I'm not fit to judge anyone
#1
Hit 16's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
I'm not fit to judge anyone
No, not me, duh.
A juror told a court his homophobic and racist views meant he could not give a defendant a fair trial.
In a letter written to the judge after he was selected from a shortlist to serve in a case, the man claimed his extreme views 'against homosexuals and black/foreign people' made it impossible for him to be impartial.
'I strongly believe that it would be a serious injustice to the legal system to select me for jury service,' his letter said.
'I hold extreme prejudices against homosexuals and black/foreign people
and couldn’t possibly be impartial if either appeared in court.
'Therefore it would not be in the court’s interest to have me a juror.'
He admitted that in his eagerness to bring any case to a swift conclusion, he would simply vote with the majority and not give his true opinion.
He added: 'I would be more than happy to speak to a judge regarding my personal views on the legal system, which I do not hold in high regard.'
Obviously we can't rely on the veracity of the story considering the source, but it does raise an interesting question. If the juror in question is honestly giving his view (which he is entitled to hold), then he should not be on a jury. Should that also prohibit him from doing "anything responsible in society at all", as the judge is reported as saying?
My view is that the man was right to speak up, and--provided that his actions do not indicate that his views influence the decisions he takes in other spheres of his life--then the only consequence is that he should not be a civil servant in any capacity. It does set a difficult question of precedence, though.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz26AkLZsQq
A juror told a court his homophobic and racist views meant he could not give a defendant a fair trial.
In a letter written to the judge after he was selected from a shortlist to serve in a case, the man claimed his extreme views 'against homosexuals and black/foreign people' made it impossible for him to be impartial.
'I strongly believe that it would be a serious injustice to the legal system to select me for jury service,' his letter said.
'I hold extreme prejudices against homosexuals and black/foreign people
and couldn’t possibly be impartial if either appeared in court.
'Therefore it would not be in the court’s interest to have me a juror.'
He admitted that in his eagerness to bring any case to a swift conclusion, he would simply vote with the majority and not give his true opinion.
He added: 'I would be more than happy to speak to a judge regarding my personal views on the legal system, which I do not hold in high regard.'
Obviously we can't rely on the veracity of the story considering the source, but it does raise an interesting question. If the juror in question is honestly giving his view (which he is entitled to hold), then he should not be on a jury. Should that also prohibit him from doing "anything responsible in society at all", as the judge is reported as saying?
My view is that the man was right to speak up, and--provided that his actions do not indicate that his views influence the decisions he takes in other spheres of his life--then the only consequence is that he should not be a civil servant in any capacity. It does set a difficult question of precedence, though.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz26AkLZsQq
Last edited by Bahtatboy; Sep 11th 2012 at 2:51 pm.
#3
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act"
George Orwell
George Orwell
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
He wrote that after being selected to serve on the jury??
Contempt of court?
Contempt of court?
#6
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
In an ideal society with proper ethics and understanding of democracy, this man would be able to put his views aside and do his duty.
Obviously that's beside the point.
Obviously that's beside the point.
#7
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
Works both ways, how many liberal judges or jurors allow their prejudices to affect the outcome of trials?
#8
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
Have "you" (meaning anyone reading this) done jury duty? It's really quite odd... (as are your "fellow" jurors)
#9
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
True. Let me rephrase: In an ideal society with proper ethics and understanding of democracy, EVERYBODY would be able to put their personal views aside and do their duty as it should be done.
#10
Banned
Joined: Mar 2012
Location: Jeddah, KSA
Posts: 822
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
In that case the jury could be replaced with a software algorithm. Let us not forget the purpose of the jury is to introduce a range of personal views into the process.
#13
Hit 16's
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine
Posts: 13,112
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
AFAIA I only know one person whose done it--said he spent most of his 2 weeks waiting (at the court) for a case to come up, and spent only about a day or so actually in court.
#14
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
I also guessed what his case was owing to time etc and he freaked out and went all secretive. As a shite Salesman as he was, he also made more money being there than work. They basically just paid whatever I wrote down as his daily salary up to £100 + Expenses.
#15
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2011
Location: Dubai
Posts: 3,467
Re: I'm not fit to judge anyone
I kind of did. I was selected and spent 3 days going to the high court in Glasgow and then being sent home as it kept being delayed. After 3 days the judge apologised for messing us about and said that we could leave as he'd bring in a new jury.
I was really miffed as the case was about this nasty gangster f**ker who'd take out his rivals family. Would have been interesting in a slightly voyeuristic way.
I was really miffed as the case was about this nasty gangster f**ker who'd take out his rivals family. Would have been interesting in a slightly voyeuristic way.