The Justice System!

[domenick2x]

I'm called to jury duty tomorrow, which brings to mind the inefficiencies and inherent problems in our justice system.

If you were able make changes at will, what would you change, and why?

[Vegas]

I'd make the pay for jury duty a lot higher. It's not right to enslave people for below market wages and it wouldn't be as much of a hardship for a lot of people and thus would make for a better pool of participants.

And I'd make it harder to dismiss jurrors. The jury profiling that makes it possible to put together an O.J. type of jury is a joke.

[domenick2x]

I'd make the pay for jury duty a lot higher. It's not right to enslave people for below market wages and it wouldn't be as much of a hardship for a lot of people and thus would make for a better pool of participants.

And I'd make it harder to dismiss jurrors. The jury profiling that makes it possible to put together an O.J. type of jury is a joke.
I'm actually on board with both.

I was wondering about the jury pools in the first place. What if it was a professional job - 6 months or 1 year contract position?

[thrasymachus]

Hey, we're getting well paid for this? Let's keep deliberating!

[Vegas]

Hey, we're getting well paid for this? Let's keep deliberating!

When I was on a four week trial, there was a guy who worked for the county who said he wanted to try and stretch it out for a couple more weeks. It wasn't an idea that went over big with the rest of the jury.

[domenick2x]

Hey, we're getting well paid for this? Let's keep deliberating!
Flat fee per trial. It would behoove the people to deliberate quickly, and finish up.

Judge would probably have to estimate the length of the trial - then assign the value. It would behoove the lawyers to move along as quickly as possible.

[thrasymachus]

Flat fee per trial. It would behoove the people to deliberate quickly, and finish up.

Judge would probably have to estimate the length of the trial - then assign the value. It would behoove the lawyers to move along as quickly as possible.
Hurry along, now! Don't worry about reaching the right conclusion. After all, it's not your life and liberty on the line.

[Jiddy78]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

This.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

Increased attorney fees!:D

[Fire Millen]

My old employer paid us a full wage when we got called for jury duty, minus whatever we got paid.

Maybe if more employers cared about their employees filing their civic duty they would do the same. Hell give them a tax credit even.

[Vegas]

Hurry along, now! Don't worry about reaching the right conclusion. After all, it's not your life and liberty on the line.

People getting $15 a day aren't in a hurry to come to a verdict and are always going to make sure they get it right?

[thrasymachus]

People getting $15 a day aren't in a hurry to come to a verdict and are always going to make sure they get it right?
Honestly, I think both ways have their faults. The way it is currently set up is fine, though. People who take jury duty seriously will take jury duty seriously. People who don't, won't. What jurors are getting paid isn't the biggest problem with the justice system.

[thrasymachus]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

This.
What about it?

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

I'm called to jury duty tomorrow, which brings to mind the inefficiencies and inherent problems in our justice system.

If you were able make changes at will, what would you change, and why? This county's jury system is very well done these days.

They break folks up into groupings (more than likely based on how many times you've showed up in the past and couldn't serve).

There are those they call who have to show up. I'm guessing that those are folks they know *can* serve/have served in the past and have the time to do so.

Then there are those (like me) who can't necessarily take time off from work but want to serve. So they make those of us call in on a certain day and then we get assigned a pool number.

From there, we're to call in ever day for a week- or once every week for a month- just in case they need extras to come down to fill in to a jury pool.

That, obviously, is based on what the outcomes are like when they have cases coming up- will the attorneys settle, if not a trial's likely to need extra jurors.

Ever since they went to this, i've been able to fulfill my obligation- get the certificate that i've done so- and not have to make up some lame excuse to get out of serving.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Flat fee per trial. It would behoove the people to deliberate quickly, and finish up.

Judge would probably have to estimate the length of the trial - then assign the value. It would behoove the lawyers to move along as quickly as possible. Jury Foreman: 'HANG THE SUMBITCH!!'

'HERE HERE!!!!'


'Uhh, isn't he only being tried for drunk driving...first offense???'

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

My old employer paid us a full wage when we got called for jury duty, minus whatever we got paid.

Maybe if more employers cared about their employees filing their civic duty they would do the same. Hell give them a tax credit even. They do that here.

Those jobs are called 'gov't jobs'.

[domenick2x]

My old employer paid us a full wage when we got called for jury duty, minus whatever we got paid.

Maybe if more employers cared about their employees filing their civic duty they would do the same. Hell give them a tax credit even.
I'm getting that too. Most employers I've worked for do that.

[domenick2x]

This county's jury system is very well done these days.

