RE: Jury Duty (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid



Message

KatyLied -> RE: Jury Duty (9/26/2005 8:56:50 AM)

The creepy part was when the lawyers were selecting the jurors. They would shuffle papers, stare at us, look back at their papers (which were short bios of the jurors). It was more a case of NOT being selected than being selected. But it was all weirdness. I had looked forward to my first taste of jury duty, those who'd done it thought I was crazy to be so fresh and unjaded. Like I said, please, never again, not so fresh and jaded now. The one good thing, the judge invited us into his chambers (at the conclusion of the trial) and answered our questions.



OsideGirl -> RE: Jury Duty (9/26/2005 9:09:04 AM)

I've been called twice and excused both times.

One was: The city took part of this guy's land by imminent domain to put in a side walk, which they installed over tree roots. Three years later, the side walk had "popped" and they expected the homeowner to pay for repairs. Since, my view was "Hey, you claimed that land was yours....so now it's yours. Pay up." The plaintiff decided I wouldn't be a good juror for them.

The second one was a burglary case where the defendent was claiming he had psychological issues. They found out that I have a psych degree and sent me home.



FLButtSlut -> RE: Jury Duty (9/26/2005 11:47:02 AM)

sub4hire,

I am not against capital punishment, and seeing as you are in California, I can understand your position.

HOWEVER, typically, it is actually less expensive to put someone behind bars for life than it is to execute these days. Timothy McVeigh had to request that the appeals be stopped, because they are automatically granted, taking a great deal of time and money.

Of course, prison is no longer the "hard life" that it used to be either. Television, weight rooms, tax payer paid college educations, the poverty stricken could do better in jail than on the streets almost. All these luxuries, and medical advances, prisoners are living longer.

Who would have thought that Crazy Charley would still be coming up for parole year after year?

The thing that I love the most though is that an execution can be delayed while the prisoner's health is restored. THAT makes no sense.


pink,

Honey, I am sure you ARE mesmerizing in court, but for the average joe, it is probably boring as hell.

mnottertail,

Yes, they worry that people like pink would have undue influence over the jury, to an extent me as well. It would be great if things were as clear cut as you imagine they are, but they just ain't. I don't believe there is anything that says people in the legal field are automatically excused, it is more a matter of the attorneys wanting them out as quickly as possible, for a million reasons (feel free to correct me if I am wrong pink).



sub4hire -> RE: Jury Duty (9/26/2005 2:55:09 PM)

quote:

HOWEVER, typically, it is actually less expensive to put someone behind bars for life than it is to execute these days. Timothy McVeigh had to request that the appeals be stopped, because they are automatically granted, taking a great deal of time and money.


Not if you assassinate now. After all the victims were. Why not the person who did the killing? Yes, I know in this country the laws will never change the way I'd change them.
Sadly we have laws for the criminals here. Not much for the law abiding citizen.
If you are a homeowner and someone robs you, you take matters into your own hands you are sent to prison for hurting the burglar.

I'd be all for getting rid of the red tape and taking it back a hundred years when if you did a crime you were punished. Of course they could even use today's technology to help them so they get the right person. No mistakes.



Pavel -> RE: Jury Duty (9/26/2005 3:30:11 PM)

I can't recall the exact numbers (perhaps I should have taken notes in class), but only a very small number of people get off on technicalities, I think it's somthing like 1-2% of cases end up with the accused getting off due to police misconduct or similar actions (and as my former prosecuteing attorney professor points out, many of those people get busted again for the same crime). The overwhelming majority of crimes are plead out or otherwise dealt with on the non-jury side of the law (mostly because it's not a matter of aquital vs conviction, it's more of a how bad are you going to get stuck with it).

Anyways, back to my original point. The accused are people too. They have rights, for the obvious reason that they have not yet been proven to be criminals.
And what is taking matters into your own hands? Did you have a reasonable sense of danger/percieved threat? Did you continue to beat him after he gave up? We all have standards moral and otherwise to uphold, and there's such a thing as excessive brutality.

That said I'm still all for lining some people up against the wall and shooting them once convicted, although I'd rather see it based on continued threat to society rather than community anger.



BlkTallFullfig -> RE: Jury Duty (9/26/2005 3:40:25 PM)

quote:

I'd be all for getting rid of the red tape and taking it back a hundred years when if you did a crime you were punished. Of course they could even use today's technology to help them so they get the right person. No mistakes.
This and the susceptibility of certain people to get harsher sentences are the only reasons I don't support a tough-as-nails criminal justice system and the death penalty; while it may not be a deterrent to the general population, it certainly is to the repeat offender who is now dead. M



FLButtSlut -> RE: Jury Duty (9/26/2005 11:30:50 PM)

But what should we do with the repeat offender instead? Habitual criminals are a problem.

As for going to prison when you attack a someone trying to rob your house, that is everyone's favorite example to use, yet it rarely ever happens. Investigations are certainly done, and perhaps some even come up for indictment or even to trial. But that is much different than a conviction rate for something.

Typically, self defense comes down to "like for like" If someone is attacking you with his fists, you used excessive force if you shot him. Even then, the "reasonable fear" felt by the victim comes into play.

