Jaffrey woman is asking for help to avoid US District Court jury duty

[Russell Kanning]

A nice woman from Jaffrey called looking for help in avoiding jury duty at the US District Court. She saw coffee7s ad for a jurors handbook in the July print edition of the Keene Free Press. She wondered if that would help her know the best way to proceed. She doesn't want to have anything to do with the federal court, but is scared by their threats. She loves what we do with the paper and was excited to be talking with me, since she reads all about how we are standing up to the thugs.

She has asked for a medical excusal and they want a form to be filled out by her physician, but she doesn't go to regular medical doctors. She may be able to just fill out the form and have them accept that, but she is hesitant to bump heads with the bad guys.

She doesn't visit the internet, so the only way we can help her is with advice over the phone or paperwork sent to here. What kind of ideas do you think we could pass along to her?

Kat likes the idea of sending her fija literature and she could ask the fed court officials to help her understand the subject. We would guess that her services would become very unwelcome.

[error]

If she goes in to voir dire a fully informed potential juror, the prosecutor is going to try very hard to get rid of her.

[Russell Kanning]

she is hoping to never darken the door of that dread building (the Ministry of Love)

[lildog]

I would think we would want informed people to serve on juries.

If everyone informed and active and who understand government choose not to serve on a jury if they can get out of it you are left with uninformed, lazy dregs who will continue to feed the system.

[error]

she is hoping to never darken the door of that dread building (the Ministry of Love)

I know the feeling really well. I don't want to enter that building either.

It's likely that if she just doesn't show up, nothing will happen. I got a summons for jury duty once and I ignored it. Nothing happened. No jackbooted thugs came and kicked down my door. Nobody mailed me a ticket. Nothing.

Of course, back then I knew nothing about jury nullification. These days, if I were to be called for jury duty, I'd set aside my reservations and go in a heartbeat.

[Russell Kanning]

I would think we would want informed people to serve on juries.

Maybe it would be good for her to serve, but she doesn't want to.

[mvpel]

She could just show up and be completely honest about how she feels - she's there under duress, etc.  I'm sure either side would be anxious to excuse her.

[Russell Kanning]

It's likely that if she just doesn't show up, nothing will happen. I got a summons for jury duty once and I ignored it. Nothing happened. No jackbooted thugs came and kicked down my door. Nobody mailed me a ticket. Nothing.

I told her that I have never shown up for jury duty. I have thrown them away usually.
At my old employer, we came up with a nice big letter we would send along for any of our guys that didn't want to miss work and go to jury duty. It extolled the virtues of our employee and explained how we couldn't live without them.

I and a friend were going to invent the "jury shirt". It would be covered in politically incorrect symbols and phrases, sure to get you dumped by the lawyers.

But you are right, knowing about nullification changes how much fun being on a jury would be.

[Russell Kanning]

She could just show up and be completely honest about how she feels - she's there under duress, etc.  I'm sure either side would be anxious to excuse her.

That would be a very good thing to do. She could even do that by mail and see how it goes.

[error]

Ask her to register for the forum and come and discuss the issue with us here!

[Kat Kanning]

She doesn't visit the internet

[error]

She doesn't visit the internet

Oh, I missed that. I'm sorry to hear that. The Internet is a really amazing thing. You can learn all sorts of things and connect with people you never even knew existed.

[Spencer]

From the U.S. Courts' Jury Duty website: "Any person who fails to return a completed qualification questionnaire may be summoned to appear before the clerk of the court to fill out the form."

In other words, if you don't send in a response to the last thing we mailed you, we'll mail you something else.

From the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire website on jury duty:

Q: Do I have to serve?
Yes. Jury duty is not optional. Most jurors do not qualify for a statutory exemption from jury duty. However, if you believe you have an unusually difficult personal or business situation, you may provide that excuse to the court in writing. The court will then determine whether or not you meet the statutory requirements allowing you to be excused.

Q: Failure to Report: What happens if I don't appear for jury duty?
Service as a juror is NOT optional. 28 U.S.C. Section 1864(b) provides: "Noncompliance to a summons may result in the imposition of a fine of not more than $100.00 or imprisonment for not more than 3 days, or both." In fairness to all jurors who do report, a failure to report will be immediately addressed by the court, and additional time may also be added to your term of service.

I could have sworn that the 13th Amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in this country . . .

My guess is that the court would have trouble proving that a person received a jury summons and disregarded it.  For example, I know that in the summertime a lot of people go on vacation for weeks or even months at a time and don't keep up with their mail.  Some of those people then get so overwhelmed with their piles of "junk mail" that they just shred / burn / throw away all of it and start fresh.

The good news for Russell:

Q: How was I selected for jury duty?
The court draws names from both the general election voter registration lists provided by all New Hampshire cities and towns and a list of active licensed drivers as maintained by the Motor Vehicle Division from the New Hampshire Department of Safety.

By the way, look at who they permanently exempt (upon their request) from federal jury duty in NH:

The court finds that it is in the public interest and would not be inconsistent with Title 28 U.S.C. Sections 1861 or 1862, to bar the following groups of persons and occupational classes from jury service on the ground that they are exempt:

1. members in active service in the Armed Forces of the United States;
2. full-time members of the fire or police departments of any state, district, territory, possession, or subdivision thereof; and
3. public officers in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of the government of the United States, or any state, district, territory, possession, or subdivision thereof, who are actively engaged in the performance of official duties.

A request for permanent excuse on any for any of the groups listed above must be in writing and attached to the juror information portion of the summons when it is returned to the court

Tell her to run for (and win) a spot in the legislature.

[error]

I guess I'm never going to serve on a jury, then. Too bad.

[Lex]

I guess I'm never going to serve on a jury, then. Too bad.

You can have a nice home land stupidity uniform made with a home land stupidity seal and all, and come to court wearing that :-)