I've only been called once, and I got out of it because I was in my last year of University, and they called me in my hometown - during final exam week. I had to write a letter explaining I didn't even live there anymore, and couldn't travel there for it because of final exams. They excused me no prob. My mom got called once for a case against the pediatrician we went to! She got excused because of a prior relationship with the 'defendant' too. Good luck with the jury duty this time!

Shortly before I met you and Mike I had jury duty in Elizabeth. You're going to love it. I highly recommend bringing a pomander filled with your favorite spices or herbs. I was at the worst of my morning sickness with Gracie, it was winter, the heat was blasting and EVERYONE SMELLED BAD. Thankfully it only lasted a day. Bring your own food. There won't be anything within miles for you to eat.

Ugh! Jury duty is no fun! But you can probably bring your laptop. I saw a bunch of people with them when I had jury duty in Jersey City awhile back. I only had to report one day, but it was the most boring day ever. I had books, mags and the ipod to keep me busy, but it's hard to even read sitting in those benches all day. They did let us leave a bit early so that was the one good thing.

Jury Duty - hm. Hubby was called twice - once right after we moved [so didn't go] and once for a six week case [where the JURY had to reconstruct the case as it was so poorly presented, they only believed TWO of the people called, *and* if one of the defendants hadn't mentioned in passing a key tidbit of fact it would've been a much longer jury deliberation]. I was called once where I was excused for probably three reasons - though they never said why but I've my suspicions - a) pregnant, b) hubby worked in the industry, and the kicker c) my company had just been taken over and I said that they were idiots [which the new company was] -- and the case was about stock options from a company being forcefully merged. :-) Now that I'm a SAHM I have an excuse 'til my son's 12 or so - whew! :-)

When my husband and I got married 7 years ago, he was not a registered voter. So I hounded him to death until he went at registered. Then we bought a house in a new city 5 1/2 years ago. Then it started, he gets called about twice a year. Once for the city and another for the county. 90% of the time he gets called before the day and gets dismissed. And if you don't actually report to the court house, your name goes back in the mix. So a couple years ago, he actually got 4 summons(es?) in one year, but only had to report for duty once. He swears it's because I made him register to vote. But in our state they use voter registration and driver's license lists to get jurors. So I think he's crazy, it can't be my fault.

No crazy stories -- but I did have to spend a whole week in jury duty when I was in Law School! And, we were required to be there all day, every day for the whole week, even though none of us ever even got interviewed for a potential jury! That's right -- a whole week spent in a waiting room (think: like a city hospital emergency room), on uncomfortable chairs, watching TV. I brought needlework, books and magazines. And I think we got paid about $17.50 per day. That was 20 years ago in Chicago, and I doubt it has changed too much since then!
I've actually been willing to serve on a jury, but haven't been called in the 10+ years we've owned our house. And now, our county has grown so much in the last couple of years, the jury pool has expanded greatly, and there's even less of a chance I'll be called. (My husband's not been called, either.) It usually seems to happen to most people when it is most inconvenient, though I think it hit me the last time during a summer vacation when I was at home.
It's rarely as dramatic as you think it will be, but it can still be a very interesting experience! :-)