The general masses love to bitch about our justice system. It does indeed have flaws, but then again, is anything perfect? Most who bitch don't really have enough detailed knowledge to draw the conclusions.

I always tell people that if they just want to sit and bitch about something, they are barking up the wrong tree. If you don't vote, don't bitch about who is in office.

Basically, unless you are willing to step up to the plate and work to change the things you don't like, your bitching is nothing more than the whining and complaining of someone who can't be bothered to get involved.

I don't typically vote, which I really know I should. But I also don't bitch about the president. I took no part in putting him there, so I don't have the right to complain. On the other hand, I saw that our Family Law system was so flawed, that I changed careers 8 years ago in order to do my part for causing change. I don't just sit back and bitch, when I don't like the way something is working, I take action to try and change it. It is a hell of a lot more satisfying than just whining about how the system has failed the community.



sub4hire -> RE: Jury Duty (9/27/2005 7:44:40 AM)

quote:

But what should we do with the repeat offender instead?


There would be none.



chronus12003 -> RE: Jury Duty (9/27/2005 3:48:18 PM)

i did not serv, the trial was cancelled (plea bargain)
i did go to the selection though
what an i opener
i live in a college town
but a very "white" community otherwise
of the 300 people or so who showed up, only 4 or five were not white
and most were either just 18 or so or retired people
makes me wonder how a middle aged minority in my area could get a fair trial



MadameDahlia -> RE: Jury Duty (9/30/2005 5:59:01 PM)

-sobs-

Those bleeding jerks...

I got paperwork for jury duty a short while back. I don't drive and I very easily get lost in new places. I didn't want to go. I sent in the paperwork for an excuse. That didn't fly. I sent in paperwork for a transfer. Mom works across the street from a courthouse. That didn't fly either.

Then I get a summons from the United States District Court a short while after - and they want me for three months!

How did I get so lucky in such a short amount of time... -mutters- Now I'm going to have to take a train AND a bus to get to the court. -mutters-



gypsysoul -> RE: Jury Duty (10/1/2005 6:12:17 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: pantera



I served for the first time not long ago (I became a citizen in 2003) and we sat there pretty much all day... then the Judge came down personally to thank us for being there, and said that the parties had entered a plea, ... and that we played an important role, just by being there.

I thought that doing that was really nice of her, and really made a difference in how I view jury duty...being my first experience.


I became a citizen when I was born. I registered to vote in 1981. I've owned property since 1993. I wonder why I've never been called?



sub4hire -> RE: Jury Duty (10/1/2005 9:44:36 AM)

quote:

I got paperwork for jury duty a short while back. I don't drive and I very easily get lost in new places. I didn't want to go. I sent in the paperwork for an excuse. That didn't fly. I sent in paperwork for a transfer. Mom works across the street from a courthouse. That didn't fly either.

Then I get a summons from the United States District Court a short while after - and they want me for three months!


If you go in with my attitude they will let you go. My attitude is mine whether I am facing jury duty or not....although attorneys sure don't happen to like it.
I'd actually love to be called up once. Justice would be done whatever it may be.



MasterBenedict -> RE: Jury Duty (10/1/2005 7:48:31 PM)

LOOLOL!!!
I just got out of jury duty because of medical reasons
Therefore I don't think that I'm particularly qualified to offer U advice on the matter, but I can offer sympathy:-))



GoddessDustyGold -> RE: Jury Duty (10/1/2005 8:05:21 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: KatyLied

The creepy part was when the lawyers were selecting the jurors. They would shuffle papers, stare at us, look back at their papers (which were short bios of the jurors).


These short bios come from the huge questionaires prospective jurors are commanded to fill out. I give them My name. If they want anything else, the lawyers should interview Me in the courtroom. I don't see any purpose in making their lives easier. Or giving them a ton of info which is going to be keyed into a computer data base very promptly. It also allows for alot of profiling which I am against. I am way too much trouble for them. And I would actually like the experience of serving on a jury one time. (Knock wood)



FLButtSlut -> RE: Jury Duty (10/4/2005 11:42:34 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: sub4hire

quote:

I got paperwork for jury duty a short while back. I don't drive and I very easily get lost in new places. I didn't want to go. I sent in the paperwork for an excuse. That didn't fly. I sent in paperwork for a transfer. Mom works across the street from a courthouse. That didn't fly either.

Then I get a summons from the United States District Court a short while after - and they want me for three months!



I guess you are either assuming you are the only juror or could completely change the mind of every other person there with you?
If you go in with my attitude they will let you go. My attitude is mine whether I am facing jury duty or not....although attorneys sure don't happen to like it.
I'd actually love to be called up once. Justice would be done whatever it may be.





FelinePersuasion -> RE: Jury Duty (11/12/2005 3:09:25 AM)

Madam D you should of forgot the don't drive get lost claim and done something medical. I was called for jury duty and I told them no car there for someone would be burdend to bring me to an from court everyday across town and they excused me, but had they not I would of gone medical, because I am disabled from a back injry



WickedKev -> RE: Jury Duty (11/12/2005 4:02:13 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MadameDahlia

-sobs-

Those bleeding jerks...

