I'M FREE!!What's so ironic about our jury system is that I yearn to be active in democracy, and to help right the evils of society and just do my little part. But, as I get older, I'm finding that our government seems so incompetent and inefficient (have you been to the DMV lately?) that it's almost like democracy is getting lost amidst bureaucracy and just plain ol' bullshit.Take the jury service I just did. I'm busy running an important project - namely, DailyStrength - as well as taking care of my family, so it's not like I just have extra days lying around to give to jury duty. When I'm called, I guess I just expected more. Jury duty STARTS at 10:30AM, but they're always late, so it actually started at 11:15AM, only to break for lunch from 12-2PM, and then another break at 3, and then of course, government employees have to stop working at 430PM. So that means a whopping 3-4 hours of an 8 hour+ day are actually spent working, while the rest are spent literally waiting in a hallway without anything to do. 55 people standing there waiting for a judge.Then, in the jury room, they've summoned 55 mostly intelligent adults to the jury box, and the judge, who seems to just like to hear himself speak, rambles and makes speeches and generally wastes valuable time that could be spent on this case or others. Meanwhile, the 43 people NOT in the jury box have absolutely no role in the proceedings but can't leave - not even to use the bathroom - and must sit there for 2-3 days while the sides argue about who can be on the panel.Now let's talk about racism and equality. So the white female prosecutor is up against a Hispanic client and attorney, so after the 1/2 hour plus of interviewing each candidate, you'll never guess what happened - the prosecution kicks off every person of color they can, and the defense knocks out the red-neck, conservative-looking white folks. And that's how we get a fair jury?I couldn't stop thinking about perhaps the worst sin of all - namely, that with overcrowding and the incredibly poor state of the American penal system, that even if there was a conviction, there will be no correlation between the amount of time served (if any) and incarceration will certainly not reform anyone in it's current state. Ugh. Personally, I'd like to see paid juries of smart, trained educated folks who can make this whole process more efficient and fair. This experience was a waste.Ok, done. Here's your soapbox back.
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isn\'t it insane that they get to pick who our \"peers\" are?
Well said!!
When your number was picked guess you got to leave too! I was picked for jury duty last year for a murder case first 3 question\'s I was asked ! do you watch the New\'s ? Yes, Do you read the new\'s paper? Yes, Have you read or heard about this case? Yes, your dissmissed ! Next! What doe\'s this tell you? My judgement would get in way of thinking! If he was proven he didn\'t do it! But witness stated he did do the murder! All over the new\'s! Thank God the jury sent him to prison for life wouldn\'t want him roaming the street\'s at night!
My goodness you\'re steamed! and rightfully so! ya got me thinkin\' that\'s for sure... what does \'justice\' really mean in this country anyways!
Sorry, but I have to say our DMV is pretty awesome so far .. don\'t usually wait more than ten to fifteen minutes.. very different from when i first got my license 12 yrs ago tho.. def. improvement! Hope the rest of ur week goes well buddy!!
I have done jury duty in Delaware three times in a 5 year span. Each time was a different experience to say the lest with a lot of wasted time. The system in DE once called you call in to see if you are scheduled but this makes you on call so to speak. I am sure there has to be a better method hopefully they will find one.
Excellent summary of yet one more disgrace in our society. Wasting talented peoples time!!
Thank goodness we have some system at all. There are countries where there is no fair trial, no jury, and justice is handed out in very cruel ways. Our system is far from perfect, but at least there is some semblance of being heard in a court of law.
DJH, I hear ya. Bureucray (sp). I guess I\'m just older, let more roll off my back. Have been, and at times, am frustrated, angry, ...it is CRAZY.... The good part is that there IS something beyond it, that can evolve through the whole combo of garb and veg For some reason you were there. You R doing so much. I am thrilled with this site. Wishing you all that you need on your journey. Have some fun. Celebrate the moment. Blessin\' you, bro.
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YEAH! I\'m glad that you\'re FREE!
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Freedom is Sweet! I agree, the court system needs to have juries based on their intelligence and not the amount of melanin they have! That\'s all skin color is Melanin. Hugs for ya, Niecy.
I actually went throgh jury selection here in Canada two years ago. I didn\'t get selected in the end The crown asked me if I had a biased against the fact that the accused was black and of course I did not so I said no but I guess the way I said it was not good enough. I am kinda glad that I did not get chosen though. Parts of the process were interesting especially since I\'d never been in a court room before but it was a lot of sitting and waiting and doing NOTHING. After 4-5 days of this it was like \"enough already!!! I can\'t say I\'d be to excited to do it again that\'s for sure.
And the fact that if convicted, the quilty person might end up spending less time in jail, watching TV and playing sports, than you spent in and out of the courtroom trying to decide if they were guilty to begin with! our system definately needs improvment, but at least there are people like you trying to make life a little better for a larger portion of our population! THANKS FROM ALL OF US!!