I recently received a “Summons for Jury Service” pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 612-19.
“Failure to appear as summoned may result in the issuance of a bench warrant for your arrest….”
So I’m starting what could turn into a new adventure of serving on a jury, or alternatively it might be just a lot of waiting around until being sent home.
Detailed instructions were provided with the summons. All of us initially scheduled for today were instructed to contact the court by phone or online after 5 p.m. yesterday to get our updated date and time to report.
I remember the old days when the phone lines were clogged, so I dutifully tried to reach the jury information section of the courts’ website for my marching orders. The server was busy. And it remained busy over the next hour and a half, rejecting my numerous tries to log on.
Finally I phoned. No waiting and the call went through on the first try. I supposed that accurately reflects changing technology preferences.
In any case, I’m among those instructed to report to Honolulu’s First Circuit Court Jury Pool Room at 12:45 p.m. today. Kind of like a treasure hunt, we’ll learn our next destination after we check in.
I’ve gotten to this stage several times over the years. Once I got as far as being questioned in the courtroom before being dismissed. But so far, I’ve never served on a jury.
Depending on what happens, I could be tied up for several days. We’ll see.
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Good luck! It’s very interesting. Having worked for a judge, even though I was familiar with what was going on, the dynamics between the parties, lawyers, and court staff, as well as the testimony and meeting others on the jury was very cool. It wasn’t like a TV drama or anywhere near it, but I was really sorry my case settled so I wasn’t able to get into the jury room and experience deliberations too.
My wife was called in for jury duty yesterday. She was dismissed but was there from 7:45 to almost 4 pm. Most of the time was the questioning of prospective panel members. All in all she said the process was professional and respectful.
She was also a bit disappointed she didn’t make it all the way.
Hi, Courtney – did she get “paid” for her day-wait?
A whole (taxable) $30 per day! (Or the equivalent of approximately 37% of the minimum wage!)
I’ve had one interesting experience of serving. Felt that the case should never have been brought to trial, wasting so much time and money for $1.99 bottle of water taken from a convenient store by a vagrant. inexperienced attorneys.
My dad used to avoid jury duty by telling the judge “the guy must be guilty if the police arrested him”. Worked all the time until he got called for a civil trial.
I understand that in drug cases, a declaration of opposition to the “War on Drugs” will get you exempted.
I served on a jury that ALMOST returned a not guilty verdict for a guy who beat up another guy because the defendant showed up to court well dressed.
Some of us fought for the guilty verdict and were entirely vindicated when the defendant had a violent outburst in the corridor afterwards that we did not see but could hear from another room.
And in case you are wondering the defendant’s lawyer was good; the prosecuting attorney, not so much.
I feel it is absolutely worthwhile for intelligent, law abiding people to do jury duty.