The journey begins - purchased a truck.

rch10007 · Nov 15, 2022

I bid on a Landstar load today.

Old Man · Nov 16, 2022

I got on a jury, till the part in the courtroom where they cut it to 6 from 12, domestic abuse, if figured out the guy was probably a truck driver and got asked a lot of questions, then got released.
I’m 70 so I never have to serve again.

Tug Toy · Nov 16, 2022

blairandgretchen said: ↑

JURY TRIAL.

I was called once before when we were with ODFL to serve - wrote a letter and was excused, obviously the work model didn't fit the requirements.

Well, I got served again, and to be honest - couldn't find a reason why I couldn't serve. So the window was about a month, and I was assigned a Jury trial on 10/18. I put off work, cancelled a dentist appointment, and called the 'hotline' every day to see if the trial had been cancelled. It was not.

I had joked with Gretchen in my usual fashion - "Your honor, in the case of (Insert illegal immigrant name here) - on the charge of Jay Walking - we find him GUILTY, and recommend the DEATH PENALTY! "

Well, I turned up, with 60 prospective jurors, filed into the court room, and heard the charges. Punch me twice, knock me over and shove sparrows up my rectum - it was an illegal immigrant charged with a family case of child rape, sodomy and molestation.

Many recused themselves from selection, citing (understandably) reasons of abuse to themselves, other family members, and being parents. Down to about 45 jurors - I was picked as Juror #13.

I had naively not realized I was about to sit through the entire trial and not deliberated on the case. Released on the second day of court as the other jurors filed into the room, the Judge came over and thanked me for my service and excused me from the proceedings. It was a weird case to say the least. Apart from one family member with a grasp on the English language, the rest of the communications went through interpreter, which makes for looooong testimonies.

On the second day, I made a comment about what crappy lunch choices we were about to make, and he said "I thought we were going to get paid every day - I gotta go home and get something to eat"

So - I took him to lunch and paid for it. He was the only other guy close to my age - 20 something white looking kid with straggly hair that worked at a place refinishing guitars. Also - turns out, he's from Puerto Rico as a kid. Said he could understand everything going on in the courtroom with the translator, and the translator was missing about half of what was being said.

There's this guy mid 20's, myself at 47, - and the only naturalized citizens in the pool. I suspect we were both chosen, for whatever reason, by either prosecution or defense, for this reason. The rest were 55-70 year old citizens. Because, after all, who else has the time for for the whole process, given the compensation.

The compensation turned up last week. $47. I wrote a letter to the Judge thanking her and the bailiffs for the difficult job they do every day, endorsed the check and asked her to use the funds to buy water and snacks, or lunch for those that couldn't afford it.

A very interesting - to me at least - look inside the judicial system. When I mention the topic of 'jury service' to friends and neighbors - overwhelmingly the response is negative, they recuse themselves ASAP from the process, and - I get it, but - I was curious, happy enough to do so, and thankful to be able to return to this country in a very small role, what this country has offered me in the terms of opportunity.
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I have served 2x. I find it part of my civic duty and am proud we live in a county that you can still get judged by REAL people. That is not the case in most of the rest of the world.
It is a difficult task to be sure no mater where you sit in the court room. But there is a lot to glean from the process.

If asked, I will gladly serve again.

Thank you for your service.

Siinman · Nov 16, 2022

blairandgretchen said: ↑

JURY TRIAL.

I was called once before when we were with ODFL to serve - wrote a letter and was excused, obviously the work model didn't fit the requirements.

Well, I got served again, and to be honest - couldn't find a reason why I couldn't serve. So the window was about a month, and I was assigned a Jury trial on 10/18. I put off work, cancelled a dentist appointment, and called the 'hotline' every day to see if the trial had been cancelled. It was not.

I had joked with Gretchen in my usual fashion - "Your honor, in the case of (Insert illegal immigrant name here) - on the charge of Jay Walking - we find him GUILTY, and recommend the DEATH PENALTY! "

Well, I turned up, with 60 prospective jurors, filed into the court room, and heard the charges. Punch me twice, knock me over and shove sparrows up my rectum - it was an illegal immigrant charged with a family case of child rape, sodomy and molestation.

Many recused themselves from selection, citing (understandably) reasons of abuse to themselves, other family members, and being parents. Down to about 45 jurors - I was picked as Juror #13.

I had naively not realized I was about to sit through the entire trial and not deliberated on the case. Released on the second day of court as the other jurors filed into the room, the Judge came over and thanked me for my service and excused me from the proceedings. It was a weird case to say the least. Apart from one family member with a grasp on the English language, the rest of the communications went through interpreter, which makes for looooong testimonies.

On the second day, I made a comment about what crappy lunch choices we were about to make, and he said "I thought we were going to get paid every day - I gotta go home and get something to eat"

So - I took him to lunch and paid for it. He was the only other guy close to my age - 20 something white looking kid with straggly hair that worked at a place refinishing guitars. Also - turns out, he's from Puerto Rico as a kid. Said he could understand everything going on in the courtroom with the translator, and the translator was missing about half of what was being said.

There's this guy mid 20's, myself at 47, - and the only naturalized citizens in the pool. I suspect we were both chosen, for whatever reason, by either prosecution or defense, for this reason. The rest were 55-70 year old citizens. Because, after all, who else has the time for for the whole process, given the compensation.

