Want To Get Out Of Jury Duty By Pretending To Be Racist? It Might Get You ‘Indefinite Jury Duty’

by Alex Alvarez | 3:23 pm, April 7th, 2011

» 9 comments

It’s fair to say that most of us have been tempted to get out of jury duty by pretending to be a little more hateful / insane / insanely hateful than we truly are, but we generally have the good sense to know that playing up biases takes a certain level of finesse: In other words, hating everyone seems a little suspect, unless you happen to be a television pundit. One woman learned this the hard way when a judge sentenced her to “indefinite jury duty” (a particularly heinous circle of hell, lit only by fluorescent lighting and dotted with vending machines that eat your cash) after suspecting her of lying in order to get out of serving jury duty.

The woman, who is in her 20s and of Asian descent, attempted to get out of sitting as a juror for the death penalty trial of crime boss Vincent “Vinny Gorgeous” Basciano by telling the court that the “three people” she least admired were “African-Americans, Hispanics and Haitians” because “you always hear about them in the news doing something.” Also, she might as well have added Asians. Also, cops are lazy and unethical. Also, one of her relatives is a former member of the Chinese Ghost Shadows, still serving time in prison. Also, she kicks puppies.*

Judge Nicholas Garaufis didn’t find her responses amusing – or remotely believable. He dismissed the young woman from the case, but told her she’d have to be back the next day, and the next day, and the day after that… until he saw fit.

He’s since dismissed the woman because, you know, he can’t legally keep her around forever, but he did take back her $40/day compensation. The judge also made it clear that he didn’t intend to keep her because of her supposed prejudices, but because he believed she had lied to the court in her jury questionnaire – a questionnaire which is filled out under oath:

My ruling was not based in any way upon whether or not you held any racist views. It was apparent you did not tell the truth.

You were the only juror who indicated that you had every form of bias imaginable. You were lying to the court in order to be excused.

Take this, then, as a warning to the wise. Or the less-than-wise. Or the downright dumb.

*She didn’t actually say this last one. But she might as well have!

h/t Gothamist

Bias, Jury Duty, Racism

http://www.facebook.com/people/Ellen-Carey-Rowe/683757018 Ellen Carey Rowe

‘It’s fair to say that most of us have been tempted to get out of jury duty by pretending to be a little more hateful / insane / insanely hateful than we truly are, but we generally have the good sense to know that playing up biases takes a certain level of finesse:”

Charming.
MrTPar_taY

Or, you might have an indefinitely racist jury and spring OJ-he cuts left, he cuts right, the Juice was on the Loose!
Harry Flashman

As tasteless as her comments were I think it’s safe to say this judge overstepped his authority on this one. Indentured servitude went out long ago.

Besides, is having someone on a jury against their will (well, more than usual anyway) really a good idea?
http://politicallyincorrectlibertarian.wordpress.com PoliticallyIncorrectLibertarian

OJ was convicted and lost millions of dollars in the second trial, was that jury racist?

Back to the story, if you were on trial would you want that juror? I certainly wouldn’t. That guy might take revenge in all kinds of nasty ways.

http://libertarians4freedom.blogspot.com/2011/04/gun-control-doesnt-stop-gunman-from.html
http://www.facebook.com/people/Dronetek-Bulk-Vanderhuge/100000918732763 Dronetek

He should have just criticized Obama.
justanotherconservative

but what if you’re not pretending?
george L

It is a citizen’s duty to report to jury duty when called to it, and to answer honestly to the questions of the judge.
The woman was not placed on a jury, and would not be, but the judge could order her to attend the trial for as long as it lasted. That is one option the judge had.
Snidely

Easy way to get out of jury duty, say that you are an anarchist, don’t believe that government has the right to pass judgment on the actions of individuals; “judge not lest you be judged.”
Judge Mental

Why do so many (seemingly) want to avoid jury duty? I know real trials generally aren’t as interesting as they make it seem on TV and in the movies, but are your jobs really so stimulating that you’d rather go to work than serve on a jury? Where’s your sense of citizenship and performing your civic duty?

Okay, I’ll get off my soapbox now. This woman would have been much smarter — and probably would have succeeded — if she’d just stuck with saying she hates Italians. You know, tailor your bigotry to fit the facts of the case.