Who has given the Judge the power to fine/jail a person for not going to jury duty?

Question

That has alwayz bothered me. I know our Constitution tells us that we have the right to have a jury if we should ever need one but I never saw in there that it was enforcable to the point of some Jail time and a fine. I mean I wouldn't mind so much to be on a jury if I didn't feel like I'm being forced to do something. This is suppose to be a free enough country to let me decide if I want to do something. I have been called once or twice but never assigned and the whole thing sound threatning. They want you to come when they say. Tell you to leave work/family (Some of us can't do that). They tell you you will be paid $5 dollars a day! What kind of bull is that! We need to survive and no one can survive on $5 dollars a day. They don't provide for parking in most cases but they have managed to give you a few bus or trolley passes.

Answer 1

The law does, in every state.  However, you can request to be excused for financial or other reasons.  They do understand that not everyone can afford to miss work.  But you have to show up to ask.  The good news is they hardly ever come after people who don't show up, so I wouldn't worry too much.

Answer 2

I hate to be the one to tell you, but there are a whole lotta things you can be jailed for that aren't in the Constitution and that you never voted on. Heck...Income tax is a great example.

I think people had more social responsibility in the past. They understood that *someone* had to serve on a jury in order for anyone else to have a  jury. I always go to jury duty. Make sure you have a good book. If you get on a trial it can be very interesting.  Around here you usually only have to actually show up one afternoon unless you get pulled to be on a jury. The $5/day is bad. It sure doesn't cover any expenses,much less salary lost.  In cases expected to last more than a few days, they usually make sure they only get jurors whose employers will pay them for jury duty  for exactly this reason..

Oh....around here they hunt you down for missing jury duty. The judges got sick of being ignored and trials were delayed because of a lack of jurors.  I don't think they send you to jail, but they will send a black-and-white to bring you to jury duty and you will NOT be excused early.

Answer 3

Your company is not paying you money on the day you are on jury.

You send the mail to the Chief Justice.

Regards

Answer 4

We the people grant that authority.  Through the legislature, we the people have enacted laws that compel civic duty from our fellow citizens.  It is the political concept of reciprocity, and is innate to the fabric of any social contract since the time of the Critto.

Answer 5

You are misreading the Constitution. The Constitution does 2 things: first it lays out a system for government of the United States of America and secondly it lays out restrictions on what government can and cannot do. Passing a law that requires your appearance at court for jury selection does not violate your Constitutional rights.

When you report tell the judge your theory on the Constitution and jury duty.... my guess is he will let you leave for not having the faculties required to sit on a jury.

Answer 6

It's called civic responsibility.  And yes each jurisdiction has laws that state what the penalty is/should be for someone refusing jury duty.

And your line about our "forefather's" not putting up with it?  Jury duty has never been on a volunteer basis, it has (at least in the last 100 years) been a "called" situation.

And yes our forefathers would have still done it.