The compensation turned up last week. $47. I wrote a letter to the Judge thanking her and the bailiffs for the difficult job they do every day, endorsed the check and asked her to use the funds to buy water and snacks, or lunch for those that couldn't afford it.

A very interesting - to me at least - look inside the judicial system. When I mention the topic of 'jury service' to friends and neighbors - overwhelmingly the response is negative, they recuse themselves ASAP from the process, and - I get it, but - I was curious, happy enough to do so, and thankful to be able to return to this country in a very small role, what this country has offered me in the terms of opportunity.
Click to expand...

I find it funny I get those #### Juror things in the mail often. I am a convicted criminal so I cannot do a juror trial. So I have to remind them every time I get one. They sure do not do any research on whom they are sent to.

Ruthless · Nov 16, 2022

Siinman said: ↑

I find it funny I get those #### Juror things in the mail often. I am a convicted criminal so I cannot do a juror trial. So I have to remind them every time I get one. They sure do not do any research on whom they are sent to.
Click to expand...

Idk if its state to state/ my state uses the dmv database; Anytime you renew your license suddenly you’ll come up for jury duty. Also here, as long as you have been released from custody (whether maxing out a sentence or completing parole), they will let you serve on a jury after 7 full years.
Though now that I’m over 7 years I haven't heard from them? .... I did update my license like a month ago though........

Siinman · Nov 16, 2022

Ruthless said: ↑

Idk if its state to state/ my state uses the dmv database; Anytime you renew your license suddenly you’ll come up for jury duty. Also here, as long as you have been released from custody (whether maxing out a sentence or completing parole), they will let you serve on a jury after 7 full years.
Though now that I’m over 7 years I haven't heard from them? .... I did update my license like a month ago though........
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I believe I can here in Mo serve as well but you have to go get your rights back. Same as voting it has changed from the past. Will have to go file some paperwork to get your rights back. I never done any of it since when I first got out in 2000 it was never an option. I had 20 Years of Paper to do and figured I would never see the day. Anyways got off early from good behavior and just never tried to do it. I guess one day I should try and get it but I do not believe in our system for real change. That's for the political section though.

Mwhitepotter · Nov 16, 2022

blairandgretchen said: ↑

After Rig Digging and ECM reporting and dyno testing a few trucks, thrashing figures, annoying forum members, used truck dealers, friends and relative strangers . . .

I finally bought a truck.

It's a 2001 KW T2000, N14, 13 speed (new), with 3.55 rears on 22.5 lp tires. 960,000 miles on it. Lifetime 6.8 - Driving 6.7 mpg. $12,500 cash. Ex CFI truck. 2 owners. And it's red.

Spent the last two days cleaning the interior and polishing the outside (with ladder and buffer, no less).

Landstar called yesterday and approved my application, so it's just a matter of time now.

Many thanks to Double Yellow, Cowpie and jldilley and Big_D409 for putting up with my incessant questions. I really appreciate it. Thanks also to the forum for having put me in touch with such good folks.

Wish me luck folks - I'm going to need it!
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Congratulations, may your roads be straight and the scenery beautiful.

skallagrime · Nov 16, 2022

Siinman said: ↑

I find it funny I get those #### Juror things in the mail often. I am a convicted criminal so I cannot do a juror trial. So I have to remind them every time I get one. They sure do not do any research on whom they are sent to.
Click to expand...

Im pretty convinced that theres some mark on my government file somewhere that disqualifies me for some hidden reason despite being eligible.

I always having my address etc on file, registered for selective service, file my taxes, etc etc, no convictions, no major debt or excessive income, by most metrics, I SHOULD be deeply average and therefore always in the pool. but nothing... ever. (Im 39)

My wife on the other hand (same age) is constantly getting a jury selection letter at leasy every other year since age 20...

I know randomness is streaky, but its a bit weird to compare 0 to 10.

blairandgretchen · Nov 16, 2022

Mwhitepotter said: ↑

Congratulations, may your roads be straight and the scenery beautiful.
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Oh, hang on to your hat fella, the story gets better.

Wait till page 183 where I develop a fondness for pavement princesses and blow, lose everything, sign on to the USPS as a mail carrier until I'm summarily dismissed for biting several dogs on my route, earning me the postal carrier handle of "The Show Me Mad Dog ex Trucker"

blairandgretchen · Nov 16, 2022

skallagrime said: ↑

Im pretty convinced that theres some mark on my government file somewhere that disqualifies me for some hidden reason despite being eligible.

I always having my address etc on file, registered for selective service, file my taxes, etc etc, no convictions, no major debt or excessive income, by most metrics, I SHOULD be deeply average and therefore always in the pool. but nothing... ever. (Im 39)

My wife on the other hand (same age) is constantly getting a jury selection letter at leasy every other year since age 20...

I know randomness is streaky, but its a bit weird to compare 0 to 10.
Click to expand...

Randomness is rather streaky - I always wondered why Gretchen and I got pulled for randoms so often at ODFL - my thought was they pulled the ones they knew would always test clean vs. drivers they suspected. May have just been my annoyance at the process and paranoia.

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