So would I. The prosecution would have the impossible mission of proving any violation of tax law to me, were I a juror.
Judge Skinner asked if anyone wanted to be excused. There were about 74 jurors in the courtroom. There were only about 6 people who went to the bench because you could write in for two weeks prior to that reporting date and give a reason to be excused.
I heard the reasons given by a couple of people ahead of me and Judge Skinner said they were excused pending verification of their reasons to be excused.
Now comes my turn. I get in front of Judge Skinner and ask him if we would be trying anyone for income tax evasion. He says that is a possibility. I say I could not render an unbiased verdict in that type of case. He asks me why.
Now understand the bench is about 4 feet wide between us so I lean forward and say: There is no way I am going to find anyone guilty of tax evasion when one of the richest men in the country, the Vice President, Nelson Rockerfeller only paid $900 in federal taxes last year.
Judge Skinner glares at me and then I say out loud "The federal system of taxation SUCKS.
All hell broke loose with that remark. The two proscecutors behind me, jumped me -the man in charge of seating the jurors in the jury box jumped the rail and grabbbed me - the police grabbed me. There were about a dozen people who had me pinned against the bench in front of Judge Skinner.
Judge Skinner leaned over and said. "It's to bad you feel that way."This man is not excused he will be on jury duty! He kept me on jury duty for 6 weeks. I got thrown off every case by the proscecutors, that I was selected to be on.
It was an interesting 6 weeks. I had to report every Monday and then got bounced by the proscecutors. - tom