Comments on: “Well, you guys make different judgements.”

By: Observer

Observer — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 17:03:00 +0000

My job has taken me to a fair number of trials in years past, and all I can say is that there often doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason in how lawyers exclude potential jurors. I’ve seen lawyers exclude what I would think would be a sympathetic juror, and (more commonly) I’ve seen lawyers pick people who would make lousy jurors, lousy but sympathetic. Usually, the reason for excluding (or attempting to exclude) a juror is obvious, but not always.

By: Mark B.

Mark B. — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 06:38:29 +0000

As an American, I usually make judgments. I leave the making of judgements to my English or Canadian friends.

By: Steve EM

Steve EM — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 01:30:58 +0000

If most of the potential jurers lacked college education, I’d be feraful that an educated person’s opinion might influence some others and the jury might not deliberate as they should. Isn’t it a fact that educated people are disproportionally excluded from juries?

By: Bret

Bret — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 01:03:57 +0000

I totally agree with Ed and Clark on this.

Rusty,
What?! How did you get that far? I’ve been called for jury duty twice and never got passed the orienteering/call your group’s number stage.

By: Clark Goble

Clark Goble — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:13:49 +0000

“Rusty, I think many Mormons exhibit a “blame the victim” way of thinking, so most attorneys representing someone injured in an accident or accused of a crime would not see a Mormon on a jury as someone who could empathize with their client. ”

I’m not sure that’s true Dave. I do think though that few Mormons would be sympathetic to the “reward the victim regardless of responsibility but instead in terms of wealth.” That is I think Mormons (and perhaps conservatives) think responsibility is independent of feeling sorry.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 23:01:11 +0000

I can’t believe your co-worker accused Mormons of making judgments (much less “different ones”). That’s so inappropriate.

She must have been a Jew. A Jew or an Asian.. those people always generalize.

By: Connor Boyack

Connor Boyack — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:40:35 +0000

I think it’s dumb how juries are selected.. Essentially, the attorneys attempt to stack a jury so that they’ll decide in favor of their client. I think it should be more random, or that the selection shouldn’t be controlled by the attorneys attempting to win and get a fat check.

An interesting movie about this is Runaway Jury for those that might be interested.

By: Rusty

Rusty — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:33:48 +0000

Except that I was shaved (for once, I know) but was certainly NOT wearing slacks. Jeans, flip-flops and a polo shirt.

By: Don

Don — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:26:16 +0000

Rusty, maybe it’s the way you were dressed and appeared. Your stubble probably threw them off when combined with your pressed shirt and nice slacks. Obviously you were not considered a “peer” and we are supposed to be judged by our peers. Oh yeah and you aren’t black either.

By: ed johnson

ed johnson — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 20:06:56 +0000

Mormons are different in lots of ways, and it’s completely plausible that, on average, they “make different judgements” about lots and lots of things.

Still, I agree that it’s kind of an odd thing for your co-worker to say.