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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
 Posted - 03/18/2006 : 07:29:01 AM
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I just got called to jury duty for a day in April. The first thin I did was look at the fine print. It says that all "weapons" will be confiscated, including ".... knitting and crochet needles (sic)..." Wah!
The way it works here is that you call the night before ti see if they need you the next day. If they need you, you go in an go through the attorney's asking you questions, then accepting or rejecting you. I think I've been called 4 or times and been acepted once. Usually the defense attorney asks if you have any relatives in law enforcement. By the time I reel off my father, 2 uncles, 2 cousins, a brother-in-law, etc, they don't want me anymore. So it's a colossal waste of time. Plus, with my job theyhave to plan for my absence, so even if I show up at 11 it doesn'thelp because they have not booked for me.
Oh well, it's the price of living in a free country. But how free is it if they don't let you knit? Not during the proceedings, mind you, but while waiting.
Anita
My completed projects
and here
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Dicksie
Permanent Resident
USA
1995 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2006 : 09:52:39 AM
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Bummer! Our Superior Court sends out a questionnaire so those with ties to law enforcement, victims of felons, etc. are screened out and your times isn't wasted. I've been called a few times, but was seated just once - and then the defendant entered a guilty plea just minutes before we were to convene.
Dicksie
http://tourdirector.smugmug.com/gallery/529635 |
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Calamintha
Permanent Resident
USA
2886 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2006 : 6:16:36 PM
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| I would suggest that you call the Jury Commissioner's Office and ask them. It's possible that the form was printed up a while back and they haven't gotten around to revising it yet. It seems like knitting needles are accepted most places now. When I had jury duty about a year ago I called the Jury Commissioner and they weren't even sure what the policy was. So I went with socks on wooden dpns (figuring that I would put them back in the car if not allowed) and had no trouble at all. |
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BLN3320
Permanent Resident
USA
3808 Posts |
Posted - 03/18/2006 : 8:54:15 PM
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Hi, Anita: I worked in the courts for more years than I care to think about and was on a jury, fortunately as an alternate, for 12-13 weeks. It was awful. Now, having clarified where I am coming from, call and find out if you can bring wooden or bamboo needles. Needless to say you won't be able to knit when the jury is sitting if you are picked but I can't see why not in the assembly room.
Take care. Beverley 
Bev |
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Sorka
Gabber Extraordinaire
486 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2006 : 4:49:30 PM
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You could always protest it by taking some pencils or pens or chopsticks with you and knitting with those.. just to show how ridiculous it is!
Seeing as those things would be just as 'effective' as weapons.. hmmm?
Denise
My blog has moved to KnitChat.com
come on over! |
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knittyref
Chatty Knitter
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 03/19/2006 : 8:09:17 PM
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Don't be so sure that you won't wind up on a trial. There are always civil cases. I've served even though I've worked for the court's for over 20 years.
As for the needles, they are mostly looking for the big honking metal needles. The last time I went, I took a sock on bamboo needles. Got 3 good hours of knitting done with a number of court (not people I know) stopping to ohh and ahh.
If you really want to be able to knit, call the jury information number and ask how serious they are about it.
Di
www.knittyref.blogspot.com |
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Mean Mama
Permanent Resident
USA
1138 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2006 : 2:33:09 PM
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As they are now not allowing tee shirts with certain slogans considered intimidating nor are they allowing you to carry your cell phone into the building if it has camera functions, I would not expect any "exceptions" in your district.
I was impaneled for three days this winter, and missed my knitting terribly when forced to endure the endless waiting during the selection process.
"YMMV" as always!
-- Mean Mama
Additional info: my son is a police officer, but neither of the cases I was interviewed for involved police in an active way, only as 3rd party reporters of information, thus it was not deemed a conflict of interest. |
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megknits
Sustaining Member
USA
728 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2006 : 3:25:36 PM
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I was called for the criminal courts last summer and at least half of the pool had someone related to them in law enforcement. They were NOT summarilly excused based on those relationships (although it's possible that the attorneys used the information in deciding who to use their peremptory challenges on). Also, my brother who is an attorney, had to sit on a criminal Grand Jury within the last few years, so even attorneys are not exempt. (This in in New York state.)
The only automatic exemptions were for people who could document medical issues, family issues etc. In those cases the trial judge spoke with the potential jurors and dismissed them.
I didn't get empaneled, but had to sit in the pool room for three days. I got interviewed for two different cases, but not selected.
