Jury duty?

[fernie]

I just got a letter to do jury duty. A friend was telling me that he was on a rape trial jury where one of the other jury members wouldn't convict some guy because he couldn't believe that a man could penetrate a woman from behind. Any other dumb ass stories out there?

I'm thinking about sitting on the jury if the trial is expected to be less than 2 weeks. If it's a lengthy trial, I may claim a medical illness to get out of it. I heard many judges don't bother asking for medical notes.

Fernie

 

[Goober Mcfly]

There was this one Matlock where Ben was on a jury and he was the only one who thought the guy was innocent and then he had to convince the rest of the jury that the guy was actually innocent and he ended up doing that and the guy got found not-guilty.

It was cool.

 

[Cardinal Fang]

*shakes his head*

I was asked to come in to be part of the jury pool. I spent an entire week hold up in a room with approx. 30 other people waiting our turn to be questioned. On the very last day of my "imprisonment" we were dismissed because a plea-bargain had be negotiated.

 

[submissivedave]

I think jury duty is great!

It's one way to be involved in our community/society.
It's also a way of doing our civil responsibilities as a citizen.

 

[fernie]

No offence, Sub Dave but isn't jury duty hard to do if you are employed? I can't get away from work for extended periods of time. And who can survive on the measly day allowance provided? It wouldn't even cover the parking fees for coming downtown.

Who was the comic that said during the OJ trial that there seemed to be nothing worse than to have your fate decided by a group of unemployed morons who were too stupid to get out of jury duty? Ha ha.

Fernie

 

[mmm61318]

when they interview you, if the defendent is black, say right away , if he is black then he must be guilty....

you will be excused.....

 

[duMaurierguy]

When I received a jury duty notice in the mail a few years back, I wasn't too keen in serving. Being a business owner, I can't afford to be away for extended periods of time (without having to make arrangements). That's what I told the judge and crown and was excused. Had the circumstances been different, I would gladly have done my civic duty.

 

[jimmyf]

Imagine one day, by some unfortunate chance, you end up charged with a crime of which you are not guilty. Wouldn't you like to know the jury will be made up of honest citizens who, while they may not like having their lives interrupted, will do their best to do the right thing?

Suck it up and sit in the jury pool. Answer the questions asked during the selection process honestly. And, if you end up being selected, do the best job you can of deciding on the issues before you... because you would expect others to do the same for you.

People who try to ditch jury duty when they can afford to do it are beneath contempt and should be exiled from the country for life.


I could not have said it better GOD. Plus you would be surprised how many employers want you to do the right thing and serve...

 

[Paul Waters]

There was this one Matlock where Ben was on a jury and he was the only one who thought the guy was innocent and then he had to convince the rest of the jury that the guy was actually innocent and he ended up doing that and the guy got found not-guilty.

It was cool.

Even better is the movie Twelve Angry Men. Highly recommended.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

Better than Matlock?

HA! I think NOT!

 

[submissivedave]

C'mon man, for all you employed people and business owners, if it ain't for the law do you think you can be doing what you are doing?

Who cares if the allowance is not enough to cover parking ... it's not a big deal for 2 weeks. And plus, your boss/superior/manager has to let you go ...

Just do your duty boys and girls ... it's part of what it means to be a citizen.

 

[Cardinal Fang]

It can get more complicated then that SubDave. Take the Paul Bernardo case. That jury was tied up for over 3 months not to mention having to pour over some pretty graphic evidence. Two members of the jury needed to receive counseling after being affected by some of that evidence. That was done at THEIR cost and not the Crown’s. They complained that the province should have to foot the bill but were turned down cold.

You may want to ask those people that sat on the jury of some pretty horrific cases whether the problems the suffer today were worth the effort of civic duty. Its no wonder people try to get out of jury duty.

 

[fernie]

Simply no way.

There is simply no freaking way that I see myself sitting through a trial that could be expected to last 4 months or 6 months or 8 months. How would I pay my mortgage? How would I run my business? Anyways, I think that the criminal justice system is such a sham these days that there is no way any Crown would want me on the jury. It's a joke. Too many credibility problems on part of both accused and cops.

Fernie

 

[fromaway]

When they ask you what you do for a living just say "I'm a psychic and I can save us all a lot of time." That should get you excused!

fa

 

[Gentle Ben]

Even better is the movie Twelve Angry Men. Highly recommended.

I must agree with you Paul, ironically, I bought it on DVD off Ebay and just recieved it today, what a classic!

 

[Big Bear]

Doing the Duty

Being asked to do jury duty in Toronto is a very boring way to spend a week. I did it two years ago and was called twice during the week for a panel. In both cases I was asked what I did, what my education was and whether I could serve the necessary time. I had an important meeting the following week and told the court that. The lawyers were asked by the judge if they felt they could wrap it up in time for my meeting and in both cases they said no and I was excused. Also heard that the lawyers, particularly defense lawyers do not like people who make a lot of money or are well educated. The education part is more a Crown problem because apparently you are less likely to convict.

My advice is to go and get it over with, if you ask to be excused you will but you end up in the next pool and then you have to stay for two weeks instead of one. We were called on Monday and were dismissed on Wednesday afternoon. Only had to be there for a week.

 

[Aussie visitor]

I have been called to do jury duty 4 times in the last 8 years. The first three times I checked the night before and I wasnt needed. The last time, the estimated length of trial was 5 weeks. There is no way that I could do that, I would have lost about $8000 dollars if I had. Luckily I had just moved house a wek ago, and hadnt gotten around to changing my address with the electoral commission, so I disposed of the letter, and changed my address the next day. When they asked why I didnt turn up to jury duty, I said what jury duty? I never received a notice... end of problem. I dont know what the situtation is like in Canada, but the allowance they pay here wouldnt pay for parking and lunch, and most employers dont subsidise. If the government wants a good jury, then they should pay whatever the person would otherwise have recieved.

 

[djk]

Let me play devil's advocate.

For those of you opposed to serving jury duty. Should politicians be critized for dodging the draft, etc, etc. ?

Cheers,

-djk

 

[Paul Waters]

Better than Matlock?

HA! I think NOT!

You may wish to read this review:

http://www.filmsite.org/twelve.html

This film had Henry Fonda, Jack Klugman, Martin Balsam, Lee J Cobb, E J Marshall, and Ed Begley

 

[fernie]

I vote in all municipal, provincial and federal elections. I need to put food on the table so I won't sit around for a big, long case. If I was ever to get charged with a crime, I would rather have people on the jury who weren't going to reach the speediest verdict ever just so they could get back to their lives ASAP. Of course, you are left with unemployed bums or housewives who may not be up to the challenge of going through all the evidence. Here's hoping I never get arrested with anything.

Fernie