I'm As Happy As A Pig In ****

I start jury duty tomorrow. What I remember is that it is a colossal waste of time & I understand why the court calendar is backed up because of how much time is utterly wasted.

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Maybe when I tell them my views of the judicial system, they will excuse me.

Some of them are

1. Jury Nullification
2. A Capital Punishment Law in New York State which is a joke
3. Drunk Drivers getting off scott free
4. A local DA who let a woman who scalded her baby to death go
scott free.
5. Guilty people who go free etc etc

I personally think, especially in NYC . that the criminal justice system is an absolute joke

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Updated On: 6/19/03 at 09:12 PM

How about going in with a copy of the Skin Head times with a swastika armband? Maybe that will work

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And I posted on this thread with humor instead of another because I was telling myself, "Temper, Temper. Be nice. Remember your promise."?
D

It's called "jury duty" because it is just that, a duty, an obligation as a citizen of your country that so many have fought and died to create and defend. Perhaps you would prefer to renounce your U.S. citizenship?

It is your obligation as a citizen. Perhaps if you are not prepared to meet your obligations as a citizen, you should renounce your citizenship. Required jury duty is as much of a law as is the law of free speech. Perhaps you are saying that all of those who fought and died to protect your nation, and your right to free speech, did so in vain? Perhaps you would prefer to move to Cuba or China?

I wouldn't mind serving on Jury duty, but it is difficult when you live from paycheck to paycheck. I was called twice but excused both times because I was a student who went to college all year 'round (including summer classes); I still do I would have such a problem though because I would want to get up and argue the case while sitting in the juror box. LOL They would probably kick me out.

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Yep, people who hat intolerance and bigotry should be perfectly accepting of those bigotted and intolerant people and let them spread their hate prejudice anywhere they want to.

Once again, tolerance means NOT being acceptance of intolerance.

Well I agree that they should just ask people to serve on jury duty rather than tell them. There are a lot of retired people, people out of work or on welfare who could use the $40 a day or whatever they pay, people who just need something to fill a void in their days. But no, they have to bring in a bunch of people who jump up to give their sob-story of why they can't be there as soon as the desk opens.

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You, me and Brent Bozell, The Triumvirate of Truth, The NEW Three Musketeers. Sorry "ladies" and gents, don't kill the messengers, sometimes the truth hurts. But it IS the truth.

I will reply to your thoughts, Mr. Roxy:

Better 100 guilty men go free than 1 innocent man lose his freedom.

That is the basis of our judicial system. Is it perfect? No. Why? Because it is run by fallible men and women. But you won't find perfect anywhere in this world Mr. Roxy, not if its something created by man.

Shame on all of you who wish to live in this country but not participate fully as citizens. Shame.

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Interesting that a post such as this should appear on a message board devoted to Broadway...but never the less a response seems to be in order.

I've served on Grand Jury three times and on the Petit Jury twice, and I can tell you it's not fun. However, the alternatives of trial without a jury seems to be even less appealing. As a citizen, Jury Duty ranks right up there with voting as something that is the responsibility of every citizen. You really shouldn't complain about the system if you don't participate in it. Ideally, a jury is made up of ones peers...but if your peers don't want to participate, then already you're right to a fair trial is diminished. If you were a defendant, wouldn't you rather have a jury made up of smart, free thinking individuals rather than as TheaterBaby suggested the bored retiree, or person on welfare?? And I'm not denigrating either of those two examples...it's just that jury duty shouldn't be left to the retired or unenmployed!

Mr. Roxy complains about, among other things, the colossal waste of time that a juror goes through. To that end...is it really surprising in a city of over 8 million people that the court calendars are backed up? Not to mention the fact that if the courts didn't have to waste their time dealing with people trying to get OUT of jury duty that perhaps things might move just a bit faster??? Nothing like being part of the problem...instead of part of the solution eh, Mr. Roxy??

The legal system in this country is far from perfect...I doubt that anyone would deny that. Innocent people are convicted, the guilty go free, antiquated laws that have been on the books for years, are still used to harass and sometimes deny people their rights, but nothing is going to change if you don't participate.

Mr. Roxy, you seem to like to frame yourself as the purveyor of TRUTH! Your truth, not necessarily the whole truth. When the argument gets too heated...or when not everyone agrees wholeheartedly with you, then suddenly you claim that you're under attack, and you defend yourself with the free speech argument. Free Speech is a two way street, not one way. If your views are not the same as mine, or others then we also have the right to voice our opinions.

To AReinkingFan, I know your frustration when you feel that the legal system has failed you when it comes to gay rights, however, if you look back over the past 20-30 years, you'll find that if it weren't for the legal system, we wouldn't be marching in the streets every June, ALL employees would still be discriminating against us, and that the Supreme Court wouldn't be considering the constituionality of the sodomy laws which they are doing now. None of these things would have happened out of the goodness of someone's heart. We have the legal system to thank for all of them. So don't take yourself out of the loop...participate, demonstrate...and work for your rights, they won't be given to you.

Long post I know...but it's an important subject.

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Updated On: 6/20/03 at 01:25 PM

I can't believe I'm going to get back into it, but, as JustAGuy points out (beautifully, I might add), it is an important topic.

As the saying goes, freedom is not free. The wonderful thing about a democracy is that those who are governed actually govern. We participate in the process of shaping laws and seeing them carried out. Is it always fun? No. But it is the foundation that our country is built upon. A jury must listen dispassionately to the case presented and then vote on guilt or innocence without prejudice (at least to the best of one's human ability). God forbid you ever find yourself being tried in front of a jury, do you really want people who volunteered to be there? Think about it. They may have an agenda or prejudice. Then you'd be up the creek w/o a paddle.

I, as a gay man, have on many occassions been disheartened by our lack of rights. But you don't sit back and play the victim. You work to change the laws and you make your voice heard.

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