Jury Duty

[Strangler Lewis]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

"Why would they have been arrested if they aren't guilty?"

You have a better chance of getting quickly excused for cause by saying that if you turn yourself into an "Asian gentleman," because the system sort of recognizes that Asians are hopelessly pro prosecution to a degree that will not survive appellate review.

If you're a white guy and you say that, the judge will remind you that he instructs the jury that the fact of an arrest is not evidence of guilt. He will remind you of the presumption of innocence, which you will sheepishly acknowledge as a cornerstone of our system. He will tell you that the prosecution will put on its case and you might conclude that they didn't do a good job. He will then ask you, white man, if you'd be willing to listen to the evidence before making up your mind. You'll say, "Oh, yeah, I'd want to hear the evidence." The judge will then deny the challenge for cause. Defense counsel will then kick you off with a peremptory challenge unless he's used them up on people who seem far worse than you.

As a white guy, you stand a better chance of getting quickly excused for cause by using a variant of the above: that you work with/know people in law enforcement, have a huge mancrush on them, and would believe anything they say without question.

[JWBear]

I got picked for a jury once. (A murder trial!) During voir dire I was asked if I knew anyone in law enforcement. I mentioned the name of an Assistant DA I knew at the time. The defense attorney dismissed me almost before I finished the sentence.

[Disneyphile]

Damn. If only I had made this thread yesterday.

He got picked.

Fortunately, it's just a DUI case, expected to last only through tomorrow.

[mousepod]

I work within the SF Sheriff's Dept. I am constantly getting jury summonses (the way it works here in SF County is that each time a summons is sent out, it is the obligation of the potential juror to prove that he served within the past year). I've been picked to serve on a jury twice - as an alternate for a criminal case and an actual juror for a civil. During voir dire, I've explained that I work in a jail & my Mom was an attorney - on the civil case which involved medical stuff, I even said that my Dad is a physician - no dice. I have no idea what the secret is to getting out of jury duty.

[Strangler Lewis]

You must present as fatally open-minded.

[CoasterMatt]

See, this is cosmic punishment for not letting you adopt a kitten!

[Disneyphile]

Originally Posted by CoasterMatt

See, this is cosmic punishment for not letting you adopt a kitten!

Hey!!! That's an idea! I'm so telling him it's bad kitty karma.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Actually, if and when Orange County every figures out I live here (I've been registered to vote here for 5 years and have gotten diddly), I hope I do get selected. My company does pay for jury duty and it's something I would certainly want to be a part of at least once.

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

Of course if it's a Celebrity DUI, then he can write a book and make a million or two.

[RStar]

I just mentioned my brother in prison for child porn that got a raw deal by the DA. They excused me from the child abuse case they were trying to get jurors for.