Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: cav58d on March 20, 2007, 05:00:09 PM
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Well...After 6 tries they finally got me. I phoned in, and I WAS NOT excused, so tomorrow I report 8:30 AM. At any rate, I have absolutely no interest in serving on a jury because it is a major time conflict with work and school...I'm looking for idea's to be excused?
I'm thinking of taking the "I do not believe in Jury system" approach. "It's nothing more than an illegitimate panel of individuals with little to no expertise in the subject, which leads to the butting of heads. To the right of you sits a doctor, and to your left is a 35 year old working on his GED. What do you expect is going to happen"...
Could that work?
Please post ideas
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Just do your time. Its a learning experience, even if you're not selected for a jury. Alot of down time waiting, but I think everyone should experience it at least once.
For the record, I used to be like you, wanting to get out of it, but once I was selected a 2nd time (I managed to get out of it the first) it was a very good experience.
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Can I ask them to defer my time until the summer? I don't mind serving...I really dont...It's just that I cant right now...Between my grad classes and my job, I can't afford to miss a single week day (at least until Mid May when classes end).
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Cav,
I too dislike the system very much. When interviewed I am very honest. I tell them I resent the fact that I was called and that I will make all votes and decisions on any case I am put on in such a manner as to shorten my stay there. I tell them that I resent not being paid a fair wage and that they have interfered with my life making me pay for someone ele's mistake.
I make it very clear I support capital punishment with extreme predjudice to the accused. I also state my faith in the word of a police officer and other persons of authority.
Should I be more involved? Perhaps, but I also beleive in profesional jurors or the primary use of retired persons who are willing to be jurors.
Mark
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Mark i'm pretty sure that is the approach I will take.....I also may throw in my understanding of Jury Nullification
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What happened to civic responsibility? You guys are educated, don't you think you can take a few days out of your life to help make a very important decision?
I reported for jury duty, but wasn't even selected. Tainted jury pool.
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Judge sir I am perfect for jury duty.
Why?
Because I can tell a guilty person *snap fingers* just like that.
;)
Bronk
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When I was in school, the judge was very agreeable to letting me postpone until summer.
It's the slackazz whiners that don't want to step up to their responsibility that the judges don't like. You know, the ones always complaining about the justice system while doing everything they can to avoid jury duty.
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Originally posted by cav58d
Well...After 6 tries they finally got me. I phoned in, and I WAS NOT excused, so tomorrow I report 8:30 AM. At any rate, I have absolutely no interest in serving on a jury because it is a major time conflict with work and school...I'm looking for idea's to be excused?
I'm thinking of taking the "I do not believe in Jury system" approach. "It's nothing more than an illegitimate panel of individuals with little to no expertise in the subject, which leads to the butting of heads. To the right of you sits a doctor, and to your left is a 35 year old working on his GED. What do you expect is going to happen"...
Could that work?
Please post ideas
Yeah if ya want to get hit with Contempt of court.
btw jury duty is a snap, bring a laptop, arrive at 8:30 am be out by 3pm.(if your not picked.
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I don't know about America but one of the professions excluded from Jury duty here are pilots. Dunno why, but I intend to use that one if it ever happens. My Mother was called twice strangely.
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Originally posted by cav58d
Can I ask them to defer my time until the summer? I don't mind serving...I really dont...It's just that I cant right now...Between my grad classes and my job, I can't afford to miss a single week day (at least until Mid May when classes end).
Yes, they will work with you. I had a similar situation and wasn't called up for something like another 5 years!
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Back when I had jury duty...and selected for 3 trials...we had one lady who when asked if she could serve, would chant how she didnt recognize the federal government and condemned the government's actions in Waco, Tx
She got off every time.
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Thats kind of funny. I received a jury summons today.
I could get out of it, but I won't. I feel compelled to go and be part of the system. I highly doubt I will get called though, most likely it will be a wasted day for me...
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Originally posted by Mark Luper
Cav,
I too dislike the system very much. When interviewed I am very honest. I tell them I resent the fact that I was called and that I will make all votes and decisions on any case I am put on in such a manner as to shorten my stay there. I tell them that I resent not being paid a fair wage and that they have interfered with my life making me pay for someone ele's mistake.
I make it very clear I support capital punishment with extreme predjudice to the accused. I also state my faith in the word of a police officer and other persons of authority.
Should I be more involved? Perhaps, but I also beleive in profesional jurors or the primary use of retired persons who are willing to be jurors.
Mark
Whatever you do, don't do this. I too once thought that this would be a great way out, but I was surely wrong. I made myself out to be against anyone even accused of a crime, if they were locked up for it, throw away the key. I told them that I had lots of friends and family in law enforcement (true) and because of that, I was definately on the side of the prosecution. To my surprise, I was the first one selected by the defense to sit on the jury! Horrible experience!
