big believer in everyone doing their civic duty instead of trying to find a way out of it. If I was ever the one on the other side, I would like to know that the people deciding my fate wanted to be there, not forced to be there.
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I was summoned (I was in my early 20s) and it was a rape type trial (must have been). I had to discuss my personal life (yes, I had to discuss if I was comfortable talking about sex—yes, my life…what’s up with that), which at the time, I really wasn’t into shooting the breeze out in public and got out of it (whew). The second time I was summoned was the week before we moved here (I had two kids and preggo with my third) and no one would watch my kids. I had to explain that I had no one to watch my sons (I couldn’t just ask anyone since my oldest has autism and he was going through a difficult patch and my husband had already moved down here). So, I got out of it. The whole time I was filling out the form, I kept thinking, “what if they don’t approve this, then what am I going to do….maybe, someone at the office will realize that I really do have a special needs kid, if I brought him in”). My question mark key doesn’t work.
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Funny thing, Katie — one the first day that we all had to show up to fill out the interview form, there were three mothers who brought their kids with them! They obviously had no one to watch them and had no choice.
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Oh, that would have been maddening….I hope everyone realizes I am not trying to get out of my civic duty. If I had a way (and at the moment I still don’t), I’d do it. My situation is just frustrating in that I have no family around me and my husband can’t take off time to get the boys organized (he has enough trouble when it is just the afternoon!). Love him, but that’s who he is.
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The first time I was called I was pregnant, like 8 months pregnant, so they excused me. Like clockwork, I got called the same time the next year. I didn’t have to go in, I just had to call each night to see if I was needed the next morning. Which was kind of cool because it counted as serving.
I don’t think I could decide on a murder case where the death penalty is involved. Only because I’m so conflicted on the matter myself. That’s a tough one!!
Fingers crossed for you!!
I hope everyone in the jungle who wasn’t feeling well last week is healthy and happy by now!!
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Well, I did my “call in” for tomorrow about ten minutes ago, and my number wasn’t listed on those they want to formally interview. I’m not off the hook yet. I have to keep calling every day until I’m formally excused, but I don’t have to go in tomorrow. However, I’m scheduled for oral surgery tomorrow morning for an implant post (tooth), so I don’t know what’s worse, LOL!
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Here in Ventura County, I’ve been called every single year. The only time I was chosen to serve, however, was when I was living in LA a gazillion years ago. I served a criminal case at the Hollywood courts. The case involved 2 young people in their 20s who threatened a transvestite/transgender prostitute at gunpoint. Of course the highlight for everyone was when he/she was called to testify. He was actually a very credible witness, despite his mini skirt and 4 inch heels.
IMO (and 10 others on the jury) they were guilty as sin, and all the evidence supported it. However, there was one guy who refused to convict, saying that his son was once accused of something he didn’t do, and so he bet that was what was happening to these “poor kids”, too.
It opened my eyes to how poor the voir dire process can be. Thankfully, there was a questionnaire at the end of the trial (which ended in a hung jury) asking the jurors why and how the “verdict” was reached.
I’m fortunate, too, in that my company pays full salary for jury duty. I can look at it as a few paid days off work, rather than a bother.
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Now THAT would be a fascinating case/trial, LOL!
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In the past I have always been excused for one reason or another…ect… My daughter was under thirteen, I was on dialysis or I wasn’t even needed. But the last time they called me was in Feb of 06 and I was picked for Grand Jury Duty… I wasn’t happy because here in Lubbock, you are required to show up every Tuesday for a month and hear the details of hundreds of cases each time then you have to vote whether there was enough evidence to hold the person over for trial. I thought it was going to be a really bad experience but actually it turned out to be quite interesting. We heard the details of everything from Hot check writers and shoplifters to DWI cases and drug cases to Murder. I made enough money to buy a TV for the bedroom and a DVD player. Plus when you serve on Grand Jury duty here in Texas you are exempt from further duty for three years.
That being said , we didn’t have to look at any pictures or anything we only had to hear the details from the detectives and police officers and some rimes a witness or two. I don’t think I would like to see any photos of the crime scene or of the autopsy… Ugh I might lose my lunch over that one.
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I would actually really like to serve on a jury sometime and a murder case wouldn’t bother me at all. The time commitment, though, 5-7 weeks, would be a big problem. If I were employed and able to get jury leave, it would be one thing. But being unable to make a living for that long would be really tough! So if for no other reason than that, Janelle, I really hope you don’t get called!
My 18 year old got called just 2 weeks ago. She just had to call in every night for the next day and never actually got summoned, which was a huge relief to her. She was pretty intimidated by the whole thing and really didn’t want to have to do it.
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a murder case wouldn’t bother me at all
Haha. That’s cause you’re a grisly-lovin’ girl, Leslie Parrish!
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lol, well, yeah, that’s true.
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Belated Happy B-Day Leslie. I hope that you had a wonderful day.
I have been called to jury duty twice. Once in Federal and once in Civil. I was lucky that I got dismissed in both summons. I got dismissed on one case because I use to date the police officer in the case.
I think that if I ever got select as a juror, that I think that I would like to be on a criminal case. I think it would be really interesting.
I have my fingers crossed for you that you will not have to serve, Janelle
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I get a jury summons every 6 months like clockwork. I was a no-show once for jury duty (I happened to be in labor with an 11 lb baby!) and they sent me notice of non-compliance!
