Jury Duty.

[Safe_Bet]

Sorry, VM, but you'd be sent home and told to come back wearing something more appropriate, tomorrow. I was just on Jury duty. They won't let you wear things like that if you're a potential juror.

True. But I have found that inserting the phrase, " But as a lesbian I..." is every bit effective as a NRA hat.

 

[Guest]

True. But I have found that inserting the phrase, " But as a lesbian I..." is every bit effective as a NRA hat.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Sorry, VM, but you'd be sent home and told to come back wearing something more appropriate, tomorrow. I was just on Jury duty. They won't let you wear things like that if you're a potential juror.

It's odd. I'm in the same jurisdiction you are and lately I've always made my nightly call in very late (mostly because that's when I remember to ) and they always tell me to call again tomorrow.

I've never served on a jury in my life and in all the hours and hours I used to spend sitting around the jury room in the courthouse that shall not be named (R. Richard knows which one I'm talking about) I don't think I ever saw anyone get told to go home and change clothes.

I have been excused from child abuse cases because of my profession, though, and once was excused from a firearms case when I told the lawyers that I was in the Army Reserve, was a NRA Life Member and that I used to shoot competition. As was stated, there's no telling what the lawyers want.

 

[3113]

It's odd. I'm in the same jurisdiction you are and lately I've always made my nightly call in very late (mostly because that's when I remember to ) and they always tell me to call again tomorrow.

Which means you're off if you don't go in that week. Yes.

I've never served on a jury in my life and in all the hours and hours I used to spend sitting around the jury room in the courthouse that shall not be named (R. Richard knows which one I'm talking about) I don't think I ever saw anyone get told to go home and change clothes.

Part of the new rules. Have you viewed the "Orientation" video they have online? If you do, and print out the certificate, then if they do call you in, you get to arrive an hour later. On the video they say that if you wear, say, a teeshirt that says "Guilty" or something with that kind of slogan, something clearly intended to push buttons, you'll be sent home. Likely, however, what they mean is that the judge is likely to send you home, as the folk in the jury room really don't have time to police what jurors are wearing.

The judges are quite savvy about the tricks people play to get out of jury duty and they really don't like it when you try to play them, as if the judge hasn't seen this kind of thing before.

I saw two people in my courtroom try to play games with the judge. He sent them both off to be on civil cases at a courthouse across the street.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Which means you're off if you don't go in that week. Yes.


Part of the new rules. Have you viewed the "Orientation" video they have online? If you do, and print out the certificate, then if they do call you in, you get to arrive an hour later. On the video they say that if you wear, say, a teeshirt that says "Guilty" or something with that kind of slogan, something clearly intended to push buttons, you'll be sent home. Likely, however, what they mean is that the judge is likely to send you home, as the folk in the jury room really don't have time to police what jurors are wearing.

The judges are quite savvy about the tricks people play to get out of jury duty and they really don't like it when you try to play them, as if the judge hasn't seen this kind of thing before.

I saw two people in my courtroom try to play games with the judge. He sent them both off to be on civil cases at a courthouse across the street.

Oooo, that's nasty. Civil cases tend to take a lot longer than criminal ones.

 

[SweetWitch]

I tried to get out of it. The timing was terrible. The station where I worked had a new station manager who was firing people left and right. He was watching me like a hawk and I knew I was marked next.

The place was a madhouse, busier than you can imagine. Both my departments (I ran both of them without staff) were swamped to the point where I was working 16-hour days. I met myself coming and going.

My daughter was ill again. The doctor was talking more surgery, the painful kind to take out a sample of bone marrow. They suspected Luekemia. (fortunately, they were wrong.)

Life was busy, and though I wanted to do my duty, I tried to beg off. I even said I believed in the death penalty for anyone who gets out of line. I told them of the attack on my person and how I wanted to fry all the sinners. It didn't work.

While I was sitting in the jury box, the boss managed to get the paperwork done. When I returned, he handed me my pink slip.

Still, it was an interesting little trial. The guy that brought the charges came off as a whiner who had started the whole fight, then cried foul when he got the shit beat out of him. We, the jury, found him ridiculous.

