CTL, I very strongly suggest that you take a remedial reading course. I wrote “probably”. Even if there is no official exemption I would imagine that the judge has discretion to excuse people based on occupation.
Joseph,
1. I strongly suggest that you join CTL. If enough of you get together you can even lobby the bar association for CLE credit. I wrote that one should ask one’s rav. If you google “jury duty halacha” you will find several opinions. I personally have difficulty with two:
a. One opinion says that it is safek gezel. As the litigants accepted the jury that should not be a problem (see SA CM 22:1 – mishna in Sanhedrin [3,2] says even three shepherds).
b. Another opinion says that experts should judge and not lay people. I have the same difficulty with this opinion.
Of course , the plaintiff is committing a chillul Hashem if he does not have permission from a bet din but in our case the litigants are already in court. BTW, I heard of a case where two Chassidim took their dispute to a secular court and were rebuked by the frum judge for not going to a bet din.
2. The secular authorities have the right and obligation to enact criminal laws for the maintenance. These courts are not bound by halachic rules. YWN coffee room capital punisment. See the extended discussion at http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/capital-punishment. See also (on-line) “Serving as Judge in Secular Courts”.