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ChickMagic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:35 PM
Original message
I have a question for you guys
I just got a county jury summons. After serving 18 months on a Federal Grand Jury some time back, you'd think they'd leave me the hell alone, but NOOOOO.

So, the form has a place for "religious preference". I usually put "atheist" so they never pick me for right and wrong issues. I usually get picked for competency hearings. My question is should I put "atheist" like I've always done, or should I put "No religious test required" basically to be a horse's ass?

Would it be rude of me to wear my Homeland Security Suspect # T shirt I just got?

Jus' wonderin'.
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jackelope72 Donating Member (726 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:39 PM
Response to Original message
1. The reply that got me disqualified from jury duty...
I simply put in the Comments section that, due to the course the country was taking, and some events that had recently transpired within my family, I no longer have any faith in the legal or judicial system. Everything else in my questionnaire would have made me the perfect juror; but when I showed up for the first day, I was told that I had been excused and didn't need to show up again.
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Feathered Fish Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
2. absolutely!
Be a horses rear and wear the T-shirt. Just for fun! When my partner was unemployed, he was summoned for jury duty 4 times! In each case he acted like a complete ass, just to get out of it - stuff like 'I don't care for the judicial process - it's a joke" etc.
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rbnyc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:40 PM
Response to Original message
3. Can you just call them and defer?
I've done that twice. Once because I was planning to be on my honeymoon, and a month later because instead of having gone on my honeymoon, I was relearning how to walk after a terrible car accident. I thought I would have to explain myself each time, but they just let me defer. No questions asked.
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ChickMagic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #3
7. I don't mind serving
I still see it as a civic duty. If I were on trial, I would want me on the jury. Yeah, they'll let you defer by rescheduling you, but there's no reason I can't go. I'll wear my t shirt, read "The Family" and look grumpy.
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rbnyc Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:50 PM
Response to Reply #7
8. Cool.
Wear the shirt for sure.
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bush_is_wacko Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:41 PM
Response to Original message
4. Do both...
You are guaranteed not to have to serve again! I have never been summoned. It seems if your last name is somewhere within the first half of the alphabet you get called up on a regular basis! I have a couple friends in the A's and they get summoned every time they vote!
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ChickMagic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. I don't really mind serving
One time I showed up and every single person there was named "Virginia". They sometimes use bizarre criteria.

I just resent their injection of religion into the process.
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Squeech Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:45 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. I'm a B
and I have been called once in my life.

That was back in the '80s. I wore a suit and everything. I wanted to get on a drug possession case, so I could free the perp, but they didn't pick me. And as I say, they haven't called me again.
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Patiod Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:51 PM
Response to Original message
9. Three words to get you out of a capital case:
"I'm a Quaker."

Was called in for a really juicy murder trial the week I was to start a new job (nephew is sleeping with blood-unrelated aunt, and ax-murders his blood-related uncle in order to split his gigantic insur/inheritance with her). It would have been a facinating case, but I really needed the money from the job.

The judge wouldn't let me defer. He also gave me a lecture when I said I'd read about the case and thought the defendent was guilty. But I wasn't worried.

Finally they asked me if I had any problem imposing the death penalty, and I said:

"Well, I'm a Quake...." didn't even finish my sentence before the prosecutor lept to his feet and said:

"Judge I move to..." and the judge didn't even let him finish, just looked at me and said, "Miss O, you are dismissed."

One good thing about living near Philadelphia -- I didn't have to explain anything. The judge seemed a little pissed though - the case had gotten a lot of publicity, and they were having a hell of a time seating a jury.

What did you do about money during the 18-month Grand Jury service? I always thought that would be a terrible hardship.
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ChickMagic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 01:13 PM
Response to Reply #9
11. Well, fortunately I got paid
Some of the other jurors got fired. One left the country to avoid it. It was usually 2-3 days a month, but they couldn't tell you ahead of time when it would be or how long it would be. That was rough. It was seekrit. Most of it was really boring, but it got kinda scary when we asked to fly in a hit man to testify on a case.
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ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed Nov-24-04 12:51 PM
Response to Original message
10. I vote for the T-shirt...paired with a conservative blazer...for course!
;) Go for it!! :hi:
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