I did however get out of it one other time though, in a very simple way. I had my boss write the Jury Administrator a letter stating that having me out of work for any amount of time would greatly affect productivity, and the generation of revenue. I showed the letter when I arrived, and she said, "ok, you can go". I never even made it into the court room.
Whatever you try, good luck to you!
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Originally posted by Helrazr1
Whatever you do, don't do this.
This is exactly what I did to get out of jury duty the last time I was called.
As for the responsibility of civic duty that Aquashrimp pointed out:
Why should I be responsible for rendering a controlled decision ( controlled by the court ) that I may or may not wish to make to judge whether some scumbag is innocent or guilty? They put so many rules on what you can decide and what you are to ignore that in the end you are not making the decision at all!
Just let a computer do it.
Mark
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As a dude moving closer and closer to becoming a Liberterian, it is a little crazy to think that I should be forced to make judgement on someone.
At any rate, what I am going to do is print out a copy of my schedule from school, as well as my flight schedule...Like I said, I don't mind doing it in the summer, or at another point...It's just the timing right now.
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Tell them you aspire to be a police officer and feel cops only arrest "scum" who deserve it, or that you're a racist.
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Sad how one of the legal bedrocks of a free society sometimes becomes regarded as a burden to be evaded.
Through challenges to more senior officers, I once wound up being judge at an Air Force court-martial. Not something I sought, but duty called.
I understand judges are pretty good about working around extenuating circumstances. But to just dodge jury duty for inconvenience is not good citizenship.
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They let me defer until the summer when I had some paid time off built up.
And, for the record I did report then. I wanted to. I was questioned and dismissed, and to be honest, I was disapointed that I did not get selected.
You should serve.
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go to jury duty, you will find it very enlightening, you will see how the system really works not like the "trials" you see on some TV show.
the first thing the judge said to us (the jury pool) was "i know that non of you want to be here"
it is very educating, you will learn about the justice system, i was very surprised on my jury there was a wide cross section of people. but we were all very intelligent.
the way the jury is picked in florida, the judge, prosecutor, defense lawyer and the defendant all have input into who will on the jury.
the odds of being picked are not good, out of a pool of 52 they picked 7, (6 jurors, 1 alternate). mine was a felony charge, attempted first degree murder.
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I have went in for a couple -- not called once and dismissed the other, but It's gotten dammed irritating. Out of a metropolitan area of over 3 million for some reason I was getting the call about every 3 years or so. I guess it's that voter thing. The last time they wanted me to drive into the city and pay non-covered city of Chicago public parking. I had since moved to the suburbs so I asked for a change of venue and never heard back from them -- yet.
Why can't somebody else take a turn for once?
Charon
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I work with a lady who's 56 years old and never served on a jury. Her boss, however, has been picked at least once a year for the past four! Definitely a "go figure" on that one.
My own experience wasn't much to talk about. We walked in, signed in, sat down, and got the usual speech from the judge. What was expected of us, how we were to conduct ourselves, what all was going to happen. During the Q&A by the plaintiff's attorney (disability case, dude suing WA State L&I) a lot of folks gave simple and honest answers. Until they came to me. See, I never went to juror orientation; they had no background on me. And attorney's HATE a wildcard when cash is on the line. Ten minutes later I was out the door with a half-dozen other people, having stayed about two hours.
My second round went much the same as the first, only it was a criminal trial. I didn't get picked then, either. Probably due to one question raised by the defense. "Sir, what magazines or groups do you have a membership with?"
"Well, that would include Field & Stream, Guns & Ammo, Shooting Times, and the NRA. Why?"
That defense attorney looked somewhat shocked and promptly moved on. Again, about ten minutes later I split with a dozen other folks to head back home or to work. Nothing terribly exciting.
One person I work with got picked for a criminal trial where shots were fired at officers from a moving vehicle. The driver who fired was high on three different narcotics, plus drunk, and tried for an insanity plea. He said it took them about twenty minutes to convict the guy on nine different charges. Stuffing him in the meat locker with Bubba for 25+ years. When I asked him what it was like to actually be on a working jury, he put it thus:
"It's kinda like working at a fast-foot joint. Interesting experience, but I wouldn't want to repeat it."
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Flakbait [Delta6]
(http://www.wa-net.com/~delta6/sig/global.gif)
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Originally posted by Charon
I have went in for a couple -- not called once and dismissed the other, but It's gotten dammed irritating. Out of a metropolitan area of over 3 million for some reason I was getting the call about every 3 years or so. I guess it's that voter thing. The last time they wanted me to drive into the city and pay non-covered city of Chicago public parking. I had since moved to the suburbs so I asked for a change of venue and never heard back from them -- yet.
Why can't somebody else take a turn for once?
