Want to get out of jury duty? Just say you’re Gay.

[metta]

Want to get out of jury duty? Just say you’re Gay.

“Had an intense day at jury duty. During voir dire we were asked who would not be impartial. I raised my hand and said ‘since I can’t get married or adopt a child in the state of New York, I can’t possibly be an impartial judge of a citizen when I am considered a second class one in the eyes of this justice system.’ You wouldn’t believe how people in the room reacted. Was I wrong for saying that?”

http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/03/want-to-get-out-of-jury-duty-just-say-youre-gay/

 

[chrisrobin]

Your statement might have been a bit abstract to those in the courtroom. Generally, our legal system does not lend itself to abstract.

Once, I was called for jury duty. One of the questions was "have you ever been the victim of a crime?" Since my car had been burglarized, I had to say, "yes." - disqualified.

Another time, (medical malpractice suit) I disqualified myself because of the horse shit treatment my late mother received from her doctor.

I'm not sure if a link should be established between sexual orientation and your ability to be impartial. Just my opinion.

 

[GL]

i think its a valid form of civil disobedience.

i like it.

 

[AdmiraalW238]

Unbelievable, saying you cannot be impartial because you are gay is just a cope out.

What chrisrobin said is above is an entirely correct reason for being excused as a juror but being excused for being gay is just ridiculous.

 

[GL]

i'm playing devil's advocate here...

why does it have to be a cop out?

the state of new york considers the fellow a second class citizen.

why should he participate if he's not allowed the same rights fully enjoyed by his fellow straight citizens?

 

[bankside]

loki, people (primarily those within the legal profession) have spent centuries personifying "the law" as one entity sometimes known as "Lady Justice."

And when Lady Justice hikes up her skirts and takes a dump on some people because of their sexual orientation, denying them equal recognition and status under the law, it is possible that a person so impugned will not react neutrally. Not to the law of potholes, but to The Law™ as such.

It is a fine argument for a potential jurist to make. If he feels thusly, he can legitimately lay that at the feet of an unjust law, and by extension, an unjust legal system.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

if all world pussy/Co ans all media out lets put up sign CLOSED fa unlimiteds a time

be cool watch millions pants world ova gettin itchys HAAAAAAA

-

United nations meet desperate bid save dry cleanin bill haaaa

anyway

da planet got needs so humans betta sort out their pants quick

 

[kevbo]

Jury duty is a civil duty.

If society isn't doing its duty for you, I don't think it's necessary to do your duty for it.

 

[Ninja108]

I don't why some of you are getting your panties in a bunch. I find this mildly amusing. Its more than obvious that he can be a juror in a case about a pothole but I think the whole thing just highlights how gay Americans are citizens too. We have jury duty and we pay taxes just like everyone else yet we don't have those 1000+ rights afforded to every other straight married couple.

Exactly. It's why I flat out refused to join the military when I had the chance. I refuse to fight for a country that views me as a second class citizen.

 

[star-warrior]

If the case involve an attack on a glbt person, I wonder if Jonathan D. Lovitz would raise the spectre of his sexuality as a valid reason for not undertaking jury service... If he doesn't it smacks of hipocracy.

 

[bankside]

There is an obligation to be an impartial juror if selected.
There is no obligation to be an impartial candidate for jury duty.

This has nothing to do with contempt.

 

[Joshua_me]

Jury duty is a civil duty.

If society isn't doing its duty for you, I don't think it's necessary to do your duty for it.

There's definitely a couple of piles of duty to go around, here...

Personally, I don't have a problem with the logic. Well, it's not logic per say, but it resonates well on an emotional level.

I had the horror of being called for jury duty last summer that I started a thread here about... Turns out it was about a man that got busted selling a huge amount of cocaine to an undercover officer.

When the lawyers and judge were interviewing me, they asked if I thought drugs should be legalized. I told them not ALL drugs, but definitely pot should be, that it should be made legal and taxed highly so we could get some much needed money flowing into our state instead of into the clogged growth industry that is our current prison system.

And with that, they promptly handed me my hat and sent me on my way.

Never thought to use the gay card - that might have worked as well.

 

[G-Lexington]

I don't say I'm gay. I just say how much I LOVE watching CSI and Court TV. I'm usually out of there within 15 minutes.

Lex

 

[Spiff]

I think the idea has some logic to it. The whole jury duty thing is designed so that the accused can be judged by their peers. How can I be considered a peer if my rights are lesser than everyone else's?

 

[erobert]

Dang he is a cutie. No more jury duty for me!

I don't think this is going to fly with most judges though, courts have called infants and pets to jury duty before, trying to get out of it when you're called is not so easy.