Watch Your Mouth During Jury Duty

You may have thought of ways to get out of jury duty, but we suspect that potential juror Stephen Caruso went too far. Caruso was being questioned during the voir-dire about whether or not "he could be a fair juror in a criminal case against Robert Sanford, who was charged with kidnapping a driver using a fake gun," according to the Post. Caruso mentioned he had been held up at gunpoint before and said about the defendant, "I think he is a scumbag." Justice William Wetzel got mad and apparently asked Caruso to leave - but Caruso went over to talk to the judge. So Justice Wetzel fined him $1000! Damn - let that be a reminder to you: Just do what the judge tells you in court, he or she doesn't have time for chit-chat.

But don't worry - drinking vodka during jury duty is okay.

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By Jen Chung in News on July 21, 2006 3:19 PM

Comments [rss]

too much info

rock on,

I have spent the summer working with the NYS trial system and liberals do not dominate the NY courts.

My politics? I respect ADAs and think that a lot of them do very good work.

This past month, however, I observed an inept and arrogant ADA parading around Judge Wetzel's court. If Judge Wetzel didn't bully that ADA, I doubt he would bully others.

rimin

Most of the (liberal) judges have bought the seat for themselves in NYC area. Last time I heard the going price in Brooklyn was $50,000 (payable to the democratic party). Clarence Norman was just the tip of the iceberg.

bklynd

This is a variation of the George Carlin joke, that he tells the judge he'd be a great juror, because he can spot guilty people (snaps fingers and points) [i]just like that[/i]!

rock on

homey,

you know nothing about the New York court system. The liberals outnumber the conservatives by 10 to 1.

And regardless of affiliation they bully and insult the ADAs as a sport. How do I know you might wonder. Think about it.

You sound like a typical New York left wing douche. You think anyone that is self-centered must be a conservative? What a crock. Look around you the next time you leave the house.

Clorox Beach

If you want off jury duty, QUICK, just mention the word "nullification" within earshot of the attorneys and the judge:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification

It is sad that juries do not exercise this right very often, if they even know about it at all...

homey

rock on, don't be so sure it wasn't the opposite. you have no idea this judge's politics and, if anything, sounds like a "me, myself and I" type...nearly always right wing nuts.

Brightliner

I'm going to have to remember this the next time I get jury duty. "I think he's a scumbag!" "You're dismissed." Woo-hoo!

recent juror

i had jury duty 3 weeks ago (didn't get picked).

i sat thru voir dire with two different judges. one judge was old and cool and let anyone go for any reason. the other was young and crabby and you basically had to be on life support to get released.