The longest day of my life... or so it seemed

Ugh! I'm finally home! I was called for jury duty and today I had to go for the selection process. I'm thinking no biggie, I probably won't get selected because I'm English in a French province, but no. This case is being held in English. Crap! And...it's a freaking MURDER trial. Ugh!! I had to sit there for hours dreading the thought of being selected. The judge informed us that it would be a minimum 4 week trial. Double Ugh! So we get called in by groups of 12, and then select our names randomly....I got called in the second to last group, increasing my chances of being selected. The first two people in my group got sworn in. Fortunately they dismissed me. Probably because of the scowl I gave them after telling them my occupation. So I managed to avoid it this time, but man...what a stressful situation. As I got called to go in with the group I was nearly sick to my stomach!

Thank goodness that ordeal is done. Never want to go through that again!:thumbdown:

I couldn't imagine this. I N-E-V-E-R want to be called for jury duty. I can't stand crime shows on tv as it is! they make me terrified and give me nightmares. I would have felt the same as you.

Thank goodness for dismissal!

I hate that the government can just call a person in, and you HAVE to do it if they tell you or you face a fine. It shouldn't be mandatory, but on a volunteer basis (maybe a selection when you fill out the census forums). I'm sure a lot of people would sign up for it... but make it an option!

I would serve if I had to but it really is a hardship for some families and they cannot afford to miss work because jury duty only compensates like 15-30 dollars a day!!

Can you get out of jury duty if you have small kids at home and you are their primary caregiver? (like husband works 10 hours a day!)? Because I can't even figure out how I could possibly ever do jury duty. A friend who's my age has been called twice for duty. Once she had to go through with it, but the case was less than two weeks. I've never been called yet... still a really scary thought for someone like me!