Comments on: Richmond: Welcome to the 19th century

By: John M

John M — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:46:11 +0000

You don’t understand Meryl. In our legal system, “juror” is kind of a mild slur. The lawyers, judges, bailiffs and other court workers resent the fact that they have to involve us common buffoons in their nice orderly system, and they treat us contemptuously because of it. Remember, a “good” case is one where the evidence is so strong on one side or the other that they don’t even have to bother taking it to trial. Then the lawyers can just settle it amongst themselves like gentlemen with a plea bargain. And believe me, that is the way they like it. They think THEY should be the arbiters of justice, rather than us. Jury trials are messy, expensive and uncertain, and they hate everything that has to do with it, including the jurors.

By: David Charlap

David Charlap — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:45:32 +0000

I’ve also read of people who were charged with contempt of court for doing this. I assume they somehow let on that this was an act to get out of selection.

Personally, I’m not concerned. I’m an engineer and by my nature, I am not swayed by emotional arguments of any kind. I don’t think either side’s lawyers would want me on any jury – nobody in court seriously believes that facts alone can win a case, and they would hate to have to deal with a juror that challenges their assumption.

By: SnoopyTheGoon

SnoopyTheGoon — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 06:33:44 +0000

Just find a way to get rejected by one of the sides: become suddenly a racist, anti-feminist (or anti-male) bloodthirsty chauvinist who is for capital punishment for every offense etc.

I know people who escaped every summon this way…

By: do_not_spindle

do_not_spindle — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:20:56 +0000

Must be a Richmond or Henrico County policy. Fairfax County provides wifi in the jury waiting area. Although when I was called for jury duty last year, I didn’t get that much time to use it – it only works in the waiting area; not by the court rooms, and you won’t be allowed to use it(or should for that matter) in the court room while people from your group are being selected for a trial.

[another difference between counties. In Fairfax, if you weren't seated on a jury for a trial, you're almost certain to be thanked and sent home; you're done! Other counties send you back to the waiting room for another round.]

This is a reason why local elections matter. In Fairfax, the Clerk of the Court is responsible for jury duty policies, including amenities like wifi access, etc. The current one (just re-elected) was responsible for these and a few other improvements in how the local courts operate.