Posted on 09/24/2014 10:09:02 AM PDT by Dave346
WASHINGTON - A federal judge has arranged for two jurors to get legal help to ensure they are paid by their employers during a lengthy criminal trial of Blackwater security guards.
Four former Blackwater guards have been on trial since June 17 in the shootings of more than 30 Iraqi citizens seven years ago in Baghdad. Jury deliberations began Sept. 2 and are continuing.
In a court proceeding with lawyers from both sides, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said he had learned that one juror hasn't been paid by her employer since the first two weeks of the trial.
In addition to not paying the woman, the employer "was saying that her insurance was too expensive for him to keep up, and he was thinking about canceling her insurance or moving her to a lesser policy," the judge said, according to a transcript of the brief conference.
Under federal law, employers are forbidden from intimidating or coercing permanent employees regarding their jury service.
Lamberth said he also learned that another juror, a Navy civilian employee, had been told that he would not be paid by his employer during his time as a juror.
"His immediate superior has been giving him a hard time about his continuing to be on leave ... and has told him that he would not be paid for his service," which is contrary to regulations of the Navy and of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, the judge said in the conference, which took place Monday.
Lamberth said he appointed an attorney to take whatever action is necessary to protect the rights of the two jurors.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
As far as I'm concerned they are already past the point they should have declared this group "hung" and go home.
If you live more than 60 miles from the courthouse, federal jury pay and per diem is really good if you watch your expenses.
Between the pay and per diem, it would not be difficult to net $150 - 200/day, especially if you found another juror to slipt the cost of a hotel.
Federal jury pay rate is $40 per day for the first 10 days, then $50 a day.
Not a lot of money regardless of travel reimbursement.
This would be tough on a small company like where I work.
28 U.S. Code § 1875 - Protection of jurors’ employment28 U.S. Code § 1875 - Protection of jurors’ employment
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1875
Not an open and shut case, apparently.
$50/day plus about $200/day for food and hotels if you live more than 60 miles away can easily net you $150/day if you minimize your expenses.
I know; I did it once for a federal trial.
If I were Judge Lamberth, I think that I’d be sending out a letter to the managers of the two employees and ask them to come meet me in open court (or the judges chambers) and explain their actions.
:: A federal judge has arranged for two jurors to get legal help to ensure they are paid by their employers ::
Sadly, one must initiate legal proceedings (with legal representation) just to get what is legally due. The back-pay amount will likely pay for the lawyer...and the stiffed jurors are still in the “no funds” boat even after the court finds on their behalf.
Since when is an employer legally responsible for paying wages while employees serve jury duty?
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