I've been called upon to do my "civic duty" next week and might end up being on a jury. While I don't mind the idea of doing it, it comes at an inopportune time work wise. But if I have to I have to. I don't have any valid reason to get out of it, and have decided not to tell them that "I'm psychic and already know the defendant is guilty"...

From the point of view of my transition this will be the first time I've been in an environment where I might have to deal, in close proximity for possibly many days, with people who are not only strangers to me but who could also be very hostile to LGBTIQ. I don't anticipate them finding out that I am trans but, given my run in with some random douchebag a few weeks ago, I guess anything is possible. I've had the luxury of surrounding my life with people I know and trust, that might still be the case here but I don't see it as being likely. Anyway, it'll be interesting.

Has anyone else done jury duty post transition? How did it go?

They didn't start calling me for jury duty until after I was post surgical and then it was like clockwork once every two years. I lived half way between two courts and I think I should have called about once every four years but they alternated me every two years between the courts.

I never served more than the initial day though once I made it to the jury and was rejected by the lawyer. He must not have liked my looks.    I never had trouble getting along with anybody but most of us had something to keep busy with so there wasn't much socializing.

no body calls me for duty, I guess because I'm disabled.

Quote from: Dena on June 03, 2016, 07:21:00 PM
I never served more than the initial day though once I made it to the jury and was rejected by the lawyer. He must not have liked my looks.   

This is what I'm hoping for. I was reading the stats on the empanelling process in my home state and apparently less than 2% of people who get called actually end up serving on a jury. That seems quite bizarre and wasteful but I suppose once you discount those who might have legitimate reasons to not serve, those that might know the defendant or individuals involved in the trial, those that are knocked out by the defence/prosecution, etc I suppose they need to significantly pad the call up numbers.

Quote from: stephaniec on June 03, 2016, 07:29:07 PM
no body calls me for duty, I guess because I'm disabled.

That generally wouldn't be a barrier where I live unless the disability stopped you from actually being able to serve on the jury. I don't know how they do it in the US but in Australia where everyone is supposed to be on the electoral role which is how they then make the selections, even so some people can go their whole life and never be called - my grandparents weren't for example, and I know people in their 60s who haven't.

they called me once a bunch of years ago , but they wanted me to travel to a suburb way on the other side of the city I live on in the middle of winter and we had a snow blizzard so my therapist told me to not go. I'm guessing the looked up my records and saw that I'm disability so they didn't pursue it.My therapist would of wrote a letter if needed.

I wasn't registered to vote for a long time because I couldn't find anybody worth my time to vote for and that kept me off jury duty. Then they added the drivers licenses to the jury pool and they started calling me. They call a huge number of people here because if they run out of people, they have delay the jury selection process and they don't want to do that. The problem is the lawyers are making last minute deals right up to the moment the jury selection take place so you often don't serve because of a plea bargain.

Here if you are handicap to the point that you are unable to serve, you can be excused from jury duty. However the court will make special accommodations if you need them.

Quote from: Dena on June 03, 2016, 07:56:28 PM
The problem is the lawyers are making last minute deals right up to the moment the jury selection take place so you often don't serve because of a plea bargain.

Something else I'm hoping for!!

I've been on a jury twice since my transition. A few years ago I was on a case involving a bank robbery along with multiple counts of aggravated rape, it was a tragic story. I spent 5 days in the jury room every day deliberating with my fellow jurors on the case. I was their 'IT' gal when it came to watching the bank robbery video. I must have watched the video 50 times myself. It's impossible to unforget it.

If you get a chance to be on a jury I highly recommend it. It's a great way to see how the criminal justice system works.

Quote from: Zumbagirl on June 03, 2016, 08:02:13 PM
If you get a chance to be on a jury I highly recommend it. It's a great way to see how the criminal justice system works.

I'd really like to, but my preference would have been to do it this time next month when I have a slow few weeks at work. I have major work deadlines on Wednesday that will have to get picked up by colleagues if I end up empaneled next week.

