[Diddle E. Squat]

Perhaps it is time we ban book deals and profiteering by jury members. Should be constitutional, since we already do so with criminals. It is a civic duty, not a lottery opportunity.

We also need to substantially restrict the ability for average people to get out of jury duty(which skewers the available pool towards more idiots, the gullible, and life's losers), and tighten the ability for the defense to strike potential jurors.

But hey, at least the Libertarians are happy, since it is nobody's business who they molest.

[Peach]

You're right about the jury pools across the country and who serves and who gets out of serving.

Responsible, intelligent people are typically working and get a pass so we get grifters.

California has their own special problem because they are absolutely INCAPABLE of convicting celebrities.

[winodog]

I have not read this thread but I wonder what the judges instructions to the jury were. Perhaps his instructions were written in such a way that the jury had no chioce but not guilty.

[MOgirl]

Hello,

A few years back, I was called for Jury Duty. I was sitting next to a man as we (along with 40-50 others) were being questioned to serve on a murder trial. He owned his own business, and it became clear that he was being considered. He whispered to me to watch what he did to get out of it. The Judge asked him if there was any reason that he could not serve. He winked at me and said, "Yes, I am a bigot and would find the defendant guilty, regardless of the facts of the case." Boom, not only was he released from consideration on that case, but he was released completely.

I did not agree with what he did, and do not believe that he actually was a bigot, he just found a way to keep out of serving for a 3-5 day trial.

Glad to be here, MOgirl