Jury-Duty Observations from Juror No. 7

[James Burleigh]

Settled the case today for the defense. It was very interesting and satisfying to see how 12 complete strangers can discuss the information they heard and, based on the direction given by the judge, all come to the same conclusion with confidence. We did have to kind of re-focus on "not proven" vs. "not guilty." That whole "reasonable doubt" is a wonderful concept, allowing juries to err on the side of more false negatives than false positives. Justice at work.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

My compliments to you for performing this civic duty.

I found the "gray area" to be much larger than I had ever dreamed. I also had trouble playing God and changing the entire course of several lives with the decisions I made. Jury Duty can be a very heavy responsibility. Congratulations on your positive experience.

 

[Old Michael]

... the whole show is put on for you!

Mikey, that's the slogan Flossy's (on Stockton Blvd.) uses.

... 2 drink minimum.

 

[SacramentoMike]

But on a jury, you don't have to tip the lawyers!

.

 

[Bounce]

I always like the mention Jury Nulification once we're in the quiet of the deliberation room.

 

[rbentnail]

I've never understood how the call-to-duty works where I live. I've been a resident of the same county since 1984. I've always been a registered voter, always had a driver's license & always paid my taxes. But I've never been summoned for jury duty.

 

[BikerGeek99]

I served on the county grand jury for 2 weeks back in 1995. I found the whole experience to be very interesting, although the child **** cases were very disturbing. There are some true monsters out there that only look like a human being. Didn't care too much for the murder cases, either.

Drug abuse cases, on the other hand... I was left speechless several times over how incredibly stupid some of those people were. There were several times when the grand jury begged the prosecutor to make aggravated stupidity a felony.

We got to tour 2 of the county's detention facilities - the workhouse and the main jail downtown. That was a rather enlightening experience. I determined:

1. I never want to go to jail. Ever.

2. Prison food sucks.

3. Anyone who decides they're gonna resist when getting processed in the downtown facility should be charged with aggravated stupidity, because the deputies working there are some of the largest human beings I have ever seen.

Is it a good place to pick up chicks?

This gal is available, although she's a bit busy for the foreseeable future.

 

[marcusorelius]

This gal is available, although she's a bit busy for the foreseeable future.

She THINKS a few thousand lies & she will be out soon, (even has a nutcase guy who vistis & defends her)

 

[gixxerjasen]

I determined:1. I never want to go to jail. Ever.

2. Prison food sucks.

My brother in law, when he was young, stupid, and broke...blew off some tickets, his license got suspended and then he got arrested. He opted to serve his time of a few weeks in jail. He came to the same determinations as you did. He actually got passed around to the various cities he'd gotten tickets in. His first city he spent three days there and every meal was two microwaved chimichangas. Yea, for three days. Ugh.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

Funny that she no longer looks anything like the smoking hot blonde she was a year ago. Perhaps it is a form of justice that beauty is only skin deep.

 

[puppychow]

Is it a good place to pick up chicks?

This gal is available, although she's a bit busy for the foreseeable future.

You mean to say chicks can only be murderers & criminals and can't serve on a jury?

 

[BikerGeek99]

Is it a good place to pick up chicks?

This gal is available, although she's a bit busy for the foreseeable future.

You mean to say chicks can only be murderers & criminals and can't serve on a jury?

Nah. What I'm saying is they're ALL crazy to some degree. I am very fortunate that my wife rates very low on the crazy scale.

If ya wanna read about some REAL crazyness, go over to ADVrider and read the Bat **** Crazy thread in Inmates.

 

[puppychow]

I guess it's a lot like extreme adventure touring. Perfect for ADVRider!!

 

[puppychow]

Not for me though. They don't seem to last more than a couple years at a time..

 

[radiummadman]

I have been called to jury duty twice, once 12 years ago and then the year after that. BOTH times during the selction process when they

asked if if any of us had been robbed, assaulted, etc. I raised my hand and said: "I have had my house broken into

three times, had two motorcycles stolen as well as two cars. I think once found guilty the crook should be hung

from the roof of the last place he/she stole from as a warning to others of like mind". Guess that was all it took for

them to permenatly strike me from their list.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

When someone does all they can to avoid jury duty to they give up their right to complain about the justice system? Do they give up their right to complain about the stupidity of the jury, the lawyers, and the judges?

 

[puppychow]

When someone does all they can to avoid jury duty to they give up their right to complain about the justice system? Do they give up their right to complain about the stupidity of the jury, the lawyers, and the judges?

Have you ever proclaimed or complained in court that the jury/lawyers/judge are stupid?

 

[Chuck35]

When someone does all they can to avoid jury duty to they give up their right to complain about the justice system? Do they give up their right to complain about the stupidity of the jury, the lawyers, and the judges?

I decided I felt that way about voting. So I voted. Now I can complain...

Just not here lmao

 

[Redfish Hunter]

When someone does all they can to avoid jury duty to they give up their right to complain about the justice system? Do they give up their right to complain about the stupidity of the jury, the lawyers, and the judges?

Have you ever proclaimed or complained in court that the jury/lawyers/judge are stupid?

To do that would be stupid. It would also be what is known as contempt of court. That is a feeling I don't have and it is a crime I do not intend to commit.

My point was that the very people who take such pride in avoiding jury duty are often the ones who do the most complaining with regards to the quality of the judicial system.

 

[puppychow]

When someone does all they can to avoid jury duty to they give up their right to complain about the justice system? Do they give up their right to complain about the stupidity of the jury, the lawyers, and the judges?

Have you ever proclaimed or complained in court that the jury/lawyers/judge are stupid?

To do that would be stupid. It would also be what is known as contempt of court. That is a feeling I don't have and it is a crime I do not intend to commit.

My point was that the very people who take such pride in avoiding jury duty are often the ones who do the most complaining with regards to the quality of the judicial system.

So, if you had such a feeling, what would be stopping you is a fear of contempt of court. The laws pertaining to which, I am well aware of and hence my query.

Besides, what is anyone gaining or achieving by acquiescing to jury duty within the current system, and not doing anything about the prevalent or perceived stupidity of the jury, lawyers or the judges, that others are therefore also not achieving by not participating? A big zip zilch nada.

Moreover, is the concept of civil disobedience so stupid or foreign to you that you would postulate a theory as baseless as - "Chosen non-participation in a process is akin to giving up your right to complain or ask for a change in that process".

We have already established that you are not stupid, but the give up their rights comment was pretty damned stupid.