Posted on 01/12/2015 1:53:45 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
Sen. Ted Cruz could have gotten out of jury duty – as a member of Congress, he is exempt.
But the Texas Republican known for his penchant for bucking trends showed up – in black cowboy boots, no less – for jury duty Friday, setting social media abuzz.
Cruz, a lwayer, was among about 100 Harris County residents who were called to jury duty that day, according to the Houston Chronicle.
His presence was noted by District Clerk Chris Daniel, who told the prospective jurors: "Whether you're new to the workforce or you may serve in Washington, one way or another, we're thankful you all came out here for jury duty today."
Others in the jury pool snapped photos of the senator and posted them on their social media pages.
District Court Judge Ryan Patrick, @ryanpatrick177, tweeted: "The courthouse is abuzz more than normal with @tedcruz making onto a jury panel for voire dire."(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at latino.foxnews.com ...
It would make me feel that he is one of us, not one of the patricians.
What trial attorney wouldn’t want Ted Cruz on the jury. LOL!
I assume you ment to say "Cruz, a lawyer."
That's OK, he did his civic duty, didn't pull rank. You gotta respect the guy.
The judge will toss him off the jury for being too dominant a personality.
Personally, I was involved in a civil lawsuit and Anita Hill was in the jury pool. The judge excused her without even exposing her to voir dire.
He really cares about America; and sees jury duty as part of being a citizen.
Not to mention that as a member of the bar, no attorney in his right mind would let him through voir dire, he knows all the trade secrets. As soon as the lawyers find out that I have been a prosecutor, member of courts martial, president of courts martial, and president of a discharge proceeding of a homosexual Army Major that made it to the Supreme Court, I'm out of there. The defense attorneys won't take a chance.
Leadership by example always works and gains the respect of all.
Who’s “Milt”?
Lawyers are never put on juries.
Cruz is a class act in every way.
When I was excused from jury duty a couple years ago, it wasn’t because I was a lawyer or had gone to law school with the prosecutor.
During voir dire it was discovered I’d had lunch with defense counsel’s father the prior week. Apparently the father works as a paralegal for his son’s firm.
Despite millions living in the DFW metroplex, it’s a small world.
Not all lawyers are challenged. I know a divorce attorney who ended up as a jury foreman on a murder trial.
If I knew nothing?
I’d say he was either down to earth, or wanting to appear down to earth.
Not true. In most circumstances it's considered not wise - you get what amounts to another judge in the jury room.
But my dad, who was a courthouse lawyer (civil - both plaintiffs and defendants) for 50 years, served on juries twice. One of our federal judges here got on a state armed robbery trial. And just last year I was called, voir dired, selected, and served. They elected me foreman. We reached a verdict. :-) . And I tried not to be a second judge in the jury room - but the other jurors naturally looked to me because of my perceived expertise. At least I took down the most important jury instructions in shorthand so I wouldn't be relying on my memory of the charge or my personal knowledge of the law . . .
It's traditional for the lawyers to lie in wait for the jurors after they're dismissed . . . so much so that the judge informs the jurors before dismissing them that they don't have to talk to the lawyers if they don't want to. But I was lying in wait for the lawyers . . . asked them, "What were you THINKING?!?!?!?"
What they were thinking is that they had other folks they needed to get rid of worse than they needed to get rid of me, and they ran out of strikes (civil trial). Good call for the side that won, bad call for the side that lost.
But that's exactly why it's important to show up and be counted - even if you don't think they'll take you in a million years. You can't predict who else will be on that panel, and even if they strike you, you took up a strike that they won't have to use on somebody else (like me.)
So my hat's off to Ted Cruz for doing his duty.
I think being a former prosecutor on a criminal case is probably *almost* a challenge-for-cause, but most lawyers aren’t in that position.
Regular guy.
Those from the political class would never actually show up. They are far too important, you know. They would talk about civic duty, lecture actually, wag a finger then go on their merry way.....while the rest of us do the work.
An attorney whose case is BS.
Thanks for the info.
I applaud Ted Cruz for serving on a jury, now let’s hope it’s not a black being judged and found guilty.
The media propaganda machine would have a field day.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.