Jury Duty - Boy are us 2A folks in trouble!

[FfNJGTFO]

I have just returned from 2 days of jury duty service at the US District Court "Middle Florida" district in Tampa. I participated in Voir-Dire for one case, but was not impaneled, as I expected not to be. Apparently, I know too many "legal professionals" having been (at one time) an affiliate member of the Carrollwood Bar Association. Ah well.

Still, it was quite an interesting experience listening to the voir-dire. The case regraded two defendants who were charged with several counts involving conspiracy to commit armed robbery and use of force via firearms, or some such thing. We were not told the full extent of the charges at voir-dire. I gather that it was made a federal case because it involved going across state lines or something like that.

What was interesting (and of potential concern to us in COTEP) is how the defense atty's asked questions about people's feelings about "firearms." There were at least 10 people (20% of the total jury candidate pool) that were anti-gun and felt they could not render a fair and impartial verdict because they were anti-gun. Furthermore, there were some that claimed they weren't totally anti-gun, but they felt that "guns were too prevalent" in our society and that "anytime you bring a gun to a situation" you have a risk of escalated crime, and that "guns should only be for defense of home..." Holy Shiznit! I thought I was back in the PRNJ! If this is representative of the actual community, we pro-2A folks are in some serious trouble!

Hopefully, these were just people who were attempting to get out of jury service by pushing the 2A "hot item" button. And they were excused from service... all of them. Also, thankfully, there was one gentleman I sat next to who is pro-2A and who did get impaneled onto that jury. I wish I knew his name but I didn't have time to exchange info with him. But he's definitely one of us. I wish him the best.

Anyway, assuming what I saw was an accurate reflection of our community, we have a lot of fears to allay and a lot of education to convey. Let's keep up the offers to take people to the range and answering questions whenever & wherever we can.

Our lives and liberties depend on it.

[sdmc530]

Yikes!


I got summoned a few weeks back, then I filled out the form and they sad I was excused. Leo don’t do jury duty I guess? I was actually disappointed

[RKP]

Not good ... you fellas hang tough !!

Last time (years ago) I was summoned I got stuck for 7 weeks ...

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by sdmc530

Yikes!


I got summoned a few weeks back, then I filled out the form and they sad I was excused. Leo don’t do jury duty I guess? I was actually disappointed

Well, I know that various "Public Service" personnel used to have an automatic excuse from Jury Duty (Doctors, dentists, LEOs, Attys, etc.). I had one for several years due to being a volunteer EMT in the PRNJ (and I think that excuse still exists today (i.e. volunteer firefighter/EMT). But, because it's so hard to come up with qualified jurors these days, I think the jury services are starting to summon more of those "Public Servants" to voir-dire, at least. Whether or not they actually get impaneled is another matter. I'm sure any competent defense atty would DQ any LEO, or attorney, etc. Likewise, they would also DQ hospital staff (Doctors, nurses, EMTs etc. especially) if the case involved drugs or violence (assault/battery).



I guess I'm going to be tainted with my former affiliation with the Carrollwood Bar Assoc. I can't *not* disclose it as I might actually be recognized by one of the litigators. I hear ya though, it does suck because I don't think that juries take the job as seriously as they should. And if we don't have competent juries deciding cases, our justice system is totally screwed. Sometimes, I think some of the sleazy prosecutors try to manipulate jurors and play on their fears and hatred of crime in an effort to win very weak cases. Someone has got to be there with the







and say, "Enough!" Justice is justice. Did the Govt. prove their case "beyond a reasonable doubt?" If not, then sorry... but "Not Guilty!"

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by RKP

Not good ... you fellas hang tough !!

Last time (years ago) I was summoned I got stuck for 7 weeks ...

Grand Jury? This one was a "Petit Jury" but at the Federal level. We were "on call" for three weeks. This was week 3 of 3. I had not been called for the first of two of those weeks. So my service is done until the next time I'm summoned (which the court jury service said would probably be around another two years).

[sdmc530]

I hear ya though, it does suck because I don't think that juries take the job as seriously as they should. And if we don't have competent juries deciding cases, our justice system is totally screwed.




spot on. I wanted to get the duty and be the lead person or whatever its called. I think people don't do their civic duty properly. We are fortunate to have the justice system we have to protect us. Sad really.....

[Gatorade]

Last time I was summoned was to civil court years ago. Our pool got called to hear a case early, something along the lines of a commercial dispute, we were in the court to begin the selection process when the bailiff rushes in to the judge. Both attorneys leave, there is lots of whispering and back and forth and after about 15 minutes the judge, bailiff and attorneys come back in and let us know they won't need our service today. Apparently the defendant had a heart attack just outside the court room. Needless to say they were not going to court that day. Too early to send us home so back to the pool we went.


Then our pool gets called again but this time we are told the criminal court is short on pools and since group had already been called they were transferring us to criminal court for a case there.


Lots of joking about what people would do to get out of going to court, comments about what looked like the blonde gold digging plaintiff and such. Then we got our second questionnaire of the day and were told this was for a murder trial. You could have heard a pin drop. Went in and it was something out of central casting but was actually real. Young black guy with a Malcom X T-shirt and an old haggard defense attorney, prosecutor looked in her late 20's but not clean an polished like on TV, worn briefcase and scuffed shoes, hair brushed but not styled. Real attorneys, real crimes and real death. I didn't hear much beyond the initial statement about a murder in a bad part of town and attorneys asking if we had reasons to be prejudiced against a fair trial. I answered no prejudices at all, I would listen to the evidence and decide if it was enough. The prosecution had no issues with me. The defense asked about the part on the questionnaire where I said my sister was an Assistant State Attorney working in another county. I answered yes. They said I was dismissed. I think they didn't believe that I could be impartial. Sadly I know I would have been. Never found out about much about the crime or the trial.

Only other time I was called in I got there but was never pulled for a jury, left at 3pm and haven't been called since.

I feel very strongly about the right to trial by jury and would not shy away or try to get out of it even though it would cause turmoil in my daily routine with my special needs daughter and my other kids. Somethings need to be done for the greater good of society.

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Gatorade

The defense asked about the part on the questionnaire where I said my sister was an Assistant State Attorney working in another county. I answered yes. They said I was dismissed. I think they didn't believe that I could be impartial. Sadly I know I would have been. Never found out about much about the crime or the trial.

Yup... they (mostly the defense) don't want anyone who has any knowledge of the justice system or are friends/relatives of anyone who does.... It's why I wasn't selected for this jury. And probably why I won't be selected for any future juries, either. They want people who know nothing about "the system" and, therefore, can be easily manipulated.

Originally Posted by Gatorade

I feel very strongly about the right to trial by jury and would not shy away or try to get out of it even though it would cause turmoil in my daily routine with my special needs daughter and my other kids. Somethings need to be done for the greater good of society.

Neither would I, for the same reasons. There, but for the grace of God go any of us. We would all want a competent and committed jury to weigh any matters of importance to each of us. It behooves us, then, to do our part to contribute to the success of that portion of the system. Only then, will justice be truly served.

[Pirate]

Well, I have to report tomorrow. I wonder how me working closely with law enforcement will work for me.

[FfNJGTFO]

Originally Posted by Pirate

Well, I have to report tomorrow. I wonder how me working closely with law enforcement will work for me.

It may not be *that* helpful (in terms of getting you "excused")... But if you know a lot of judges and lawyers, that will help!