skybytch 273 #1 April 13, 2001 Jury duty is an American's civic responsibility. All Americans respond to their county's call to duty with pride and a deep sense of honor in being chosen to judge their fellow citizens. Riiiiight.... actually most of us avoid it in as many creative ways as possible. It's been "a few" years since I received my first jury duty summons. I've always been in the lucky last few groups that are excused without having to show up. Welllll.... this time I wasn't so lucky.Most people get called in for simple theft, drunk driving or other "minor" trials. And when they get to the courtroom they usually manage to get out of actually sitting on the jury. Not me. No, I'm special. I'm ON the jury for the penalty phase of a "capital" murder case... capital meaning death penalty. That's all I can say about the case until it's all over. But if I'm not around much for the next month you now know why! It's gonna be a long month...pull and flare,lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cacophony 0 #2 April 13, 2001 That totally sucks all. I would hate to be on a jury. Hopefully it will be over with really fast. I would always end up falling asleep or something like that.Safe landings,Alex D-23912 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
unclbennie 0 #3 April 13, 2001 Lisa, my hubby was on the jury for a murder trial, they got sequestered. Make sure you keep some necessities in your bag, bring a toothbrush and clean underwear!! Good luck and hopefully it will go quicklyKaren Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pammi 0 #4 April 13, 2001 Damn, what luck! At least it's staying daylight longer...maybe in the evenings??? Pammi"The question is not whether we will die, but how we will live." -Joan Borysenko Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dirtsucks 0 #5 April 13, 2001 Wow, bytch of the sky (sorry, just always wanted to say that), that’s pretty heavy. Quotecapital meaning death penalty.Don’t think I could do that. I’ve been on the fence about the whole death penalty thing. Sometimes I hear absolutely horrible stories, about unthinkable things one human being has done to another, and it is totally beyond my comprehension how somebody could do that to another human being. And I believe that he/she can’t possibly have any reason to waste our oxygen and other resources any longer. But other times I believe that nobody has the right to take somebody else’s life, no exceptions. Capital punishment is one of those things I don’t like to think about, because I just don’t know what is really right. Guess this is going beyond the original point, but just wanted to add that.Josh Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #6 April 13, 2001 Oh man skybytch, you should have gotten hold of me earlier, I could have told you how to get out of jury duty. ------------Blue Skies!Zennie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #7 April 13, 2001 Quotecapital meaning death penalty.How many innocent people have been put to death by mistake? Capital punishment is so uncivilized... Anyway, Lisa, how is your son's ankle? Frank Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #8 April 13, 2001 QuoteHow many innocent people have been put to death by mistake? Capital punishment is so uncivilized...Sweet! A political issue we agree on! ------------Blue Skies!Zennie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #9 April 13, 2001 What, no ethical debate? Here's to you and here's to meLet's hope that we don't disagreeBecause if we do, what can we do?Here's to you and me... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doasfu 0 #10 April 13, 2001 QuoteSweet! A political issue we agree on!Hey, count me in on that one too. The death penalty has no place in a civilized society.Dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #11 April 13, 2001 QuoteHere's to you and here's to meLet's hope that we don't disagreeBecause if we do, what can we do?Here's to you and me...<>*clink*------------Blue Skies!Zennie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloud9 0 #12 April 13, 2001 The death penalty helps keep our society civil. With out getting into a huge debate. It works!! (that person will never kill another human being)Some fun eh! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doasfu 0 #13 April 13, 2001 QuoteWith out getting into a huge debate. It works!!No nations without the death penalty maintain civility? Err... umm... nevermind... let's agree to disagree. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Iflyme 0 #14 April 13, 2001 QuoteThe death penalty helps keep our society civil. Nothing wrong with a good debate now and then... So in the USA 30,708 people died gun related deaths in 1998... what is the "civil" part of this? Did capital punishment do anything for those 30,000 people? