Have you ever refused to serve on a jury due to personal religious convictions?
If so, were you immediately excused from serving in the jury?
If you are not religious, would you still use that as an excuse to get out of serving in a Jury?
YC
Watchtower Stand Re: Jury Duty
by YoursChelbie 8 Replies latest jw friends
-
YoursChelbie
-
bigmouth
I refused about 3 times and was excused. No problem.
Now, I would be happy to. -
YoursChelbie
Hi, bigmouth. Are you in New Zealand? Do they offer some payment for those who take time off work to serve in a jury?
YC
-
Gopher
I was called to jury duty while a JW. (First I did my research in WT publications to see what the mother organization said, and they were all over the map. Depending on which article you read, it could be good, not so good, or a conscience matter.)
I reported to the court, and was selected as a potential juror on a high-profile murder case. My religion was brought up (for some reason I mentioned it in the paperwork), so it became an issue. The defense wanted me on the jury, but the prosecution issued a peremptory challenge and got me out of there. Then I was free to go home.
Now I would have no problem serving on a jury.
-
YoursChelbie
I have never been called to serve in a jury. But if I was I don't think I could do it. The thought of judging a total stranger and then deciding their punishment is just too uncomfortable to even think about. There are people who have been wrongly convicted( http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-02-11-wrongly-convicted_x.htm) and I feel that it's a devastating thing for them and their family. I hope I'm never called to serve on a jury.
YC
-
Beep,Beep
You might want to look here too:
-
YoursChelbie
Thanks everybody.
That was good info on that link, beepbeep.YC
-
riverofdeceit
Speaking of jury duty, has anyone ever had "federal" jury duty(U.S.)? I have it right now, sort of. I have to call some number every friday for 2 months to see if I have to show up. It's a pain in the butt trying to remember. I actually forgot this weekend, but because of MLK day, I was able to call this morning. For regular jury duty, I've been called every three years like clockwork. Never been selected, or even interviewed, for that matter. Everyone has plead out before it has come to that.
-
bigmouth
"Hi, bigmouth. Are you in New Zealand? Do they offer some payment for those who take time off work to serve in a jury?"
Yes, I'm in NZ. Most companies will stand the cost of an employee being off work for a short while. But I think there is a token payment and meal money provided by the state.