Who here has served on jury duty and has a good excuse to get off?

me ^ | Feb. 6, 2002 | me

[VMI70]

You got it right, there are only four.

If you want to add a fifth box, how about a coffin for freedom's enemies?

FReegards,

[gieriscm]

I have been called to jury duty 3 times in 10 years in Seattle Washington and have been dismissed for this reason [NRA member]. It's not right!

The NRA doesn't distribute its member lists. If the question comes up, I have no problems fibbing about it.

I've only been called once, didn't have to serve - no cases on the docket that day.

[vetvetdoug]

The last time I was asked to serve on a jury it was a case where the woman had been attacked and raped by another low-life. Only one problem, I knew the woman was a run around on her husband and she had stuck me with a $300 debt and lied about paying me. I called the district attorney over to the side and told him unless there was a video of the event, I wouldn't believe a word she had to say because of my previous interactions with her. The attorney let me off this case and the D.A. got a conviction against the rapist. In this case I was glad not to serve. Had I openly stated what I knew about the woman, I would have tainted the entire jury pool in the room.

[Mulder]

This very well could be describing only 4 people.

LOL! This is very true.

I failed to consider that many losers and parasites are losers and parasites for more than one reason alone.

[clintonh8r]

You did good! (But what kind of people are you hanging out with? Hope you got the 300 bucks back. She really owes you now!)

[steve-b]

I was disqualified from jury duty when the defendants lawyer asked if anyone in the jury pool was a NRA member.

"Your Honor -- speaking strictly hypothetically, mind you -- if someone is a member of GOA because he thinks the NRA is too wishy-washy, should he raise his hand or not at this point?"

[altura]

In Texas, one can be excused from jury duty if one is the caretaker of small children. There are other valid acceptable reasons.

Sorry for joining the goody-two-shoes ranks, but I think it is our duty to serve, particularly the people on forums such as this one, who are educated and interested in politics and social issues.

I also moaned and groaned when I got a summons, but I always went. It IS our duty and we shouldn't complain about stupid juries and stupid verdicts if we aren't willing to inconvenience ourselves to serve.

[FITZ]

Wear an NRA T shirt

That sounds like a good one to use. Not only would you be excused, but the rest of the room might get excused also for being influenced by your shirt.

[Vob]

A very old country lawyer told me one time that the you should not complain about jury verdicts if you are too busy to serve if only those that have nothing better to do than serve on them choose to do so.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Walk in carrying a rope. Works everytime.

[kaki]

OK, I scanned some of the responses,"I listen to Rush Limbaugh" is the best new one! I served on a Grand Jury for three years and had to miss one session--eight and 1/2 mos. pregnant works. The rest of the time, they wish they had never heard my name because I told them the TRUTH which is unheard of in my local court system. I was then called to serve on petty jury. All I had to do was show up and be willing to sit for a couple of hours. Forgive me if this offends anyone, but in our courthouse, I was one out of a hundred or more with an IQ over 3. If you think the defense attorneys would let me sit on a jury, think again. It took me about 1 hr. Just tell them you believe in honest justice!

[coloradan]

Jury nullification serves the vital purpose of allowing citizens a direct voice in law enforcement - it's part of the separation of powers, not between different branches of government, but between the government at large and the people at large. Don't worry, I won't return "not guilty" to someone who has obviously harmed another. But, for example, I would not convict someone giving slaves safe passage, even if it were clearly forbidden by law. Seems I would not be the first person to do so.

[steve-b]

The NRA doesn't distribute its member lists. If the question comes up, I have no problems fibbing about it.

I believe that the jury pool is under oath for voir dire. Fibbing about it would be a bad idea if you got caught (admittedly unlikely).

[jlogajan]

Your honor, no good lawyer would want me on the jury, I have a working brain.

[Nachum]

Yes. We were instructed that we were under oath for voir dire. Acutally, there is no longer an "oath" in Los Angeles County. It is a pledge or affirmation that we understand the penalties for lying (criminal).

[sistergoldenhair]

If you're self-employed you can always use the "economic harship" defense to get out of jury duty

Doesn't work where I'm from.
A self- employed person I know tried this excuse.
The judge assured him that, since his number had been drawn, the hardship could be reduced by placing him in a panel with an expected trial length of say...2-3 days.

[Dinsdale]

First off if you recieved your summons in the mail you can safely ignore it. It was not properly served.

If somehow asked (unlikely) tell the bench shyster that you don't read snailmail. The signal to noise ratio is just too bad. It might be temping to refer to the summons as junk mail, don't do it.

This all depends on not admitting to seeing the summons, once you call them, you are served and SOL.

Your next defense is to say 'I refuse on religous grounds to stand in judgement of ANYONE' and be prepared to quote chapter and verse for 'Judge not lest ye be judged'. This cannot be argued.

Where I live this is'nt too much help, as they will force you to sit in the jury pool for the duration wasting your time anyhow (but perhaps allowing you to get something done).

I know the first part of this is true as I read about a judge who got so sick of the scofflaws (like myself) that he sent out registered mail summons', ruining many days. I have NOT received jury summons several times.

[Nachum]

Didn't work for me either. The city is getting tough on everyone. The Judge told us that we had a better chance if we went through jury selection.

[MississippiMan]

I was called once in a murder trial, and it was just weeks after I had opened a new business that literally could not open without me. That fact went in the judge's left ear and out the right. Luckily, my truthful answers during the questioning of potential jurors spared me.

Q: Have you ever been a victim of crime?
A: Yes!

Q: Have you ever been treated poorly by the police?
A: Yes!

Neither side wanted me.

MM

[Wvoter]

Neal Boortz says you should take a copy of his book, "The Terrible Truth About Liberals" into the courtroom with you and let the defense lawyers see you reading it. Otherwise, if you mention that you are a fan of talk radio, they can't excuse you fast enough. I've been held up at gunpoint, so all I have to do is mention that. They'll usually ask.