TravisBickle62: All you have to do is say that you believe everything a cop says is the absolute truth, the defense attorney will kick you off the jury.

Nah, all you have to do is throw them away, if it didn't come registered mail then they can't prove you received it.

/IaNaL

Even if you're dumb enough to lie under oath to avoid jury duty, at least have the brains to avoid sharing the story on talk radio

Or do it in the state of California where we're flushing the contents of the state prisons out onto the counties, which in turn are releasing everyone in sight due to lack of space and money. They'd probably keep somebody like this in jail for about ten seconds before kicking her loose.

letrole: She should have started mentioning jury nullification. That's a killer on two points. The first is that it's a subversion of justice, and the second is it that only a nutter espouse it.

FTGodWin: Yeah, because only a nutter would refuse to uphold slavery laws in the US. Or refuse to convict you for sitting in the front of the bus, even though you admit doing it.


Do you hear a fife and drum playing yankee doodle playing softly in your head as you make that speech?

Jury nullification works just as well for those who think the law is too lax. The main way to put aside the prejudice -- that you trot out as an appeal to emotion --is to stick to facts. The law itself is a fact.That's why jurors are instructed to judge the facts.

The juror doesn't conclude the defendent snatched the purse, but the juror does indeed vote guilty anyway, merely because the defendent is an illegal alien and needs jailing regardless.

I wonder if simply dressing in a disheveled manner would have been enough to not be selected. That way, you're not actually lying under oath about your mental state. I guess it all depends on whether the judge and/or lawyers would be biased against having someone who appears mentally unstable on the jury. Is it a felony to make people think you're crazy without actually saying it?

JackieRabbit: moops: I have a Master's Degree - people with MS usually get picked off before jury selection is complete. Also, engineers.

Uh, not so much on that. The educated almost never get picked. Attorneys ALWAYS pick the stupidest shiats they can find. They never want someone with critical thinking skills on their juries.

I'm an engineer and sat on a jury in a criminal trial. We deadlocked 6-6 over the guilt of some gangbanger thug. Most of my fellow jurors I wouldn't trust to know how to set their damned kitchen clocks without tech support, much less know what constitutes a reasonable doubt. That was a week I'll never get back, but it was interesting to see the justice system close up. The judge, by the way, was extremely professional and a good guy. He was the only positive part of the experience.

I read the whole thing. They essentially tricked her into incriminating herself, failed to read her Miranda rights despite the fact she was being investigated for a crime. Even a Fark lawyer could get her off of this one.

retrograde: I read the whole thing. They essentially tricked her into incriminating herself, failed to read her Miranda rights despite the fact she was being investigated for a crime. Even a Fark lawyer could get her off of this one.

Yeah, maybe if she served her jury duty, she'd already know that, no?

;)

If you are mentally unstable enough to act mentally unstable to get out of Jury Duty and then mentally unstable enough to brag about it over the radio waves, I am finding it hard not to see her as mentally unstable.

wingnut396: I really don't get the hate for jury duty. I've served twice on juries and found it interesting. Yeah, it may be a pain in the rear, but most likley you will not get sequestered. You may spend a day or three in courtroom listening to testimony. Its not that bad. If you are ever a defendant, a plantiff or a victim, you will want people that will hear you case fairly.

In my personal experience, the people that try the hardest to skip on their civic duty are the same one always complaining about how stupid the government is and that people need to be more responsible.

I served jury duty for a 3 week civil trial. The plaintiff was injured because she was standing in the baseline in a softball game and was run down by the defendant. She had some major back injury as a result. Plaintiff claimed to be standing near the pitchers mound when the defendant went off course, ran her down, and then continued to home plate.

Only one person on the jury believed her, and another person thought the decision was too difficult to comprehend and chose not to participate at the end. Since it was a civil trial we only needed a majority to agree. She wanted $19,000,000 for medical expenses and future lost income.

