NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, George says he has "other commitments"...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4494176.stm
A judge in the US state of Texas has agreed to allow President George W Bush to postpone jury service - on the grounds he is busy running the country.

I reckon this has to be one of the weirder things that happen today.

He does have a point, no?

Man, people will do anything to get out of jury duty...

They should've called him in during Hurricane Katrina. Or that huge 5 week area prior.

The-Republic']Man, people will do anything to get out of jury duty...
So that's why they all stole the election! :eek:

Do you really want a sitting president on your jury? I mean, really?

If I can get a pass when I was a student I think being president is good enough to pass it off for a bit. Granting that he has been liberal (see what I did there?) with his vacation time.

See the trick is, you have to say you're prejudiced against all races...

So how does Jury Duty work anyways? How do they select people they send the letters to (someone didn't realise where he was sending the letter...:p )?
And does anyone ever actually go?

So how does Jury Duty work anyways? How do they select people they send the letters to (someone didn't realise where he was sending the letter...:p )?
And does anyone ever actually go?

You have to report. It's the law.

You have to report. It's the law.
Yeah, and pretty soon they'll probably come out with a new Patriot Act making it a capital crime to not report... God Bless America.

The-Republic']Yeah, and pretty soon they'll probably come out with a new Patriot Act making it a capital crime to not report... God Bless America.

It is a federal crime (I believe) to not report.

Come on now. I could understand Rumsfeld or Condi using that as a valid excuse.

Personally I just use the old "Well obviously alll [insert defendants race] are guilty!"

The-Republic']Yeah, and pretty soon they'll probably come out with a new Patriot Act making it a capital crime to not report... God Bless America.
You can renounce your citizenship at any time and won't be called for jury duty.

*is happy to live in a country that does not use the jury system*

You can renounce your citizenship at any time and won't be called for jury duty.

Good luck with getting a job and stuff, then :p

*is happy to live in a country that does not use the jury system*
Really...?

I think he means he trusts politicians and civil servants to make proper decisions.

Make of that what you will.

I have to admit that I always faithfully report for jury duty. I don't relish the experience in the least, but I don't try to dodge it.

I figure that if I were the one on trial, I would hope to get an intelligent, thoughtful, and socially conscious jury to hear the evidence in my case - and my worst nightmare would be that I had a jury composed of people who simply couldn't get out of serving.

All of that said, I don't think I would want GW on my jury. I know his stance on the death penalty and on torture.

You can renounce your citizenship at any time and won't be called for jury duty.
In order to do that, you have to be outside the United States at the time, and once you renounce, the US is under no obligation to let you back in. It seems a bit drastic just to get out of jury duty!

You have to report. It's the law.
I wonder if you can be let off if you say you're philosophically opposed to jury trials?

Well I have the happy knowledge that I am unlikely to get called up - since students generally get excused and here in Scotland solicitors (which I intend to become when I finish my law degree) don't get called for jury duty for some inane reason

I was rather amused when an acquaintance of mine got summoned for jury duty in New England when he had been living in Australia for nearly a year. The summons was, in fact, sent directly to his Australian address. He was never quite sure how that happened. :p

I've been on jury duty several times. It hasn't killed me; in fact, it hasn't been much more than a pleasant three day vacation from work, with meals and carfare paid for.

Just bring a book.

I was rather amused when an acquaintance of mine got summoned for jury duty in New England when he had been living in Australia for nearly a year. The summons was, in fact, sent directly to his Australian address. He was never quite sure how that happened. :p

Did he leave instructions with his local post office to have his mail forwarded?

I've been on jury duty several times. It hasn't killed me; in fact, it hasn't been much more than a pleasant three day vacation from work, with meals and carfare paid for.


Really?

Ehh. IIRC, we get $20 a day here, nothing else paid for. If I were called up, I'd lose probably $200, because i'm casual labour without a fixed workweek.

Ah. One of the benefits of my working for the city, I suppose. That, and not minding taking the bus downtown as parking there would border on suicidal.