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miked10270 0 #15 April 13, 2001 OK... I'm biting!!!Personally I'm against "Capital Punishment" (spelt WITH capitals). This is not through any finer feelings for "my fellow humans" or beliefs in the sanctity of life... It's simply because if a conviction of someone is subsequently found to be "unsafe" then its kind of difficult to bring a dead person back to life!No offence to Skybytch, but I've seen a fair few trials by jury, so I've seen a fair few juries. I wouldn't trust the average juror to make a sensible decision on what to have for lunch, never mind impartially assess evidence in a criminal case. Yes, I'm against the Jury system as it stands... Mainly because most persons who actually turn up for jury service are those who're not intelligent enough to avoid it (which isn't hard). Commonly those who do sit on a jury seem to treat the verdict as a debate on which lawyer they were more impressed with or liked better!!! (or did you think it was just chance that the defence counsel in a rape trial is invariably a woman?).Would you let a total stranger off the street pack your main & reserve? NO!!! they're neither qualified or familiar with that task so if they did it they're likely to be dangerous!Would you be happy with someone who is neither qualified or familiar with the law to decide your guilt or innocence? Welcome to the Jury system.Historically, the jury was drawn from people who knew the defendant personally, but it was decided that they might not be impartial. Unfortunately, the average juror now brings his own prejudices into the court & these colour his decisions more than the evidence. The person who is "anti-police" will refuse to believe their evidence, the "womens-rights" believer will have the defendant in a rape case guilty (& ideally castrated) before the case begins, the "anti-capital-punishment" liberal will not convict on 1st degree murder, the historical victim of a robbery will already have a thief convicted without hearing the evidence.Funny, but true... A jury trial in England was abandoned in its third day after one jury member was found to be asleep throughout the trial - he was a nightshift worker & "couldn't be spared" from his job, a second juror was profoundly deaf & had perhaps heard even less than the first, & a third juror did not speak or understand English!!!Mike D10270. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lazerq3 0 #16 April 13, 2001 I'm sorry but I gotta bite this and bite it hard, but if any one for instance came in to my home and killed my wife and kid for what every reason I WANT HIS ASS 6FT UNDER!!. I'll be damned if I want my tax dollars going to pay for 3 meals a day and a roof over that assholes head(prison). and take Tim Vicveigh(Oklahoma bomber) Hes to be put down in May. Any one disagree with that call?jasonjust my thoughts,, sorry if I piised ya off Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cloud9 0 #17 April 13, 2001 Well Jason although not overly tactfull, I agree with you 100 percent. and where is the deterent? Tim will never do it again, if someone else does we will deal with them when they get here.Some fun eh! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutchboy 0 #18 April 13, 2001 What's up with the government. Why couldn't they get you before you went back to work! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkySlut 0 #19 April 13, 2001 SkyBytch...you should have just told them that you can tell a guilty man when you see one! That will get you off the jury pretty damn quick.-Slut"I'll jump anything!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zennie 0 #20 April 13, 2001 Must...resist...urge....to...respond....Must....resist...Seriously though. I'm going to bow out of this debate. Suffice it to say I oppose the death penalty for philosophical reasons. If someone raped and killed my wife, would I want him dead? Yep. Would he deserve to die? Yep. Would I still oppose his execution? As hard as that would be, yes. Would I kill him if someone handed me a gun? As hard as that would be, no. Would it tear me apart inside? Yep. These are the types of situations that put your beliefs to the test. No one said acting true to your beliefs is easy. But I think life is about that. And sometimes acting consistent with your ethics is painful.------------Blue Skies!Zennie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #21 April 13, 2001 QuoteUnfortunately, the average juror now brings his own prejudices into the court & these colour his decisions more than the evidence. The person who is "anti-police" will refuse to believe their evidence, the "womens-rights" believer will have the defendant in a rape case guilty (& ideally castrated) before the case begins, the "anti-capital-punishment" liberal will not convict on 1st degree murder, the historical victim of a robbery will already have a thief convicted without hearing the evidence.Well Mike, this is why they get a bunch of potential jurors & both the lawyers ask them questions to screen out the people with bias. Of course its far from perfect, but at least an attempt is made to weed those sorts of people out. One time I was called up for jury duty for a defendant accused of beating & robbing someone, but they dismissed me & everyone else who had ever been a victim of a violent crime.But what I think is strange is my boss who has a phD in Molecular Biology & has worked with DNA etc. all his life was dismissed from a trial that involved DNA evidence, BECAUSE he was a molecular biologist!! The lawyers don't want you on the jury if you're too smart about the subject matter!Speed Racer"Blue Skies, Red eyes, Sore thighs!" