The big one, Grand Jury for Brgn cnty. Actually looking forward to it. 9 weeks one day per. Yrs ago I got called several times for petit but was able to sleeze my way out, was rocking 6 1/2 day work weeks but felt guilty-pun intended. I'm much more laid back now. Anyone else here do grand? How does it work?

My dad recently was on somerset counties grand jury. He loved it

 

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I want jury duty so bad. Got called last year, and was pumped to go. Called the night before, and I was excused.

 

Waiting for my next call!

I avoid it at all costs. I work salary plus commission. I would be reimbursed for my salary but not any missed commision. I'd be completely screwed if I had to go. For County Jury duty I submit a letter of hardship explaining my circumstances and they always excuse me thankfully. 

The big one, Grand Jury for Brgn cnty. Actually looking forward to it. 9 weeks one day per. Yrs ago I got called several times for petit but was able to sleeze my way out, was rocking 6 1/2 day work weeks but felt guilty-pun intended. I'm much more laid back now. Anyone else here do grand? How does it work?

 

You "indict ham sandwiches" all day, then go home. I'd rather do petit than grand.

Having had to testify recently in Bergen County, it is amazing how fucked up the entire court system really is.  I believe I wasted 3 days (+hour and a half hour average one way commute) for the 5 minutes I was on the stand.  My friend had to go back at least 8 or 9 times over the span of 4 months to try to get an FRO, which is supposed to be done within 30 days.  (Sounds familiar...)

 

At least parking is easy for Bergen.  Morris County is a few blocks away from the parking garage (uphill both ways, in the snow).  Woulda been nice if everyone had cleared their sidewalks of all the ice when I had to go 2 years ago.  Same year, was also called for Newark grand jury, but lucked out and every time I called I didn't have to go in over the 2 weeks.  Was not looking forward to going to Newark.  Feel really sorry for the people who live further north/west who would have to go all the way to Newark.

I did petit Jury once.   Murder trial took 5 weeks.  It was very rewarding.  I left impressed that 12 strangers with absolutely nothing in common could show each other so much respect and work so intelligently together to try to get to the truth. 

 

But, I agree with Malice4you.  During the trial, we sat in the Jury room waiting to enter the courtroom more than we heard witnesses.   We'd enter the court room, a witness would speak for 1 minute, a lawyer would ask for a side bar, we'd be sent to the Jury room because they needed "10 minutes" to sort something out.  3 hours later we'd be dismissed for lunch.  After lunch we'd go back to the courtroom to be sent out again for 2 hours.  Day after day.

My mother was on the grand jury that indicted Biegenwald. She found it interesting and was happy to have a hand in putting that POS away. She would serve again. She got notice two more times for petit jury, but didn't make the cut.

 

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I was called for the bridge-gate trial and was the first juror dismissed by the prosecution most likely because I work for Gannet. It was a fun 2 days. I never try and get out as I get paid my salary while serving so there's no financial hardship.

 

I've served on 2 juries and would serve again if called.

The big one, Grand Jury for Brgn cnty. Actually looking forward to it. 9 weeks one day per. Yrs ago I got called several times for petit but was able to sleeze my way out, was rocking 6 1/2 day work weeks but felt guilty-pun intended. I'm much more laid back now. Anyone else here do grand? How does it work?

 

You get to hear cases presented to you by the Prosecutor for Indictment. You will hear testimony from officers/detectives; maybe witnesses. Then decide whether or not the Prosecutor presented enough evidence for you to Indict. True bill or No bill.

My old man did it a few years ago. Once a week for that many weeks is annoying but at least you know what you're getting into. I'm not sure there was one instance over that entire span in which his grand jury group didn't indict, so it seems a bit of a waste of time in that sense, but it's an important part of the process, I suppose.

Never a grand jury but I had a murder trial in Mercer county last spring, ended in a hung jury and later found out this was the second trial, with the first also ending in a hung jury 6 months earlier.

 

Interesting security camera footage used in the trial posted on youtube: