Nickel and dimed for jury duty

"Citizens act as a check against government power," then the citizens need to contact their legislators and demand that the Board of Judicial Standards be changed from judges and lawyers on the board, to the citizens of MN.

That is what should be done. However in MN its much easier to just look the other way and then complain about how bad things have gotten. Not many movers and shakers in MN. Government power is already way overboard in MN.

I agree that our jurors should receive limited compensation, but show should our part-time legislators. Their time and talents should be service to the state or nation with expenses and a limited per diem on top, that's it. Also, the insane retirement plan they have should GO! and they should pay into Social inSecurity and receive the same benefits as other citizens, paid based on their 'donations'. Well' it is a voluntary system if you read the law.

I detest Jury duty, but every time I go it's a hassle to park and pay as much as you would pay in any downtown metro city. The parking for the court facilities are way out of range. Maybe it is patrotic to be on Jury duty but not to the extent of depleting your budget you have set up for the month.

There was once a time in this country when juries were predominantly white and male. I have believed that the past several decades moved us towards more balanced juries with regard to gender, race, class and life experience.

The slashing of jury pay signals a giant step backwards in this regard, creating a strong incentive for middle-lower income individuals to find any excuse they can not to serve. In order to have a strong judicial system, we need the widest diversity possible our juries. I fear are headed once for an unbalanced jury system: one in which only financially comfortable individuals can afford to serve on juries.

There's also a story on this from Minnesota 2020 (www.mn2020.org). It's sad that the judicial system also bears the same crippling budget cuts as everything else - this is what Pawlenty must think 'efficient' courts are.

Or you will see the plea bargains rise from 95% to 99% because there won't be enough jurors willing to serve for a fair trial. That would suit the justice system just fine.

State Judicial Council made the cuts, not the governor. However, what part of this state don't you understand here. We pay taxes, a lot of taxes so the gov't can GET YOUR MONEY. Then the gov't cuts programs that gives money back to you so they can KEEP YOUR MONEY. Get it? It's that simple. It's called MN NICE or as we taxpayers have come to realize DUMB AND DUMBER.

I have been called to jury duty three times. I was excited the first time, then I realized how slow and tedious the process is and how I actually went in the hole doing it. Let's just say the next two times I was called, even though the process got easier, I was not so thrilled. It's always an inconvenience, moreso for some than others, and I do not think anyone should lose money in order to serve on a jury. Why can't local/nearby parking ramps work out a deal with the court system so that citizens are not charged to park and the city is charged a nominal fee? It's insulting to say that someone's time (in which they are to feed themselves and park a vehicle for an entire day) is only worth $10.00. For these reasons I believe a professional jury system would be better than the one we currently have.

just tell the defense attorney during voir dire that you listen to Jason Lewis and you'll be excluded from the jury.

Harmar Superstar wrote:

just tell the defense attorney during voir dire that you listen to Jason Lewis and you'll be excluded from the jury.

How about Rush? Jason is kind of irritating, though I value him as the main conservative media voice in minnesota.

With a 25 billion state budget and a billion tax increase this year, I wonder where the money went. I am aware of a lot of state departments that do important things that have had to cut back.

Anyway, its libs running the state, so blame the lefties when your pet cause gets budget cuts.

We are truly going backwards. This will only increase the lack of intelligence on our juries. We need people with intelligence and common sense. All the ones that I would want judging me, will find an excuse not to be available.

Did anyone mention that the amount you earn is also taxable on line 21 of the form 1040?!! You still must come up with the parking and child care but may get reimbursed for that. The income is still taxable.

Why don't we just quit paying them altogether instead of insulting them with $10.00 Provide lunch, transportation and daycare. Then they would truly be doing their civic duty and priviledge.

I told the defense attorney that it was my opinion that a cop would not be inclined to lie on the stand... thank you, next juror! And in a Federal court, I said that I couldn't possibly be partial about a possible al-Queda money-laundering scheme... they tossed me before I even finished talking.

Seriously, I would agree that juries are important if there were no such thing as appeals courts. The trials that are decided by jurors usually go to the higher courts, who can nullify or reverse the verdict... So why do we need the jury? Just appoint a panel of judges to try every case, because that's the outcome, anyway. As an engineering consultant, I have testified on cases where the jury was completely stupified by the minutea of a construction problem... were they fair in their judgement? And I have testified in judge-only trials where the testimony was sped along, with no grandstanding, and the trial was completed within a day, not three or four if the lawyers had to play to an uninformed jury.

In an age of instant news and internet access, how can they actually find truly impartial jurors who have not heard of the issues of the cases? A jury of one's peers will become a jury of imbiciles, morons, and low-lifes before too long.

I had the opportunity to sit in on a jury selection (I was a witness in a case) and also to see how the jury played a role in a criminal case. It was my first time ever being a part of a trial like this (traffic court doesn't count!)

I was disgusted. I actually had one of the jurors seek me out after the trial and talk with me about what happened during the deliberation, how she felt coerced by other jury members to vote one way, and how some of the jurors mentioned to "get on with it -- I have plans for the weekend"

It is OUR RESPONSIBILITY to do what is right. To stand up for what is right and to do our duty. If you don't want to do it, then please leave America. But if you do step up to the plate and serve your country by serving on a jury, even if it is out of your way -- and may be a small financial burden for you -- please do it with integrity and the intent to see justice done, not complaining about how much it costs to park and how much you had to sacrifice.

We all play a part in making our country great. If we are complaining about society, government, economy, etc... let's start by getting our ducks in a row, showing our true character, and being active members of our society -- and being PROUD of it.

I haven't been called for jury duty yet. I think I move around too much and don't live in one single county for long enough. Hopefully, my day will come when I can help contribute to a fair trial. I haven't served in our armed forces so this would be the least I can do to show my pride in being an American.

-Rebecca

rebecca wrote:

I had the opportunity to sit in on a jury selection (I was a witness in a case) and also to see how the jury played a role in a criminal case. It was my first time ever being a part of a trial like this (traffic court doesn't count!)
I was disgusted. I actually had one of the jurors seek me out after the trial and talk with me about what happened during the deliberation, how she felt coerced by other jury members to vote one way, and how some of the jurors mentioned to "get on with it -- I have plans for the weekend"
It is OUR RESPONSIBILITY to do what is right. To stand up for what is right and to do our duty. If you don't want to do it, then please leave America. But if you do step up to the plate and serve your country by serving on a jury, even if it is out of your way -- and may be a small financial burden for you -- please do it with integrity and the intent to see justice done, not complaining about how much it costs to park and how much you had to sacrifice.
We all play a part in making our country great. If we are complaining about society, government, economy, etc... let's start by getting our ducks in a row, showing our true character, and being active members of our society -- and being PROUD of it.
I haven't been called for jury duty yet. I think I move around too much and don't live in one single county for long enough. Hopefully, my day will come when I can help contribute to a fair trial. I haven't served in our armed forces so this would be the least I can do to show my pride in being an American.
-Rebecca

I agree with you Rebecca, however, there are a lot of single parents out there working at minimum wage jobs in which the employer does not have to compensate for time away doing jury duty. How should they live on that taxable $10/day while still paying for childcare, lunch and parking? Should we expect them to go in debt in order for them to do their civic duty?

Hey if the legislature gives back it back door pay raise ( per Diem payment up to 90 dollars per day ), there would be no problem.

The whole process sucks and it started with plea bargains. What good does it do for us to sit there for a whole week and get picked. And within two hours the guy gets a plea deal and the guy gets back out on the street. We all lose.

there have been cases where a jury has been bought off or one has and then some how talked the others right into his way of thinking ?????????

then a inocent person goes to prison and later the real person braggs he got off!

Only the dumbest of the dumb get stuck on jury duty and if you do get stuck on one and there is a lawyer on it the takes complete control and remember with lawyers nobody is ever guilty and if it is a minority being tried and there is a minority on the jury remember the O J case if the glove don't fit you must WHAT.Now after you have a guilty verdict the Judge reduces the time or fine to little or nothing unless you get judge Judy the you have to listen to her bitch.My advice when you get that letter don't open it up just throw it in the trash and FORGET ABOUT IT .