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doasfu 0 #22 April 13, 2001 Quotebut if any one for instance came in to my home and killed my wife and kid for what every reason I WANT HIS ASS 6FT UNDER!!We all would. There's not a person alive who wouldn't want them to be dead if this happened to them. But our justice system, flawed as it is, is not based on vengance, and these decisions are taken out of the hands of those against whom the crime is committed for just this reason. There are some people that I think deserve to die, and McVeigh is certainly one of them, but I don't think I have the right to make that decision, and I don't think our government does, either.Dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Greg 0 #23 April 13, 2001 Well....this might just piss some folks off a bit, but it seems like others have had thier say, so I will chime in:I believe the death penalty, however crude, is necessary. I believe it works as a fairly good deterrant for capital crimes and sometimes think it would work better to bring back public hangings in the city square. I firmly believe that with DNA and other more recent advances in the leagle system, they, more times than not, get the right person. I dont believe there should be any coddling or hand holding with people who commit crimes that are punishable by death, it really should be, an eye for an eye. If you rape or kill or both, you do not deserve to share this planet, IMHO. I would also submitt that it is *cheaper* to get the ole chair warmed up and get the folks sitting around on death row off the federal budget, those are my damn tax dollars used to give these MOTHER FREAKERS three squares a day and cable tv, while I go off to work for a living. All the while, the prision system builds a more perfect criminal!!I think, while on the subject here, they should de criminalize drugs and get those people some help, locking them up with rapists and murders cant be a good thing. As a matter of fact, I recall hearing from one poor guy in jail for drug charges commenting how he would be in longer, due to mandatory minimum penalties, than other inmates who have commited murder and raping babies and such. THAT IS CRIMINAL!!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skybytch 273 #24 April 13, 2001 Wow. Didn't think there'd be quite this much response to this one! A couple of points - I "could have" gotten out of it by telling them it would affect me financially but this time it won't. I really thought that my current med. condition (and note from the surgeon) would make them send me away but it didn't. And I stated that I am strongly in favor of the death penalty and my dad was a cop but the defense attorney either was outta challenges or he trusts me to be impartial (which regardless of my personal opinion I am capable of doing). So there I sit. Now that I'm stuck doing it, I've decided that by sitting on this jury I am in a way "paying back" to society for the things I have taken (I've been on AFDC, food stamps, medicaid, unemployment and disability in the past). But I will say that society better not ask me to do anything for them ever again cuz this is pretty major pay back! At the least I'll come out of it with some very interesting stories and the experience of doing something that the majority of people in the US have never done or could/would not do. Karen thanks for the tip - I've packed a bag and I'll be keeping it in the car just in case! Hmmm.... a couple weeks vacation in a paid for hotel room.... nah. Wouldn't be any fun at all!pull and flare,lisa Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Albatross 0 #25 April 14, 2001 NOT one to be shy with my opinion...I think that the death penalty is a good idea, IF it is done correctly. If it has the deterent effect that it should it might be useful. NOW people sit in jail for like a billion years and spend $30,000,000 on appeal and we foot the bill for it all. HOWEVER, I mean what good is it housing a child killer or molester or rapist. You can't fix them. They won't sit in jail and regret what they did or they wouldn't have done it in the first place. I know of a case in Orgon (Sorry can't spell) where this wacko was arrested for child rape and got up for parole and told the parole board that if he got out he would do it again but would likely kill the child. He said that he couldn't contol the urges. He said castrate him so they would go away. The state did neither and let him out EARLY. HE DID EXTACTLY WHAT HE SAID 10 HOURS AFTER GETTING OUT. I hate killing but sometimes there is no better choice. Blue Skys and Safe LandingsAlbatross Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
