NationStates Jolt Archive

New Wrinkle On Avoiding Jury Duty
In no uncertain terms, a Montana man tells judge why he won't serve

APRIL 30--There are probably better ways to avoid jury duty than the approach recently taken by a Montana man. After Erik Slye, 36, received a jury notice earlier this year, he filed a notarized affidavit seeking to be excused from serving on a District Court panel in Gallatin County. Slye's caustic affidavit, which he prepared with help from his wife Jennifer, can be found below. The document, of course, did not sit well with court officials and led a judge to threaten to jail Slye. But after being summoned to court, Slye apologized for the affidavit and avoided being cited on a criminal failure to appear rap. And he also was excused from serving on a jury. (1 page)

http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art4/0430091jury1.gif

Link (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0430091jury1.html)

I honestly see where he is coming from. The economy is tough right now, you need to work as many hours as you can. Some jobs you can't take time off of. Beside, what are the chances of you getting on a murder case? It's most likely a trial about traffic violation or misdemeanor charges, bo-ring.

Well, that was a very mature way to respond :rolleyes:

Te-he.

Well, that was a very mature way to respond :rolleyes:

Oh please, if everyone was mature, this life would be boring.

That fellow belongs on this forum.

If you get tried in American it is either by retirees or someone too stupid to hint at being prejudice. He just didn't want to waste the time to come in and mentions he hates all races.

Oh please, if everyone was mature, this life would be boring.

When youre responding to a judge in regards to something that he has every right to force you to do or send your ass to jail, it pays to be mature and reasonable.

I've been in court-rooms now and then, for a variety of purposes, but I've never served on a jury. I'm not sure if it would be interesting or boring.

On a (somewhat)related but admittedly tangential note, the phrase 'Epic Win' annoys me, as does the related 'Epic Fail.' It's almost as bad as people who say 'OMG' when they're actually talking to someone, and not texting.

I've been in court-rooms now and then, for a variety of purposes, but I've never served on a jury. I'm not sure if it would be interesting or boring.

On a (somewhat)related but admittedly tangential note, the phrase 'Epic Win' annoys me, as does the related 'Epic Fail.' It's almost as bad as people who say 'OMG' when they're actually talking someone, and not texting.

How do you feel about "awesomeness"?

How do you feel about "awesomeness"?

I can deal with that, as long as no-one sticks 'crazy' in front of it or any other word.

Sorry, that counts more as a grown man sounding like he's a 3-year-old brat.

One of the easier ways to get out of jury duty if you have to attend is to ask questions that make it sound like you're biased towards either the defense or the prosecution at the Q&A sessions. Those get knocked off in short order, which leaves the truly apathetic to sit on the bench for the duration of the trial.

George Carlin got it right.

1:50 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO8KUR3ulhg&feature=PlayList&p=47CC0128C68238D5&index=66&playnext=3&playnext_from=PL

It's most likely a trial about traffic violation or misdemeanor charges, bo-ring.
Where do you live that you get jury trials for traffic violations? I want to pull an Atticus Finch on my turn signal ticket...

What a douche.
It's not that difficult to get out of.
I was called up for jury service once. They get in at least double the number of jurors necessary, so you've got a 50/50 chance immediately not to get called up. My name didn't get called, so that was that. Shame really, as I was only working p/t at that time and could have done with the extra cash (measly as it is).

You can ask to be excused before selection. They read out the crime and the people involved. So if you really don't want to get picked, tell them some porky like you know, or your neighbour knows, one of the people involved, or you've met one of the cops on the case, or reporter, and thus have already heard quite a bit about the crime. Or tell them that you were a victim of a similar crime a while back and honestly don't feel you could be impartial.
And if your name is called you still have the chance of one of the lawyers stopping you. Dressing too scruffy and dishevelled is always a point against you, as invariably the alleged criminal is some scruffy yob. Give yourself a skinhead before-hand to really nail your chances of being turned down!

All else fails, yell either 'D'oh!' or 'Woo-hoo!' when your name is called. And if even that doesn't work, after everyone's been called and everything, put your hand up and ask the judge, "Excuse me, sir/madam, but which one is the guilty one again?"