I called them and they actually made me send a copy of my sons birth certificate to verify the absence. 
This is why I could never get away any sort of illegal activity. I would get caught no matter how small the infraction!
I have served on an attempted murder case and numerous civil matters. Never had to do a 38 page questionaire. I was questioned heavily during the voir dire process by both sets of attorneys before I was picked for the felony case.
Tami
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Years ago, nurses and doctors could get out of jury duty. (I’m a nurse.) Not anymore. The last time I received a jury duty notice, several years ago, I called and said I could only serve if I was home by 3:00 p.m. to get my children off the bus. They deferred me until 2009 when I got another notice. This time, try as I might, I couldn’t get out of it. I was, however, able to defer it until July, when my youngest is at sleep away camp.
While I wouldn’t mind hearing the facts of a case and deliberating guilt/innocence based upon the law, I’ve been working from a home office for more than 15 years. The thought of being cooped up in a courtroom then sequestered in a windowless conference room for hours at a time, is terrifying to me.
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Janelle, I hope you don’t get called for 5 to 7 weeks of jury duty. Ugh!! You’d have to be there every freakin day all day. Especially since you have deadlines. But, if you do have to go, you’ll just have to chalk it up to research. It’s the only thing you can do. Keep us posted.
I have been called twice. The first time I had to go down and sit with 100 or so other people to be interviewed. We all sat in the gallery and then they called people up to sit in the jury box and as one was excused another would be called. I was never called. It was however a civil case. A woman suing a dude ranch for whip lash. I’ve never been so bored in my life but we all had to sit there and pay attention to everything everyone said. I did however learn that lawyers can’t stand by the jury box or the witness box and get in people’s faces and yell at them. That only happens on TV and in the movies. They have to ask permission to approach. They have to stand so many feet away. I believe it’s twelve feet.
The next time I received a summons I called the number the day before and my particular juror number wasn’t in the range of people being called so I didn’t have to go in at all. YAY!
Cher
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FYI – On House and Garden channel this weekend Candice Oleson=Divine Design decorated a writer’s retreat for a romance author – Teresa Roblin. It was GORGEOUS! It’s supposed to air again on Feb 13 if you’re interested.
Cher
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I have served several times, including Grand Jury.
I have never sat on a murder trial. Did serve on a vehicular manslaughter trial. Not fun! Ugly pictures.
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I’ve been summoned three times. The first time I did serve on a witness intimidation case, that ended up with a hung jury. Second time I had to attend but didn’t end up on any jury.
Third time is coming up at the beginning of March. The way that the laws are written here, if you have attended for jury service in the previous 2 years you are supposed to be able to get excused – but apparently that isn’t grounds enough to be excused at the moment. Last attendance was 18 months ago, and this jury service coincides with the first week of classes at university. :*&#!:
Janelle, I hope that you don’t have to be on the jury for this particular case.
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Now that’s the way to do it, Linda! For me, it would be a chance to catch up on reading!
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I’ve been summoned several times but the closest I came to actually serving
was being called into the courtroom before the judge and attorneys. The
case was explained to us in general terms, nothing specific. At that point in glancing around the room, I spied a familiar face. It seems that if you know any
one who has anything to do with the court or case, you can’t serve! I did, so I didn’t! At this point, I’m now past the legal age limit for serving.
Pat Cochran
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honestly? I’ve never had to serve as a juror….don’t get me wrong ….I get called yearly….and show up… and from there it ususally works one of two ways…. One of the judges looks at me sitting there and usually says… ” Diana…how’s your Aunt?? and get the hell outta here!” (my aunt used to be the investigator for the DA’s office and was this particular judges assistant for years.) so he always kicks me out for conflict of interest…the other judge usually gets this weird look on his face ….it’s sorta like an oh shit and trying not to laugh response… cause I fill out my questioneer…you know they ask about relatives in law enforcement and views on different crimes…and hell…I’m honest…so my cousins are both local cops in that town or state troopers here….brother in law is a bailiff there….sister in law is a court clerk (Both in the family court part) but the list of family in law there goes on and on… so then we get to the views part of the questionaire…and I’m honest remember??? I write down…fry the bastards in my questioneer part…. remember I spent 5 years married to someone who beat the crap outta me, was abused by my biological father, sisters best friend was killed by a drunk driver….I have no sympathy at all… and I write it down….they always end up saying you can leave now…before any of the good stuff starts happening…lmao. sometimes…it pays to be honest.
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Good luck on not getting picked. I had Federal jury duty over the summer and was excused when I told them I has 3 minor children.
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I’ve never been called to jury duty (although heh – that’s another issue). I have however, sat through a number of trials. Even a bit of voir dire- so I’m quite curious about this face to face process. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that. Murder trials are rough – I don’t know that I’d be able to be a juror for one.
*finger crossed* that you’re safe from jury duty!
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I’ve been summoned numerous times but only served once. The case was a robbery or burglery. My jury was dismissed due to some inadmissable evidence that a policeman gave when he testified! I got called once on a murder case that had to have a change of venue because the two being tried broke out of jail & shot sheriff deputies. Not to smart. I also had to fill out a form like you did & return a second time with that form. I was able to get excused due to being the only income and because I worked as a dispatcher for a very brief time and tend to side with law enforcement. The trial was expected to take about 6 months due to travel and working around witnesses etc. It might have been interesting.