Posted on 02/06/2002 5:48:13 PM PST by Nachum
Having small children was listed as a reason to be excused when I was called.
One of her kids was the son of a big wheel lawyer in town. Next day, lo and behold, she got told that her services were no longer needed down at the courthouse, something about her having an important job function. Apparently Mr. Lawyer did not want his son's education to be disrupted by a sub teacher. Guess it pays to know the right people.
No, not goody two shoes. The jury box is one of the boxes by which freedom is preserved. The others are the soap box, the ballot box, and in extremis, the cartridge box. (Seems like there is a fifth box, but I've having brain fade at the moment)
That said, mentioning jury nullification will probably do the trick, although maybe not in most cases.
I Have jury duty myself in a couple of weeks, and I certainly won't be trying to get out of it.
In Texas courts, that is a valid reason for being excused.
One sees at least 5-10 posts per day here at FR on the latest trials and verdicts that make us laugh, cry, outraged, whatever.
Why do you think these stories are so numerous?
One reason is that too many of us look at jury duty as "something to get out of."
Reasonable people ,like you and me, have jobs, families, and a multitude of things we would rather tend to than serve on a jury.
But you see my friend, when REASONABLE people ,like you and me get out of jury duty, think of who we leave that responsibility to.
There are a lot of shall we say... less reasonable people that spend a lot of time watching the soaps and Springer during the day because they have nothing better to do. That is, until they get the same summons that you did, reported at the same time you did, but didn't want to get out of it like you did.
Believe me, I don't like jury duty either. The system treats you with minimal respect in most cases. Crappy parking, inefficient jury processing, minimal compensation are just a few of the many gripes you hear, and I agree.
There are some courts that are trying different methods of making jury duty more palatable. But what I find less palatable are outrageous verdicts and awards for spilt coffee, or freed child molesters and the like.
I know juries are not the only thing wrong with the system, but it's the only area in which each of us can have a direct impact in the direction of our courts.
My friend, those of us who won't serve their jury duty have no right to complain.
My advice: Bite the bullet and serve. Answer questions honestly and let the chips fall where they may. There's a jury out there that can use all the "reasonable" it can get.
I was disqualified from jury duty when the defendants lawyer asked if anyone in the jury pool was a NRA member.
All who raised their hands were dismissed.
I protested to the judge that I wanted to do my civic duty and she told me that she was sorry and had to let me go.
I have been called to jury duty 3 times in 10 years in Seattle Washington and have been dismissed for this reason. It's not right!
Either you have a good reason, REAL family obligations, REAL hardhsip, or you don't. If you were on trial for something, how wouold you like to know that people like you managed to play the system so they didn't serve, while people like the OJ jury are now sitting in judgement of you?
I have been on three juries, two civil and one criminal, and in the latter I helped save an innocent man from a murder rap. The presence of even one thoughtful person on a jury can make a difference. Never underestimate the amount of good you can do if you are in the right place at the right time.
"For evil to prevail, it is only necessary that good men do nothing."
I was recently called and told them that I had school and work. They asked when I would be off of school and scheduled me to go then.
My work would pay for jury leave, but the timing was bad as I was in the middle of a big project. I went anyway, with no intent of actually serving. I wore my NRA t-shirt and my cowboy hat and boots. I wasn't called, but I'm sure I wouldn't have made it through selection.
I would like to serve on a jury if I could be away from work for two weeks, just to help convict the obviously guilty, or to keep the innocent from getting railroaded.
You should do it if you can.
On the other hand, I recommend you serve. Too many "clear thinkng" people believe they do not have the time, but society needs common sense on a jury. It is an important check and balance for bad laws; over zealous police/prosecutors and corrupt judges. I 've done it a couple of times and have not regretted it.
Agree. I have served. Some of my fellow potential jurors had "OJ" on their foreheads.
In my area you had best have a real good reason for not serving.
Those called for duty have been known to spend the week filing papers since they weren't impartial/mentally handicapped/whatever.
But it is a seroius thing and I really couldn't see sitting on a trial where a guy could get life if I couldn't hear things.
The adventure was a BLAST...you should try to come to NY and see how cool the NYPD are!!!!
This very well could be describing only 4 people.
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