2 ms·

I was on a murder trial about 15 years ago. So many people tried to get out of it by telling the judge "I can't be impartial because I don't like guns". Every

I was on a murder trial about 15 years ago. So many people tried to get out of it by telling the judge "I can't be impartial because I don't like guns". Every time, the judge said "so are you telling me you would convict someone of murder, that you don't think murdered anyone, just because you don't like guns?" Most people said no. Some would squirm and get squirrely and the judge would follow up with "you would ruin an innocent person's life just because you don't like guns?" No one said yes, despite them obviously wanting to. She did a good job of calling them on their bullshit.

downandout 7y ago
That was 15 years ago. As polarized as the US is today, I have a feeling that many people would ruin an innocent person's life over ideological differences, though few would admit an intent to do so when questioned directly in public. We see many politically motivated firings/forced resignations these days, for example, as a part of "cancel culture" [1]. Depending on the person's financial stability, being fired may well ruin their life. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/obama-woke-cancel-culture.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/obama-woke-ca...
- devtul 7y ago
  Cancel culture seems like a huge outlet for sadists and/or teenagers and young adults who never had anyone else depending on them for shelter and food.
  - paggle 7y ago
    Cancel culture lets everyone feel like a Clint Eastwood vigilante -- enjoy the sadistic pleasure of torturing someone while also feeling like you're the good guy.
Redoubts 7y ago
Oh man, mine was worse. After the first person got off for saying ”I can’t be impartial because I don’t like cops because (shaggy dog story), but I also hate Mexicans like the defendant because (another shaggy dog story).”, everyone took it as the green light to make up wild shit to get out of selection. That ended up being the most asinine two days of jury selection I’ve ever been apart of.
- mantap 7y ago
  In England we solve this problem by enumerating the allowable reasons upfront. - You know the defendant. - You know the victim or one of the witnesses. - You know someone in the court room such as the lawyers, judge, etc. - You have close family in the police service or prosecution service. - The trial would cause you to serve for more than 2 weeks and you have a mitigating personal circumstance such as being a carer for someone. Also lawyers are not allowed to question or reject jurors unless they think they are violating a rule.

downandout 7y ago

That was 15 years ago. As polarized as the US is today, I have a feeling that many people would ruin an innocent person's life over ideological differences, though few would admit an intent to do so when questioned directly in public. We see many politically motivated firings/forced resignations these days, for example, as a part of "cancel culture" [1]. Depending on the person's financial stability, being fired may well ruin their life. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/obama-woke-cancel-culture.html https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/31/us/politics/obama-woke-ca...

devtul 7y ago
Cancel culture seems like a huge outlet for sadists and/or teenagers and young adults who never had anyone else depending on them for shelter and food.
- paggle 7y ago
  Cancel culture lets everyone feel like a Clint Eastwood vigilante -- enjoy the sadistic pleasure of torturing someone while also feeling like you're the good guy.

Redoubts 7y ago

Oh man, mine was worse. After the first person got off for saying ”I can’t be impartial because I don’t like cops because (shaggy dog story), but I also hate Mexicans like the defendant because (another shaggy dog story).”, everyone took it as the green light to make up wild shit to get out of selection. That ended up being the most asinine two days of jury selection I’ve ever been apart of.

mantap 7y ago
In England we solve this problem by enumerating the allowable reasons upfront. - You know the defendant. - You know the victim or one of the witnesses. - You know someone in the court room such as the lawyers, judge, etc. - You have close family in the police service or prosecution service. - The trial would cause you to serve for more than 2 weeks and you have a mitigating personal circumstance such as being a carer for someone. Also lawyers are not allowed to question or reject jurors unless they think they are violating a rule.