Has anyone ever served on a jury?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 11:05:12 -0400

If so, what was the experience like?
Did it change your opinion of the law?

The reason I asked is because I served jury duty this week and it was eye opening experience.

Before the jury selection even began, the judge addressed the entire group assembled. He talked about law, representative democracy, the importance of voting, the military, and a short comparison of different forms of government. He then asked if there were any veterans in our group. He made us stand and had the others give us applause. He then said that every individual that was standing was willing to serve and die if necessary in order to protect and defend the Constitution which gives us the freedoms that we all enjoy.

From the beginning to the end, it reaffirmed my commitment to the United States Constitution and the rule of law.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 24 at 2021 11:11 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 11:11:18 -0400

I have been called to serve jury duty several times, but the defense generally cut a deal with the prosecutor for a lower sentence if his client pleaded guilty with out having to face a jury brother SGT Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 24 at 2021 11:20 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 11:20:56 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Hearing conflicting sworn testimony from two certified subject experts confused me!

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Jul 24 at 2021 11:59 AM

MAJ Jim Woods — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 11:59:36 -0400

I have served on several but never had a problem!

Response by CWO4 Terrence Clark made Jul 24 at 2021 12:16 PM

CWO4 Terrence Clark — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 12:16:26 -0400

What a great judge! I've been called several times, served twice. Luckily, the companie(s) I worked for made up the difference between my normal pay and jury duty pay (which barely covers parking). Not a lot of drama, as you say SGT Private RallyPoint Member ,just a satisfying sense of civic duty. Two anecdotes: first selection was soon after I retired. The bailiff (retired Air Force) whispered to me. " when they ask if you are a veteran, make sure you tell them you are a retired officer. Defense will strike you" . Chose not to make that distinction. Really interesting trial experience. Years later, I was working in the private corrections industry. We did not even get to the veterans question. I was struck at the "What is your employment?" question.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Jul 24 at 2021 12:17 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 12:17:14 -0400

Same experience here in Houston.

Response by SSgt Richard Kensinger made Jul 24 at 2021 12:20 PM

SSgt Richard Kensinger — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 12:20:30 -0400

Twice I was called and dismissed because I am a clinical psychologist. Rich

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jul 24 at 2021 12:23 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 12:23:40 -0400

as a former Police Officer I have never been allowed. There is an assumption that I would lean toward the prosecution when actually the opposite is true.

Response by SFC Jake Middaugh made Jul 24 at 2021 1:01 PM

SFC Jake Middaugh — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:01:35 -0400

I was called once in the 90's. On the first day, after waiting many hours, they had reached an agreement & we (the Jury) were no longer needed.

Response by SFC Jake Middaugh made Jul 24 at 2021 1:24 PM

SFC Jake Middaugh — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:24:38 -0400

I lost all faith & trust in our law system going through my 4yr divorce & custody battle - the results were:
- billed me $100k
- child support charged 1000% of my monthly income
- violated almost all of mine & my children's constitutional rights, from the very first day.
- the judge approved protection orders with no due process and no evidence. Despite contrary evidence that I had.
- It has now been almost 4yrs since I have been allowed to even see my children...
- My case was so bad, it was featured on national TV. Here's the link if you're interested.
(This Is Life with Lisa Ling Season 5.) Check it out now on Prime Video!
https://watch.amazon.com/detail?gti=amzn1.dv.gti.30b5d7a6-a197-cb09-fd39-de77c3fa9371&ref_=atv_dp_share_seas&r=web
*SYNOPSIS*
Before my divorce and custody battle, I had only been into court on one occasion when I was called to jury duty.
I had no idea that the u.s. family court system was a 76 billion dollar a year industry that profits off of separating parents and children that just want to be a family. It plays one parent against the other. It's legal extortion, they put your kid like a carrot at the end of a stick and never promised to give them back to you but they keep moving forward and forcing you to pay, until they take every cent you've ever made. This is the most evil system I have ever seen!
To see my kids crying from me, and the system that promotes withholding my own children from me for absolutely no reason. It's torture and this horrible system Hurts our own children and ourselves - emotionally & psychologically. Many times it forces us to suicide. Just thinking about this system makes me want to throw up!
It's the opposite of freedom, the opposite of justice, and the opposite of fairness!
I miss my kids soooo much! I have to mourn my own children that are still alive, every single day. The horrible torture to live in a country like this that we were supposedly free. A country I spent 23 years of my life, sacrificing my own life for this country, only to have it taken away and denied me my own freedoms and my children's own freedoms as well!

