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logdog131 t1_jbpnqgj wrote

I was on one that just ended last year. What you’ve heard about the selection process is wrong. They don’t do any kind of interview work you. They put you in a room and pull numbers at random to see who is on the jury. Everyone else is still obligated to be an alternate if someone drops out or has to take a sick day.

It was a little less than once per month actually. Mine was 1-2 days every six weeks and you get the schedule in advance.

Your employer is required to excuse your absence on jury days. Jury days were a heck of a lot easier and shorter than my real job so I actually enjoyed it for the most part.

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More-Adhesiveness-54 t1_jbppszb wrote

>I was on one that just ended last year. What you’ve heard about the selection process is wrong. They don’t do any kind of interview work...

Sorry if I'm being obtuse, but isn't this what voir dire is? I've been on juries (though never a grand jury) and have been questioned during the evaluation process on multiple grounds. That doesn't happen for grand juries?

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logdog131 t1_jbpseeg wrote

It does not happen for the 18mo federal grand juries. Over 18 months you see dozens of cases brought on by US district attorneys. All you do is hear the evidence and vote on indictments. There are lots of different types of cases so they don’t screen anyone out based on any biases. Jurors recuse themselves if a case ever comes up involving someone they know.

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just_an_ordinary_guy t1_jbrugz2 wrote

A grand jury is just to determine if a prosecutor has enough evidence to indite. There is no voir dire like for a trial jury.

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pmizzle88 OP t1_jbpta1g wrote

How were the jury days? I’ve seen people comment on other posts stating federal grand juries were often quite interesting to sit on (it seems like you were federal from other comments). It seems like a trend as many people from other subreddits seem to enjoy their time overall.

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logdog131 t1_jbpuvn5 wrote

They were pretty chill. The average day was probably 9-3 with a few short breaks. Some cases are really interesting. Some stuff is hard to listen to. Every time you come back it’s with the same group so you end up making friends too.

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