I got paperwork for jury duty a short while back. I don't drive and I very easily get lost in new places. I didn't want to go. I sent in the paperwork for an excuse. That didn't fly. I sent in paperwork for a transfer. Mom works across the street from a courthouse. That didn't fly either.

Then I get a summons from the United States District Court a short while after - and they want me for three months!

How did I get so lucky in such a short amount of time... -mutters- Now I'm going to have to take a train AND a bus to get to the court. -mutters-


Just go in and ask if they can hurry it up as you have a slave waiting at home to be beaten. Lets see if you are excused then....



krys -> RE: Jury Duty (11/12/2005 5:37:09 AM)

I wouldn't count on being a paralegal getting you out of jury duty FLButtSlut. I have been called twice, once to Circuit and once to Federal, and was seated on a jury both times. I think they consider it a plus. It indicates an ability to listen to attorneys babble on for hours at a time without losing consciousness.

The first was a personal injury suit. Woman was crossing a street, in the crosswalk with the light, and some idiot tourist slammed into her. She was exagerating her injuries. He was trying to put some of the blame on another car he hit in the process. She was awarded damages, but not as much as she was asking for.

The second was a federal drug case. The prosecutor practically did a happy dance when questioning me, then came back to clarify something, and I knew I was doomed to jury duty. The case was really open and shut and the defense attorney not only did not help his counsel, but actually helped convict him. Why he did not accept a plea bargain is beyond me, as they had him on video. It took a whopping 7 minutes for the jury to come to a verdict. It took us longer to fill out the form and for the jury to pass around the big bag of crack because most of us had never seen it before.

Jury duty may not be fun, but it is definately necessary.



onceburned -> RE: Jury Duty (11/12/2005 8:48:38 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: krys
was seated on a jury both times. I think they consider it a plus. It indicates an ability to listen to attorneys babble on for hours at a time without losing consciousness.


You might be right. During the jury selection we were asked about how we felt about jury duty. Those who expressed the greatest displeasure were not selected. I think the attorneys want people who will pay attention and put in honest effort. Which makes sense to me!

I served on a jury for a domestic abuse case. It was sad for many reasons. The couple made up within 24 hours of contacting the police. Not only were they together the day of the trial, but the woman and her cousin (the two prosecution witnesses who were not police) were reluctant to testify (and tried to cancel their appearance the day of the trial). They did testify but they remembered very little.

The photographs of the victim, taken by the police, showed little injury: a scratch the width of a finger nail, and possibly a bruise on her neck (although it was uncertain to some of us).

We convicted the guy primarily on the basis of the statements given to the police by the victim and her cousin, six months earlier. And it felt bad.

This guy was being processed by the impersonal machinery of the state (the victim didn't want him convicted). And his future was in our hands. Technically, since the statements given to the police indicated he caused physical pain or offense to someone else, he was guilty of the crime. So we had to say he was guilty. But it felt as if we were.... I don't know... dryly making theoretical distinctions for which a man would face real world (and non-consensual) punishment.

As it turns out, he was planning on pleading guilty, but changed his plea the day of the trial. Both attorneys figured that the guy and his girlfriend decided they could throw the trial. And it almost worked but the prosecutor was fierce in making the distinctions (and requirements) of the law clear to us.

It also turned out that this was his third conviction for domestic abuse (although the other two were with another woman). So he will get a harsher sentence for it.

I wish I could think that serving prison time would cure his tendency to violence. But I don't think it will. And by going to prison he will not be able to contribute to his infants upbringing (financially or emotionally). As jury. we get no say-so about his punishment. Anger managment and other training might help more at curbing his problems, but I don't think he will get that help.

I know serving on a jury is a civic duty. And I am glad that I had the experience. But I can't say that I left the court with a warm, fuzzy feeling. [:(]



candystripper -> RE: Jury Duty (11/12/2005 12:56:44 PM)

quote:

It is inconcievable to me that people in the field of law are not suitable to serve on a jury.....that to me is very foolish, perhaps if they had to do that, we would have a better legal system. They would see more of the who's got a coathanger, I'm Monty Hall, who's got $200. The same logic then, I think, should hold that I have been in court as a defendant and should be excused from further dealings.

mnotterail/Ron


All my trials were bench trials before a judge; but if i had a jury i would also send the lawyer and paralegal packing. i do not want a legal expert in the jury room, explaining sidebars and other matters the jury would otherwise never guess at...i also do not want the judge's instructions to the jury overriden by some lawyer's or paralegal's opinion. So i do understand how unlikely it is i will ever serve; but i'd love to, especially on a criminal case.

i have an "interrogation fetish" (i think) and i think jury duty is somehow related to that. i adore film noir and the interrogation scenes, with a bright lite shining in the woman's eyes, detectives crowded around, smoke-filled room, late at night; those scenes kinda excited me, LOL. But then i find so much exciting about film noir; i also have a "torch singer" fetish/fantasy. LOL.

candystripper



Page: <<   < prev  1 [2] 3   next >   >>

Valid CSS!




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy
0.03125