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Jurors Dodge Duty Amid Financial Fears

Citizens point to recession, unemployment in bid for dismissal

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 2, 2009 10:20 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Jury duty has always been a pain, but the tough economy is prompting more and more Americans to ditch their civic responsibility, the New York Times reports. While exact figures aren’t available, officials report that jurors increasingly cite financial worries in bids to get out of duty. “I cannot even afford the gas to have to come down there,” an Idaho resident says.

Others insist they could lose their jobs if they take time off, or that they need to search for work, and sympathetic judges have little choice but to dismiss them. But areas like Orange County, Fla., haven’t seen any decline in jury duty, despite steep hikes in unemployment. “We might actually have jurors who are looking to get the money,” an official says, referring to the modest sum jurors receive. Experts also point out that trials rarely last longer than a few days.

Jurors who convicted O.J. Simpson of armed robbery and kidnapping listen to a question from the media during a news conference at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas.
Jurors who convicted O.J. Simpson of armed robbery and kidnapping listen to a question from the media during a news conference at the Clark County Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
This courtroom artist's drawing depicts anonymous jury selection in Chicago.
This courtroom artist's drawing depicts anonymous jury selection in Chicago.   (AP Photo/Verna Sadock)
An attorney is shown delivering closing arguments to the jury in this artist's rendering.
An attorney is shown delivering closing arguments to the jury in this artist's rendering.   (AP Photo/Pat Lopez)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 6 comments
riffran
Sep 3, 2009 6:34 AM CDT
oops "daughter's" school that is
riffran
Sep 3, 2009 6:33 AM CDT
jury duty cost me over 400 bucks a day, by way of missed work..strong incentive to have very open and strong opinions on the subject.....Was interveiwed once for a case involving two bales of pot and some assorted other street drugs...when asked if I would consider probation for this scum drug smuggler I stated no.... He was either selling or taking it to the sellers, and that crap could potentially wind up at my daughter school, and potentially harm my daughter or family directly or indirectly by way of a user doing something stupid or peer pressure getting a poor kid to try that crap....And I take that personal...my only vote would be for maximum punishment....period......"Ok sir you are dismissed"...
Doctor-Zaius
Sep 2, 2009 3:57 AM CDT
I often wondered why they don't pick from a pool of retired people. Let them vent their anger.

 
recession • unemployment • jury • jury duty • juror • jury selection

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