I have been called for jury duty several times and have served on several trial but was wondering about the questionaire that they give you to fill out before jury selection. Some time the questions are such as what is your education level. Although I have nothing to hide I don;t consider it any of their business especially in jury selection. What if I refuse to answer those questions and plead the 5th? What can they do to me? I have not been called lately but know some people that are presently serving.
Jury Duty questionaire
- Thread starter PT111
- Start date
If you fail to fill it out and send it back, men in black jump suits carrying m-16's will raid your house and take you away, never to be seen again. Their black choppers will also be circling your house from above.....
On a serious note, it depends on the state/county you live in. Some places will issue a bench warrant for you arrest if you fail to answer the summons. I believe the legal term is 'comtempt of court'. Do a google search.. you will read stories about the cops showing up to peoples homes and escorting them to serve jury duty.
Other places will not do anything and will just go to the next name on the list. Smaller counties are usually more strict than more populated areas.
On a serious note, it depends on the state/county you live in. Some places will issue a bench warrant for you arrest if you fail to answer the summons. I believe the legal term is 'comtempt of court'. Do a google search.. you will read stories about the cops showing up to peoples homes and escorting them to serve jury duty.
Other places will not do anything and will just go to the next name on the list. Smaller counties are usually more strict than more populated areas.
Perldog007
New member
Remember what Mat Damon said to Johnny Chang in Rounders?
If you don't want to serve scribble in all the firearms courses you have taken.
Seriously, I agree with you. None of their business in a perfect world.
In this world the jury selection process is a strange and wonderful thing to behold as lawyers from both sides try to stack the deck in their favor.
In Atlantic City, at the first sign of a card counter the floorperson yells "Shuffle".
Would that it were in the justice system. .....
If you don't want to serve scribble in all the firearms courses you have taken.
Seriously, I agree with you. None of their business in a perfect world.
In this world the jury selection process is a strange and wonderful thing to behold as lawyers from both sides try to stack the deck in their favor.
In Atlantic City, at the first sign of a card counter the floorperson yells "Shuffle".
Would that it were in the justice system. .....
rwilson452
New member
If the judge doesn't like the way you filled out the form the judge can hold you in contempt.
Yes, the questions are designed to tell both the prosecution and the defense something about you. Yes, they will be used by either side to cull prospective jurors from the herd.
In a perfect world, they shouldn't need this info. But the world is hardly perfect, now, is it?
Answer the questions honestly and do your civic duty.
We often talk about the responsibilities of citizens on this board. But when it comes to jury duty - seems everyone wants to get out of serving.... :barf:
In a perfect world, they shouldn't need this info. But the world is hardly perfect, now, is it?
Answer the questions honestly and do your civic duty.
We often talk about the responsibilities of citizens on this board. But when it comes to jury duty - seems everyone wants to get out of serving.... :barf:
Doing your civic duty is fine and dandy if you believe in the duty. I think jury duty is a joke these days. Justice comes down to who has the best attorney and the best attorney is the one who knows best how to play the game. The system isn't likely to change anytime soon because the attorneys make the laws. I'm self employed and can't afford to close my business to sit for maybe days or weeks on a trial, the system doesn't care either. My loss (likely irreparable) is irrelevant to their pocketbooks. What kind of duty is it that says the system is more important than my means of earning a living?
I think we are long overdue to change to a professional jury system but it won't happen as long as lawyers run the country.
I think we are long overdue to change to a professional jury system but it won't happen as long as lawyers run the country.
TheBluesMan
Moderator Emeritus
Spoken like someone who has never served on a jury.Jaser said:
You do business in a relatively peaceable society. That society is peaceful because of many factors, not the least of which is its system of laws and the enforcement of said laws. It sounds to me like you think you are entitled to the protection of the law without ever having to pay for it. That's what jury duty is - payment for a (mostly) peaceful law-abiding society.Jaser said:
Lawyer Daggit
New member
Questions on education level are highly relevant in respect to white collar crime trials or trials involving multiple defendants that can run for some time.
It is often hard enough for the judge and lawyers to follow this evidence, let alone the jury.
It is often hard enough for the judge and lawyers to follow this evidence, let alone the jury.
You totally ignore my point. First of all, I gave 4 years of my life serving in the military. If you consider a stint in jury duty more worthy so be it. Secondly, I don't rely on the law to protect me. It can't. Which is why I have firearms and a CCW. But my point was that I don't believe in our jury system, it was once a great idea but I think that time has past. England doesn't use it, neither do most countries, but they live relatively peaceful too so I don't buy it.