I found the trial pretty cool. Lawyers are really neat to watch when they're working and using all that lawyer lingo.

pute kisses like a man:
unfortunately, the argument of law is not about primarily logical. It's most common feature is inference by analogue.

So the best jurors would be the commentators on Fark politics threads?

Wow, that's scary.

jjorsett: JackieRabbit: moops: I have a Master's Degree - people with MS usually get picked off before jury selection is complete. Also, engineers.

Uh, not so much on that. The educated almost never get picked. Attorneys ALWAYS pick the stupidest shiats they can find. They never want someone with critical thinking skills on their juries.

I'm an engineer and sat on a jury in a criminal trial. We deadlocked 6-6 over the guilt of some gangbanger thug. Most of my fellow jurors I wouldn't trust to know how to set their damned kitchen clocks without tech support, much less know what constitutes a reasonable doubt. That was a week I'll never get back, but it was interesting to see the justice system close up. The judge, by the way, was extremely professional and a good guy. He was the only positive part of the experience.

Let me guess which side you fell on. :D

When I served on a jury, it was a federal gun case. My title at the time was "software engineer", I had two degrees, and was nearly finished with my masters. According to Fark I should have never made it through the court house doors. I didn't exactly feel out of place in the deliberation room, either.

/voted to convict

evaned: Tainted1: Programming requires that you understand and utilize logic, probably not a skill most prosecutors would allow in a jury if they had a choice.

To be fair, my impression is that the defense is not too keen on it either. Both sides want to be able to manipulate.

I've never been called, but I know half a dozen engineers who have been. All of them were booted by one of the attorneys. I know, small sample size and all.

/I hear shrinks are booted even faster

retrograde: I read the whole thing. They essentially tricked her into incriminating herself, failed to read her Miranda rights despite the fact she was being investigated for a crime. Even a Fark lawyer could get her off of this one.

No, not even a fark lawyer can magic up some sort of legal obligation for a radio disk jockey to read someone his miranda rights.

letrole: No, not even a fark lawyer can magic up some sort of legal obligation for a radio disk jockey to read someone his miranda rights.

Guess how I know you did not read the arrest affidavit before posting your snark?

ha-ha-guy: I've never been called, but I know half a dozen engineers who have been. All of them were booted by one of the attorneys. I know, small sample size and all.

/I hear shrinks are booted even faster

The voir dire I was not quite a part-of had a poli sci prof on the panel. The questioning of him was... amusing.

(The lawyers finished their questioning and non-peremptory challenges before I was empanneled, so I didn't see how it ended, but $100 would have said he was going to get booted out.)

JohnAnnArbor: Called for jury duty once in Ann Arbor. The notice says to wait in the hall until 8am (or whenever they let you in to the room). There was a notice on the door to the room we were supposed to go to saying don't knock, just wait until we let you in.

Guy comes up, knocks on the door over and over until they open and say read the message. He argues so much deputies are called to tell him to chill. They close the door again and he waits--by standing, facing the door, with his nose less than one inch from the door. Just staring, waiting the ten minutes or so to the appointed hour.

I wasn't sure if it was a crazy act or not. This is Ann Arbor; some people are genuinely that loony.

I miss living in A2. And law school.

/what I wouldn't give for a good meal at the gandy dancer.

Shame shame on this thread for failing to post a picture or link to the most famous and sexiest and lovely and 20 years old now voir dire ever.

Shame.

:(

I've been called for jury duty four times and picked once. And without sounding too preachy, WHEN YOU'RE CALLED, SHOW UP AND DO YOUR BEST. Without juries that whole sixth amendment thing become meaningless.

While you're there, instead of whining about missing your favorite TV or complaining its cutting into your Fark time, maybe one could consider that he or she is lucky enough to live in a country in which you as a citizen have the power to decide these matters.

It's not a chore or an inconvience. It's something many people on the planet wish they had.

retrograde: letrole: No, not even a fark lawyer can magic up some sort of legal obligation for a radio disk jockey to read someone his miranda rights.

