A long time ago, a letter arrived,'you have been selected for jury service'. I don't want to be a member of a jury. 'It is your duty'. I would like to decide what my duty is thank you very much. 'You can be fined or imprisoned if you don't attend'. Go away and leave me alone. 'You are excused jury service'. Do I have the right to be left alone?
2006-08-12 00:33:30 · 16 answers · asked by ADRIAN H 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
No, it is your civic duty. How would you feel if you requested a jury to decide a case against you, instead of a judge? How would you feel if nobody showed up for YOUR trial?
2006-08-12 00:39:47 · answer #1 · answered by Baby Bloo 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I did my Jury Service and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Ensuring that I was able to 'do my duty' in an informed way, I went to the library and found a book by Joshua Rosenberg (?) - he used to be the legal beagle for the Beeb! It was all about Jury Service and what to expect. This was about fifteen years ago, I have to admit.
Now, this gave me such an interest - or a greed for knowledge that I went to night school and took an A level in Law. We were taught by a barrister and really learnt just how much of 'an ***' the law is. I had no idea about common law, statute etc before this. Now this leads me to presume that I was ignorant of the fact - and the only way forward is education.
Have you ever, just once, watched the News and said that he/she should have been let off or been given a greater sentence? Have you ever suggested that a decision was fair/unfair? Go read the books, do your Jury Service and educate yourself.
You say 'go away and leave me alone'. You may think that you have the right to be left alone - but do you really want that? No man is an island, you know.
2006-08-12 07:57:11 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
NO -- not in the UK, anyway! However today the powers that be are often more amenable to circumstances, so it should not normally difficult for you to resist jury duty on excuse. The excuse may involve your health, family circumstances, your importance to your employer, your religious sensitivity.. Today you can probably get off duty by saying that you do not think you can judge another person on the basis of your religion or philosophy. If this declaration is reasonable the will most likely credit it as true. But DON'T use an untrue excuse -- that would be shirking your civic duty whatever YOU think of it. The duty is not hard -- you will in all probability find it fascinating and a pleasant diversion from your everyday activity. Be assertive and you will likely be chosen as chairman of the jury -- even more fun!
2006-08-12 07:51:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a citizen you are subject to the law of the land and cannot pick and choose. It is your duty to serve on a jury unless you meet the criteria for exemption (which have recently been tightened up). You do not have the right to be left alone in this case.
2006-08-12 07:41:02 · answer #4 · answered by migelito 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever served on a jury? It's not as bad as some people make it out to be and gives you an up close approach at how the legal system works. You should give it a try and do your part as a citizen in helping dispense justice for someone that might need your insight or compassion based on the facts of the case.
2006-08-12 07:37:17 · answer #5 · answered by Charlooch 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As I hold the law in this land, you have an absolute lawful right to not undertake any burden or duty you do not pick up (choose) of your own freewill. If you had rather read it as written "We hold these truths to be be self-evident, that all men (mankind) are created equal. They are given unalienable rights from the Creator. Among (not limited to only the listed) these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. "
unalienable -- means a burden can't be laid on your shoulder which you do not want--else wise you would be just be a beast of burden --do you want to be a donkey or an oxen?
Liberty -- means no one over you -- if someone is over you, then you are their beast of burden.
Maybe that is why the "legal system" is so unjust in this county, because of all the jackasses the lawyers and judges put on the so-called jury service.
2006-08-12 08:35:49 · answer #6 · answered by sjcaruthers 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a duty that comes with your right to vote. You can always give up that right, and you won't be bothered.
As for getting out of it, there was a time when anyone could be called up. A woman my mother knew simply informed the judge that whatever decision she made would have to be based on Bible teachings. She was dismissed. She was a Minister.
2006-08-12 07:38:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you don't have the right to be left alone.
One of the side-effects of the need for government spending (whether for defense, infrastructure, subsidies, whatever) is the need to taxes. People must contribute to make the system work.
One of the side-effects of the constitutional right to a jury trial is the need for jurors. People must participate to make the system work.
It's part of being a community.
2006-08-12 11:54:18 · answer #8 · answered by coragryph 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would love to sit on a jury, but my memory is so bad I would have forgotten what the trial was about by the end, so would I still be eligible?
2006-08-12 08:26:20 · answer #9 · answered by Jayne 2 (LMHJJ) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you have done jury service before you can get out of it if not you cant unless you are in the forces or emergency services
2006-08-12 07:49:09 · answer #10 · answered by johnstrangey 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