How To Avoid Jury Duty 101

[Ben E Lou]

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/met...19metcamp.html

Prospective Campbell juror tossed for 'hanging' comment

The moment former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell has wished for for nearly five years is expected to come today — the selection of a jury for his federal corruption trial.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to pick 12 jurors today for the long-awaited trial, in addition to four alternates.

Opening arguments are scheduled for Monday.

In a case that some Campbell supporters say is racially motivated, most of the jury pool so far (21) is white; 15 are black; and one is a Pacific Islander.

A quick decision to remove one prospective juror before he ever appeared Wednesday showed how sensitive the case has become — even before testimony begins.

Campbell's lead defense attorney, Billy Martin, asked U.S. District Judge Richard Story to disqualify the man because he wrote in the questionnaire that Campbell ought to be "hung from the highest tree."

Some Campbell supporters in the courtroom gasped.

"To suggest he be lynched and hung from the highest tree is not an opinion," Martin said. "That's blatant racism."

The man was excused without entering the courtroom, where the judge typically has questioned prospective jurors individually.

"I am disappointed that that attitude exists," said Campbell, who has sat through the jury selection. "But I am more enthused about the others who said they can give me a fair trial."

Campbell, 52, who is charged with seven counts of racketeering, income tax evasion and bribery, walked into court Wednesday saying he had slept restfully. The former mayor and a few supporters once again prayed before walking into the courtroom.

The jury selection process, which began Tuesday, has moved at a fairly brisk pace. Martin even asked the judge jokingly if they were going too fast.

"I've got my seat belt on," the judge quipped. "You won't lose me."

Martin also speculated that the trial could last more than eight weeks. The judge, however, was not happy hearing that.

"I'm putting you on notice that if you expect it to last eight weeks, be prepared for weekend work," Story told the lead defense attorney.

The expected length of the trial — estimates have range from six weeks to eight weeks — has caused many prospective jurors to try to wiggle out of service.

One man was removed because of uneasy economic times at Delta Air Lines. The man said the airline is headed toward another round of layoffs and "it was intimated to me this would not be a good time for me to not be doing my job."

The judge threw up his hands in frustration after the man left the room. Prosecutor Russell Vineyard asked the judge to investigate which Delta supervisor might have issued the warning, but Story declined, excusing the man.

Story said he doubts jury service would cause the man to be fired, but the judge added, "I guarantee if he does lose his job he'll blame you and me. We'll have one unhappy juror."

Another unhappy potential juror was scolded by Story for perusing a Tuesday newspaper article on jury selection his wife had left on a counter.

"I know you told us not to but I glanced at it," he told the judge with a faint smile before reciting some of the details from the story.

"You need to understand there are sanctions, there are fines and penalties for not following the court's instruction," Story said. "This is not a minor slipup. This is a big deal to me."

Story excused the man from service but told his courtroom deputy to keep him around until he decides what to do with him. The man's fate was not known late Wednesday.

Two days of questioning have boiled down the sizable jury pool of more than 230 prospective jurors from across metro Atlanta to 37. The judge also may add two more to the pool today. By the end of the day today, prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to select 12 jurors and four alternates.

[jeff061]

Heh, bring's to mind the Curb Your Enthusiasm episode where Larry David acted racist during his interview to get out of jury duty.

[stevew]

So did the juror actually mention the lynching part, or is that someone being sensitive and inserting racism into a non-racial situation? Or is that "hung from the highest tree" comment a fall back to some racial thing that i just am not getting.

I thought it was an old west term for hanging outlaws, although further research indicates it may have been used in regards to lynching as well.

[gottimd]

I just walk by it when I am at Blockbuster.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by gottimd

Either:

1) Yes, that's offensive to get off of jury duty?

2) Jury duty is the only work Pauly Shore can get these days?

SI

[Suburban Rhythm]

True story-- the first time I ever was called for jury duty (civil), about 3 years ago. We are called into the seating box, or whatever it is called. I was in the front row, right near the table both attorneys were sitting (was not an exciting case, car accident and injuries stemming from that), so could hear what was being said.

They call up about the 3rd or 4th prospective juror, and it's this older guy in overalls, flannel shirt underneath, straight out of Podunk. They asked him if he could remain impartial throughout the trial, and he answered "No". They questioned why, and he said "I'll be partial to whoever is right." At that point, both attorneys blankly look at each other, and agree he is one of the 6 or however many they can immediately eliminate.

But, that's always stuck with me as a great way to get dismissed if you really wanted to.

[miked]

My dad used to wear a shirt or button that said "Support your local police" and he got off jury duty every time.

[PackerFanatic]

that is great, Mike.

I am 20 and I have already been summoned to jury duty. Funny thing was, a few months before I had it, my mom had called me on April Fool's and told me that I had it as a joke. So when she called me again in June and told me, I didn't believe her, lol.

Best part was that I got paid for 5 hours of doing nothing. The case never ended up going to court (well, at least they didn't need us after our two days of sitting there and waiting)

[BrianD]

I have only been summoned once and that was about 12 years ago. The procedure wasn't terribly exciting, but I did find it rather interesting. I wouldn't mind being called again.

[clintl]

I called for jury duty last summer, and a young woman in the jury pool showed up in an Amnesty International t-shirt. I thought it stroke of genius (and the case was a capital murder case, too).

[mauchow]

I wonder if I could be called for Jury Duty with a hearing impairment...