Basically DVDVR LiveJournal

[zendragon]

17 hours ago, Curt McGirt said:

Maybe this actually goes in Ask Octopus Anything? Hahaha...

Anyway, I finally got the dreaded OFFICIAL JURY NOTIFICATION from the Champaign County Circuit Court. I really don't want to participate in a jury trial of anything, for anybody, especially given my personal political leanings. Is there any trick to get me DQ'd, like saying I don't think I could be impartial? Am I gonna have to talk to a judge or just lawyers? My friend in Cook says he had to talk in front of judge, lawyers, AND (get this) the defendant and other potential jurors. That's fucking insane.

I have to add that the note says I can either 1. complete an online form, 2. Call an automated phone system, 3. Scan a QR code on the form?, 4. Text my ID number. I suppose the last two are for people that've already had their card pulled. 

Have you checked to see if your job pays for jury duty?

[Mike Campbell]

11 hours ago, Kevin Wilson said:

I always wondered if they get mad/try to punish people that they can tell are saying things just to get out of it. Like if the defendant is Asian and the first thing you say is "man I hate Asians, I always assume they are guilty of anything they do" on paper that would be very disqualifying but also obvious what you are doing. I always figured if someone wanted to get out of it they had to be a little more subtle than that but maybe it doesn't matter.

I've only heard of that happening once, but I'm sure it's a regular thing especially in smaller jurisdictions that only have sporadic instances where a jury trial happens. I don't know the exact details anymore, but the gist was that a woman was purposefully trying to get herself excused and the judge made her come to court and sit in the front row every day for something like two weeks. 

[Mike Campbell]

17 hours ago, Contentious C said:

They usually have a series of questions that can get you disqualified by the lawyers during the selection process (things like, have you been convicted of something, has your life been affected by violence or the crime in question, etc.), which should be well before the rest.  I just sat in a room and read Ender's Game front to back before they called me in and tossed me off the list the last time.

I've never even made it that far. I've been summoned twice for jury duty and both times the lawyers and court staff got enough people that they never even asked me a single question. I probably would have eventually gotten called on the second round, because in my rinky dink county in NM the pool of potential jurors has to show up every two weeks for something like three months. But that was February of 2020, so after two rounds COVID became a big thing and everyone was just dismissed.

[Technico Support]

Jury duty in my early 20s: I had long hair and multiple piercings in both ears and didn't dress well.  I was "respectfully declined" by counsel.

Jury duty in my 40s: Sat in the jury waiting area all day.  Got into the courtroom very late, never got called.

Any other time between them and as recently as a few months ago: got the letter, checked in the night before, didn't need to go in.

My brother actually served on a murder trial for a week or two in the mid/late 90s.  Dude killed another guy with a fucking chainsaw.  Well we're freshly post-OJ so enough jurors were wannabe Quinceys hesitant to convict without DNA evidence, despite all the other proof, so the guy walked.  Of course he killed someone else not long after. 

Edited July 17, 2024 by Technico Support

[RazorbladeKiss87]

Work has been interesting. I had to tell a regular he was not longer welcome because of a misunderstanding and it didn't make me feel good. We are now on our third GM since I started in December because of how he handled the situation. My district manager has accepted I can't move into management because of my record. However, he's got me doing everything an assistant would do except carry keys and deal with the safe. I'm getting pay raises accordingly.

Since I'm now doing table visits and working up front some, he also bought me my first chef's coat and it feels good to get the recognition. 

On the down side, went to the dentist for the first time in years. Even after insurance I need $3200 up front for all the things I need done. Going to have to space things out. Eye doctor today. Haven't had an eye exam in twenty years. 

[Joe vs the Algorithm]

21 hours ago, Curt McGirt said:

My friend in Cook says he had to talk in front of judge, lawyers, AND (get this) the defendant and other potential jurors. That's fucking insane.

