Gaming and Jury Duty Discrimination?

[Gentlegamer]

If you are selected for jury privilege, remember that the law is on trial as well as the defendant. That is, if the legislative act under which a conviction is sought is unjust, it is not a law, and you should vote to acquit.

 

[wingsandsword]

If you are selected for jury privilege, remember that the law is on trial as well as the defendant. That is, if the legislative act under which a conviction is sought is unjust, it is not a law, and you should vote to acquit.

Just don't mention that part when being interviewed, Judges really hate jurors who believe in Jury Nullification.

 

[takasi]

To the OP: Did your friend give a reason for the assertion that DnD players don't get picked?

He said they want jurors that they can read easily so it's easier to sway them. He said there's still a heavy stigma, especially with "Dungeons and Dragons", that players are "weird" and unpredictable. And this is coming from someone who loves D&D and has played it since the 70's.

 

[takasi]

Just don't mention that part when being interviewed, Judges really hate jurors who believe in Jury Nullification.

He also said that if you're ever involved in a hung jury you will probably never be selected again, regardless of how you vote.

 

[Dice4Hire]

He also said that if you're ever involved in a hung jury you will probably never be selected again, regardless of how you vote.

Of course not, the dead only sit on juries in the game, not RL

I have only been on one jury, though my last 16 years abroad probably account for that.

I said nothing about D&D and was quite unimpressed with the people, and lawyers on both sides of the dispute. Actually locking most of them up would have been a benefit for society.

And yes, we really did not believe in the law that was being used in that case. Made no sense to me.

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Hmmm, I went through jury selection, got to the court, sat down, and was told that the case had been dismissed, since the police officer involved with the arrest had not bothered to show up for court. The judge just threw the case out, since if the chief witness for the prosecution couldn't be bothered then neither could the court. (A felony theft case - the accused apparently drove off with the plastic capsule from the drive through at a bank... most likely not worth the minimum for an actual felony theft.) :? Gaming never came up.

Of course not, the dead only sit on juries in the game, not RL

No, no, that would be a hanged jury. The hung juries are in the adult entertainment industry.

The Auld Grump

 

[Snapdragyn]

Just don't mention that part when being interviewed, Judges really hate jurors who believe in Jury Nullification.

Yes, I believe there was actually a case a few years back where jurors were threatened with contempt of court for this (can't recall enough details to track down a citation, sorry). I'd still do it, I'd just keep my mouth shut as to the reasoning for the 'nay' vote.

I've actually wanted to serve on a jury, but never been selected for a case that made it to trial. *sigh* Of course, if they knew I wanted to be selected, they'd probably boot me out just for that.

 

[Squire James]

I was only called in one day of my life so far, and what a day it was...

Jurors were supposedly freed after either one day of service (at about 3 pm) or after serving on one case (whether you were selected or not, no matter how long the case takes). The "worst case", of course, is to be selected for a multi-day trial. The best case... almost happened to me.

I was called in 30 minutes after I arrived. Me and about 30 others were rounded up and walked to the courtroom. I caught a brief look at the defendant, who had a deer-in-headlights look. The doors shut right in front of us before we could enter. We wait. 15 minutes later, we hear the defendant accepted a plea agreement. I was excited at the prospect of getting out at 9 am. We saw our one case, right? Right?

Wrong. Apparently they decided it only counts as a case if we walk into the courtroom (though their actual rules were silent on the subject). Fast-forward to 2:45 pm (yes, doing nothing for 6 hours in a room that didn't even have a TV), when the clerk tells us we're free to go at 3 pm if we're not called. One last batch is called at 2:55 pm. Yeah, I was in it.

A possible multi-day criminal case, "home invasion" involved (didn't they used to call that robbery and assault/battery?). I told them I couldn't completely stay neutral to the fact the defendant wouldn't testify (another pretty good way to get off, I guess). I got out around 8:45 pm. 13 1/4 hours of work for $15. As they say about the people who made it in: "What do you expect for $15 a day?"

 

[Snapdragyn]

Re: the $15/day - some jobs actually cover jury duty, with variable amounts of time covered. Because civil service often covers more, I've been given to understand that civil servants are more likely to end up on long cases.

It does point up a major flaw in our system, however - that one can literally be driven to bankruptcy by a jury summons.

 

[Silver Moon]

He said there's still a heavy stigma, especially with "Dungeons and Dragons", that players are "weird" and unpredictable.

Predictability is the key. A good friend of mine (who also played D&D for several years) worked for six years as a Prosecutor. He said that the best way to get rejected from Jury Duty is to present an inconsistent image to the two lawyers - he cited two examples -

Dress conservatively but have reading material in your hands that implies you are not - like the old song line "Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac" - for example he said that if I went in a dress shirt, suit and tie I should bring either comic books or the Village Voice. I imagine that a PBH might result in the same.

or

Dress like a hippie - tie-dyed shirt, denim overalls, ratty sneakers or sandals and a few days growth of beard - but have Rush Limbaugh's latest book in hand.