Jury Duty

[FluffyMcDeath]

Just got a summons to attend for selection. On the one hand I'm all for civic duty and fascinated by the process but I'm reading the notice and it says that the trial they're selecting for is expected to last FORTY DAYS!!! I get 10 days from work for Jury Duty. That leaves 30 (6 weeks) which is all my saved vacation. Ouch. I'm not all that keen, all of a sudden.

 

[ilwrath]

I served on a criminal jury last year. During the case, I really grew to appreciate why a trial by jury is so important. It was a major eye-opener to me. Especially considering it was not a trivial trial. It was held at Wayne County's criminal court in downtown Detroit -- a place where no one would really go voluntarily. If there wasn't a jury for that trial, quite literally, no one would have been there to see that the trial was held in a fair manner and found a just verdict.

It is truly unfortunate that so many cases run so long, though. I was lucky - the trial I was on only ran a little over a week. But that is the shortest trial I can see possible. (There were only two witnesses, and one evidence expert.)

I'm not sure how it is in Canada, but here in the states, the employer has to hold your job for you while you are serving jury duty, but they don't have to pay you. You do get a minimal payment from the courts, but that barely covers parking fees. Since I'm a contract employee, I was particularly fortunate that my agency supports and pays the difference for jury duty. (The government kind of forces their hand, as my agency lives off government contracts.)

 

[Glaucus]

You could probably just ask them to exclude you. Alternatively, come across as the biggest racist bigot satanist on the planet who would gain great pleasure from sending an innocent person to jail or a ruthless murderer free.

 

[ilwrath]

I don't know for Canada, but in the USA, if you really MUST be exempted, do this:

Just before they seat the first set of jurors for questioning, raise your hand and state "It is against my religious beliefs to stand in judgment of my fellow man."

You're dismissed. No charges against you. No contempt of court. No getting beat up exiting the courtroom, either.

But, I'd urge you to really do some soul searching before pulling that option.

 

[FluffyMcDeath]

During the case, I really grew to appreciate why a trial by jury is so important.

I'm all for jury trials. I'd be happy to do it for 10 days (what I get paid time off for) or out to 20 days (where I can afford the difference) or up to 30 days (where it's getting tight), but 40 days? That's 8 weeks, or two months. If everything goes as scheduled. Yeek.

Jury trials are especially important in the prevention of tyranny. It is the pretty much the only opportunity that citizens have to overrule unjust laws on a case by case basis. While the judge has to instruct the jury to decide on the verdict according to the law, the jury is under no legal obligation to do so and can pick and choose the laws to enforce by finding the defendant not guilty. This is the only direct check we have on capricious and arbitrary laws.

 

[ilwrath]

I'm all for jury trials. I'd be happy to do it for 10 days (what I get paid time off for) or out to 20 days (where I can afford the difference) or up to 30 days (where it's getting tight), but 40 days? That's 8 weeks, or two months. If everything goes as scheduled. Yeek.

That is very true. The unfortunate consequence of such long trials is that the people you really WANT to be jurors can't actually afford the time off work to be. It causes these innocent jurors to be unduly strained by the system you are summoning them to serve justly. The only people who really can afford to be tied up that length of time are the retirees or the unemployed. That doesn't tend to make the best jury mix.