They break folks up into groupings (more than likely based on how many times you've showed up in the past and couldn't serve).

There are those they call who have to show up. I'm guessing that those are folks they know *can* serve/have served in the past and have the time to do so.

Then there are those (like me) who can't necessarily take time off from work but want to serve. So they make those of us call in on a certain day and then we get assigned a pool number.

From there, we're to call in ever day for a week- or once every week for a month- just in case they need extras to come down to fill in to a jury pool.

That, obviously, is based on what the outcomes are like when they have cases coming up- will the attorneys settle, if not a trial's likely to need extra jurors.

Ever since they went to this, i've been able to fulfill my obligation- get the certificate that i've done so- and not have to make up some lame excuse to get out of serving.
Pretty similar here - I'm in a pool group, last time I called in and didn't have to serve. This time (only about 3 months later), all groups have to show.

I have no problem fulfilling my duty here, I just wish there was a more efficient way to do so.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

Pretty similar here - I'm in a pool group, last time I called in and didn't have to serve. This time (only about 3 months later), all groups have to show.

I have no problem fulfilling my duty here, I just wish there was a more efficient way to do so. Once a year.

That's how i thought all counties took care of calling up jurors?

[domenick2x]

Once a year.

That's how i thought all counties took care of calling up jurors?
If I served my duty, I'd not get called back for... maybe 2 years? But because I didn't have to show, it didn't count for anything (even though I had to prepare to miss a day or more at work).

So I was put back in the overall pool, and my number came up again.

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

If I served my duty, I'd not get called back for... maybe 2 years? But because I didn't have to show, it didn't count for anything (even though I had to prepare to miss a day or more at work).

So I was put back in the overall pool, and my number came up again.
Then it's not 'similar' since when we're put on 'notice' and don't get called up, we're considered the same as 'served'.

The last one i took part in had me calling once a week for a month to see if they needed extra jurors for any short-term/non-homicide trials.

[domenick2x]

Then it's not 'similar' since when we're put on 'notice' and don't get called up, we're considered the same as 'served'.

The last one i took part in had me calling once a week for a month to see if they needed extra jurors for any short-term/non-homicide trials.
'Similar' in the groupings and calling in. 'Different' in that if my group is 'active', I have to physically show up to fulfill my 'obligation'. If not for the 'different', it would be 'the same'.

[Jiddy78]

What about it?


What would I change about the jury process....This:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

However, in most modern Western legal systems, juries are often instructed to serve only as "finders of facts", whose role it is to determine the verity of the evidence presented,[2] instructions that are criticized by advocates of jury nullification.

[Jiddy78]

What would I change about the jury process....This:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

My experience with jury duty is the catalyst for this...I think a lot of the story is documented here:

http://www.thepartisanpatriot.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7062&highlight=jury

[SuperGonzo]

Hey, we're getting well paid for this? Let's keep deliberating!

Pretty sure there was a Simpsons episode based on that.

Homer: "How many s's in innocent?"

But yeah. . .particularly for longer trials, the pay needs to be a bit higher.

Never having been on jury duty before, I'm not sure how employers handle that kind of thing for the longer types of cases, particularly if you get into something like the O.J. case that went on for months. Are they obligated to hold your job until you get back? Can they fire you? If they fire you, do you have grounds for a lawsuit?

I would think it would be similar to how businesses have to handle a job for people in the Guard or Reserves in the military. . .if you get called to active duty, your job has to be waiting for you when you get back. If it's not that way, it needs to be.

[domenick2x]

Stats on today:

Approximately 235 people called to serve. 4 criminal trials, 30 other cases starting today.

Total number of jurors seated: 0
Total number of jurors who were credited with serving their civic duty: 235
Total hours wasted by each juror: 4+ (depending on commute times)

[thrasymachus]

Pretty sure there was a Simpsons episode based on that.

Homer: "How many s's in innocent?"

But yeah. . .particularly for longer trials, the pay needs to be a bit higher.

Never having been on jury duty before, I'm not sure how employers handle that kind of thing for the longer types of cases, particularly if you get into something like the O.J. case that went on for months. Are they obligated to hold your job until you get back? Can they fire you? If they fire you, do you have grounds for a lawsuit?

I would think it would be similar to how businesses have to handle a job for people in the Guard or Reserves in the military. . .if you get called to active duty, your job has to be waiting for you when you get back. If it's not that way, it needs to be.
I should probably know whether that happens or not, but I don't. However, I'm about 70% certain that I've heard that employers cannot fire employees for serving on jury duty.