No idea why you think the judge and defendant being present during jury selection is insane - and, honestly,  I don’t care - but it’s part of the process. The judge will be present during jury selection. The defendant will normally be present.  Generally, the defendant is only not present if his presence would cause too much of a disruption.  Also, jury duty selection is part of the trial process so you are sworn in at the outset and if you’re caught lying about why you can’t serve, you can be charged with a felony.  Ironically, that would get you out of jury duty (felons can’t serve on juries). As a practical matter, though, attorneys don’t have unlimited time to get through jury selection, much less vet every prospective jurors, so in most cases, if you lie fairly well & don’t tell too ridiculous a story, the court is going to take what you say during jury selection at face value.  I have occasionally seen prospective jurors charged with perjury or contempt of court (not a felony, so a compromise between letting the juror lie his ass off to get out observing or charge him with a felony which may affect him the rest of his life).

 

11 hours ago, Dolfan in NYC said:

Want to know the simplest way to get out of jury duty?   If you get asked, volunteer "I did a year of law school." 

Instant dismissal.   No lawyer wants to deal with someone who's even remotely law adjacent.

That’s probably true in a lot of cases, but I’ve been called for jury duty three times in the past 30 years and sat on a jury all three times, so having graduated law school didn’t do me any favors, lol. 

Edited July 17, 2024 by The Old-Fashioned Gamer

[Log]

My mom had the best luck when she got called to jury duty. Gets up to be questioned, and they ask if there's any reason she wouldn't be able to be impartial for this case. She tells them (truthfully) that the advocate for the victim in the case is her best friend, and that's it. One question and out.

[Curt McGirt]

5 hours ago, zendragon said:

Have you checked to see if your job pays for jury duty?

I will be lucky if they don't dock me points on my off time. (I get I believe four before they flat-out fire you. There are half-point penalties and all kinds of shit, rules and computer snafus for late shows, etc. I already have two for calling off sick. Yeah.)

Re: Old-Fashioned Gamers points, all taken, and all make sense. Its just that sitting in front of all those people, and specifically the judge and the defendant, sound terrifying.

EDIT: I wonder what shirt I should wear to the proceedings, considering. Should I even wear one of my patch vests? My most political would probably be this 

Spoiler

but it's getting a little cruddy. My most Satanic is probably this 

Spoiler

 

so that might be the choice I use; the Totalitar is getting cruddy with the print wearing off. I really don't have a lot of offensive shirts actually. The Slayer Eagle might be a choice. There's the Crucifix "bomb blast on top of a peace sign". ??? I like that this is an option though. 

Edited July 17, 2024 by Curt McGirt

[NikoBaltimore]

Of the times I was summoned I only had to go to the court house once where they questioned me.  After asking for basic information they said the case was about a robbery at a drug store.  So when they asked for anything that wouldn't make me impartial I truthfully said I work at a drug store and said which location.  That was all they needed and I was excused.  Not too much of a waste of time and I had a pretty damn good lunch nearby so yay me.

[Technico Support]

3 hours ago, RazorbladeKiss87 said:

My district manager has accepted I can't move into management because of my record

Meanwhile, a felon can run for president.  Nice going, America.

[The Natural]

Fell on my front today when out. Usually I go backwards. Jarred myself and made a right mess of my bloody knee. Shipley Swimming Pool patched me up. Lucky I didn't land on my face or break my arms.

[Log]

34 minutes ago, The Natural said:

Fell on my front today when out. Usually I go backwards. Jarred myself and made a right mess of my bloody knee. Shipley Swimming Pool patched me up. Lucky I didn't land on my face or break my arms.

Sorry that happened, but glad it wasn't worse.

[Death From Above]

Good news from my doctor: I'm not dying I'm just fat! Thatnks doc.

[JLSigman]

Mom's cold feet are mostly neuropathy, according to the ultrasound on Monday. There's some disease/plaque, but she's almost 79 with lifelong cholesterol issues, it would be more weird if she didn't have that. She politely (for her) declined a referral to a vascular surgeon. Between the heating pad and the cats laying on the heating pad, she's comfortable most of the time.

