Just had this happen to me last week. Only a 2 day trial. The wife said during jury questioning to say "I don't like Black people".
We had much newspaper coverage on the trial. Again, small town. It was a sex offender issue. I told them that I followed it carefully. When asked if I I had seen this coverage, would I be able to only listen to the facts presented and disregard what I'd seen in the newspaper?? I said, No. They moved for me to leave.
To get relieved from jury duty, at the begining is hard. When they start asking jury questions, think of anything that might make you be biased. Be honest. In my heart, when I said I couldn't be a dis-interested third party in listening to the evidence...I couldn't.
Thus, it's quite easy to get out of. If I had time for a 2 day jury, I would have. I'm a sole owner of my company. And thank goodness that I got out of it. I had 4 phones calls in the first day that I could only answer.
As a retired person, I can't answer that. But 18 months....someones got to do it
