I've been called four times--twice I went in for the day but wasn't selected. For the other two, one time I had an international flight scheduled that very day, so I was excused, and the other time I'd just moved across the country but was still in the process of changing my address and voter registration, so they just wished me well and took my name off the list.

I have never been called for jury duty, despite being registered to vote everywhere I've lived for at least 20 years.

That is wild to me. I was thinking about this recently, and I don't think I was ever called in Boston, but I've been called in every other county I've lived in since I was 18. I've been on two juries, neither of which had a verdict -- in one we hung, in the other they settled. I was empaneled one other time (as alternate #3!) but they settled that night, thank goodness. That was sexual assault and I was not looking forward to it.

I've been called at least 6 times, but I've never been selected to serve. Three of those times, I called in every day and never had to report. One time I got as far as the voir dire but wasn't chosen.

That was sexual assault and I was not looking forward to it.

Oh, wow. I had totally blocked the memory of being called for jury duty here in MO about ten years ago (perhaps?). It was a sexual assault case, and I really didn't want to be selected. In voir dire, they asked if anyone had been on a jury before. When I raised my hand, they asked if I had been jury foreman. I had once, and told them so. They asked for more detail, and I told them it had been very frustrating. I used the phrase "It was like herding cats."

I was not selected to sit on that jury. Whew.

Yes, I was grateful that my trial was a rather hysterical civil case and not a horrible criminal case. A friend was on a murder trial with all the gruesome pictures and details. She suffered nightmares and said she would never agree to be a juror again under any circumstances.

For your consideration: Buffista Castle.

Look at all those summer pictures with nary a winter picture to be had of what frequently is a frozen hellscape of the Lake they call Michigan.

One time I got as far as the voir dire but wasn't chosen.

When I wasn't chosen for the kidnapping case, where everyone was trying to get out of it, but I wasn't (since I was in grad school and had all the time in the world and NY was paying a decent amount for a broke student), I gave all the "right answers" in the voir dire but (and I know you'll all be shocked by this) I'm pretty sure my smart-ass first comment sealed the deal on not getting chosen. The prosecution, who was making a point of using and remembering everyone's name, joked about my name being difficult to spell. My deadpan response? "I learned when I was six."

Look at all those summer pictures with nary a winter picture to be had of what frequently is a frozen hellscape of the Lake they call Michigan.

Truth.

So, lowering the portcullis and staying in the castle with whatever goods may be needed to survive the siege of winter is not a good plan?

No. Every actual appellate lawyer (and the judge is not one) says that for it to be grounds for appeal there has to be a finding of a direct link -- a juror who heard the statement, brought it into the jury room and that MW being angry at them affected decision making. Can't be speculative in any way.

Thanks for the clarification, Sparky. Always better to hear from the experts.