2026 Swap & Shop Official Thread
- Thread starter Evan B
- Start date
How’d you manage that?
Last time I had jury duty they were NOT open to much more than “I’m in the Navy and ship out in three days.” The trial ended up being a ridiculous 2 week ordeal. One of my fellow jurors lost her job because of it!
Said I owned a business and was hosting an out of state event with a non-refundable venue booked months ago. Didn't give much more info than that, but as you know, it's all legit.
Also: I'm pretty sure an employer could get in big trouble for firing over a jury summons.
Yes, but in an “at-will” employment state, good luck proving it in court.
Touche
Yeah but like he says, I'm pretty sure the At-Will thing will make it VERY hard to make your case. They could just make up any other reason and they're covered.
I did that as well Brian, worked like a charm.
BriGuy
Life of the Party
Okay. Just don't complain if your county is ever unresponsive to your request.
I did once, too--the two week trial. I take the concept very seriously. I think that if I were on trial by jury, I would want jurors who also take it seriously like I do.
In the particular case I was on, I feel like it was a waste of prosecutorial resources to go after who they did for what they did. It was basically all the worst dirty laundry of a marriage splitting up between a couple vindictive, impulsive people who had two young kids. They had a huge fight, the wife ran out of the house with the kids and called the cops, the Seattle Po showed up in major force, guns-a-blazin' which caused the husband to freak out in kind, an armed stand-off ensued, and that was sorta just the beginning. Both people were super shitty to each other, the wife got on the stand and "cried" dry crocodile tears, and we ended up finding the guy guilty on only lesser charge of violating a protection order (which he did do), not the book that they threw at him. We deliberated for over two days. The whole thing was ridiculous. I feel like I paid my jury dues for quite a while with that one.
I just did my part, a guy sued a contractor basically because he didn't want to pay. Three days of our time, but it could've been legit, it's how our system works and I'm glad to do it. They rescheduled mine because of a vacation we had planned. Yesterday my wife got her invitation to serve.
I was called in Kitsap county last year. It was super easy. Basically you can defer for 6 months for any reason you want. I even deferred once to a week I did not realize my wife was traveling for work and they let me just defer it a second time with a simple email.
I was also sat on a jury 8-9 years back. 4-5 day trial and when it was done, I was randomly selected as the “alternate” and did not get to deliberate...boo! They called me when a verdict was reached and told me what it was though.
If you want yours eyes opened there are a couple shows streaming out there that follow defendants in court cases (Accused may be one of them??). Granted told from the defendants point of view as well as their lawyers but there have been a few episodes where I was shocked the prosecution was going at them that hard. A couple cases where people were accused of felony murder (in what appeared to be very obvious self defense cases) and put on house arrest for years before being cleared or the charges just dropped. No recourse for the accused after their lives have been completely upended for years.
That said, there have also been a few where it makes you sick how a defense attorney spins things to try and get what appears to be an obviously guilty person off. Takes a unique type to be in that business on either side…
I was also sat on a jury 8-9 years back. 4-5 day trial and when it was done, I was randomly selected as the “alternate” and did not get to deliberate...boo! They called me when a verdict was reached and told me what it was though.
If you want yours eyes opened there are a couple shows streaming out there that follow defendants in court cases (Accused may be one of them??). Granted told from the defendants point of view as well as their lawyers but there have been a few episodes where I was shocked the prosecution was going at them that hard. A couple cases where people were accused of felony murder (in what appeared to be very obvious self defense cases) and put on house arrest for years before being cleared or the charges just dropped. No recourse for the accused after their lives have been completely upended for years.
That said, there have also been a few where it makes you sick how a defense attorney spins things to try and get what appears to be an obviously guilty person off. Takes a unique type to be in that business on either side…
So did you all find for the plaintiff who did not want to pay? And does the contractor now have to sue the guy to get paid? Sorry for the major thread drift.
No, we found for the contractor. If it would have been left up to us we would have stuck the vagrant with the max interest the state allows, but the Judge told us to leave that up to him.
The contractor brought the suit, the vagrant countersued because apparently excavators are not a leave no trace method of installing septic systems. Backhoes-r-Us take note.
So it really was legit, the contractor needed to get paid, and the courts were the last resort. It just struck me as wrong that any of us had to waste time dealing with this guy who was just trying not to pay his debts.
Unfortunately i won't be able to come. If I'm able to come, only for Saturday. I wish I could tell problem, but can't. And no it's not me, just deals with me.
I've been debating making this. I was going to wait but would rather have you ask know and don't wait on food not showing (and I've had this happened to me so won't do it to you all).
I've been debating making this. I was going to wait but would rather have you ask know and don't wait on food not showing (and I've had this happened to me so won't do it to you all).
Do what you have to Jerry! We'll miss ya! Stop by Saturday if it works out!
Do what you need to do. We'll sure miss you and will raise a roast to you, hopefully with you on Saturday! Gonna miss that biscuits and gravy!
It looks like we need to cover Saturday and Sunday breakfasts. I'd be happy to do one or both, but I am a late riser and don't want folks to go hungry while I'm sleeping in. I can bring a camp chef two burner with either a griddle or big pans. And pancake mix with various toppings. And/or steel cut oatmeal. And coffee. But if I cook breakfast, it will be ready around 10am. So more of a brunch than breakfast.