One of the easier ways to get out of jury duty if you have to attend is to ask questions that make it sound like you're biased towards either the defense or the prosecution at the Q&A sessions. Those get knocked off in short order, which leaves the truly apathetic to sit on the bench for the duration of the trial.
I just sat in on an interview with a jury consultant, there is a whole lot that goes into jury selection and they've got a pretty developed system of selecting people. Bias is only a small factor and so very rarely are those 'clever' people feigning it are all that convincing. And there are intelegent people who take on jury duty as part of their civic responsibility or just an excuse not to show up to their job for a week or whatever. I have a friend serving on a Grand Jury just out of curiosity.

As with many things, people vastly over-simplify what actually goes on.

EDIT: And just now it's on Colbert Report...

The author of that juvenile screed better pray he never gets a trial of his own for whatever reason. Karma can be a bitch.

Lulz.

What I find disturbing is that he needed help from his wife to prepare that...

I do believe it's illegal for an employer to fire you due to jury duty. Also, a murder case isn't all that great because those cases can take months. Can you live without a paycheck for that long?

I do believe it's illegal for an employer to fire you due to jury duty. Also, a murder case isn't all that great because those cases can take months. Can you live without a paycheck for that long?

Just done that here myself, 7 weeks as a juryer on a murder case, 7 weeks off of work, and you know what bloody happend to me?

Thats right I claimed my 'loss of earnings' and all is fine.:D

Just done that here myself, 7 weeks as a juryer on a murder case, 7 weeks off of work, and you know what bloody happend to me?

Thats right I claimed my 'loss of earnings' and all is fine.:D
Explain "loss of earnings".

Explain "loss of earnings".

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=%22loss+of+earnings%22

Explain "loss of earnings".

I think it's preety self explainitory, however. If you are called to serve on a jury, and you cannot attend work, then you put in a claim for the lost earnings (as your work are not at liberty to pay you) and this then gets paid to you from the court system.

Where do you live that you get jury trials for traffic violations? I want to pull an Atticus Finch on my turn signal ticket...

Man, that would make traffic court so much more fun.

I think it's preety self explainitory, however. If you are called to serve on a jury, and you cannot attend work, then you put in a claim for the lost earnings (as your work are not at liberty to pay you) and this then gets paid to you from the court system.
It's clear that you were reimbursed for lost wages, but not clear whether or not your employer was required to pay you for not working at your job, or whether the taxpayers shouldered that burden.

In my opinion, jury service is an obligation that one owes to the country. I don't believe that there is a corresponding right to be compensated for performing that service.

On the other hand, you'd be foolish not to take advantage of what's available to you.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=%22loss+of+earnings%22
Good try, but not specific enough.

It's clear that you were reimbursed for lost wages, but not clear whether or not your employer was required to pay you for not working at your job, or whether the taxpayers shouldered that burden.

In my opinion, jury service is an obligation that one owes to the country. I don't believe that there is a corresponding right to be compensated for performing that service.

On the other hand, you'd be foolish not to take advantage of what's available to you.

Agreed on both points. How rare!

What I find disturbing is that he needed help from his wife to prepare that...
Maybe that's why he got excused from duty. ;)


I do believe it's illegal for an employer to fire you due to jury duty. Also, a murder case isn't all that great because those cases can take months. Can you live without a paycheck for that long?
If I understand correctly, it is illegal for an employer to fire you for getting picked to serve on a jury, but it is not illegal for them to refuse to pay you for the time you are away. The court typically pays jurors a stipend but it is often less than $20/day -- just lunch and bus fare/gas. So, I doubt most people could go without their paycheck for a period of months.

In addition, if your employment is "at will", you can be fired for no reason at all, so if they don't like that you got taken away to serve on a jury, you could still lose your job, just for some other, undefined "reason."

EDIT: Of course, most employers would not do that. They'd just call it an unpaid leave of absence and use what would have been your paycheck to pay for a temp to keep your seat warm.

Man, that would make traffic court so much more fun.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury...Seriously? A turn signal ticket for a right hand turn in no traffic from a dead stop? Would people really have seen my arm, anyway? Can't we just agree that the officer was hoping to smell weed from the old split window bus and gave this to me as a consolation prize when it was clear there wasn't any, because dammit, I've owned that thing for a while and I know better...I mean really. Who here hasn't been the victim of a dickweed cop?