And how does it help society by putting me out of business?
mountainclmbr
New member
I have enjoyed serving on jury duty every single time. It is a great insight into our legal system. I have seen the bad, on both sides. Once saw a judge throw out a case due to LEO's stretching so far to connect an uninvolved person to a drug dealing case that the story was basically fabricated. I served on a 1st degree murder death penalty jury that ended in a hung jury (guy was guilty as heck). But, I often get dismissed (I assume by the Defense) because I am an electrical engineer.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"If you don't want to go just say you have a master's degree in
physics. If you want to go tell them Jerry Springer taught you everything you need to know."
Hey, that's certainly wonderous advice, considering that in most, if not all, states lying on a jury questionnaire is perjury, which is virtually always a felony, which means you lose your guns and many other rights.
Then again, you'd never have to worry about jury duty again...
"England doesn't use it..."
Like hell they don't. Jury trial is still very much a part of the judicial process in the United Kingdom.
I can, however, think of LOTS of great places where trial by jury is non existent...
North Korea...
Vietnam...
China...
Cuba...
most of the Middle East...
Feel free to move at any time...
physics. If you want to go tell them Jerry Springer taught you everything you need to know."
Hey, that's certainly wonderous advice, considering that in most, if not all, states lying on a jury questionnaire is perjury, which is virtually always a felony, which means you lose your guns and many other rights.
Then again, you'd never have to worry about jury duty again...
"England doesn't use it..."
Like hell they don't. Jury trial is still very much a part of the judicial process in the United Kingdom.
I can, however, think of LOTS of great places where trial by jury is non existent...
North Korea...
Vietnam...
China...
Cuba...
most of the Middle East...
Feel free to move at any time...
toybox99615
New member
where the Constitutional support
There is definitely a drift in this thread against doing jury duty. Seems odd that so many will scream to have the Constitution upheld for RKBA do not like the part of a jury of peers.
A failure of people serving jury duty is as much of a problem for our rights as any other Constitution issues. You can't have half your rights without support all your rights. The next time you read some anti case where a jury of blue haired old ladies supported implementing some new restriction on guns remember you could have been there but chose to avoid it.
Should those opposed to jury duty ever have the unfortunate experience of being on trail I hope you don't end up with a jury who has similar beliefs to you. My experience on jury duty make me believe the jurors who hate being there always like to hang the accused for causing them to serve.
I've done my required time both State and a one year stint on a Federal trail jury. For the Federal one I had to fly a day before the trails and live in a hotel til the trails were over. Most of the time it was only 3 days. I'm not saying I was happy about serving but I did not avoid it by some irresponsible actions.
Bye the way. Even if the jury summons does not ask about your personal issues the attorneys and the judge probably will if the case is more than a moving traffic violation. You might get some real personal questions that will annoy you far more than asking what you education level is. Try answering a few pointed questions on your sexual preferences in a pedophile case.
There is definitely a drift in this thread against doing jury duty. Seems odd that so many will scream to have the Constitution upheld for RKBA do not like the part of a jury of peers.
A failure of people serving jury duty is as much of a problem for our rights as any other Constitution issues. You can't have half your rights without support all your rights. The next time you read some anti case where a jury of blue haired old ladies supported implementing some new restriction on guns remember you could have been there but chose to avoid it.
Should those opposed to jury duty ever have the unfortunate experience of being on trail I hope you don't end up with a jury who has similar beliefs to you. My experience on jury duty make me believe the jurors who hate being there always like to hang the accused for causing them to serve.
I've done my required time both State and a one year stint on a Federal trail jury. For the Federal one I had to fly a day before the trails and live in a hotel til the trails were over. Most of the time it was only 3 days. I'm not saying I was happy about serving but I did not avoid it by some irresponsible actions.
Bye the way. Even if the jury summons does not ask about your personal issues the attorneys and the judge probably will if the case is more than a moving traffic violation. You might get some real personal questions that will annoy you far more than asking what you education level is. Try answering a few pointed questions on your sexual preferences in a pedophile case.
In that case I'm compelled to tell them that I think the whole thing is a crock and I want to go home. I guess it's a good thing Bill Clinton was only guilty of a verbal perjury, he could have gotten in serious trouble.
He shouldn't have gotten legal advice off the internet.
So we can safely say that you are not Wesley Snipes. Just for the IRS, I mean record, I pay mine too.
Where's the Constitutionality in that? Why do we assume the courts have unlimited rights? Because they can throw you in jail? Just asking, don't taze me bro.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"Seems odd that so many will scream to have the Constitution upheld for RKBA do not like the part of a jury of peers."
Yeah, funny that, isn't it?
EVERY PART OF THE CONSTITUTION IS SACRED AND MUST BE PROTECTED AS THE FRAMERS MEANT IT TO BE!*
*Except those sections that inconvenience me.
Jesus, what hypocrisy.
Yeah, funny that, isn't it?
EVERY PART OF THE CONSTITUTION IS SACRED AND MUST BE PROTECTED AS THE FRAMERS MEANT IT TO BE!*
*Except those sections that inconvenience me.
Jesus, what hypocrisy.