5/10/09: Don’t Avoid Jury Duty In Texas
Posted by the912project on May 10, 2009 · 39 Comments
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39 Responses to “5/10/09: Don’t Avoid Jury Duty In Texas”The Restoring Honor Rally August 28, 2010
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When I went to cast my vote for the school board elections mid-morning Saturday, the sign on the door said that a whopping 46 people had voted by that time. I don't know the percentages, but as you pointed out, it will probably be the non-voters who become very vocal when the board makes decisions they don't like.
I do not understand people not exercising their right to vote. I hear \”well, my vote doesn't count anyway.\” Well, umm, no – if you don't get off your butt and vote, of course it doesn't count. I call it \”renewing my license to bit**\” and that's what I tell the poll workers when I go in
i can't feel sorry for this guy. it is too easy just to go and perform jury duty which is usully not a big deal at all.
it's also far to easy to get out of ….
he made his own bed so to speak. then he got snafu-ed in the system for not taking care of his business
True, it is a duty, Civic went out the window with math,science and of course common sense.
If this is true, this man's jail stay is a bit over the top. While not excusing his failure to appear for jury duty, what this guy has been through is approaching a civil rights violation. I mean 83 days without his day in Court, no public defense, NOTHING??? Come on doesn't even sound like he's in the United States. The judge called it unacceptable, I would add appalling… This man should be paid for wages lost, minus time served for failure to show up for jury duty of course…
Fellow Patriot Dusty,
A word of advice about the Census. As you may recall past Census consisted of two types, the short one and the long one. The long one I believe was only sent to about 20% of the nation's households. In 2000 I recieved the long form. It asked many, many questions among them how many full bathrooms you had, how many miles you traveled to work and one of the most disturbing, whether anyone in the household had every been treated for a mental disorder. I know my Constitution and I refused to answer ANYTHING other than what the Constitution specifices, an actual enumeration. I answered that ONE quesiton and slipped a small note in the form quoting from the Constituition. A number of months later I was called by the Census bureau on my home phone. The woman said I needed to answer the unanswered questions. I politely BUT FIRMLY quoted her the Constitution and added that if the Census wanted to count my toilets, they were free to as long as they presented a properly issued WARRANT. The woman hung up and that was that from the Census. In short, they know the limits and all you have to do is let them know you know too!
Good for you, Texan2! Great information. It might be a great idea to have published an informational pamphlet so that citizens know their rights prior to the census this time.
There probably will be a lot more publicity about people ignoring jury duty. I'm not sure how it is in other states, but in Illinois when you vote you're put on the jury duty list. Seeing that ACORN got a lot of stew bums, neer do wells and other idiots to vote, I'm sure we'll hear all about their sad situations when they have warrants against them for not showing up for jury duty. And, I'll just laugh, because not only are there consequences for NOT voting, there are consequences FOR voting. I DON'T believe being called for civic duty is a consequence, but just wait, there's going to be an outcry about how unfair it is.
In Texas we take our public service seriously. The guy knowingly skipped it, you just dont do that here…I think that someone went overbeard here though.
I do wonder whats going to happen when I refuse to serve Obama and sign the Census and throw the ACORN aholes off my property? …83 days may be like a picnic.
Dont mess with Texas cuts both ways…
In Texas we take our public service seriously. The guy knowingly skipped it, you just dont do that here…I think that someone went overbeard here though.
I do wonder whats going to happen when I refuse to serve Obama and sign the Census and throw the ACORN aholes off my property? …83 days may be like a picnic.
Dont mess wit Texas cuts both ways…
This seems a little suspicious to me. A masonry contractor that can't get $1,500, in 83 days? A warrant from 2003? Rebuffed by a jail clerk? And on top of that is AP reported on MSLSD. Somethings smelly.
OldMarine thanks for your service. The Declaration of Independence, the first Organic Law, freed Americans from all despotic government by making all governments subject to OUR individual consent. The right to vote and enter into Jury Duty and exercise of that right does not confer on government the power to govern all the people. Unalienable rights and are not subject to the legislative power of any government. This notion that it's your obligation as a citizen is BS, it is your RIGHT to do so, only if you wish to do so. I am 63, I will not waste one second of what life I have left playing games with a bunch of Judges and Lawers that have circumvented the system to fit their own needs. Viet'Vet Still fighting for the People.
