Jury Duty

Every tax is a pay cut. Every tax cut is a pay raise.
Citizens for Limited Taxation

A Cynic's View of Jury Duty, by Harold J. Wolfe (raised by Wolfes)
To become an informed juror, see: http://www.fija.org/

On November 17th, 2005, I was called in for jury duty at the Sullivan Courthouse on Thorndike Street in Cambridge. I left my house at 6 a.m. and took the T in from Alewife, switching to the Green line at Park Street to end up at Lechmere. I learned later, I should have gotten off at Kendall Square on the Red line. I finally arrived at 7:45 a.m., went to the fifth floor and turned in my questionaire. I was one of 150 potential jurors who did not want to be here.
While I do understand the importance of being a juror, I was more motivated by the statement on my questionaire that said "Failure to appear for juror service is a crime, which is, upon conviction, punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000."
After submitting my questionaire, and waiting until 8:30 a.m., we were herded like sheep into large room with wooden benches where we were told that once checked in as a juror and you choose to leave, the judge that might have selected you as a juror, may (and probably will) issue an arrest warrant against you. We also watched a 20 minute video on "being a juror". The key remark was made by Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court Margaret H. Marshall when she stated:
Our open court system works only because of your willingness to serve as jurors.
I object to people like her who lie to me in my face. I can only presume that this woman was, with all probability, raised by wolves, and does not understand the term "willing".
Having faced what I called malicious prosecution when I was ever so much younger, I was not willing to serve. I was merely threatened with imprisonment. It says so clearly on the juror questionaire.
If people were really willing, the judicial system would have set up lines for potential jurors.
The Express Line: You get in this line if you wanted to become a juror without waiting. No fuss, no muss. All accepted.
The I'll Only Serve If I Get Free Lunches Line: For those who demand a little something for all the bother of getting here to begin with. Two hours journey and parking fees and endless boring hours should get you something.
The Not Until Hell Freezes Over Line: This would have been my line of choice.
Margaret Marshall mentioned an open court system. Why is it, then, that all cameras, cell phone cameras, and voice recorders are taken away from you as you enter the court house? Clearly, these people have something to hide. Most places I go allow me voice recorders and cameras. Court houses are the exception. I can understand screening for guns and explosives. After all, the entire judicial system is dedicated to resolving conflicts between various parties, which in the old days, were usually not so quietly resolved with guns and explosives.
After our video, we then waited longer. By 10:30 a.m., many of us were doing a lot of reading or getting into heavy conversations. I'm fairly certain some speed reader amongst us went thru War and Peace. Others were starting to count the ceiling tiles as a mental exercise. I'm sure a lot sexual fantasies were experienced by many.
They state that you are judged by a jury of your peers. What exactly is your peer group? During my entire life, I have been surrounded by extremely well educated people who for the most part have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science. If I had to face a jury, most jury members would most likely have been raised by wolves, the same wolves that raised Chief Justice Margaret Marshall. If you are a chronic drug user who steals all the time, isn't your peer group chronic drug users who steal all the time?
By 11:30 a.m., it was becoming an event that made it desirable that you be asleep or unconscious. Normally, my life has always been enhanced by long periods of unconsciousness. Periodically, I enter the unpleasant state of consciousness and occasionally have to deal with those raised by wolves.
By 12:00 noon, they told us to go eat lunch but be back by 1:00 p.m. By 1:00 p.m., they let us all go. I got home by 2:30 p.m. What a waste of a day.
We did learn one useful tidbit. One trial was for a child rape case, and the court system seems to think that they need a pool of 150 potential jurors to find 12 jurors, plus alternates for such a case.
My views of, and respect for, the judical system have taken a big hit. 150 man days gone to waste.

A Cynic's View of Jury Duty, by Harold J. Wolfe (raised by Wolfes) To become an informed juror, see: http://www.fija.org/
On November 17th, 2005, I was called in for jury duty at the Sullivan Courthouse on Thorndike Street in Cambridge. I left my house at 6 a.m. and took the T in from Alewife, switching to the Green line at Park Street to end up at Lechmere. I learned later, I should have gotten off at Kendall Square on the Red line. I finally arrived at 7:45 a.m., went to the fifth floor and turned in my questionaire. I was one of 150 potential jurors who did not want to be here. While I do understand the importance of being a juror, I was more motivated by the statement on my questionaire that said "Failure to appear for juror service is a crime, which is, upon conviction, punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000." After submitting my questionaire, and waiting until 8:30 a.m., we were herded like sheep into large room with wooden benches where we were told that once checked in as a juror and you choose to leave, the judge that might have selected you as a juror, may (and probably will) issue an arrest warrant against you. We also watched a 20 minute video on "being a juror". The key remark was made by Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court Margaret H. Marshall when she stated: Our open court system works only because of your willingness to serve as jurors. I object to people like her who lie to me in my face. I can only presume that this woman was, with all probability, raised by wolves, and does not understand the term "willing". Having faced what I called malicious prosecution when I was ever so much younger, I was not willing to serve. I was merely threatened with imprisonment. It says so clearly on the juror questionaire. If people were really willing, the judicial system would have set up lines for potential jurors. The Express Line: You get in this line if you wanted to become a juror without waiting. No fuss, no muss. All accepted. The I'll Only Serve If I Get Free Lunches Line: For those who demand a little something for all the bother of getting here to begin with. Two hours journey and parking fees and endless boring hours should get you something. The Not Until Hell Freezes Over Line: This would have been my line of choice. Margaret Marshall mentioned an open court system. Why is it, then, that all cameras, cell phone cameras, and voice recorders are taken away from you as you enter the court house? Clearly, these people have something to hide. Most places I go allow me voice recorders and cameras. Court houses are the exception. I can understand screening for guns and explosives. After all, the entire judicial system is dedicated to resolving conflicts between various parties, which in the old days, were usually not so quietly resolved with guns and explosives. After our video, we then waited longer. By 10:30 a.m., many of us were doing a lot of reading or getting into heavy conversations. I'm fairly certain some speed reader amongst us went thru War and Peace. Others were starting to count the ceiling tiles as a mental exercise. I'm sure a lot sexual fantasies were experienced by many. They state that you are judged by a jury of your peers. What exactly is your peer group? During my entire life, I have been surrounded by extremely well educated people who for the most part have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science. If I had to face a jury, most jury members would most likely have been raised by wolves, the same wolves that raised Chief Justice Margaret Marshall. If you are a chronic drug user who steals all the time, isn't your peer group chronic drug users who steal all the time? By 11:30 a.m., it was becoming an event that made it desirable that you be asleep or unconscious. Normally, my life has always been enhanced by long periods of unconsciousness. Periodically, I enter the unpleasant state of consciousness and occasionally have to deal with those raised by wolves. By 12:00 noon, they told us to go eat lunch but be back by 1:00 p.m. By 1:00 p.m., they let us all go. I got home by 2:30 p.m. What a waste of a day. We did learn one useful tidbit. One trial was for a child rape case, and the court system seems to think that they need a pool of 150 potential jurors to find 12 jurors, plus alternates for such a case. My views of, and respect for, the judical system have taken a big hit. 150 man days gone to waste.

The existence of a jury is required by the Constitution, but serving on a jury is not.
THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
Article. III.
Section. 2.
Clause 3:
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.
One of the biggest lies that juries and potential juries are told is that they may only judge if an individual has violated a law, not judge if the law is just.
Juries have the right and obligation to judge not only the accused, but the law itself. Jury nullification is the final check in our system of checks and balances.
Reality (or consciousness) is merely a medical condition induced by a severe case of cerebral alcohol deficiency

Send comments to: hjw2001@gmail.com