Jury Duty - phooey!

[ChuckK3]

I just received a Jury summons in the mail last week, for the 29th of January. 

Actually, Jury Duty is EASY to get out of.   I remember watching an episode of "The Practice" a few years ago, and the prosecuting attorney, not satisifed with the way a case was going (the defendant was on the brink of beating the rap), started bereating the jurors, saying something like "you people are only on a jury because you're too stupid to get out of it".

I do have a doctor's deferrement, but if I didn't, I could definitely get out of it pretty easy.  Of course you can always say "shoot him or hang him", but there are more novel ways to get out too.

What do you all think?  Should Christians serve on a jury?

Chuck

[Kratos]

I consider jury duty as a responsibility as a citizen. I am glad we live in a country where we are guarenteed to be judged by a jury of our peers instead of self appointed dictators or Imans. Showing up even when it is not convenient shows our appreciation for the system and keeps even the judiciary in the hands of the people. I know there are exceptions when you cannot serve, but just getting out of it because you can and because it is inconvenient is not what I recommend or do. It is one of the many small prices of freedom that have been passed down to us by the Founding Fathers and has been defended by the blood of patriots.

John

[ChuckK3]

I consider jury duty as a responsibility as a citizen. I am glad we live in a country where we are guarenteed to be judged by a jury of our peers instead of self appointed dictators or Imans. Showing up even when it is not convenient shows our appreciation for the system and keeps even the judiciary in the hands of the people. I know there are exceptions when you cannot serve, but just getting out of it because you can and because it is inconvenient is not what I recommend or do. It is one of the many small prices of freedom that have been passed down to us by the Founding Fathers and has been defended by the blood of patriots.

John

John,
   
     Don't you think that is getting involved with the affairs of this world?  Jesus did say "he who is without sin casts the first stone".  But then again, you, as a juror, do have the power (if not the right) to forgive a guilty man. (Read JURY NULLIFICATION ) If the courts knew you knew of this power, they would dismiss you as a prosepective juror.

     Furthermore, because I'm currently under psychiatric care, that is supposed to disqualify me right there.  I would in fact get emotionally involved in any given case.

Chuck

[hopeful]

I think it's a case of listening to the Father and see what He would have you to do.  I see this more and more as time passes and what were once black and white issues become more colorful. 

I've always felt clear to decline jury duty, knowing my weak emotional make up and my need to be in the home with my children but that may change some day.

:HeartThrob:

[shibboleth]

I was summoned for jury duty over 2 years ago. I was required to make a phone call on a specific date to find out if I would need to come to the courthouse. When I called, I was no longer needed so that's as close as I've come to being on a jury.

Years ago I was a conservative, Rush Limbaugh kinda gal....but, the Lord has slowly taken away that hard edge and judgmental spirit. I don't know if I could put someone into prision forever and I am very dubious about the death penalty. But, then again, noboby killed or raped one of my loved ones, so I don't know if my opinion would change if those things had happened.

I agree with Holly, so many things are not black or white and we must be careful that we don't say something is wrong that the Bible isn't clear about.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: If you do everything as unto the Lord, go and see what HIS purpose is, in being there, in the flesh. You are not your own, you were bought with a price, and He has a purpose in everything that happens. You never know, you may be used with one of the other jurors, and not be there for the case at all. He has a plan, we need only to walk and let Him open our eyes to it as it unfolds. Blessings to you.....

[Kratos]

Chuck,

If you feel that serving on jury duty would be hard on your emotional well being that is certainly a valid reason to decline. My comments were directed more at those who want the benefits of living in a free society without any of the inconvenience or responsibility. The Bible says that we should obey every ordinance of man for conscience sake before God. Jesus even paid his taxes though He used supernatural means to do so. If we are going to judge angels, how much more should we be able to judge righteously among men. They say that the only thing needed for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. We are salt and light in the midst of a perverse generation. I have seen God use  me to sway a jury from a lie to the truth through the Spirit of Truth who lives within me. I see it as a solemn duty, but not all have this conviction and I have no problem with that either.

John

[Molly]

Absolutely Christians should serve on a jury!

We're talking the 6th and 7th amendment to the Constitution here.

The jury is the last protection between the individual and a corrupt government.

In recent years, juries have been dumbed down.  Jurors have no idea of their power.  They are easily manipulated by press and prosecution--even corrupt Judges, and have forgotten the incredibly high standard of 'beyond a reasonable doubt.'

As a jury member, you are the highest authority in the court room, even higher than the Judge, even higher than the legislature of your state.   If you find a law to be unjust,  or the handling of a case to be unjust, or any kind of corruption, you can nullify the charge--that is, say to the defendant:  go home, we find you not guilty.   Jury nullification is something that our increasingly corrupt judicial system does not want juries to know about, and Judges will prevent the defense lawyers from bringing it up in argument. 

And, each juror is an individual Jurist, that is Judge in his own right, who should not be swayed by any kind of peer pressure, inside the jury room or out.   If you decide the defendant is not guilty, then you alone have the power to release him in a hung jury.  This is another thing jurors have forgotten as Judges and peers pressure them to come to a verdict.  Don't let anyone pressure you to go against your conscience and convictions.  That's not the way our system works.   Your conscience might save another's life some day.

Being on a jury is the highest contribution you can make as a citizen.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: That's interesting, Molly. Didn't know all the details.....

[Molly]

Jury nullification is essentially what the OJ jury did.  I watched that trial and was outraged at first because I thought he was guilty and the state had proven it.  But, on later reflection, I could understand what the (mostly black) jury had done.  They heard testimony that one of the police detectives had put a vial of OJ's blood in his pocket and then walked all around both crimes scenes on his way to the lab.  They heard testimony that some of the blood was missing from the vial.  I believe that on the basis of that, and other evidence of police footsy, they nullified.

God Bless them.  We can not tolerate any kind of corruption, even the appearance of it, in this country, because it is now so easy to frame someone.  That jury made a strong statement to this effect, even if the police were framing a guilty man.  If you think he's been framed, you cannot determine his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

[firstborn888]

That jury made a strong statement to this effect, even if the police were framing a guilty man.  If you think he's been framed, you cannot determine his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

That's exactly what happened. The case could have been clear, but helping the evidence along was a HUGE mistake, and the prosecution and the families hurt by these crimes payed a huge price.
- byron 

[fire walker]

Hello Chuck,

About ten years ago I served on what is known as a grand Jury, not all states have a grand jury, and the jury duty is for one month, sometimes we would deliberate on 3 or 4 cases a day and sometimes we were hung up on one case for two or three days, we did not vote on the innocence or guilt of the defendant, we never saw the defendant, we reviewed police reports and evidence we had to vote on weather there was evidence beyond any reasonable doubt, if there wasn't  solid varified evidence available we would vote against an indictment then the DA's office would kick the case out of court canceling any scheduling of a jury trial and the charges had to be dismissed, there is not the strain involved here though deliberating on an indictment in a grand jury that a courtroom jury goes through where they are deliberating on the guilt or innocence of the defendant.  In one case we found out while in progress on the case that new information and evidence came in before we deliberated that a police officer had falsified his report and testimony before the grand jury, the entire case had to be kicked out of court, and the officer faced charges accordingly for his offence.

Should those of faith in Christ do jury duty?
I do not desire to ask "and what should this man do" when it comes to others, only my own walk by faith that I should be of purpose weather I serve or do not serve on a Jury.

Peace
Fire Walker

[ChuckK3]

Just an update.  I got a response from the court, and I have been excused for now.  I could be called again at a later date.

Chuck