Funnily enough, though, my mum got called up for jury duty a couple of days ago. She was able to postpone it for a year because of health reasons. *shrugs*

I have recieved jury summons twice - both times were while I was here in Japan and both times the summonses were recieved after the date they were for. I sent both back with polite letters explaining, and haven't heard anything since.

If I were to recieve a Japanese jury summons (the Japanese court system is starting to "experement" with it), I would be delighted.

Good luck with getting a job and stuff, then :p
Nah, you'd still be a legal resident, so you would have access to jobs, services and the like. Being a citizen means that you have the right vote and run for office. On the obligations side you have to present for jury duty when required. That's it.

In order to do that, you have to be outside the United States at the time, and once you renounce, the US is under no obligation to let you back in. It seems a bit drastic just to get out of jury duty!
Well, the country asks so little of you in exchange for being a citizen. If that still seems like too much, why would you even want to be there?

Somehow, I've managed to avoid being called for jury service. In my state, the list of potential jurors is made up from registered voters + licensed drivers. I've had a driver's license since I was 16 and have been a registered votor since I was 18, but somehow my name has never come up.

However, a friend of mine discovered a sure-fire way to get excused from jury service. When they do the jury screenings, the prosecuter will inevitably ask "Do you watch CSI?" If you say "yes", they won't want anything to do with you.

:p

To avoid Jury duty, just say a racistic, homophobic, very sexist, comment, add Heil Hitler somewhere in there and you are sure to not get chosen and can return home.

ohgod how much would you want george "hang 'em high" bush as forman of the jury deciding your fate??

However, a friend of mine discovered a sure-fire way to get excused from jury service. When they do the jury screenings, the prosecuter will inevitably ask "Do you watch CSI?" If you say "yes", they won't want anything to do with you.

Try "I don't believe the possession, use or sale of drugs of any kind should be an offence, and will vote not guilty regardless of the evidence produced to me"

It was worth it just for his expression.

*is happy to live in a country that does not use the jury system*

Really? How does the judicial process in Sweden work?

To avoid Jury duty, just say a racistic, homophobic, very sexist, comment, add Heil Hitler somewhere in there and you are sure to not get chosen and can return home.

Of course, that does go on public record.

Good luck with getting a job and stuff, then :p

Ask all the Mexicans working at McDonald's. It's not that hard.

Ask all the Mexicans working at McDonald's. It's not that hard.

If you really call McDonalds a career.

I go.

Really? How does the judicial process in Sweden work?

[not answering for sweden in order to avoid Fassian wrath due to incorrectness, but as a german]

well, we let those people do a job who are trained to do it..you know, the ones with enough knowledge in a field in order to make informed,responsible decisions..

i mean, you don't pick random citizens to listen to a patient explain about their symptoms and then let them make educated guesses about the illness.
in the same way, you don't pick random citizens to listen to people explain their evidence and then let them decide about their guiltiness as according to a law system they have nothing but a rough grasp of.

p.s. just bring a book

you really want someone to participate in the judgement of your crime who's been reading a book instead of following up on everything relevant to it? no? well, then you shouldn't be reading books while on juror duty, either, i'd say.

well, we let those people do a job who are trained to do it..you know, the ones with enough knowledge in a field in order to make informed,responsible decisions..

i mean, you don't pick random citizens to listen to a patient explain about their symptoms and then let them make educated guesses about the illness.
in the same way, you don't pick random citizens to listen to people explain their evidence and then let them decide about their guiltiness as according to a law system they have nothing but a rough grasp of.


But how exactly does it work? Does the judge decide, or is a team of lawyers or what?


you really want someone to participate in the judgement of your crime who's been reading a book instead of following up on everything relevant to it? no? well, then you shouldn't be reading books while on juror duty, either, i'd say.

She was probably talking about the extensive waiting period waiting to be screened for a trial. Some form of enterainment is a good idea.

Really? How does the judicial process in Sweden work?
The Magickal Ponies who oversee Sweden ensure that there is no crime, and so they have no need of a judicial system.

He could show he is a responsible leader and go...but then again I worry about him being on a jury. He has a zillion aides and nothing major is happening now:
-10,000th Al Qaida #3 killed
-20 soldiers killed in Iraq

Nothing out of the ordinary...