So not showing up for jury duty will end you in jail for 83 days , hummmmmmm
I wonder if SOMEONE post a Fraudulent Birth Certificate on his website , whats the verdict for that ?
Move in to the White House for at least four years and become a burden to tax payers.
Google Orly Taitz.
It's not just a warning not to litter when they say, "Don't Mess With Texas!" ;o)
The court process is screwed up here in Texas at times. There is many many stories out there like this one. Over the years I have talked to some that have had problems and I even had a "mistaken" arrest warrant put out on me in the mid 90's. There was a mix-up in the judges office and when I called to find out what the deal was…there was a deputy on his way to arrest me. Thank God I was able to contact the judges clerk and get it stopped. I did get an apology.
This guy definately fell through the cracks. But, here in Texas at least in my county, at the beginning of the role call, if a person is not present the judge signs the bench warrant right then and there after one phone call to to the person is attempted. Wish I could have sympathy for this guy but I think I'll pick battles quite a bit higher than this one. Our nation is drowning in a pitiful slop of government takeover and control so I have too much on my mind to worry about him. Mckinney County will be sued by this man no doubt, but I doubt it will change anything about how jurors are reprimanded for not doing their civic duty.
The lesson here is keep your rear end out of jail. There is never a good reason to go to jail unless you are making some sort of powerful political or human rights statement and this man was not doing that.
Years ago, I heard the story of a 17 yr. old boy who got arrested on an outstanding traffic warrant late on a Friday afternoon. His parents had just left to go out of town for the weekend and he could not call them to bail him out. He spent the weekend in jail but didn't make it the entire weekend. He was beaten up and had to be taken to the hospital.
Nope, no good can come from going to jail.
Yep pay your tickets and when you are summoned to do your civic duty "Jury Duty" do it. If we see a law suit for the 83 days in jail, I will seriously wonder about his motives for waiting so long to write the letter.
The trial lawyers are circling, friend.
— On Sun, 5/10/09, IntenseDebate Notifications <notifications@intensedebatemail.com> wrote:
Okay guys. This one is tragic. It shouldn't have happened. But a guy who can't raise $1500 in bail, didn't even try to get excused? Isn't there some personal responsibility here? At least a little humor!
The big picture here is that he fell through the system. They arrested him, put him away and didn't follow up on his case. 83 days, He lost his apartment, car, everything he owned, even his dog. Where is the A.C.L.U. ?
Viet'Nam Vet.
I believe under the 13th Amendment this fellow would have a case of being forced into involuntary servitude, Title 18, Section 242. The problem is not doing your duty to enter into Jury Duty but the way you are FORCED to do so. Title 28 in which most States base their status on is an archaic 1866, un-Constitutional mandate. It is the process that is flawed. Here in AZ the documents issued are threatening in appearance alone, bright red and yellow with the word SUMMONS. No tel.#s except to find buses and parking, you can't talk to anyone, JUST SHOW UP ! The problem is no one has ever taken this issue to court as to it's Constitutionality ( The Process ) The overall problem is that the powers to be are the ones effected and they don't want to rock the boat. Involuntary Servitude, forced against "Climate of Fear", use of force, threat of force or the threat of legal coercion. Viet' Vet still fighting for the People.
Go to teamlaw.org and read about the original 13th ammendment that was taken out and replacedUNCONSTITUTIONALLY. Matter of fact,take the time to read the whole thing. It will explain a lot of things that I wonder if Mr.beck knows but maybe isn't allowed to reveal. I like Glenn,listen daily,but don't think he goes deep enough.Glenn,if you read some of these comments,I urge you to take a look at teamlaw.org.