Watch This Is Life with Lisa Ling Season 5 | Prime Video

Award-winning journalist Lisa Ling goes on a gritty, breathtaking journey to the far corners of America.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Jul 24 at 2021 1:31 PM

SPC Kevin Ford — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:31:36 -0400

Summoned twice, both times they filled the jury before they got to me.

Response by PO3 Robert E. Lewis made Jul 24 at 2021 1:54 PM

PO3 Robert E. Lewis — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 13:54:00 -0400

Yes I have more than once.

Response by CW3 Harvey K. made Jul 24 at 2021 2:16 PM

CW3 Harvey K. — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 14:16:07 -0400

I've been called three times. I begged off once because of work demands. I was not selected for criminal trials because of several LEOs in the family, and the fact I was named after a Detective and grew up hearing "cop stories".
There were some Medical malpractice cases that I was excused from as well, because of family members in the Medical profession.

Response by SPC Woody Bullard made Jul 24 at 2021 2:18 PM

SPC Woody Bullard — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 14:18:54 -0400

I have been called for jury duty several times both when I was still active duty as a
law enforcement officer and again after I retired. The cases scheduled for trial were
criminal cases and after the defense team learned of my law enforcement background
I was dismissed from the list of potential jury members. The defendant's defense team
did not believe I would give a fair and impartial verdict in their client's trial.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jul 24 at 2021 2:23 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 14:23:24 -0400

I served on a grand jury for 3 months earlier this year. It was sobering to say the least. I think being on a Grand Jury is very different in a lot of ways. Our county uses it as a tool to expedite clear cut cases and to also reduce court room time and repeat trauma for victims in certain cases. We didn’t get a salute to the military but the Court staff were very professional and personable as we had to navigate everything

Response by LTC David Brown made Jul 24 at 2021 2:28 PM

LTC David Brown — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 14:28:09 -0400

I have been on the list 3 times. The way it works in Georgia is you are given a number. You call every day and see if your number has been called. I have been called once and selected once. It was a divorce case. Listened to testimony all day, went and was sequestered, took about 2 hours to reach a verdict on distribution of assets.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2021 3:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 15:29:47 -0400

I’ve been summoned several times but I have a background, although short, in law enforcement. Usually the lawyer with the weakest case dismisses me.

Response by CPT Jerry Lucas made Jul 24 at 2021 3:49 PM

CPT Jerry Lucas — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 15:49:12 -0400

I was called for jury duty once. The defendant was charged with car theft. The victim was the general manager of a local television station. The defense attorney asked me if I had served in the military and what my rank was. When he realized I was a commissioned officer, he asked me if I had ever imposed Article 15 punishment upon anyone. I told him I have and he then asked the judge that I be dismissed. As a side note, one of the other jury candidates was the evening anchor for that TV station. The judge asked him if he could be an impartial juror and he replied to the judge, "Not if I want to keep my job." The judge excused him from jury duty also.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Jul 24 at 2021 5:02 PM

PVT Mark Zehner — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 17:02:09 -0400

I've tried but as soon as they hear I was a police officer I get told to leave!

Response by SFC Terry Wilcox made Jul 24 at 2021 5:27 PM

SFC Terry Wilcox — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 17:27:28 -0400

Ha! I was notified that I was Ordered to report - Well I've been ordered before - just hit me wrong - anyway I showed up - pulled my card from my wallet (the one that says I'll set off all their alarms) - and some clerk came out and announced, they had settled out of court and thanks for all the support. But the clerk looked at me said next time I didn't need to show up, just call them and I'd be excused.

Response by SSG Samuel Kermon made Jul 24 at 2021 5:56 PM

SSG Samuel Kermon — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 17:56:07 -0400

I have sat on a jury. I don't remember all the particulars but do remember that the judges initial "welcoming statement" certainly didn't reference the military or much about veterans in general.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2021 6:14 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 18:14:51 -0400

Went through the entire selection process only to be told no. They should have disqualified me from the start but didn't. I studied administration of justice, I worked as a legal assistant, and am a paralegal. They don't want people with any sort of legal training or experience on a jury. Same with police. Funny enough there were two police officers and an attorney on the jury selection too that made it as far as I did before being dismissed as well. Don't know why they even let us get as far as the final 20 or so but they did.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Jul 24 at 2021 8:22 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 20:22:23 -0400

I was summoned to appear for jury selection and I would have really liked to do this however, with my hearing issues I asked to be excused. This request was denied initially. They probably thought I was just trying to get out of it, which I wasn't. I had to get a letter from my audiologist at the V. A. stating due to sever loss even with the FM systems they us I would still have issues.
My logic was if we found the accused guilty and then the defense lawyer found out about my hearing it may be grounds for a new trial. Maybe if a lawyer is on here and reads this they can tell me if I was correct in my thought process.

