Re: [OT] Judge reams out people avoiding jury duty

On 5/20/2025 11:08 PM, Ian J. Ball wrote:

On 5/20/25 5:45 PM, Rhino wrote:
 

A judge in Hamilton, Ontario gathered a whole lot of people who had failed to turn up for jury duty and demanded to know why.
>
https://www.thespec.com/news/crime/hamilton-courtroom-fail-to-obey- jury- duty-summons/article_6719b3d0-6d16-58bc-801e-62bf15b3fed1.html
>
I've only been called once and I showed up. The defendant made a last minute decision to plead guilty and the whole jury pool of 250 was dismissed so I wasn't there very long.
>
I'm under the impression that most Americans feel that only fools fail to wiggle out of jury duty. Is this true? I've never heard anyone on this side of the border express contempt for the notion of serving on a jury although I'm sure everyone called finds it inconvenient. Then again, given the lame excuses offered to the judge in this article, willingness to do jury duty may not be as widespread as I assumed.

 I get jury summons at least about every 2-3 years. I have done 2 juries (and missed being on a third), and I feel like I've done my bit - they should leave me alone now.
 It is hugely inconvenient for me, as a teacher to serve on a jury, and they don't make it easy to move jury duty to, say, summer.
 So...
 

Apparently I'm lucky.  It is a significant number of years between notices for possible jury duty for me and I live in a "1 day or 1 trial" county so usually if I even have to show up the courts only have 1 day to put me on a jury.
Last time it was a slip and fall civil case.  The defense attorney was asking us if we would consider the size of the plaintiffs monetary demand in finding his client liable.  I responded asking aren't we supposed to not consider that until _after_ we had found there to be any liability.  The judge said I was correct and shortly thereafter I was the first potential juror excused.
--
I've done good in this world. Now I'm tired and just want to be a cranky dirty old man.