OT - getting out of Jury Duty

"Jeff" wrote in message
...

"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:U29cd.305$UX3.90@trndny03...

"Sue" wrote in message
...
"firedancer623" wrote in message
If I get chosen to serve, then I'll serve. But I don't agree with the
process.

Please tell us then, what would be a better solution?

The process of choosing is what I think is wrong. There has to be a
better
solution, why not choose jurors who WANT to serve. They're out there. I'd
say half of the people I know love serving. You should have a choice.
Being
forced into anything is wrong, IMO.

You are not forced into be a jurer. You are welcome to move overseas.

Ok, lets get back to reality now. Im not moving anywhere (though I'd love to
move to Canada) however it's NOT because of jury duty!!!



The jury is supposed to be a jury of your peers. Not people who want to
serve.

I totally understand that. I understand the concept of trying to find a nice
balance of individuals. However, I dont see why, if someone is adamantly
against serving, they should be allowed to decline that right.


Rather than something that you have to do, you should think of it as an
honor to serve your country.

Hardly an honor. As stated previously, I am very disenchanted with our
country - the politics, the government, the judicial system. It's of course
my opinion, but it's how I feel.


I have to say, with an attitude like that, I feel really sorry for your
kids.

Well, my kids are pretty opinionated too. I try and let them decide how they
want to do things and set very lenient boundaries in regards to things such
as religion, peers, school work, activities. I raise them to be free
thinkers and if they are patriotic then I'd be happy for them to feel that
way. If they disagree with me, they are quite welcome to do so.

And please, you don't have to feel sorry for them. They are happy, well
adjusted kids who love their parents and respect us.

"Nan" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 12:21:24 -0400, "Jeff"
scribbled:

You are not forced into be a jurer. You are welcome to move overseas.

Not exactly a valid point. Moving overseas isn't feasible for many
(most?) people. A Love It Or Leave It attitude is too archaic.


The jury is supposed to be a jury of your peers. Not people who want to
serve.

Agreed.

Rather than something that you have to do, you should think of it as an
honor to serve your country.

Well, I don't think I'd consider it an honor. I would consider it my
responsibility, though.

While I see what you are saying, it feels to me as a forced responsibily.
Why aren't people forced to vote? Or join the military? Which, they were
during the draft I know, but I suppose that is my problem with it. I guess
Im just venting a little, I apologize.


I have to say, with an attitude like that, I feel really sorry for your
kids.

Why? I might not agree with her opinion, but she's free to raise her
kids to think independently! I hope most parents do.


Thank you, I appreciate that.

"Banty" wrote in message
...
In article , Nan says...

On 16 Oct 2004 08:39:38 -0700, Banty
scribbled:

Well, drivers being nearly every adult, mostly yes.

But that has been a (reasonable, I think) objection to taking juries from
driver's licence rolls.

It's obvious why voter registration rolls are no longer used, and I
can see the argument against driver's license rolls. Forgive my
weekend morning brain fog G but what would be a more fair and
balanced resource?

Nan


Good question. And if non-drivers *were* included, wouldn't we in many
areas
have that set of people beg out of jury duty anyway for transportation
reasons?

Banty

Probably. I think then, they'd have to arrange to transport those people. I
dont know if they'd bother with something like that.

Or what about people who only have 1 vehicle? For a few years, my husband
and I only had 1 car which he took to work. I was home with no
transportation. Im just glad I didn't get called upon then!!

"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:jbccd.637$EL5.596@trndny09...

(snip)

| I do agree that the current selection method is flawed. I know people
| that have been summoned a number of times and those who never have.
| It would be nice if it was more efficient in spreading the burden more
| evenly.
|
|
| Or how about an Amish person? How many Amish people do you know who have
| ever been summoned?

Rabidly religious people who admit they they rely on religion rather than
critical thought and logic are not peers of most people and shouldn't sit on
juries. Recall that although most people in the US identify themselves with
one religion or another, they in fact do not use those values in living
their every day life.

--
love,
la mangosteena

"My favorite creationism-related poll data is the one that says 40% of poll
respondents in the United States agree with the statement 'God created the
earth about ten thousand years ago' but 91% agree with the statement
'Dinosaurs lived on the earth millions of years ago'." (eyelessgame, 2004)

"lizzard woman" wrote in message
news:roccd.116745$a41.69103@pd7tw2no...
"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:jbccd.637$EL5.596@trndny09...

(snip)

| I do agree that the current selection method is flawed. I know people
| that have been summoned a number of times and those who never have.
| It would be nice if it was more efficient in spreading the burden more
| evenly.
|
|
| Or how about an Amish person? How many Amish people do you know who have
| ever been summoned?

Rabidly religious people who admit they they rely on religion rather than
critical thought and logic are not peers of most people and shouldn't sit
on
juries. Recall that although most people in the US identify themselves
with
one religion or another, they in fact do not use those values in living
their every day life.

Thank you. I was genuinely curious and never thought of it that way.




"My favorite creationism-related poll data is the one that says 40% of
poll
respondents in the United States agree with the statement 'God created the
earth about ten thousand years ago' but 91% agree with the statement
'Dinosaurs lived on the earth millions of years ago'." (eyelessgame,
2004)


Great quote btw

"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:Ygccd.319$TU5.270@trndny06...