Response by Marcus Williams made Jul 24 at 2021 8:30 PM

Marcus Williams — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 20:30:12 -0400

It's definitely an eye opening experience. I was on a jury for a murder trial and it was pretty bonkers. Wasn't a horrible experience, but it take up a lot of time. I think it's important for everyone to do it at least once.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 24 at 2021 8:41 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 20:41:21 -0400

One time. In a murder trial that thankfully they prosecutor decided not to pursue the death penalty. It opened my eyes much less about the courtroom or the legal system, but more about lawyers.

This case (due to it being a murder trial) was being tried by the Commonwealth's Atrorney (Kentucky version of DA) herself, rather than by any of the lower tiered staff. And she SUCKED. She did a HORRIBLE job of presenting a case. As a juror, it was OBVIOUS to me that the dude on trial was guilty. However we had a hell of a time in the jury room, because the prosecutor never actually PROVED he was guilty.

We ended up convicting, because the defense lawyer was just as bad, refusing to contest ANYTHING the prosecutor said or did, and then his closing arguments completely failed to identify the holes in the case. If the guy had hired a half-way decent lawyer, he would have walked. But he didn't. So he gets to spend the next 18-38 (it was two years ago) in prison.

And then the judge's instructions to the jury were murky as hell, and he refused to clarify anything when we sent out for guidance. We were refused a transcript when we asked for one to try to clear up things (the trial was only a week long, but still - some things are not perfectly remembered four days later). To me it honestly felt like the court just wanted us to guess at a verdict.

I left that trial truly saddened by the level of competence (and professionalism! the defense lawyer wasn't even wearing a tie, let alone a coat - in a murder trial. But I digress) present within the legal system.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2021 9:13 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 21:13:36 -0400

I was pegged three times for jury duty. The first time, it was a civil case and the defendant never showed up so default win to the plaintiff. Second time, it was for a criminal case involving a dude charged with false imprisonment of a child. I was excused after I said I had two cousins serving time for child molestation. The last time I was chosen was for a civil case but was excused because of conflict with my work schedule.

Response by SGT Mary G. made Jul 25 at 2021 12:51 AM

SGT Mary G. — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 00:51:36 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - Your description of the experience is inspiring.
Called twice. First time we sat through several potential jurors being interviewed, then let go at lunch time. A lot of people were interviewed and the process moved quickly. Didn't need to return the next day. Maybe they had actually selected enough for the jury, or settled out of court. The brother of a friend from high school had been called too. We did some catching up, so it wasn't a waste of time. Was called another time but got out of it because of attending classes.

Response by LTC Hillary Luton made Jul 25 at 2021 5:09 AM

LTC Hillary Luton — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 05:09:37 -0400

I served on 2 juries several years ago. It was an interesting experience. I don't know if it changed any opinions I had about the legal system, but it did open my eyes to the process. I even served as the foreman on one of the juries.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jul 25 at 2021 1:23 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 13:23:47 -0400

I was called to Jury Duty for County cases. Made it through the initial screening. Prospective juror selection picked 25 of us. Headed for court room. Bailiff stopped us just before we got there and told us we could go home. The perp had pleaded guilty.

I served on the panel for a General Court Martial when I was a Major. Had to wear dress blues every day. The trial lasted 3 days. Although many of us believed the Service Member was guilty, we had to vote to acquit because the prosecutors failed to meet the burden of proof. Their star witness was not believable. After the verdict was read, the panel foreman, a Colonel, asked to speak with the judge. The judge dismissed everybody from the court room. He told the judge our opinion of the prosecutors. The judge said he would pass it along to the Base JAG.

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made Jul 25 at 2021 1:56 PM

MAJ Hugh Blanchard — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 13:56:10 -0400

I served on a court-martial at Fort Meade, MD. It was an interesting experience. We had a shooting case, in which a member of the Fort Meade Pistol Team had shot his wife. He claimed it was an accident, but given the very hard trigger pull on the gun and the fact that he was a pistol expert, we viewed that claim as less than credible. The terrified look his wife gave him when he entered the court room was unforgettable. We also had several drug cases and the prosecution's approach astonished me. The prosecutor asked the members of the court to guarantee that we would vote the defendant guilty of illegal marijuana use solely on the basis of a urinalysis for THC. We all responded that we would have to hear the arguments of counsel on both sides before making a decision on how we would vote. The prosecutor then got upset and demanded that the judge disqualify us and seat a new group of officers. The judge over-ruled his request and we proceeded to hear the cases. In one of them, the defendant's lab results were questionable. (The Fort Meade drug lab had made several mistakes over the preceding few months in handling urinalysis tests.) So we voted him not guilty based on the possibility that the lab tests could be wrong. The other drug cases, most of them MI folks working at NSA, we found guilty. But the prosecutor demanding that we state in advance how we would vote, that I found astonishing.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 25 at 2021 6:14 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 18:14:47 -0400

