Jury Duty Right Before Summer Job... Forum

[A. Nony Mouse]

necroing bc i'm in a similar position as OP. Went in for jury selection today. Selection is ongoing. Judge expects trial to go on for 6-7 weeks. I didn't say anything today because the judge made it sound like missing work was not an appropriate reason for a postponement. Any advice for how I should handle this, either with my firm or when I go back in for jury selection again? If it helps, this is NY Supreme Court (criminal).

There's missing work, and missing work. A judge won't make make someone serve if it's really going to fuck them monetarily or make it impossible for their business to function (like a CPA in a 2-person firm in tax season, for example). They may or may not decide that this would fuck your summer job, but you can definitely bring it up. Also just go to whoever is the recruiting person at your firm and explain - you're not going to be the first person this has happened to. They may be able to give you some advice.

[lolwat]

necroing bc i'm in a similar position as OP. Went in for jury selection today. Selection is ongoing. Judge expects trial to go on for 6-7 weeks. I didn't say anything today because the judge made it sound like missing work was not an appropriate reason for a postponement. Any advice for how I should handle this, either with my firm or when I go back in for jury selection again? If it helps, this is NY Supreme Court (criminal).

Just be honest. Judge might be a hardass, but in general they're understanding. I was told being a student wasn't a reason, but I told the judge I was a student and wasn't comfortable missing class and he dismissed me.

I would agree with this. I think the "missing work is not an appropriate reason" thing typically extends to those who are trying to get out of jury duty by saying the usual sob-story stuff like, "I have a job and I can't miss it because I'm the only one making money for my family and my kids will starve if I don't work and and " without something to back it up. I think a judge would be a little more likely to understand that missing 6-7 weeks out of a 8-week summer associate position that usually leads to an offer for you to work after law school actually is a legit reason for a postponement.

And good luck @ kellyfrost. I was on jury duty once and every attorney got struck, and then a jury got selected before I ever had to go up there and tell them I also was an attorney. Only time. I'd be interested in a very quick trial just to see the process and all that, but definitely would not want to serve as a juror for anything significantly time consuming.

[BVest]

You need to tell your judge. The judge knows that a summer associate position is basically a 6-10 week long postgrad job interview and that forcing you to miss the entire thing possibly fucks you entirely. (I'm assuming you're a 2L. If you're a 1L and it's not a biglaw position, you may want to just take the jury position if you get it and extend your summer position. It's probably more interesting.)

[Civilservant]

Just state the truth: you are a rising 2L that has "wisdom" about the practice of law. I would use a strike for that.

[encore1101]

when would it be appropriate during voir dire questioning to start talking about familiarity with jury nullification?

just wait for a lull in the proceedings, then speak up

[encore1101]

I would love to be called to jury duty. Whether or not I would ever be seated on a jury is a debate among the legal community. A couple of law professors have said that no lawyer would pick an attorney to serve on the jury. I've actually heard other practicing attorneys say they wouldn't have any problem selecting an attorney as a juror, depending on the case.

I seriously walk to my mailbox every day hoping to open it and see a jury duty notification letter. I have come up empty handed every single time.

Same here. I got summoned for jury duty once, but postponed it because it conflicted with the bar exam, but they've never called me back. :'(

[kellyfrost]

Just state the truth: you are a rising 2L that has "wisdom" about the practice of law. I would use a strike for that.

This would probably work. Or state that you have aspirations to be a jury foreman to utilize your legal education.

[Npret]

You need to tell your judge. The judge knows that a summer associate position is basically a 6-10 week long postgrad job interview and that forcing you to miss the entire thing possibly fucks you entirely. (I'm assuming you're a 2L. If you're a 1L and it's not a biglaw position, you may want to just take the jury position if you get it and extend your summer position. It's probably more interesting.)

1L SA gets paid for 6 weeks of jury duty would be hilarious.
But OP just tell the judge the truth. Make sure the judge knows it's a summer job thats basically a job interview that determines if you will have a full time job when you graduate. I think the judge will understand. The judge isn't out to ruin your career prospects.

[JenDarby]

Many people have "bucket list" type things that they want to experience in life.

For some, that may be a luxurious beach vacation, it may be seeing your team win a championship in person, or it could be seeing your child become successful in their career and life. Everyone has different types of experiences they dream for.

For me, it is serving on a jury. I really do think about this all of the time and hope that someday the opportunity arises.

For now, I will just keep checking my mailbox each day hoping to receive that seemingly illusive jury summons.

In many counties in CA you can volunteer for grand jury and in NY you can call a hotline to be put in a pool of volunteer jurors. I imagine other states may have similar options. Why leave it to chance!

[kellyfrost]

Many people have "bucket list" type things that they want to experience in life.

For some, that may be a luxurious beach vacation, it may be seeing your team win a championship in person, or it could be seeing your child become successful in their career and life. Everyone has different types of experiences they dream for.

For me, it is serving on a jury. I really do think about this all of the time and hope that someday the opportunity arises.

For now, I will just keep checking my mailbox each day hoping to receive that seemingly illusive jury summons.

In many counties in CA you can volunteer for grand jury and in NY you can call a hotline to be put in a pool of volunteer jurors. I imagine other states may have similar options. Why leave it to chance!

I have lived in four states in my lifetime. I have checked in each state on something similar to what you describe and none of the places had similar systems.

[BVest]

You need to tell your judge. The judge knows that a summer associate position is basically a 6-10 week long postgrad job interview and that forcing you to miss the entire thing possibly fucks you entirely. (I'm assuming you're a 2L. If you're a 1L and it's not a biglaw position, you may want to just take the jury position if you get it and extend your summer position. It's probably more interesting.)

FWIW, I wasn't being facetious here; I'm a big advocate of court-watching in 1L summer/law school free time. Would make great OCI fodder too.

[Barrred]

If this is the OP, and if you're even remotely serious, stop thinking like this. If the judge picks up on what you're doing, and if he or she is a judge who takes jury service seriously (many do), you're potentially creating a major C&F headache for yourself. Messing around with jury service is way more risky than smoking a joint or shoplifting or most of the other things that TLSers are paranoid about.

I agree with this advice. My judge would not have been happy if a law student started screwing around in voir dire, poisoning the jury pool and letting other prospective jurors know what to say to get out of jury service. He would probably have read you the riot act about the ability to follow the law and be fair as being important attributes to a law student (i've seen this done even to a non-lawyer), and talk about your future duty as an officer of the court, etc.. However, the potential jurors that judges have to give those speeches to almost always end up getting struck. So its up to you.

I would just answer the voir dire questions honestly (and mention that you are starting a Summer Associate job soon, which is enough of a signal to the judge/attorneys that you don't really want to be there). There is a good chance you get struck on a peremptory anyway, and if not, and you get seated on a jury, see it as a learning experience. Most lawyers never get to witness what actually goes on in a jury deliberation room, and that could be more valuable than whatever assignment you are missing at your SA firm.