Jury Duty

**theworm**[$] · #1 05-13-2007, 11:23 PM

I go tomorrow.

Not sure if I want to pray for a trial that will keep me away from work for a day or two, or pray to get dismissed immediately because even a few hours away from work means chaos.

In any case, I have my book and a BIG bag of crochet packed.

**thinkerlady**[$] · #2 05-13-2007, 11:52 PM

Be careful about the crochet--when I got called last summer we couldn't take a crochet needle into the jury room. They might take your needle, so be ready.

**lynnzop**[$] · #3 05-14-2007, 12:02 AM

I wish there was some way the work would not stack up while you are gone. Being on a jury can be quite interesting.

Try to enjoy even the few hours you have to "relax".

**theworm**[$] · #4 05-14-2007, 08:33 PM

I got selected for a trial, so I'm not working tomorrow.It's actually interesting. I'm praying I only miss one more day at work. I called the boss after jury duty and I'm already all stressed out. The day at the court wasn't bad. I packed a book and a huge bag of yarn. When I came in, the gaurd took my hooks away.

I told him that I'm allowed to have them and he said that I was misinformed. So, at lunch I went to claim my hooks and put the yarn bag in the car. The gaurd that gave them back to me said that they're fine and the other gaurd shouldn't have taken them away, so I got to do some crochet at lunch.After lunch I was on jury selection. I got chosen for a criminal case. We started tonight and will hopefully finish tomorrow. I'm so annoyed with my bosses that I'm thrilled not to be there. If I can't be away for one friggin day then they have a REAL problem.

**thinkerlady**[$] · #5 05-14-2007, 08:41 PM

I warned you about the hooks!! I am glad they returned them to you. I would be upset if they didn't return them. My form specifically listed knitting needles and crochet hooks and not permitted.

If I could go and spend the day crocheting, and be away from the world, I wouldn't mind!!! But alas.

**theworm**[$] · #6 05-14-2007, 08:55 PM

They would have given them back at the end of the day regardless, but there is no reason not to allow hooks. They're not sharp and the second gaurd was very nice about it.
I wasn't upset about it until I saw a girl doing cross stitch. The needle could do more damage than my hook,.

**thinkerlady**[$] · #7 05-14-2007, 09:45 PM

Agreed.
I don't see one good reason not to allow hooks.
They should print what is and isn't allowed. My county has it printed. I don't agree, but I can't argue.

MiracleMax · #8 05-15-2007, 10:55 AM

Nick was on jury duty a month or so ago. Out of over 100 people, he was chosen for a trial that lasted just over a week, and at a really bad time for him to be gone from work. It sucked because we couldn't talk about it until after it was over, but once he could talk about it, it was really interesting. We just found out the guy's actual sentence a week or so ago, and Nick was really ticked off because he didn't get near what the jury recommended.

Hopefully you're able to enjoy your time away from work at least a little bit!

**theworm**[$] · #9 05-15-2007, 11:12 AM

Apparantly my job can't manage one friggin day without me. Despite the fact that I worked till 7 or 8 every night last week, AND Brian and I BOTH worked 8.5 hours on Saturday to try and catch up, there is nobody else qualified to answer a frigging e-mail and my boss thinks I should do this at 7 pm after jury duty.
I'm getting ready to go back to court. I hope we deliberate all week. I'm beyond pissed off.

*emeleel* · #10 05-15-2007, 11:52 AM

Aren't there rules about what employers can and can't expect out of you regarding work and work hours while one is on jury duty? Seems like there were here when DH got called a year or two ago.

(Completely side oddity, but it has to do with jury duty - even though apparently *witnesses* can ask for an alternative oath around here when swearing in for a trial (I think), jurors can't. I was recently called up again, but this time thought to double-check about jurors and swearing in. They do, but I don't believe in swearing by God and/or on the Bible. There is no alternative for jurors. They excused me before I even had to go in.

)

**theworm**[$] · #11 05-15-2007, 11:55 AM

We raised our hands and said an oath, but there was no bible and I honesty don't recall using the name of G-d. I think we just had to swear to uphold the law etc, but not swear on G-d or the bible. And yesterday's witness did not swear on a bible or to G-d - he just swore to tell the whole truth.

*emeleel* · #12 05-15-2007, 11:59 AM

Around here, it's a "so help me God" or something like that. I asked, I just don't remember exactly now. May not have included the Bible, but it was definitely swearing by God. Remember this IS Alabama.

**hadassahchana**[$] · #13 05-15-2007, 12:52 PM

We're supposed to affirm instead of swear, even if there's no Bible offered. Here, the oath is read to us, and they actually say,"I do swear or affirm..." and then we pick whiever is applicable. At least to be a witness. And Melanie, that's awful. You have as much right and as much responsibility as anyone else regardless of religion. Sigh. That's a whole nuther rant, though, isn't it?

**mtomm**[$] · #14 05-15-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

emeleel said

Around here, it's a "so help me God" or something like that. I asked, I just don't remember exactly now. May not have included the Bible, but it was definitely swearing by God. Remember this IS Alabama.

Seems silly they haven't figured out they need an alternative or just a whole new altogether. But then I have no idea what Idaho does for a swearing in!

MiracleMax · #15 05-15-2007, 01:41 PM

I'll have to ask Nick what they had to do. I've always heard about witnesses being sworn in (obviously), but never thought about the jury side of things.

**theworm**[$] · #16 05-15-2007, 06:24 PM

I paid attention today. When the jury and the witnesses were sworn in we just said "swear to tell the truth". No bible and no "so help me G-d"

The trial ended. It was really very interesting and a good experience all around.

**slick4591**[$] · #17 05-15-2007, 06:59 PM

30 years of law enforcement and I never saw the Bible used in a courtroom to swear anyone in. I have heard many times witnesses say "I so affirm" when sworn in.

mtbat · #18 05-15-2007, 10:12 PM

I've been called to jury duty in every town I've lived in, and served once. I loved being on the jury. I also liked getting paid to miss work.

Right now I think I'd kill for three days of jury duty-I could use the break from the insanity that has become where I work.

wivabef · #19 05-16-2007, 06:13 AM

Re: the crochet hooks...

In your case Wormie, we've seen you create some pretty amazing things with crochet hooks and yarn... perhaps the guard was concerned about some McGyveresque WMDs.

**theworm**[$] · #20 05-16-2007, 10:13 PM

Oh, Elyzabeth - that crocheted bikini wasn't my work!!!

**drmomentum**[$] · #21 05-17-2007, 01:23 AM

YRMV, but I know some people don't believe in swearing regardless of whether it is in God's name or not. There's swearing on God's name, and then there's the general prohibition against oaths.

I agree with this article:
Why Isn't 'Yes' Enough? | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction

And I agree with the Quakers (and their interpretation of Jesus' apparent words). Yes or no should be good enough. Taking a special oath implies that there is something less-than-truthful about your normal word.

I would personally go for the affirmation.

*emeleel* · #22 05-17-2007, 10:36 AM

Yep, that plus James 5: 12 (and there's more to the context of the section of scripture that they provided in the article - that's Matthew 5) and I'm personally opposed to "swearing" at all. (Okay, I'm opposed to the other kind of swearing, too, LOL!)

I went back and checked my emails, and the guy told me, "The oaths we administer end in "so help you God"." No mention of the Bible, but that was enough for me to say I couldn't participate as-is.

Kind of ticked me off - I actually wanted to do jury duty! But around here, I guess most people figure if you're not willing to swear on God, it's because you're some kind of pinko Commie or sumpin'.