A jury of my peers...

**Luke** · September 4th, 2011, 13:20

I have not yet served on a jury. I have been included in two jury selection hearings. I did not try to "get out" of jury duty as I figure it to be a civic duty.

Here comes the odd part.

I have always heard the phrase, a jury of your peers. I looked up peer in dictionary and found:

1. A person who has equal standing with another or others, as in rank, class, or age: children who are easily influenced by their peers.
2.
a. A nobleman.
b. A man who holds a peerage by descent or appointment.
3. Archaic A companion; a fellow: "To stray away into these forests drear,/Alone, without a peer" (John Keats).

Would this not mean if you are on trial for murder, you should be judged by 12 murders? If you are being tried for drug dealing, you should be judged by 12 dealers?

It seems no odd saying, English is a strange language.

Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like bananas..

**Ryan Ruck** · September 4th, 2011, 15:16

There is a small flaw in that thinking... Remember, you are (theoretically) presumed innocent until proven guilty. So, you are supposed to be judged by a jury of fellow non-criminals.

**Phil Fiord** · September 5th, 2011, 03:10

That is my thought. "Jury of your peers" means a jury of other people presumed innocent of your crime.

**Luke** · September 5th, 2011, 15:33

So for arguments sake, if I were on trial for public intoxication, then everyone on the jury must be tea totalers?

If I were on trial for spitting on the sidewalk, no one on the jury could be convicted of such crime?

**Luke** · September 5th, 2011, 16:21

I am fairly certain that a convicted felon can't serve on a jury. Not sure about misdemeanors.

**American Patriot** · September 6th, 2011, 13:04

Not true. A "convicted felon" is someone who is in jail. Someone who WAS a convicted felon and has served his time and is back in the public... should not be considered as not having such rights. I reject that theory. Other Americans OUGHT to be rejecting it as well... depending on the crime that is. (There are some things they shouldn't ever get out of jail for doing).

However... a Jury of your peers means that you are an INNOCENT man, unless and until the prosecutors PROVE you did the crime.

Otherwise you didn't dun it.

**Luke** · September 7th, 2011, 22:41

The Judicial system seems to be the weakest of the three branches of the government. Sometimes I forget that innocent part.

On a side note has anyone here served on a jury?

**American Patriot** · September 8th, 2011, 14:15

I've been called five times here in Colorado. I've sat on one (ok, two kinda) juries. One I wasn't asked to stay... haha.

In fact, on the one I sat on I was foreman.

**Phil Fiord** · September 8th, 2011, 16:27

I have been called in to Jury duty 4 times when in California. Never selected.

In Virginia, I had to register for the Jury pool recently but have not been called upon yet. I suspect the way Virginia handles Jury Duty, I will end up being called. I do not dread it. Sure, I'd rather be doing my daily life, but I take this as a part of being a citizens duty and will exercise it if asked.

**Luke** · September 8th, 2011, 19:40

That is pretty much how I feel about the "pool" system Phil. It seems like I have been in the pool enough to become wrinkley by now.

**Phil Fiord** · September 8th, 2011, 20:30

I know some would find it a hardship financially as some employers will not pay while one is doing a civil duty. Oddly, my employer does pay my regular time at a 40 hour week while in jury duty, so I can exercise this duty without fear of lost income. I do work a 48 hour week, but 40 is fine for me. I never asked to work more than 40 anyway.