Guess how I know you did not read the arrest affidavit before posting your snark?

She wasn't in custody, she was at Denny's. What would make you think Miranda was required before she chose to participate in the investigation?

letrole: No, not even a fark lawyer can magic up some sort of legal obligation for a radio disk jockey to read someone his miranda rights.

retrograde: Guess how I know you did not read the arrest affidavit before posting your snark?

Nothing is out of order. Nobody was tricked. This woman was probably a little nuts anyway, hence all the unprovoked confessing. The whole case against her is her on-air confession, the only investigation was to identify Char.

FTGodWin:

First off, a free society does not have "duties." Those are the marks of slaves.

.

I hear Somolia is nice this time of year.

served once--called other times--either not called or let go due to my current job.

was interesting--two defendants, same incident. we found one guilty right off the bat, and the second was 11-1 for acquit, but part of it was a battery charge and the person he supposedly hit was a cop. one juror could not let go that the guy was a cop, and would not find not guilty.

learned a lot--especially if you ever testify and you are charged, don't cop an attitude. it didnt work for the one found guilty.

JohnAnnArbor: Called for jury duty once in Ann Arbor. The notice says to wait in the hall until 8am (or whenever they let you in to the room). There was a notice on the door to the room we were supposed to go to saying don't knock, just wait until we let you in.

Guy comes up, knocks on the door over and over until they open and say read the message. He argues so much deputies are called to tell him to chill. They close the door again and he waits--by standing, facing the door, with his nose less than one inch from the door. Just staring, waiting the ten minutes or so to the appointed hour.

I wasn't sure if it was a crazy act or not. This is Ann Arbor; some people are genuinely that loony.

I laughed pretty damn hard imaging that story in my head.

Whenever I think of jury duty I think of curb your enthusiasm where Larry says, "I hate negros" to get out of it

JackieRabbit: moops: I have a Master's Degree - people with MS usually get picked off before jury selection is complete. Also, engineers.

Uh, not so much on that. The educated almost never get picked. Attorneys ALWAYS pick the stupidest shiats they can find. They never want someone with critical thinking skills on their juries.

False. I keep engineers, programmers, and other smart people. My clients stand a chance if they are on the jury.

wingnut396: I really don't get the hate for jury duty. I've served twice on juries and found it interesting. Yeah, it may be a pain in the rear, but most likley you will not get sequestered. You may spend a day or three in courtroom listening to testimony. Its not that bad. If you are ever a defendant, a plantiff or a victim, you will want people that will hear you case fairly.

In my personal experience, the people that try the hardest to skip on their civic duty are the same one always complaining about how stupid the government is and that people need to be more responsible.

I wouldn't mind it if the courts would do something to accommodate the real-life schedules of people called for jury duty. Example: I usually work until 3 or 4 in the morning. Every year when I get my jury summons, there's a decent chance I'll have to show up at 9am if I'm called.

Now I don't expect the trial to accommodate my schedule. If I'm chosen, I'd obviously adjust my schedule for however long I'm serving. Temporarily, that's my job.

But during the week I have to be "on call," when they have AM and PM sessions for potential jurors, those potential jurors should be able to say, "I'm available mornings," "I'm available afternoons," or "I'm available both mornings and afternoons."

Having to be at the courthouse at 9am for me would be like your average 9-to-5er being told to turn up at 5am, and it kinda makes me not give a fark about a civic duty I would be otherwise content to perform.

letrole: She should have started mentioning jury nullification. That's a killer on two points. The first is that it's a subversion of justice, and the second is it that only a nutter espouse it.

Well, that's certainly two opinions. The saying goes that "-everybody has one." You got a 100% bonus.

Gyrfalcon: kevinfra: I've been called for jury duty four times and picked once. And without sounding too preachy, WHEN YOU'RE CALLED, SHOW UP AND DO YOUR BEST. Without juries that whole sixth amendment thing become meaningless.