Mostly got tossed out of the jury pool like most MILs because we tend to follow orders. Attorneys hate that. They look for more pliable and gullible types. Funny story. I was called up for a huge asbestos deal for retired shipyard workers. During the general questioning, the Judge asked if anybody knew any of the attorneys, defendant, court officers, etc. The young gal in black with piercings everywhere put her hand up. When the Judge asked who she knew, she said "I know you." A bit perplexed the Judge asked why. "You're the SOB that sent my boyfriend to prison!" She was immediately dismissed. On her way out she told me that the boyfriend being put in the can was the best thing that ever happened for her. A true Win-Win for her.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2021 7:50 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 19:50:15 -0400

I served on a courts martial once, terrible experience to listen to how badly two people can treat each other and then have to decide who was legally responsible for all of their bad behavior!

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jul 25 at 2021 8:45 PM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 20:45:29 -0400

I did serve on a jury on a civil Case involving a construction project. Never got sat on another jury, always got challenged on Criminal cases only because I was a Police Officer. The judge on one of those case even commented to the Dense Attorney , well that might be an advantage, He would know if what the Police did was proper or not. The defense Attorney Didn't see it that way, I wasn't sat on that jury. It used to be Police Officers, until a change in the rules were exempt from Jury duty and each time I went didn't wind up on a jury because I was a Police Officer. Even making Me go there proved to be a big waste of My time. That was true until the civil case I mentioned and served on that jury.

Response by Sgt Robert Hellyer made Jul 25 at 2021 9:14 PM

Sgt Robert Hellyer — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 21:14:03 -0400

I was on a federal jury a few years ago. It was a credit card fraud case. I think my experience was similar to Sgt Reynolds as far as the jury selection proceedings. The legal professionals all conducted themselves with honor. I can't say the same for one or two of the other jurors, but in the end we all came up with the same verdict. Since then I've seen the prosecuting attorney a few times and had some pleasant conversations with him.
Some of my experiences with the local court system left me with a less than happy experience....and the judge in that case was later removed from the bench.

Response by SGT John Overby made Jul 25 at 2021 10:38 PM

SGT John Overby — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 22:38:09 -0400

Served on a civil case jury. It too was an eye opener. We heard two personal injury cases. One was a child struck by a school bus and the other was some what of a joke from start to finish. Amazed at the reasons people sue others.

Response by TSgt Phillip L. made Jul 25 at 2021 10:54 PM

TSgt Phillip L. — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 22:54:28 -0400

I've been called to duty 7 or 8 times. Never picked for a jury. My experience has shown me that lawyers are only interested in weak minded, stupid people who can easily be manipulated to change their mind and opinions. A jury trial scares me to death now, and I will ways avoid my future being decided by one at all costs. "Peers" will never happen. Local village idiots, should not have not have power to ruin lives by easily being swayed by a forked tongued lawyer. Our system is broken.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 25 at 2021 11:39 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 23:39:25 -0400

Just the oposite for me. Judge asked if anyone was military. I was grilled for 20 minutes then excused

Response by SGT Chris Padgett made Jul 25 at 2021 11:51 PM

SGT Chris Padgett — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 23:51:09 -0400

A couple of times.
1st time was a theft case. We all came in was told that there would a selection process. The folks not chosen would be paid 1/2 a day.
The defendant never showed up, the judge was pissed and he ordered that we all be paid for the the whole day and the defendant would pay that expense.
2nd time, was a domestic violence case.
A man was accused by his estranged wife of beating her.
The wife was so full of shit it was unreal. You could just see the prosecutor dying inside with every question the defense attorney asked.
We all gathered back into the jury room to deliberate and the ladies on the jury were fuming.
In the end, the wife should be glad the jury (especially the ladies) wasn't able to express our opinion in the courtroom.
Needless to say, we unanimously voted to acquit.
It honestly took longer for the ladies to vent than to vote not guilty.
The whole trial, start to finish took about 4 1/2 hours and that included jury selection.