He could show he is a responsible leader and go.

Juries have no contact with the outside war. It'd an interesting experiment, but I would like to risk it.

Do what any Patriot would do.
Turn up for Duty and Shoot the Infidels.

But how exactly does it work? Does the judge decide, or is a team of lawyers or what?
A judge does.

Both sides bring forth their case, just as in the States, and then a judge (or group of judges) come to a decision.

It is a federal crime (I believe) to not report.

I doubt it is a federal crime, unless you're called for jury duty in federal court (although I don't know for sure). I just can't imagine what basis the federal government would have for criminalizing a failure to report for state jury duty.

I do think it is a felony to skip out in most states, however.

Oh Jury Duty.
Get my Boss to say i am a much valued member of the team and they couldn't bare to be without me for any prolonged amount of time.

Get my Boss to say i am a much valued member of the team and they couldn't bare to be without me for any prolonged amount of time.
You're pimp sure is understanding.

You're pimp sure is understanding.
I am the main money winner at the firm.:D
Why dont you have any posts?

*is happy to live in a country that does not use the jury system*

yeah, i would be happy too if i was in a country where i dont get a fair trial too.

nothing like being innocent for a crime, arrested, and trialed by the government without the chance to argue your innocence among your peers.

A judge does.

Both sides bring forth their case, just as in the States, and then a judge (or group of judges) come to a decision.

I wouldn't like that at all. A single person? Appointed by the goverment? Makes me shiver.

I doubt it is a federal crime, unless you're called for jury duty in federal court (although I don't know for sure). I just can't imagine what basis the federal government would have for criminalizing a failure to report for state jury duty.

I do think it is a felony to skip out in most states, however.

The judge's 'contempt of court' powers are what is used in the RARE occassions that anything is done.

[not answering for sweden in order to avoid Fassian wrath due to incorrectness, but as a german]

well, we let those people do a job who are trained to do it..you know, the ones with enough knowledge in a field in order to make informed,responsible decisions..

i mean, you don't pick random citizens to listen to a patient explain about their symptoms and then let them make educated guesses about the illness.
in the same way, you don't pick random citizens to listen to people explain their evidence and then let them decide about their guiltiness as according to a law system they have nothing but a rough grasp of.

p.s.

you really want someone to participate in the judgement of your crime who's been reading a book instead of following up on everything relevant to it? no? well, then you shouldn't be reading books while on juror duty, either, i'd say.

Books are recommended because there is alot of time spent waiting. Not to be read during the trial.

Frequently prosecutors/judges/and defense attorney's are so caught-up inside the criminal justice system that sometimes they fail to see things from a common sense point of view.

I can't count the number of jury trials that I've sat through and thought to myself, "Yep, the guy is guilty", only to listen to the jury foreman say "not guilty" at the end. Most of the time the explanation is that I know what the legal definition of Assault is and apply it to the facts of the case. The jury, on the other hand, looks at each other and says "You brought us here for this?"

Jury's have their value.

*is happy to live in a country that does not use the jury system*

hopes not... Cause that blows. What kind of system does *your* country use?

*starts feeling sorry*

I wouldn't like that at all. A single person? Appointed by the goverment? Makes me shiver.
Actually, judges are also appointed differently in Germany. We take the whole "seperation of judicative and legislative" thing very seriously (must be another one of those Nazi-Experience things).

I'm not certain with this, but I'm extrapolating from the Supreme Court - if the Prez appoints them, then the governour appoints Californian judges etc. Is that true?

Well, no matter. The point is that in Germany, a judge-to-be finishes law school, gets experience as a lawyer and then goes to find employment as a judge. It is a seperate branch of government, so politicians have no involvement.
Then they progress, rising during their career until they could reach the Supreme Court.

He is not appointed by the government - he has no political connections, and acts independently of government policy. And despite the cynicism that I will no doubt get to hear now, it has worked like that for some time.
The only issue is if judges have to act on laws that clearly reflect some political move...but you don't get around that no matter what you do.