Guy tries to get out of jury duty...

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/07/10/reluctant.juror.ap/index.html

So basically, this guy REALLY didn't want jury duty, so he claimed he was a racist, homophobic, and a liar. The judge ordered him taken into custody (however released shortly after) and he may face charges.

What do you guys think about this?

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

What a dumbarse. If you're going to try to lie your way out of Jury Duty, at least -try- to make it convincing. He deserves whatever he gets for being -stupid-.

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

I don't think he deserves anything. While he's a dumbass, I don't think he's done anything wrong to deserve any sort of charges. There is no way to prove the he's NOT homophobic or a racist, so the best course of action should be to just let him go and be over with it. But instead, the law has to flex its muscles and try to squeeze something out of the guy because he didn't want to do something that I don't believe we should be unwillingly forced into doing in the first place.

FawkesFyre · Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 3:16 pm Post subject:

It leads to a good question in really what does it take to get turned down for jury duty? The idea of serving on a jury scares the crap out of me. Maybe I've seen too many movies where the jurors get hunted down but either way, it just isn't something I'd ever want to be a part of.

Being pulled for jury duty should be a choice...maybe make that as something to opt in or out of when you register to vote...or even at the DMV....but not to force ppl into it. But then again, our freedom of choice gets smaller and smaller as the years go by. I'm waiting for the day when everyone is required to both register to vote and to get some for of a driver's license/ID card.

That's how some ppl can end up with an unfair jury trial...unwilling jurors just play the part of a sheep and go with the rest of the flock just to get out faster instead of really putting forth the effort to analie the situation and facts.

The only thing that guy is really guilty of is being a smartass about the compulsive liar part. The rest of the stuff he did would have prolly been enough to have him dismissed.

SirGunslinger · Rebel without a clue Gender: Joined: 21 Jun 2007

Actually, being a smartass and a liar when your not under oath can get you charged with Contempt of Court. It is a minor misdomeanor offense, but it is a law we have (with good reason).

GAAZ · MOD Black Sheep Commander Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2002

Silver Adept · Otaku Lord Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 20 May 2003

Well, the law says that someone is to be tried by a jury of their peers. If someone doesn't want to serve on a jury, that should be their right to refuse. Lawyers may be looking for excuses to dismiss jurors, so instead of lying about his prejudices, maybe the guy just needs to show a bit of intelligence. That might have gotten him dismissed pretty quickly.

Legend · Queen of Terabithia Age: 41 Gender: Joined: 14 Oct 2005

Yeah, but how many people actually -want- to be on a jury? Not enough to actually make the trials fair, I don't think. Certain types of people want to be on the jury. That's not 'getting tried by a jury of your peers' that's 'getting tried by the few people who fit the category of 'wanting to volunteer'"

I'm sorry, but I think that Jury Duty is just that, a duty, and that people -should- have to do it, because that's the only way to keep it fair. Yeah, you get people who want to rush through it because they want to be there, but you also get people who do want to be there, or who don't but are willing to work at it to make sure the person gets a fair trial. Probably all in the same jury. Which just means we get an appropriate sampling of the US citizenry...and that's sort of the point of having a jury, isn't it?

Ming · DOOM! Gender: Joined: 13 Jan 2003

You would be surprised how many people actually want to serve. And no, we shouldn't have to do it, especially when we're being forced to. What sort of freedom is it when I can be arrested and fined for not doing somthing that I don't want to do in the first place? It's hypocrisy is what it is.

Again, you would be very surprised at how many people actually DO want to do jury duty...just ask around. I've been called for jury duty three times now (and gotten out of it twice). And when I've complained about being called, multiple people complain about how they've NEVER gotten called but they actually want to. And they're not the kind of people that you are alluding to. They're people who are genuinely interested in the well being of others and of our justice system.

And Fawkes brings up an extremely valid point...if you force people into serving, then you have a much greater chance of having an incorrect or unfair verdict.

SirGunslinger · Rebel without a clue Gender: Joined: 21 Jun 2007

If you do not like jury duty then do not vote. I mean there are alot of things that I don't want to do, but I have to anyway. Just think of it as your civic duty, suck it up, and get your stipend for the day =).

Have you ever watched the movie Twelve Angry Men?