(snip)

| Ok, lets get back to reality now. Im not moving anywhere (though I'd love
to
| move to Canada) however it's NOT because of jury duty!!!

I'm a US citizen who has been living in Canada for the last ~1.5 years.
Canada is very similar to the US except the taxes are higher and the health
care access is worse. My tree trimmer, as a small businessman,
spontaneously launched into a rant about how hostile Canada is to small
business owners. He said taxes are killing him partly because 60% of
employed people in Alberta are employed by the government (all levels I
think he was taking about). He said his brother in the US has a similar
business and keeps much more of his income. He claimed Canada was red
communistic; I talked him off that ledge and we mutually decided that it
was closer to "pink."

Just my observation.

--
sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94)

"lizzard woman" wrote in message
news:Nsccd.733287$M95.730025@pd7tw1no...

"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:Ygccd.319$TU5.270@trndny06...

(snip)

| Ok, lets get back to reality now. Im not moving anywhere (though I'd
love
to
| move to Canada) however it's NOT because of jury duty!!!

I'm a US citizen who has been living in Canada for the last ~1.5 years.
Canada is very similar to the US except the taxes are higher and the
health
care access is worse.

Is the cost greater though? We're paying more for health care than for our
mortgage right now. And that's WITH company help.

My tree trimmer, as a small businessman,
spontaneously launched into a rant about how hostile Canada is to small
business owners. He said taxes are killing him partly because 60% of
employed people in Alberta are employed by the government (all levels I
think he was taking about). He said his brother in the US has a similar
business and keeps much more of his income. He claimed Canada was red
communistic; I talked him off that ledge and we mutually decided that it
was closer to "pink."

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have several Canadian friends - born
there, lived their all their life - in Kitchener, Ontario. They love it and
ever since we've met them (back in '91) the more we go visit, the more we
compare notes, the more tempting it seems. Of course, that is just our
experience and we could go there and hate it, end up moving back wishing we
had never left. I'd be willing to take the risk though.

And if we did move, it would be basically within the same company that my
husband now works. I don't think they are government owned though I could be
wrong.

"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:%xccd.1444$fP3.1134@trndny05...
|
| "lizzard woman" wrote in message

| I'm a US citizen who has been living in Canada for the last ~1.5 years.
| Canada is very similar to the US except the taxes are higher and the
| health
| care access is worse.
|
| Is the cost greater though? We're paying more for health care than for our
| mortgage right now. And that's WITH company help.

Hard to say. We are corporate expatriates... my husband works for a US
company. They are supposed to cover all costs over and above what we would
pay in the US. The cost of living in general is lower (or similar now)
because we don't get a cost of living increase like were were getting in
Puerto Rico (15%).

| My tree trimmer, as a small businessman,
| spontaneously launched into a rant about how hostile Canada is to small
| business owners. He said taxes are killing him partly because 60% of
| employed people in Alberta are employed by the government (all levels I
| think he was taking about). He said his brother in the US has a similar
| business and keeps much more of his income. He claimed Canada was red
| communistic; I talked him off that ledge and we mutually decided that
it
| was closer to "pink."
|
| Interesting. Thanks for sharing. I have several Canadian friends - born
| there, lived their all their life - in Kitchener, Ontario. They love it
and
| ever since we've met them (back in '91) the more we go visit, the more we
| compare notes, the more tempting it seems. Of course, that is just our
| experience and we could go there and hate it, end up moving back wishing
we
| had never left. I'd be willing to take the risk though.

Well I believe they love it but I question whether they have the experience
base to compare it to anything else if they haven't lived elsewhere. I
loved NYC until I moved to Milwaukee (A great place by a Great Lake!).

--
sharon, momma to savannah and willow (11/11/94)

In article roccd.116745$a41.69103@pd7tw2no, lizzard woman says...

"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:jbccd.637$EL5.596@trndny09...

(snip)

| I do agree that the current selection method is flawed. I know people
| that have been summoned a number of times and those who never have.
| It would be nice if it was more efficient in spreading the burden more
| evenly.
|
|
| Or how about an Amish person? How many Amish people do you know who have
| ever been summoned?

Rabidly religious people who admit they they rely on religion rather than
critical thought and logic are not peers of most people and shouldn't sit on
juries. Recall that although most people in the US identify themselves with
one religion or another, they in fact do not use those values in living
their every day life.



Oh, foo.

Religious people also go on trial, and need a jury of their peers, too!

And there's a reason why a jury is twelve (or sometimes six), and why there is a
vior dire procedure in sitting a jury.

Banty

In article Nsccd.733287$M95.730025@pd7tw1no, lizzard woman says...


"firedancer623" wrote in message
news:Ygccd.319$TU5.270@trndny06...

(snip)

| Ok, lets get back to reality now. Im not moving anywhere (though I'd love
to
| move to Canada) however it's NOT because of jury duty!!!

I'm a US citizen who has been living in Canada for the last ~1.5 years.
Canada is very similar to the US except the taxes are higher and the health
care access is worse.

Worse only if you've been fortunate enough to be on employer-sponsored medical
benefits.

Banty (who carried those less fortunate in the U.S. to emergency rooms)