While you're there, instead of whining about missing your favorite TV or complaining its cutting into your Fark time, maybe one could consider that he or she is lucky enough to live in a country in which you as a citizen have the power to decide these matters.

It's not a chore or an inconvience. It's something many people on the planet wish they had.

This.

At the very least, you better not be complaining when a jury returns a questionable verdict. It was made up of people unable to avoid jury duty, or who served because YOU had so many other more important things to do with your precious time.

Jury duty rocks!

P.S. I was elected foreman. Ha!

*threadjack*

Are you avoiding me?

'Tis okay if you are; I actually do not sit fascinated by your presence when we're not here, for the record. I am merely interested in you b/c you and I have posted in similar spaces for many a year, and I fancy imagining you in this cyber-space we inhabit together when we post. Do not fear me, darlin', for I am not a serial killer. Just articulate and hilarious...

Best,

Indubitably

;)

Jerseysteve22: I was called for jury duty 3 years ago. I really wanted to get on a criminal case, but they almost sat me on a dental malpractice lawsuit. During the questioning they asked me if II had any biases and I told them I don't trust a doctor's judgement 100% of the time, which is true. They make mistakes, they certainly did a number on me when I was a child. I also told them I'd have a problem if the plaintiff didn't appear in court every day. You're suing someone? You better be there.

If asked whether I have any biases, I think I'd have to fight the urge to say that I am biased against stupid people. Because I kind of am.

fusillade762: Huh, I've been on a couple juries, don't recall ever having to take an oath. I thought that was just for witnesses?

It was probably done en masse at the beginning of voir dire. Everyone raises their hand and the judge reads some stuff.

I know I'd make a great juror because I can spot guilty people just by looking at them.

Works every time.

Fubegra: I've been called for jury duty twice, but never ended up on any juries. The first time, my dad and I were both sent to the same civil case, and the plaintiff's and defendant's attorneys took turns with peremptory challenges to boot us off after finding out he was a mechanical engineer and I was a programmer.

The second time, I was almost on a domestic violence case, but was far enough back in line that they had enough jurors before they could question me.

I get the feeling that I'm not likely to actually end up on a jury, specifically because I'm a programmer.

Thank you sir, but what is your profession?

/synp

Gyrfalcon: Indubitably: Gyrfalcon: kevinfra: I've been called for jury duty four times and picked once. And without sounding too preachy, WHEN YOU'RE CALLED, SHOW UP AND DO YOUR BEST. Without juries that whole sixth amendment thing become meaningless.

While you're there, instead of whining about missing your favorite TV or complaining its cutting into your Fark time, maybe one could consider that he or she is lucky enough to live in a country in which you as a citizen have the power to decide these matters.

It's not a chore or an inconvience. It's something many people on the planet wish they had.

This.

At the very least, you better not be complaining when a jury returns a questionable verdict. It was made up of people unable to avoid jury duty, or who served because YOU had so many other more important things to do with your precious time.

Jury duty rocks!

P.S. I was elected foreman. Ha!

*threadjack*

Are you avoiding me?

'Tis okay if you are; I actually do not sit fascinated by your presence when we're not here, for the record. I am merely interested in you b/c you and I have posted in similar spaces for many a year, and I fancy imagining you in this cyber-space we inhabit together when we post. Do not fear me, darlin', for I am not a serial killer. Just articulate and hilarious...

Best,

Indubitably

;)

You're a cereal stalker and I fear you for the cream you bring.

Heh heh heh.

Pot meet kettle.

P.S. Oh, and, comma error...

Heh.

;)

saturn badger: RoyBatty: Shame shame on this thread for failing to post a picture or link to the most famous and sexiest and lovely and 20 years old now voir dire ever.

Shame.

:(

I see you did us the favor and posted it.

Wait. I see you didn't.

Well, we are waiting...

That's a bullshiat demand. Let's just say earlier this month I must've submitted 200 links to this voir dire on its 20th anniversary.

All you have to do is wear a shirt:

"Ask me about jury nullification."

What if you show up dressed as Batman?