Here's something you might be interested in.
I know, I know. I often blog about the amount of money jurors award to someone. It can be a person that wasn't able to pee at a Billy Joel concert because women came into the mens restroom. Hey, it seems Billy Joel, who while drunk drove a few cars into things, should've sued. Maybe the carmaker, or beer distributor. But there I go again, down that path.
No, this is to complain about the jury process.
I was asked to serve on a jury a few years ago. Now, I would always get jury notices, and I'd always get out of them. My first thought was....why is it so easy to get out of jury duty?
Sometimes I would simply write "financial hardship", as a friend that's a cop told me to do. And it worked. But I actually had the time, and was curious about the whole process I often frown upon.
I dealt with parking downtown and all that jazz, and was called onto a jury. And when the defense and prosecutors started questioning us (a lot of people don't even realize they hand pick juries they think will side with them. i'm not sure how that is a good thing. i mean, just because they say you are judged by a "jury of your peers" does that really mean that if it's a black defendant, you are going to try to get as many blacks on a jury as possible? do all these NFL players need a jury of former NFL linebackers? but i digress).
I was the first one dismissed; by the prosecutors, which is odd, since I already thought the guy they brought in did probably beat his ex-girlfriend up downtown. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be in a court talking about it.
So when I got a jury notice again, so recently, I was determined to get out of it.
Well, having plane tickets to New York on that same day, I figured was enough to do the trick. I sent them a letter explaining this.
Upon my return, I see they sent me a letter that that was "not a good enough excuse." Wow. I guess, if I would've written "financial hardship," I could've gotten out of it.
So, I did my duty. I called the number they have listed to "re-schedule." I was asked if I want this in English, which is completely idiotic. I mean, are there people that only speak Spanish, serving on juries? This doesn't seem so cost efficient, in a state that is having so many other financial problems. If someone on a jury didn't speak English, would they dismiss them? Or would they bring in a translator? I'm guessing a translator, as when I was in court on a traffic ticket five years ago, they brought in many for the people that didn't speak English. I'm not sure why the judge or bailiff didn't just tell the people if they didn't speak English, he/she would reschedule them, and they can bring someone to court with them that DOES speak the language in this country. But I guess that's a blog for another time.
I call the number. I get this elaborate recording. I put in my badge number. Put in that I want the info in English and a few other things. The automated voice asks me which date I want to be rescheduled for. I pick two months from now. They tell me that date isn't available. I pick another date. That's not available. We do this about three or four times, before the voice tells me I've used up all my picks, and nobody is available to talk with until April 3rd.
Maybe I'll call back then.
But, I'll probably just throw this notice away and not worry about it.
If they issue a warrant and a cop pulls me over, I'll just say "No habla English."
I know, I know. I often blog about the amount of money jurors award to someone. It can be a person that wasn't able to pee at a Billy Joel concert because women came into the mens restroom. Hey, it seems Billy Joel, who while drunk drove a few cars into things, should've sued. Maybe the carmaker, or beer distributor. But there I go again, down that path.
No, this is to complain about the jury process.
I was asked to serve on a jury a few years ago. Now, I would always get jury notices, and I'd always get out of them. My first thought was....why is it so easy to get out of jury duty?
Sometimes I would simply write "financial hardship", as a friend that's a cop told me to do. And it worked. But I actually had the time, and was curious about the whole process I often frown upon.
I dealt with parking downtown and all that jazz, and was called onto a jury. And when the defense and prosecutors started questioning us (a lot of people don't even realize they hand pick juries they think will side with them. i'm not sure how that is a good thing. i mean, just because they say you are judged by a "jury of your peers" does that really mean that if it's a black defendant, you are going to try to get as many blacks on a jury as possible? do all these NFL players need a jury of former NFL linebackers? but i digress).
I was the first one dismissed; by the prosecutors, which is odd, since I already thought the guy they brought in did probably beat his ex-girlfriend up downtown. Otherwise, we wouldn't even be in a court talking about it.
So when I got a jury notice again, so recently, I was determined to get out of it.
Well, having plane tickets to New York on that same day, I figured was enough to do the trick. I sent them a letter explaining this.
Upon my return, I see they sent me a letter that that was "not a good enough excuse." Wow. I guess, if I would've written "financial hardship," I could've gotten out of it.
So, I did my duty. I called the number they have listed to "re-schedule." I was asked if I want this in English, which is completely idiotic. I mean, are there people that only speak Spanish, serving on juries? This doesn't seem so cost efficient, in a state that is having so many other financial problems. If someone on a jury didn't speak English, would they dismiss them? Or would they bring in a translator? I'm guessing a translator, as when I was in court on a traffic ticket five years ago, they brought in many for the people that didn't speak English. I'm not sure why the judge or bailiff didn't just tell the people if they didn't speak English, he/she would reschedule them, and they can bring someone to court with them that DOES speak the language in this country. But I guess that's a blog for another time.
I call the number. I get this elaborate recording. I put in my badge number. Put in that I want the info in English and a few other things. The automated voice asks me which date I want to be rescheduled for. I pick two months from now. They tell me that date isn't available. I pick another date. That's not available. We do this about three or four times, before the voice tells me I've used up all my picks, and nobody is available to talk with until April 3rd.
Maybe I'll call back then.
But, I'll probably just throw this notice away and not worry about it.
If they issue a warrant and a cop pulls me over, I'll just say "No habla English."