Quote from: Zumbagirl on June 03, 2016, 08:02:13 PM
If you get a chance to be on a jury I highly recommend it. It's a great way to see how the criminal justice system works.

Or you could do as one of the judges suggested we become familiar with the justice system, watch My Cousin Vinny. The judge said he was going to buy a copy and leave it in the waiting room so we could watch it the next time we were selected. I was never called back to that court again so I didn't see if he kept his word. Dang, I had to take the link out because it would violate TOS 11, foul language.

Quote from: Ms Grace on June 03, 2016, 08:12:31 PM
I'd really like to, but my preference would have been to do it this time next month when I have a slow few weeks at work. I have major work deadlines on Wednesday that will have to get picked up by colleagues if I end up empaneled next week.

They will pick up the slack. It's not many times that the opportunity comes by.

Apparently they don't like you to be too familiar with the legal system... especially the defence. I've watched enough court dramas to understand the highjinx some of them get up to.

Mind you, Australian Courts are more like British Courts... a lot more wigs and gowns and pomposity and tediously boring monologues.

If you really don't want to do it make sure they know your trans. If there's any discrimination it will work to your advantage, and it's all confidential.

Grace, I hope everything works out for the best.

Quote from: Ms GraceMind you, Australian Courts are more like British Courts... a lot more wigs and gowns and pomposity and tediously boring monologues.

The idea of Australians in those 18th century wigs is hilarious , for a number of reasons... 

But I think the tediously boring monologues are universal.

I've always hoped I would get selected for jury duty! Good luck, let us know what happens (well, as much as you're allowed to share  ).

I've been summoned 4 or 5 times.  In the US it can be for local, state or federal.  I was selected for a federal case and ended up foreman.  This was well before I started transitioning.  But it was fascinating.  I'm surprised the defense kept me on the jury - it was a banking fraud case (with a bunch of sex toys involved!) and I work in the IT dept for a bank. Duh - I know how this stuff works - she was as guilty as the night is dark.  But it was really interesting.

If you can take the pressure of being trans* locked up in a room for a few days with people who really shouldn't care and that you will probably never see again - Do it.  5 days of vacation and I have great stories to tell.

Omg you just reminded me I gotta call and tell them I died, supposed to show up next week. Can't do it, I gotta final. Owe you one geeze.

Nearly 50 years ago my wife readily got out of jury duty by filling out the reply card saying she was "in transition". A few days later she received notice to stay home. It took a couple of decades as well as moving back into in state before ever being called up again.

Where we live, just outside NYC, there is no problem getting a jury pool together. If you aren't picked that day, that's it till next time whenever by some random means you get picked again. Some counties it's the whole week. I've only been called up twice in nearly 40 years, 20+ in this county. She has been called up a few times more never being picked. Got to knock off a book or two.

About 10 years ago she got called up again. Actually got picked for a child endangerment case. After 2 weeks of insanity, the high point being hearing some wild testimony about how the police sketch artist was identified as the attacker by a different young girl in a different town in a case that has nothing to do with hers beyond the cops had a feeling. No two witnesses in hers corroborated the police, each other, and even the alleged victims.

Slam dunk... "Why are we wasting our time?" when adjourned for deliberations. Except she was the only one who was brave enough not to think, "Well the cops arrested him so he MUST be guilty"  No doubt the majority all watched CSI. There was even a lawyer, of the corporate kind.  THOSE kind of closed minded people you don't want to deal with. All of the serious charges the guy was finally acquitted of. But he needed to go down for "Scaring" the two punk girls for yelling at them for torturing a dog. Yes Virginia, it is a crime to yell a kid. Sure Hillary, "It takes a Village..."

She will forever use the "If the cops arrested him he must be innocent" reason for being excused. Worked the past two times for her

Funny coincidence Grace - I have my first spin at jury duty since I transitioned next Monday. I'm not all all worried about other people's opinions - they can just stuff it if they don't like me.

I usually always get picked and it will be interesting to see if that tradition continues post transition.