[Doragon]

I'm getting my teeth fixed wth new dental plan.

 

There are promising newer treatments for OCD. Honestly I only want to rid of some lingering intrusive thoughts from some ocd spells that are left over.

[The Natural]

10 hours ago, The Natural said:

Fell on my front today when out. Usually I go backwards. Jarred myself and made a right mess of my bloody knee. Shipley Swimming Pool patched me up. Lucky I didn't land on my face or break my arms.

 

9 hours ago, Log said:

Sorry that happened, but glad it wasn't worse.

Thank you. I'm fortunate that I've never broken anything, never fallen on my face or banged the back of my head when I have. I do seem to be falling more, had two bad ones this year.

[Mike Campbell]

On 7/17/2024 at 7:02 AM, Technico Support said:

Jury duty in my early 20s: I had long hair and multiple piercings in both ears and didn't dress well.  I was "respectfully declined" by counsel.

After a lifetime of watching Law and Order, I show up to answer my jury summons wearing a pair of khakis and a polo shirt since I assumed that we were expected to dress nice for the occasion. Everyone else is in jeans, cutoffs, and baggy t-shirts.  All I could think about was when I'd applied for a dispatch position with the local PD and showed up to my interview in a shirt and tie. The lady at the desk asked if I was there to turn myself in. 

[Joe vs the Algorithm]

On 7/17/2024 at 11:41 AM, Curt McGirt said:

I will be lucky if they don't dock me points on my off time. (I get I believe four before they flat-out fire you. There are half-point penalties and all kinds of shit, rules and computer snafus for late shows, etc. I already have two for calling off sick. Yeah.)

I don’t know what state you live in, but most states require employers to give you time off for jury duty. Most states don’t require hourly employees to be paid, though, and the law varies from state to state.  There’s no federal law requiring exemption for jury duty.

Honestly. my advice is just do your civic duty. Not much of a fan of people dodging jury duty just because.

[Curt McGirt]

I filled out the questionnaire and there's no way they won't summon at some point. I put my most convenient month as April, so hey. 

I wouldn't mind my civic duty if... *insert argument*

But that's a discussion for the Discord, not here. 

[NikoBaltimore]

I used to not want to do jury duty but actually wouldn't mind it.  The case I was questioned for was obviously not going to let me be involved but it has been a while since I got a summons.

And Curt, I'm interested in the Discord discussion if you're interested in doing that.

Edited July 19, 2024 by NikoBaltimore

[Cobra Commander]

My Jury Duty for Monday was cancelled today. From what I can recall, I've now been summoned and cancelled 3 times since 2013. I'm now entitled to be excused for 3 years after this experience.

[Kevin Wilson]

Where are all my IT brothers so we can lie in a fetal position together after the day we had

[Technico Support]

14 minutes ago, Kevin Wilson said:

Where are all my IT brothers so we can lie in a fetal position together after the day we had

Right here, man.  Been up since 2:30 this morning.  See the "your wifi is fucked" thread in Computer Games and Tech, DVDVR's catch-all thread for when technology inevitably shits the bed.

Edited July 19, 2024 by Technico Support

[Kevin Wilson]

3 minutes ago, Technico Support said:

Right here, man.  Been up since 2:30 this morning.  See the "your wifi is fucked" thread in Computer Games and Tech, DVDVR's catch-all thread for when technology inevitably shits the bed.

My company services a lot of different properties and every property has their own server and admin user/pass, and no users are admins on their own computers. Walking 100 dimwitted (bless their hearts) employees on getting me access to their computers remotely and walking them through getting the admin info in there so I can delete just one stupid file is not my idea of a fun day.

[HumanChessgame]

4 hours ago, Kevin Wilson said:

Where are all my IT brothers so we can lie in a fetal position together after the day we had

If it's been a busy day, there will be max 50-60 tickets in the queue when I start my Friday night shift. There were just under 400 in there tonight. At least the phone calls are slowing down so I can whittle away at this...