 

[ishtat]

You say that, but, once again, I've just been on Jury Duty. You don't get told everything, or presented all the evidence. if you'd been

This is so true. I have been asked to give evidence in a number of civil trials as a so called expert witness. However the side that briefs you doesn't really want your expertise. They want the weight of your reputation to back only the points they wish to make. When you hand them your report prior to trial some Counsell will ask/tell you to eliminate things which although properly included may not help their case.

Then as 3113 points out there are great chunks of evidence that the jury (if it is a jury trial) never gets to see.

I have also given evidence in 6 French civil court cases and their system (and I hate to say this) is much superior to the British or American system. There the purpose of the court is to establish the truth wheras in the USA or UK the purpose is to establish a winner. French courts also do not adhere slavishly to precedent as our courts do.

 

[wafflemtl]

This is so true. I have been asked to give evidence in a number of civil trials as a so called expert witness. However the side that briefs you doesn't really want your expertise. They want the weight of your reputation to back only the points they wish to make. When you hand them your report prior to trial some Counsell will ask/tell you to eliminate things which although properly included may not help their case.

Then as 3113 points out there are great chunks of evidence that the jury (if it is a jury trial) never gets to see.

I have also given evidence in 6 French civil court cases and their system (and I hate to say this) is much superior to the British or American system. There the purpose of the court is to establish the truth wheras in the USA or UK the purpose is to establish a winner. French courts also do not adhere slavishly to precedent as our courts do.

Perhaps it's because, in France, you are not "innocent till proven guilty". You have to prove that you didn't do it.

 

[jomar]

In comparison to my friends I seem to get called way more than my fair share, but I never get on a jury (knocks wood). Most often I sit around for the day and nothing happens and that's that(system like 3113's). Though when I do get called I get dismissed, for which I am grateful.

 

[CrimsonMaiden]

I've been called twice. Once I was attending college in another city, so my mom called and got me out of having to appear. The second time, I had just started a new job and my administrator tried to get me out of it but wasn't successful. First thing they did was draw names out of a hat for the grand jury. Wouldn't you know my name was pulled. It was only two days though, so it wasn't that bad.

 

[Guest]

. . . .

 

[kromen]

The one time I got called, I was in college five states away. I bet if they used some of court funds to match the missing salaries of prospective jurors more people would be willing to stay. Whats that website for the orientation video?

 

[ishtat]

Perhaps it's because, in France, you are not "innocent till proven guilty". You have to prove that you didn't do it.

This statement is wrong. Felonies that is serious crimes which may carry a sentence of 5 years or more are brought before the Cour d'Assises at which the plaintiff, the prosecution(Ministere Public) has to prove guilt to a jury usually made up of three judges and 9 laymen. The presumption of innocence is fundamental.

Less serious crimes are dealt with in the Tribunaux Corectional. There is no appeal process but I think pardons can be made.

At the lowest level traffic infringements and similar, these are dealt with without any judicial process on payment of a fine. Again no appeal.

Comparasion of the two systems is difficult partly because we use similar words but unfortunately the words don't necessarily mean the same.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Several times in the last 2 years I was called to testify at a criminal trial, and each time I went the trial was postponed. The distance to the courthouse is 80 miles and the state pays 6 cents per mile for travel. Thats right. 6 cents. Plus I got NO money when the trial was postponed.

So, I refused to testify, and told them they could kiss my big lard ass. Nuthin happened to me. The guy got 20 years.

 

[Guest]

. . . .

 

[rgraham666]

Good to hear. *HUGS*

 

[Lisa Denton]

IT"S YOUR DUTY AND A PRIVILEDGE TO SERVE

(Lisa giggles maniacally)

I like doing it sometimes, or at least listening to that opening stuff, they never wanted me to be in the actual jury.

Here's what you do.

Go in there and if its a interesting important case you will like being there.

If they are trying to charge some guy and give him 20 years for jaywalking ........... just start muttering over and over "hang that fuckin bastard" .............. and they will politely ask you to leave.

Jury duty done and over, back to the important stuffs.