RE: [Mpls] Jury Duty

[Ed Felien]

Joe,   I, too, had the privilege of serving Hennepin County as part of the jury pool just two weeks ago.  It is an inconvenience and, at the same time, a serious civic responsibility.  There are phones and places you can work while you wait to be called, so I was able to keep up with things.  My experience was quite typical:  I was called for 2 weeks, but I only served four days.  They said I wouldn't have to appear on Friday or the next week, but that I would be on call if they needed me.  They never called.   You will probably have the same problem I had in being picked to actually serve on a jury.  I was asked by the prosecuting attorney if the judge instructed me on the law, then (even though it ran counter to my beliefs) would I be able to judge a person guilty or not guilty based on just the judge's instructions.  I thought about Martin Luther King in a Birmingham jail, Thoreau in Concord and the many people who have gone to prison for trespassing at the School of the Americas, and I replied I hoped I would not be in the number that voted to convict based on a narrow reading of the law.  Tragically, you've probably got the same frame of reference, so you are probably unfit in the eyes of the court to be a juror.   Best of luck, and, remember, you do get paid $30 a day for the experience.   Ed Felien Powderhorn -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Joseph Barisonzi Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 2:17 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Jury Duty List,   I have the joy of being called for jury duty the first two weeks of March. On one hand I am excited to serve the community in this manner.  On the other I am worried. As a small business owner I don’t know how I can afford the time away from the “store.” I work as a consultant. Several of my clients of major projects that we are in the middle of implementing. My involvement is (at least in my mind) is critical to the projects success.  My pay is also contingent on my active involvement in the project – when ever the clients requests. I have all ready postponed my jury duty once.    I know my situation is not unique.  How have others responded? What does one do? How to I address my sense of duty?  Can’t we swap our civic duty to the jury with something that doesn’t take up the entire work day for two weeks?   Joseph Barisonzi Lyndale