Clever Jury

[K8ERV]

Twelve Angry Men is worth watching. Again and again.

And "Witness for the Prosecution"

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[N2EY]

Twelve Angry Men is worth watching. Again and again.

Yes it is.

But even more compelling is the John Grisham book "The Innocent Man"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Inn...n_a_Small_Town

which is NONFICTION. True story of a man convicted of first-degree murder who spent 11 years on Oklahoma's Death Row for a crime he did not commit. He was exonerated and released when DNA and other evidence proved he did not commit the crime.

73 de Jim, N2EY

[N2EY]

I know someone who did and after paying the $50.00 fine the judge imposed on him he didn't have to worry about jury duty anymore.

What was the fine for?

73 de Jim, N2EY

[W3WN]

You don't seriously think I'd go into a court and say that, do you?

2 years ago I was called for jury duty at the Federal courthouse up the street. As it turned out, I only had to show in person one day, just call in on the rest if I was needed.

I was one of about 35-40 potential jurors called to be considered for a case.

One of the younger smart-alecs, when questioned, said something pretty much on the lines of your earlier post (sorry, I didn't write it down at the time). The lawyers & judge all nodded & moved on.

He was picked.
. . . .
I was very glad not to be picked. Not that I have a problem with serving, but unlike the County court, at this Federal court at least, when the judge wants to confer with the lawyers out of earshot, they turn on a (for lack of a better term) white noise generator. Damn thing gave me a headahe.

[W3WN]

What was the fine for?

73 de Jim, N2EY

I'd guess contempt of court. Undoubtably the judge fit into one of those categories!

Further, since you have to swear to tell the truth, it could also be for perjury...

[W3WN]

Twelve Angry Men is worth watching. Again and again.

And "Witness for the Prosecution"

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

I always like the Happy Days episode where Fonzie proved to the rest of the jury that the accused couldn't have committed the crime, because he was left-handed and the criminal was clearly (based on the evidence presented) right handed.

[N6MEJ]

I'd guess contempt of court. Undoubtably the judge fit into one of those categories!

Further, since you have to swear to tell the truth, it could also be for perjury...

Unless of course the statement is true.

[WB2WIK]

I always like the Happy Days episode where Fonzie proved to the rest of the jury that the accused couldn't have committed the crime, because he was left-handed and the criminal was clearly (based on the evidence presented) right handed.

Then, Mickey Mantle appeared and hit home runs swinging from either side of the plate.

[W3WN]

Then, Mickey Mantle appeared and hit home runs swinging from either side of the plate.

Nah. The subplot had nothing to do with baseball, or any other type of swinging.

IIRC, Mr. Cunningham was also on the jury, so Mrs. Cunningham was left in charge of the hardware store, and there was the usual sexist stereotype of "a woman can't do a man's job!", worry worry worry, turns out she did just fine. Well, they'd long since jumped the shark by then, so WTH?

[AJ4CU]

A jury is one of the most powerful things in this country!

"The jury has a right to judge both the law as well as the fact in controversy"
John Jay, 1st chief justice, scotus

"The jury has the right to determine both the law and the facts"
Samuel Chase, scotus

"The jury has the power to bring a verdict in the teeth of both law and fact"
Oliver Wendell Holmes, scotus

"The law itself is on trial quite as much as the cause which is to be decided"
Harlan F Stone, scotus

"The pages of history shine on instances of the jury's exercise of it's perogative to disregard instructions of the judge"
"The jury has an unreviewable and unreversible power... to acquit in disregard of the instructions on the law given by trial judge"
U.S. vs. Dougherty, 473 F 2nd 1113, 1139 (1972)

"You have a right to take upon yourselves to judge of both, and to determine the law as well as fact in controversy"
State of GA vs. Brailsford.

And one of my Favorites,
"The people are the masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert it!"
Abraham Lincoln.

Too bad there are too many sheeple in this country, otherwise things in DC would be very different...

The only power the judge has over a jury is their Ignorance!