4 ms·

Why in the world would HN readers not be eligible to serve on a jury. I was on a jury trial when a spouse of a prosecutor office employee was allowed on. Peopl

Why in the world would HN readers not be eligible to serve on a jury. I was on a jury trial when a spouse of a prosecutor office employee was allowed on. People drastically overestimate what will get you moved out of the pool.

Spooky23 4y ago
Depends on the case. I served on a jury with a very surprised former deputy US Attorney. In general, they don’t like technical people on technical cases. My employer is known to pay for jury duty, so I always get picked.
- nybble41 4y ago
  > My employer is known to pay for jury duty, so I always get picked. Wouldn't that unduly bias the jury selection? In effect the employer is being allowed to buy extra representation.
  - mcv 4y ago
    Yes, but so does everything else around jury selection.
- Zak 4y ago
  I imagine it being the side that isn't confident in its technical position that doesn't like technical people on juries. Usually, there's a limited number each side can dismiss without cause. To dismiss more than that, they have to convince the judge that the juror will not honestly decide the case according to the evidence and the law.
  - Spooky23 4y ago
    It’s more that they don’t want specialized knowledge spoiling the deliberation. If I’m an expert in cellular towers, you don’t want me contradicting the expert on cellular towers testimony on the basis of the magic knowledge that I claim to have.
Alex3917 4y ago
> People drastically overestimate what will get you moved out of the pool. If you say in voir dire that you wouldn't vote to convict even if the person is guilty, you're not going to get put on a jury.
- tptacek 4y ago
  No, but you might be put in a jail cell overnight for contempt.
  - Alex3917 4y ago
    The reason they ask you questions like whether or not you would be able to find someone guilty if you knew they might get sentenced to death isn't because they want to put you in jail overnight. They just don't want you on the jury.
    - tptacek 4y ago
      Sure, but that's not the same thing as saying you won't vote to convict under any circumstances.
      - jrochkind1 4y ago
        You can certainly say you won't vote to convinct under any circumstances during voir dire. It's not illegal in any way. It won't get you thrown in jail for contempt. It is probably protected by the first ammendment to say so. It will get you excluded from the jury. People do it all the time, in fact. The exact standard questions asked of jurors in voir dire vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but usually include some variation of if there any religious, philosophical, or ethical reasons you could not convict (or not acquit) generally. I mean, imagine if you had philosophical, ethical, or reliigous reasons you couldn't convict under any circumstances and you wound up on the jury anyway! If you didn't tell the court this when asked and wound up on the jury cause you lied about it... you probably still wouldn't actually be considered in contempt, but it'd be bad.
  - 4y ago
gostsamo 4y ago
I'm not a US citizen, so that would be a clear no-no.
RajT88 4y ago
My father got himself out of jury duty once by claiming 0 sympathy for people who don't show up to work because they are sick. He was serious, btw.
netheril96 4y ago
The defendant attorney didn't kick that jury off?
- kasey_junk 4y ago
  The prosecutors attested that the spouse had not worked on the case or seen any of the evidence or other documentation for it and that was that.
washbrain 4y ago
I'm a prison abolitionist who believes the police are generally too powerful and have too many incentives to lie under oath. If a lawyer asked me about these things during jury selection I strongly suspect they'd move me out.
- kasey_junk 4y ago
  Expect to be grilled on this subject, including being asked to cite instances where you’ve taken actions (protested, worked for legislation, volunteered, etc) based on those beliefs.
  - spywaregorilla 4y ago
    That may catch someone trying to just bluff their way through things and fumbles on obvious lies, but if you actually believe this kind of thing and still say "nothing" I'm guessing they'll believe.
    - kasey_junk 4y ago
      There are certainly beliefs you can hold that will get you removed. But the courts have heard them all before. Further those beliefs are pretty far out on the scales. Just saying you don’t trust police isn’t enough. You are more likely to get kicked off for a specific profession than a stated belief.
      - washbrain 4y ago
        FWIW, I want to serve on juries. I just know my political beliefs are genuine, sincerely held, and quite leftist for America.

Spooky23 4y ago

Depends on the case. I served on a jury with a very surprised former deputy US Attorney. In general, they don’t like technical people on technical cases. My employer is known to pay for jury duty, so I always get picked.

nybble41 4y ago
> My employer is known to pay for jury duty, so I always get picked. Wouldn't that unduly bias the jury selection? In effect the employer is being allowed to buy extra representation.
- mcv 4y ago
  Yes, but so does everything else around jury selection.
Zak 4y ago
I imagine it being the side that isn't confident in its technical position that doesn't like technical people on juries. Usually, there's a limited number each side can dismiss without cause. To dismiss more than that, they have to convince the judge that the juror will not honestly decide the case according to the evidence and the law.
- Spooky23 4y ago
  It’s more that they don’t want specialized knowledge spoiling the deliberation. If I’m an expert in cellular towers, you don’t want me contradicting the expert on cellular towers testimony on the basis of the magic knowledge that I claim to have.

Alex3917 4y ago

> People drastically overestimate what will get you moved out of the pool. If you say in voir dire that you wouldn't vote to convict even if the person is guilty, you're not going to get put on a jury.

tptacek 4y ago
No, but you might be put in a jail cell overnight for contempt.
- Alex3917 4y ago
  The reason they ask you questions like whether or not you would be able to find someone guilty if you knew they might get sentenced to death isn't because they want to put you in jail overnight. They just don't want you on the jury.
  - tptacek 4y ago
    Sure, but that's not the same thing as saying you won't vote to convict under any circumstances.
    - jrochkind1 4y ago
      You can certainly say you won't vote to convinct under any circumstances during voir dire. It's not illegal in any way. It won't get you thrown in jail for contempt. It is probably protected by the first ammendment to say so. It will get you excluded from the jury. People do it all the time, in fact. The exact standard questions asked of jurors in voir dire vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but usually include some variation of if there any religious, philosophical, or ethical reasons you could not convict (or not acquit) generally. I mean, imagine if you had philosophical, ethical, or reliigous reasons you couldn't convict under any circumstances and you wound up on the jury anyway! If you didn't tell the court this when asked and wound up on the jury cause you lied about it... you probably still wouldn't actually be considered in contempt, but it'd be bad.
- 4y ago

gostsamo 4y ago

I'm not a US citizen, so that would be a clear no-no.

RajT88 4y ago

My father got himself out of jury duty once by claiming 0 sympathy for people who don't show up to work because they are sick. He was serious, btw.

netheril96 4y ago

The defendant attorney didn't kick that jury off?

kasey_junk 4y ago
The prosecutors attested that the spouse had not worked on the case or seen any of the evidence or other documentation for it and that was that.

washbrain 4y ago

I'm a prison abolitionist who believes the police are generally too powerful and have too many incentives to lie under oath. If a lawyer asked me about these things during jury selection I strongly suspect they'd move me out.

kasey_junk 4y ago
Expect to be grilled on this subject, including being asked to cite instances where you’ve taken actions (protested, worked for legislation, volunteered, etc) based on those beliefs.
- spywaregorilla 4y ago
  That may catch someone trying to just bluff their way through things and fumbles on obvious lies, but if you actually believe this kind of thing and still say "nothing" I'm guessing they'll believe.
  - kasey_junk 4y ago
    There are certainly beliefs you can hold that will get you removed. But the courts have heard them all before. Further those beliefs are pretty far out on the scales. Just saying you don’t trust police isn’t enough. You are more likely to get kicked off for a specific profession than a stated belief.
    - washbrain 4y ago
      FWIW, I want to serve on juries. I just know my political beliefs are genuine, sincerely held, and quite leftist for America.