Should Lying to Get Out of Jury Duty Be Grounds for Arrest?
Admit it, you've at least thought about it. Pretend you're crazy to get out of jury duty... It's so simple! However, as 57-year-old Susan Cole can attest, the consequences -- if you get caught -- could be dire. When the Denver resident showed up for jury selection last June, she tried to pull the ol' PTSD card. That's post-traumatic stress disorder, the result of "domestic violence in the military." Her hair was a mess, shoes didn't match. Now she's facing a potential felony.
Court reporter Kelli Wessels told investigators, "Her makeup looked like something you would wear during a theater performance. When the judge asked the entire panel if anyone had a mental illness, she stated she had difficulties getting ready in the morning, which was apparent to me by the way she was dressed." Psychiatrists are upset, too. They say she's "trivializing" PTSD. But does she really need to be arrested over it? Couldn't they just make her watch "12 Angry Men" and take a quiz? What do you think is appropriate punishment for lying to get out of jury duty?
Yes
Side Score: 6
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No
Side Score: 9
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Yes. Those lying sack of manure! They should be forced to tell the truth. I've never been selected for jury duty and I always tell the truth. When they ask me if I'm prejudiced against the defendant, I always say, "Yes!" usually the defendant is a gang member. When they ask me if I can hold off judgement until I hear the evidence I say, "No. Gang members do not join a gang to do community service. They join a gang to commit crime. If he's not guilty of this...., he's guilty of something else. And that's good enough for me." If that doesn't work, then..., during lunch break..., I ask the prosecution if [insert DA's name here] is still the DA. Then, when they say, "Yes." I tell them to say "hi" for me ;) Now, it's a good thing that I'm not picked for jury duty because my number one concern is to get people off the freeways during rush hour traffic. Even if I have to send them to jail to achieve my goal ;) Side: Yes
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I don't think that arresting someone who lies to get out of Jury duty is an appropriate punishment. Although this woman went over board to get out of it she should just be told to serve and thats all or given a fine or community service or better yet let her go. Lots of people lie to get out of it. Side: No
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I know they say jury duty is every law-abiding American's duty, but forcing people to serve as jurors isn't really fair. Some people would rather not get involved - our justice system makes citizens ultimately decide another's guilt or innocence, which puts a huge burden on the everyday citizen. Side: No
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