# Juror says he’s too homophobic and racist to serve, now faces prosecution **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483 "2012-09-12T08:26:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/1 "2012-09-12T08:26:33Z")
> **[Juror says he’s too homophobic and racist to serve, now faces prosecution](https://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/juror-says-too-homophobic-racist-serve-now-faces-192615923.html)** > > A British man who said his "extreme homophobic and racist views" should make him ineligible for jury duty now faces prosecution over the claim. The Daily Echo reports that the man's identity is being kept anonymous for now but that Judge Gary Burrell... I am fairly certain that the guy was just trying to dodge his civic duty. On the other hand, if I were a minority defendant, I’m not sure I would want this guy in the jury pool. ---
**Author:** ![Laudenum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Laudenum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laudenum)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/2 "2012-09-12T08:56:29Z")
You don’t really want people in a pool who don’t want to be there - it leads to jurors playing Sudoku. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/3 "2012-09-12T08:59:15Z")
> [@Laudenum](#): > > You don’t really want people in a pool who don’t want to be there - it leads to jurors playing Sudoku. Would’ya prefer they played Hangman? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/4 "2012-09-12T13:21:05Z")
For those who don’t read the article he’s not being charged with being homophobic or racist but with dodging jury duty. I was all prepared to be outraged but that seems fairly reasonable. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/5 "2012-09-12T13:57:56Z")
He also claimed that if he were selected, he wouldn’t pay attention to the trial. I wonder if he’ll pay attention to his own trial, and care whether HIS jurors pay attention as well. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/6 "2012-09-12T16:48:50Z")
Oh hell, hope I don’t get a notice telling me I’m in trouble for ‘dodging’ jury duty. Served last year; this year I don’t have a vehicle and have no way to get there and back every day for who knows how long, so I wrote in to be dismissed or whatever it is. Haven’t heard back yet, so I hope that’s a good sign! ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/7 "2012-09-12T16:53:47Z")
Did somebody say something? I’ve been laughing at that judge’s getup for ten minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/8 "2012-09-12T16:56:36Z")
I can’t believe this guy got in trouble by following Homer Simpson’s advice on how to get out of jury duty. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/9 "2012-09-12T18:18:18Z")
> [@black\_rabbit](#): > > Did somebody say something? I’ve been laughing at that judge’s getup for ten minutes. As a Brit who frequents this predominantly American board, and who hadn’t clicked on the OP’s link, I was initially confused by your mirth. “Hang on”, I thought, “American judges just dress up in suits and occasionally some tasteful black gown don’t they? Not the stupid shit our judges put on… so why is this guy laughing at the judge’s attire?” Between clicking on the link, and it actually loading, I suddenly realised, “Oh fuck this must be a UK news story”. :o ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/10 "2012-09-12T18:31:23Z")
I love the guy’s wording: > [@](#): > > "I strongly believe that it would be a serious injustice to the legal system to select me for jury service. > > “I hold extreme prejudices against homosexuals and black/foreign people and couldn’t possibly be impartial if either appeared in court. Therefore it would not be in the court’s interest to have me a juror.” He’s polite even when he’s being a total dick. I love the British. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/11 "2012-09-13T11:00:58Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > Oh hell, hope I don’t get a notice telling me I’m in trouble for ‘dodging’ jury duty. Served last year; this year I don’t have a vehicle and have no way to get there and back every day for who knows how long, so I wrote in to be dismissed or whatever it is. Haven’t heard back yet, so I hope that’s a good sign! My wife has never driven due to a medical condition. They still made her go, I guess they expected her to walk the 40 miles to the courthouse. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/12 "2012-09-13T14:48:18Z")
**Taomist** , are you in the US? Here’s a sure-fire way to get out of jury duty that doesn’t involve claiming homophobia or racism, and [probably] won’t expose you to contempt of court charges. Simply say: “I am aware of my Constitutional right, and moral duty, to judge not only the facts of the case but my conscience with regard to the law itself. If I find that the facts support the defendant’s guilt, but I find the law itself morally objectionable, I will vote to acquit.” Courts in the US _hate_ [jury nullification](http://www.fija.org). ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/13 "2012-09-13T14:59:22Z")
This story sounds fake-this guy would be rejected by the lawyers doing their voir dire thing. Actually, how can you be prosecuted for being honest? If I’m called for jury service, and tell them “I hate black people”-how could I be forced to serve? ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/14 "2012-09-13T15:15:17Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > As a Brit who frequents this predominantly American board, and who hadn’t clicked on the OP’s link, I was initially confused by your mirth. “Hang on”, I thought, “American judges just dress up in suits and occasionally some tasteful black gown don’t they? Not the stupid shit our judges put on… so why is this guy laughing at the judge’s attire?” Between clicking on the link, and it actually loading, I suddenly realised, “Oh fuck this must be a UK news story”. :o That’s hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/15 "2012-09-13T15:18:05Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > If I’m called for jury service, and tell them “I hate black people”-how could I be forced to serve? You won’t be forced to serve, you may simply get into legal trouble for failing to serve. See the difference? There’s a reason it’s called Jury **Duty** and not Jury Optional Service. You have a duty to faithfully serve on a jury when asked to. You may not be selected to serve on any particular jury, but you have to be there and make an honest effort. Most of the time these “honest answers” are just people who don’t want to be inconvenienced by serving. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/16 "2012-09-13T16:01:20Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > You won’t be forced to serve, you may simply get into legal trouble for failing to serve. See the difference? > > There’s a reason it’s called Jury **Duty** and not Jury Optional Service. You have a duty to faithfully serve on a jury when asked to. You may not be selected to serve on any particular jury, but you have to be there and make an honest effort. > > Most of the time these “honest answers” are just people who don’t want to be inconvenienced by serving. You misunderstand-no defense lawyer wants a prejudiced juror. You would be automatically rejected, and hence ineligible to serve. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/17 "2012-09-13T16:17:46Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > You misunderstand-no defense lawyer wants a prejudiced juror. You would be automatically rejected, and hence ineligible to serve. It’s your duty to make an effort to be an un-prejudiced juror. Reveling in your prejudice, in order to avoid the inconvenience of serving, is the opposite of that. You can’t let people have a worry free way to get out of an important, if inconvenient, duty. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/18 "2012-09-15T00:57:00Z")
Here’s a big one: highly prejudiced people usually don’t believe they are prejudiced. The fact that you admit it is a pretty big red flag. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/19 "2012-09-15T17:57:29Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > It’s your duty to make an effort to be an un-prejudiced juror. Reveling in your prejudice, in order to avoid the inconvenience of serving, is the opposite of that. > > You can’t let people have a worry free way to get out of an important, if inconvenient, duty. Your duty is to go to court when called, and answer questions put to you by the lawyers and judge honestly. If they then decide you are unsuitable, you have fulfilled your duty. But it does sound like this guy went beyond that, and seemingly claimed he would deliberately be a bad juror by not paying attention and just voting based upon the opinions of other jurors. IMO it is for this he faces charges, not for stating he is a bigot. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483/20 "2012-09-16T00:20:25Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Your duty is to go to court when called, and answer questions put to you by the lawyers and judge honestly. But why? I’m only going under duress (threat of contempt). The (alleged) criminal has the right to remain silent yet the juror, who is only there because they ‘lost’ the lottery has less rights & is required to answer questions about personal, non-public information. Then, after the trial, at least some of their information is released publicly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/juror-says-he-s-too-homophobic-and-racist-to-serve-now-faces-prosecution/634483.md?page=2)