TexasCHLforum.com

A month ago, I got a notice for jury duty this morning in Galveston County. I thought it was unusual to be told to show up on Thursday. Usually jury duty starts on Monday.

Last week I found out it was for the Royce Zeigler trial.

Royce Zeigler is accused of killing the 2-year-old girl known as Baby Grace and dumping her body into Galveston Bay.

So I went this morning, stood in line, sat around reading the newspaper, only to be told "Thank you for wasting your time. We don't need you."

They had called 1,250 candidates. Yesterday they picked enough qualified candidates and dismissed the rest.

http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?ewc ... d62e1920d2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I could not have been an impartial juror. I think the creep should roast on a spit in you-know-where.

- Jim

Phew! You dodged the bullet on that one Jim! I imagine that will be a long trial!

It probably will be lengthy trial. The newspaper said the state is calling 134 witnesses.

There is some speculation that the defense is setting up an appeal based on a biased jury pool. I don't see how they could find one person who thinks he's not guilty.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote: ...So I went this morning, stood in line, sat around reading the newspaper, only to be told "Thank you for wasting your time. We don't need you." ...
- Jim

"Wasting time?" C'mon, you got what, six or eight bucks out of the deal?

Nope. You only get paid if you are sworn in.

I always donate it to a battered women's shelter anyway. My job has most liberal flex time you can imagine, and if we have to be on a jury for full days, we get paid the same as if we had worked.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:Nope. You only get paid if you are sworn in.

I always donate it to a battered women's shelter anyway. My job has most liberal flex time you can imagine, and if we have to be on a jury for full days, we get paid the same as if we had worked.

- Jim

Harrumph. At least Bexar County paid me to show up, even if I didn't get called (and they also had a donation box/receipt system for something -- what a gold mine for the charity -- there were about 500 potential jurors there everytime I showed up. Don't know about Guadalupe Co -- they haven't availed themselves of my sagacity yet....

Tarrant county is the same as Galveston county. You only get paid ($8.00/day) when you get picked for the jury. That BARELY pays for a day's parking in downtown Ft.Worth.

It really stinks that you are legally compelled to go to a place and then they require you to pay for parking.

At least Galveston County has free parking, and the bus goes to the Justice Center.

- Jim

Dallas County provides you with a pass for the bus or train.

However, the only time I've received the notice for jury duty in Dallas County all I had to do was call after 1130 the day of and find out if I would be needed. I called and the message told me I had been released from my jury duty responsibility. I just worked from home the rest of the day.

joe817 wrote:Tarrant county is the same as Galveston county. You only get paid ($8.00/day) when you get picked for the jury. That BARELY pays for a day's parking in downtown Ft.Worth.

There is a free parking lot north of the courthouse setup; A bus comes and rounds everyone up and hauls 'em back. Free for jurors.

Last time I got summons I mixed up and ate a mess of sauerkraut, beans, broccoli, and drank a few shiner bocks before going to bed the night before. It was my intent to be wretchedly foul during jury selection but I never got that far. The drive back was almost unbearable.

This was probably two years ago, I think I got a check for showing up - for some reason I want to say they were actually going to pay $40 a day for actual jury duty. How long has it been since you were summoned, Joe?

Drewthetexan wrote:Last time I got summons I mixed up and ate a mess of sauerkraut, beans, broccoli, and drank a few shiner bocks before going to bed the night before. It was my intent to be wretchedly foul during jury selection but I never got that far. The drive back was almost unbearable.

You don't get close enough to the lawyers for your B.O. to make a difference.

I had to sit next to a woman who seemed to have bathed in perfume. What's with that? It's about as sexy as smallpox.

Apparently, counties get to set their own policies within some state limits. None of it will make you rich.

- Jim

Last time I went for jury duty the judge had a woman removed from the voir dire proceedings because her cat was acting up.

This potential juror looked like a throwback from the 60's with long hair, sandals, leather jacket with tassels, etc...

Not sure where the critter was throughout the morning, but it crawled out of her shirt when the bailiff escorted her from the courtroom.

This was probably two years ago, I think I got a check for showing up - for some reason I want to say they were actually going to pay $40 a day for actual jury duty. How long has it been since you were summoned, Joe?

Drew, I served on a jury panel for a criminal trial that lasted 3 days back in 2004 or 2005. And you are correct. As of 01/01/2006, the first day of pay is $6.00 and $40.00 per day thereafter. But back then it was $8.00/day. And yes I know of the free parking and bus from LaGrave Field, and drop you off just 2 blocks away.......that wasn't available when I served on a jury.

FWIW, the jury trial involved a defendant under a 3 count indictment of sexual molestation of a child(I forget the precise legalese term). He was found guilty unanimously.

Well, I got a check for $7 today. Apparently the policy changed from the last time I was called.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:Well, I got a check for $7 today. Apparently the policy changed from the last time I was called.

- Jim

I assume you weren't chosen as a juror? Phew, you escaped that one.