I am from the "old school" of citizenship where we were taught that a couple of responsibilities of being a citizen is 1. To vote, 2. To serve jury duty, 3. To stand when the National Athem is played or the flag passes. Now, someone mot serve on a jury, unless there is a darn good reason, is in my humble opinion the sign of poor citizenship, ie. he doesn't care after all the right to trial by your peers is a gurantee under the Constitution. That being said, should he have been put in jail, if Texas law deems it, yes. But, 83 days, well it sounds like there may have been a major and I mean major mess up in the process. However, I am going to with hold saying that it is right or wrong until all the facts are known, Remember earlier this week about the boy and the internet bomb threat, and how many people condemned the FBI & Homeland Security, just to find out they had a reason to arrest him.
I'm with you 100%. I wasn't born with the "right" to vote and serve on a jury in the USA, but I chose to become a citizen (after years of permanent residence) so that I CAN vote and serve jury duty, as I believe I have the moral obligation to do if I'm going to live here. I feel very strongly about this. I have been perplexed to witness several citizens act like it is their moral obligation to find a way NOT to serve jury duty. It saddens me. I know that I have a more unusual take on things, being naturalized. I also agree that it is not our position to judge this man or this case, not knowing all the facts. That may be partly what's wrong with society, that people are judged by snippets of information.
I know you've heard this, Welcome! I've served with a number that were first or second generation and I wish I could transplant their love of America into a number of Americans.
Ron Paul cured my apathy.
Speaking of voting, we had our mayoral and city council elections yesterday—voter turnout, in a city of 2 million, was a dismal 12 lousy percent. At a cursory glance, it looked like less than 100,000 people got up off their dead butts and voted. The 78% who didn't vote will be the ones shrieking like banshees when they don't get what they think they're owed. Those who do not exercise their right to vote have absolutely NO right to complain. STFU and do something about it besides griping.
I too live in Texas, I've served on a number of juries. When I got a notice to go to the Regional/ Distract jury I too had to go to the doctor and get a written notice. I had the letter notized and I got off. I also have gotten a jury summons delayed because of my mother in laws pending death. For me it's a bit of work, but when I've a doctors letter, or a pending death in the family I at least was put back in line and called again. The only thing that burns me a bit about Texas & probably others states as well is if you don't speak english, or at least tell the judge you can't understand it well, you are let off. Please if you live and work here, learn the language. It then makes it so I'm not called 8 times and others don't have to serve. I'm not a bigot, I just want fairness. I have a feeling if this guy had made a call, had a good reason he couldn't serve. He would not have had a bench warrent out on him in the first place. Do I think his treatment fair. NO, he should have had represatation. So, sorry it seems we don't get that in Congress either.
This is what happens when We the People do not uphold our RESPONSIBILTY how can we ask the system to work when we need it. I have to give question to the 83 days in jail, why wait so long to write the letter? If makes me wonder, Will we hear about a big law suit from this?
I too had trouble with jury dury here in Texas. Long story, short. Last spring I receive a notice to appear in a federal court 125 rural miles away from my home. I was to be there at 7:15 am. I have a health condition, live alone and no longer drive at night. I cost me $83 dollars for a Doctor's letter explaining my condition(no insurance), I sent 5 registered letters to the court, received no reply until a notice was sent warning me of possible jail time. Texas is a large state with lots of very dark, deer infested roads. Just try to explain anything when the phone number given on the form is only connected to a computer.
Yes it is hard to feel sorry for him, but he is entitled to due process. Being denied a Pubic Defender and his day in court was wrong! I've seen several cases similar to this one and it seems the defendant just slips through the cracks! He should be able to go to court, get charged with his crime of failure to appear, given the usual punishment, then get the cash for every day served over that length of time. He surely lost his job, maybe his vehicle and possibly his home, a little cash compensation won't nearly make up for it, but it won't hurt anything either!
It's hard to feel sorry for someone when they knew, that they were supposed to be on jury duty and just chose not to go.
People who were born here, particularly in the last 30 yrs., take being an American for granted. They haven't really seen, and are NOT being taught, what the founding fathers and Americans up through Vietnam went through to make this country what it was. Most Americans can't pass the citizenship test that immigrants take. People who have come here from other countries have been through hell that we've never known, but I'm afraid we are about to see. They left behind what is coming to fruition now. If only people would heed their warnings.
Thank you, OM.
here I am at the crowbar hotel getting 3 squares and a cot, should set me up for life.
You're Welcome. Hey, I call it as I feel/see it.