Meg
There's two sides to everything. One knitter's knit stitch is another knitter's purl. |
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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2006 : 11:04:01 AM
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The last case I was examined for involved an assault on a police officer. Sort of. The guy spit at the cop. Anyway, I think my relatives helped me out there.
I don't mind getting called for a one day case. But I would hate to be one one that went on for days. We don't get a lot of that in this county.
Anita
My completed projects
and here
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
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Momma78239
Permanent Resident
USA
4859 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2006 : 2:50:24 PM
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Time to take up spinning and take along a spindle!
-WendyM[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v632/Momma78239/smallspindlepic.gif[/IMG]
And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. Exodus 35:25 |
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mokey
Permanent Resident
15375 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2006 : 3:02:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by megknits
I was called for the criminal courts last summer and at least half of the pool had someone related to them in law enforcement.
Time to move to a bigger city LOL! It's rare to be called and I've yet to hear of anyone near me being called in twice.
http://greenfishoutofwater.blogspot.com
www.femiknits.blog-city.com |
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HilaryL
Gabber Extraordinaire
USA
360 Posts |
Posted - 03/21/2006 : 3:24:39 PM
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I've gotten called regularly my whole adult life, every place we've lived, though I've yet to actually get onto a jury. My husband has never gotten called. It's weird. But no knitting needles? That's criminal! :) I was assuming that's how I'd get through the waiting. I'd try to bring them anyway ...
Hilary |
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Dicksie
Permanent Resident
USA
1995 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2006 : 08:51:18 AM
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I just received a jury summons for my 94-year-old mother to appear 100+ miles from us in Federal Court!
She hasn't been out of the nursing home for three years! Sheesh!
Dicksie
http://tourdirector.smugmug.com/gallery/529635 |
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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
Posted - 03/22/2006 : 11:41:16 AM
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Oh I don't know, Mokey, my sister gets called regularly, and she lives in a large city, infact she used to get called regularly while living in NYC.
I love the idea of spinning with a drop spindle while waiting! That would be funny!
The notice said all such "weapons" will be confiscated, so I'm not taking a chance an anything being taken from me. I'm behind in reading anyway, so I'll bring books. Maybe I'll get the Yarn Harlot's new book by then -- but then do I want to be sitting in a quiet crowd laughing out loud?
Anita
My completed projects
and here
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himimom
New Pal
29 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2006 : 10:11:46 AM
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I got a jury duty summons and reported about a month ago. I brought my knitting and went through security, but as I was sitting in the jury room the deputy came up to me and confiscated my knitting. It was a mighty long day especially since I got picked for a murder trial. It was awful. I hope I never have to do that again.
carol |
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ozknitter
Permanent Resident
Australia
3248 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2006 : 06:57:11 AM
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Hi,
Here in Australia if you are called up for Jury Duty, they just send you a form.
On the form there are a list of things that make you exempt.
If you have children to care for or even pick up after school, you don't have to do it.
But if they are as security conscious as our airlines are, you are probably not allowed to knit either.
Knit in peace and harmony.
Rose in Melbourne, Australia. |
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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2006 : 09:51:37 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by himimom
I got a jury duty summons and reported about a month ago. I brought my knitting and went through security, but as I was sitting in the jury room the deputy came up to me and confiscated my knitting. It was a mighty long day especially since I got picked for a murder trial. It was awful. I hope I never have to do that again.
carol
Did they give it back to you at the end of the day?
Anita
My completed projects
and here
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Beverly the Bronx Girl
Permanent Resident
USA
1026 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2006 : 10:46:23 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dicksie
I just received a jury summons for my 94-year-old mother to appear 100+ miles from us in Federal Court!
She hasn't been out of the nursing home for three years! Sheesh!
Dicksie
http://tourdirector.smugmug.com/gallery/529635
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BB in NJ
Chatty Knitter
USA
289 Posts |
Posted - 04/05/2006 : 1:02:46 PM
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I had jury duty late in March. Took along knitting (wooden needles); knitting is not on the forbidden list on the summons. At the courthouse the security guy asked if I had my knitting (he saw the knitting), I said yes. he told me I couldn't have it and offered to "confiscate" it. I left the courthouse, rearranged the bag so the needles and unfinished knitting no longer showed and marched back in with a crowd. Passed security just fine the 2nd time-- only to be dismissed when I checked in!
Beverly in NJ |
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himimom
New Pal
29 Posts |
Posted - 04/06/2006 : 06:14:00 AM
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Anita,
Yes, I got it back at the end of the day.
Carol  |
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