Charon
Do you think it had anything to do with being located around a high crime rate area?
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Sad how one of the legal bedrocks of a free society sometimes becomes regarded as a burden to be evaded.
I agree, I think its part of your civil duty to serve in what little manner that this presents. Its not like you've chosen to serve your country and are currently in thick of all that is nasty in the middle of Baghdad wondering if that next car coming toward you is loaded with 500 lbs of HE. I honorably serve my country, and if after I come home from a year or longer deployment and I'm sent jury duty I'll honorably serve there too. If being an AMERICAN is too much of a bother why not move?
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I've only been called in once but I proudly went in with no complaints and was willing to spend whatever time was needed for the trial. I was not picked and I was disappointed.
I think jury duty is something everyone should do.
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Cav does not in any way strike me as the kind of guy who is just trying to evade his civic responsibility. If you look at many of his posts I'd say quite the opposite.
The guy is busy and can't afford to miss school or work.
If I was you Cav though, I'd listen to Myelo on this one. Don't try any silliness, the judge will see right through it. Just be honest.
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I have been called more often than most and it does seem kind of uneven.
I think it is our duty to serve on a jury. I think that it is a way to make sure that justice is done.
Having said that... if you don't want to....
Why bother to show up? Did you get a registered letter for your summons?
Hell... you are not even required to open your mail in the U.S. so far as I know. Some people pay all their bills on line and get nothing but junk mail which they throw away.
lazs
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Do you think it had anything to do with being located around a high crime rate area?
Not really --- there's not THAT much crime. I think it's like telemarketing or an e-mail scam. I vote, and then I show up, which puts me on a sucker list :)
Charon
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An attorney friend of mine said that when he picked juries he tried to avoid independent thinkers and choose people who could be lead to a conclusion. The last time I got called I made sure that both attorneys saw me as such and boom.. goodbye by 1:00 pm.
Not that I would mind serving jury duty it would give me a chance to catch up on a couple of books I've been wanting to read and I somewhat enjoy watching the legal process (well when I'm not explaining to the judge why I was doing 20 over).
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the reason you were not picked is not because you are a "independent thinker", you were not picked because they knew you would not make a good juror. Not worthy to judge another.
many are called, few are chosen.
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Originally posted by Mightytboy
I've only been called in once but I proudly went in with no complaints and was willing to spend whatever time was needed for the trial. I was not picked and I was disappointed.
I think jury duty is something everyone should do.
While I might not look forward to it, it is a civic responsibility. I say a hearty "no" to professional juries or purely elderly. Yikes!
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If you want to get out of it just stand up when they ask if anyone's ever been convicted before. You'll even get escorted out of the building!
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Originally posted by john9001
the reason you were not picked is not because you are a "independent thinker", you were not picked because they knew you would not make a good juror. Not worthy to judge another.
many are called, few are chosen.
you could have a point there as well :lol
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Just tell them that they are ALL GUILTY NO MATTER WHAT. It works for me 10x out of 10!!!!
:t :t :t
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Originally posted by VWE
I agree, I think its part of your civil duty to serve in what little manner that this presents. Its not like you've chosen to serve your country and are currently in thick of all that is nasty in the middle of Baghdad wondering if that next car coming toward you is loaded with 500 lbs of HE. I honorably serve my country, and if after I come home from a year or longer deployment and I'm sent jury duty I'll honorably serve there too. If being an AMERICAN is too much of a bother why not move?
actually, I will find out in less than three weeks if I am selected for Officer Candidate School...So please, get off your high horse. Im working my masters degree right now, and I think I would be providing a more benifical civic duty as a more educated officer, than judging whether some schmuck should be awarded $2,640.00 dollars for a car accident in 1999.
And as it turned out, I knew one of the lawyers partners, so I was released immediately.
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Cav, you ought to consider a little attitude adjustment there. OCS would not be impressed with dodging jury duty or a blatant superiority complex.
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Originally posted by Halo
Cav, you ought to consider a little attitude adjustment there. OCS would not be impressed with dodging jury duty or a blatant superiority complex.
You said it better than I could have.
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Sorry Halo, but MA midterms take precedent over jury duty. I have no problem serving, in fact, I would love to sit on the jury at some point. However, the timing of when I was called, was more than an inconvienence.
And theres no superiority complex from me...Doesnt matter if I were becoming an E-1, or an O-1. I'm just sick of people already in the military, with their superiority complex of "I made the decision to serve my country, what are you doing!" attitude, when they know nothing about the individual they are questioning, or his intentions.
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Okay, I agree and probably most judges would too that MA midterms take precedence because it's easier to reschedule jury duty. Good luck on your midterms and OCS.
And I mean this in the kindest way -- be careful, especially in writing things that can live forever, to stay on the right side of that fine line between confident and arrogant.