I rest my case."

Not really Finch, but I don't think a single ticket would stand. Unless the jury was filled with grumpy men in their robes who stand in their lawns yelling at passing cars.

Sorry, that counts more as a grown man sounding like he's a 3-year-old brat.
agreed. at least the beaver dam letter was humorous.
I do believe it's illegal for an employer to fire you due to jury duty. Also, a murder case isn't all that great because those cases can take months. Can you live without a paycheck for that long?
while they cannot fire you for jury duty. they can deduce the amount you were paid from your paycheck. others can also use your sick time/time off/vacation days. (in fact, that is probably preferable since you get paid the full amount and still get what you earned on jury duty.) but it's really dependant on your area's labor laws.

Not really Finch, but I don't think a single ticket would stand. Unless the jury was filled with grumpy men in their robes who stand in their lawns yelling at passing cars.Now it's been a while since I was forced to read "To Kill a Mockingbird", but if I remember correctly, Atticus lost that case...

What I find disturbing is that he needed help from his wife to prepare that...

Y'know, I read that bit in the OP and utterly failed to see how incredibly poorly it reflects on the guy. Thanks for the now concomitant furthering of my loss of faith in humanity. :$

Very... Detailed. Especially the part about counting the wrinkles on his dogs balls... :$

http://i.cdn.turner.com/trutv/thesmokinggun.com/graphics/art4/0430091jury1.gif

Link (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0430091jury1.html)

I honestly see where he is coming from. The economy is tough right now, you need to work as many hours as you can. Some jobs you can't take time off of. Beside, what are the chances of you getting on a murder case? It's most likely a trial about traffic violation or misdemeanor charges, bo-ring.

The same people that complain about the broken legal model REFUSE to be involved in it? I don't have a lot of time for people who whine about problems they are part of.

It's clear that you were reimbursed for lost wages, but not clear whether or not your employer was required to pay you for not working at your job, or whether the taxpayers shouldered that burden.

In my opinion, jury service is an obligation that one owes to the country. I don't believe that there is a corresponding right to be compensated for performing that service.

On the other hand, you'd be foolish not to take advantage of what's available to you.

The problem with that is, is that obligations to do a job without a corresponding right to be compensated for performing that service?

We um...we kinda call that "slavery" and we kinda made it illegal.

The problem with that is, is that obligations to do a job without a corresponding right to be compensated for performing that service?

We um...we kinda call that "slavery" and we kinda made it illegal.

Is it worth pointing out to Myrmi that - under Montana law, the compensation (only $25 per day, admittedly) is law?

I just worked out what really bugs me about that letter.

Even with help, he still can't spell the town he lives in. Jury duty is probably better off without someone like this...

Idiot. You just have to tell them that you're "prejudiced against the defendant's ethnicity, whatever it may be" or something like that and they'll probably let you off the hook. They don't want you if all you're going to do is cause trouble.

I've been in court-rooms now and then, for a variety of purposes, but I've never served on a jury. I'm not sure if it would be interesting or boring.

On a (somewhat)related but admittedly tangential note, the phrase 'Epic Win' annoys me, as does the related 'Epic Fail.' It's almost as bad as people who say 'OMG' when they're actually talking to someone, and not texting.

OMG! That post was total Epic FAIL! :p

It's clear that you were reimbursed for lost wages, but not clear whether or not your employer was required to pay you for not working at your job, or whether the taxpayers shouldered that burden.

In my opinion, jury service is an obligation that one owes to the country. I don't believe that there is a corresponding right to be compensated for performing that service.

On the other hand, you'd be foolish not to take advantage of what's available to you.


Well I don't know, I mean I agree that it is an obligation, but come on now can you name one person who serves his country without payment? Why should juryers be differant?

The problem with that is, is that obligations to do a job without a corresponding right to be compensated for performing that service?

We um...we kinda call that "slavery" and we kinda made it illegal.

What jurors are paid is tantamount to slavery. Service is forced. We can't negotiate the wage and it's only a token payment anyway.

Kinda like paying taxes... Forced, non-negotiable...