Response by Lt Col John Steele made Jul 26 at 2021 7:32 AM

Lt Col John Steele — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 07:32:39 -0400

I served on a grand jury here in Texas several years ago for about three months, two days a week. Eye opening experience on the judicial process and law enforcement procedures. Educational on what constitutes different levels of crime. Displayed the darker side of our society and the excessive number of drug and alcohol related cases and their victims. If you have the opportunity to serve on a grand jury, i highly recommend it as one of our duties as American citizens. I did learn that nearly every DUI offender responded with pretty much the same reply they only had one Bud Light to drink that day--very popular beer evidently.

Response by SGT Herbert Bollum made Jul 26 at 2021 9:44 AM

SGT Herbert Bollum — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 09:44:42 -0400

several times - the last time I was the foreperson on an attempted murder charge

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Jul 26 at 2021 11:26 AM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 11:26:59 -0400

I've been called about every other year since I've lived here, my wife has never been called. Went though the jury selection process twice, never got selected.
I learned more about the legal system in a student loan collection case than I did in College. It's all about the paperwork.

Response by Sgt Keith Dollinger made Aug 26 at 2021 6:30 PM

Sgt Keith Dollinger — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 18:30:43 -0400

Never while I was on active duty. I was called once afterwards, but I was never drawn. I was a civilian LEO at the time, and I was talking with a defense lawyer that I was on pretty good terms with. I joked with him that, if I was drawn for trial, I should ask the judge, "Begging your pardon, Your Honor, but, given where I work, should I be excused bow, or should one of these gentlemen use a strike first?"

He thought about it for a moment, then told me, "Actually, I think I'd want you on the jury. I know you- you're not impressed with a police badge, and you're not going to overlook any of the shady crap they might pull. "

One of the nicer compliments I've gotten over the years...

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made Sep 5 at 2021 9:57 PM

MAJ Hugh Blanchard — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 21:57:54 -0400

I've served on a military Court-Martial. Since my retirement, I've been called for Jury Duty three times. During those episodes in which I participated, almost every white male over 50 years old has been challenged and removed from the jury pool. We "rejectees" never got to learn why we didn't make the cut. I suspect there is some sort of jury formula at work.

Since then, whenever I receive my Jury Duty notice I don't worry much about it. I know someone's attorney will object to an elderly white male retired military officer being on the jury, so I'll soon go home. Usually it takes about 4-5 hours of procedural nonsense to get it all done, along with an obligatory speech from the Judge to thank us for our valuable service.

Normally it only costs me about $200 of lost work hours when all is said and done. If we don't get picked to be on the jury then we get no jury pay for lost hours from the county. But that's not too high a price. I just wish that once I could actually get to serve on a jury, because I have a very analytical brain after almost 48 years of intelligence work as a soldier and contractor. But perhaps that's why the attorneys don't want me to be there.

Response by PO2 Robert Cuminale made Sep 6 at 2021 11:30 AM

PO2 Robert Cuminale — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 11:30:05 -0400

I've been called twice. Each time I was dismissed because I knew the judges from when they were lawyers. One even greeted me saying, "Hello Bob."
I was in business for about 30 years and had 27 attorney firms as customers. Quite a few were appointed to judgeships.

Response by SP5 Jim Shively made Sep 14 at 2021 6:53 AM

SP5 Jim Shively — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 06:53:14 -0400

I've been on seven juries, five murder cases. They were beneficial to my opinion of the law and the court system. When deliberating the environment became a little intense, but the 12 of us worked it out. I believe in every case, we came to correct conclusion. Thanks for your service, both military and as a citizen.

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made Sep 14 at 2021 3:11 PM

MAJ Hugh Blanchard — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 15:11:53 -0400

Every time I've been called for jury duty I have not been selected to sit on the jury. In all of those episodes, the great majority of Caucasian males were those not elected, especially anyone over 40 years old. Guess there must be some kind of lawyer's jury selection process at work. Frankly that makes me somewhat distrustful of the process, when lawyers manipulate things to obtain a desired outcome.

Response by Cpl George Matousek made Sep 20 at 2021 9:16 AM

Cpl George Matousek — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 09:16:21 -0400

Yes, I did serve on one. It was interesting and I really did enjoy the process once I was on a jury for a trial.

Response by TSgt Brantley Davidson made Nov 30 at 2023 1:52 AM

TSgt Brantley Davidson — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 01:52:49 -0500

Yes, once! And present to be picked 4 other times and dismissed, because of military service and serving on the Sheriff's reserves. I was considered too disciplined !! So much for serving in criminal trials !