Posted on Aug 30, 2016
Does being a veteran keep you from serving on a jury?
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I ask because yesterday I was called for jury duty. I was selected to a group of 28 potential jurors who went to a courtroom to be questioned by the judge and lawyers. When questioning revealed that I had served in the military I could see red pens come out on both sides to mark their spreadsheets. Ultimately I wasn't selected, but sure seemed vet status did me in early on in questioning.
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 257
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Being a Vet didn't get me out of Jury Duty, I mentioned that I was Air Force Security Forces. I ended up getting removed from almost every case while on the Grand Jury, but they never let me leave the courthouse. Was a complete waste of my time.
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I was called up while I was in basic, couldnt quite make it. Moved back home after service and I have yet to be called again. I am now 41 living in a rural county in Iowa where everyone knows I served. I think they are ignoring me as to not waste time.
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I don't know about this. I was selected for Jury Duty when I was on Active Duty - and was chosen to serve. I even ended up as the foreman for a domestic assault trial. Nobody seemed to care. The accused was found not guilty due to crap evidence, though the entire jury thought he did it and would do it again.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
I think the active duty eligibility varies by state. However the fact you served while on AD sort of answers my question. However suspect that also varies by state plus the addition of type of case being tried. Thanks for your comment.
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CPO (Join to see)
Hey Mot, I think a veteran serving could potentially differ from state to state but active duty definitely can. It requires a letter from a persons command stating that they have operational obligation that would prohibit their serving. I had to write such a letter just a couple years ago when I had a member who would be away on training. A simple phone call set it all straight (to the probate, I think...) but typically a letter from the command is required.
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In Illinois, Active Duty are exempt from Jury duty. I was called in 1985, while still AD, and went to the county clerk's office to present my Active Duty I.D. She released me, and I have not been called since (retired in '88)
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I don't think being a veteran keeps you from serving on a jury. As others have stated it depends on the case and what the prosecutor or defense attorney is looking for in a jury.
I've only served on one jury about eight years ago. It was a homicide case. Me and a deputy sheriff were joking that we knew we would never be selected, her because she was a deputy and me because I was a retired Air Force Security Police officer. Normally anyone with law enforcement experience is excluded - I might add for the wrong reasons. People with any kind of law enforcement background, I think, can be more objective.
We were both surprised when we were both selected. I would up being the jury foreman. We wound up convicting the suspect and then recommended the death sentence. I will add that was the hardest form I ever signed in my life where I had to sign stating our sentencing recommendation.
Unbeknown to me or any of the jurors one of the jurors was tweeting about the case. Nothing significant but it didn't make any difference. The defense attorneys found out about it and later the conviction was overturned. The defendant later pled guilty and received a life sentence.
I've only served on one jury about eight years ago. It was a homicide case. Me and a deputy sheriff were joking that we knew we would never be selected, her because she was a deputy and me because I was a retired Air Force Security Police officer. Normally anyone with law enforcement experience is excluded - I might add for the wrong reasons. People with any kind of law enforcement background, I think, can be more objective.
We were both surprised when we were both selected. I would up being the jury foreman. We wound up convicting the suspect and then recommended the death sentence. I will add that was the hardest form I ever signed in my life where I had to sign stating our sentencing recommendation.
Unbeknown to me or any of the jurors one of the jurors was tweeting about the case. Nothing significant but it didn't make any difference. The defense attorneys found out about it and later the conviction was overturned. The defendant later pled guilty and received a life sentence.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Ya, this was actually the 4th time I've been called since retiring. Did get selected for a jury once, that was a battery of individual under 14. We ended up convicting and individual received life. Jury didn't know during trial but individual had been convicted of same thing before; that means automatic life sentence in Florida.
This time questions during jury selection were so different from other 3 times and like I said as soon as lawyers heard I was prior military I think both sides didn't want me.
This time questions during jury selection were so different from other 3 times and like I said as soon as lawyers heard I was prior military I think both sides didn't want me.
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It depends on the case...but I have an out. Regardless if I wanted to serve Jury Duty or not.
My sister is a convicted murderer. They never trust I could be objective enough.
My sister is a convicted murderer. They never trust I could be objective enough.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
That sure is a reason I've not heard before. Makes sense though and explains the "has any member of your family been convicted of a felony" question on the summons that you fill out before reporting.
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PO3 John Keas
She's also the reason I couldn't get any clearance higher than Confidential. Sucks that because of her, I was not permitted to do a lot of things. I never told a lot of people that, but her conviction actually limited to how far I could go in the military. I didn't find this out until later tho. If I had actually tried to do a lot of the things I wanted to do, they would have required certain background checks, and they would have seen her as a major red flag. My father's youthful indiscretions may or may not have hurt as well...they prevented him from volunteering during Vietnam.
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I for one believe the lawyers are looking for an impartial juror, not one that has there decision made before the case has even began
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When you go to selection the lawyer who is picking the jurors wants impartial jurors. So this matter of a veteran may well have been a disadvantage for their client because of opposition any or all veterans may cause in a case.
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they probably felt your military background would give you more of a bias toward a particular subject. As such if they felt that could possibly prevent you from voting in favor(or possibly against) the defendant they excused you.
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I was called to Jury Duty 3 times in 3 years when I was stationed at Ft. Bliss, El Paso TX; I was never called before nor since regardless of where I lived. The 1st two times I arrived in my ACUs as did other soldiers also called in, and both times we were thanked for our service and excused en masse. The 3rd time was immediately after I ETSed and left the area, so a phone call cleared that one up.
Apparently there is nothing precluding a service member from serving on a jury--not that I or anyone I know did it--so veteran status wouldn't "officially" stop one from serving on a jury. But as others have noted, there may be specific reasons why being a SM or vet would be problematic as a jury member for either the prosecution or defense depending on the circumstances of the case at hand; although I could see how the details of a given case may also make a vet MORE desirable on the jury for the prosecution or defense (though I bet not by both!).
If I'm ever called again, I'll show up, be willing to do my civic duty if need be, but should my status come up...then good or bad, it comes up.
Apparently there is nothing precluding a service member from serving on a jury--not that I or anyone I know did it--so veteran status wouldn't "officially" stop one from serving on a jury. But as others have noted, there may be specific reasons why being a SM or vet would be problematic as a jury member for either the prosecution or defense depending on the circumstances of the case at hand; although I could see how the details of a given case may also make a vet MORE desirable on the jury for the prosecution or defense (though I bet not by both!).
If I'm ever called again, I'll show up, be willing to do my civic duty if need be, but should my status come up...then good or bad, it comes up.
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