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MindPilot

(12,693 posts)

141. Having endured abuse from Denver cops...

Tue Nov 18, 2014, 07:05 PM

Nov 2014

I may know your dad, or he may know me.

But, yeah, I've been in that same situation in a courtroom. The judge finally got so exasperated with people expressing their distaste for drug laws in general and how they were being applied to this case in particular, he finally asked the panel "who has a problem with drug laws?" Easily 30 people raised their hands, and the judge said "you're all excused". The case was a not-so-bright person for whom the possession of a miniscule amount of cocaine was going to be his 3rd strike, and if convicted he would go away for life.

Seems like a decent lawyer would have a much better chance at acquittal or even dismissal at that point.

Good on you for having the courage to speak up. I have a whole rant about the for-profit prison system planned for my next jury summons.

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I was called for jury duty yesterday--consternation ensued [View all] librechik Nov 2014 OP

Wow!!! Bravo!! riderinthestorm Nov 2014 #1

thanks, I was shaking in my boots! librechik Nov 2014 #2

All America should be indebted to you for the courage tell the judge what he, every judge, indepat Nov 2014 #142

+1,000 Scuba Nov 2014 #73

Yes. All Drug Laws Are Wrong. billhicks76 Nov 2014 #169

If this old guy had teens selling 'cocaine' Jenoch Nov 2014 #3

That wasn't the charge at issue. Nice strawman effort . . . NOT! - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #6

The OP said he was charged with intent to sell. Jenoch Nov 2014 #12

Not in a school and not employing underlings. Jeesh - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #17

That's one of those azureblue Nov 2014 #51

It does happen to white people too. Even those with lawyers. Live and Learn Nov 2014 #157

Prosecutors routinely pile on charges in drug cases Kelvin Mace Nov 2014 #61

The police always say intent to sell -- whether you were or not nichomachus Nov 2014 #109

Okay, but what if H2O Man Nov 2014 #29

of course not--but no one is going to get a fair trial in this country with the drug laws that exist librechik Nov 2014 #13

No good deed goes unpunished via a hypothetical irrelevancy. LanternWaste Nov 2014 #37

thx, LW! librechik Nov 2014 #39

that's an outstanding comment Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #63

You don't know because you didn't listen to the evidence treestar Nov 2014 #41

that's the thing--we shouldn't be prosecuting this guy in a court of law. librechik Nov 2014 #46

Anti-drug sentiment runs deep... freebrew Nov 2014 #75

This. My wife is on a short term run of vycodin as needed, and it is the acetomenaphin that has me Ed Suspicious Nov 2014 #170

Not unfair to the prosecutor! Just honest, heartfelt, brave. Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #66

i see CreekDog Nov 2014 #28

Wow, that is really something, isn't it? Good catch, btw! - nt KingCharlemagne Nov 2014 #30

. librechik Nov 2014 #33

I agree! H2O Man Nov 2014 #34

thx! librechik Nov 2014 #36

Ah, one of those Kelvin Mace Nov 2014 #65

Ya just can't get away wit' nuttin' around here. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #96

Darn that wayback machine Android3.14 Nov 2014 #98

Ta daa! . . .n/t annabanana Nov 2014 #124

Wow. In two words, you've managed the year's best zinger. closeupready Nov 2014 #185

What a stupid, irrelevant question. Jesus Christ! nt ChisolmTrailDem Nov 2014 #69

ROFLMFAO... SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #89

Shouldn't that boat be confiscated Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #99

Yup, and McConnel has been screaming about more Federal money for the drug war SomethingFishy Nov 2014 #102

won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?! frylock Nov 2014 #91

LOL. If you have an opinion, have the fortitude to express it without the pointed, insinuating rhett o rick Nov 2014 #104

My comment/question was not about this particular case. Jenoch Nov 2014 #137

Well if that's true it would have been much better had you stated that instead rhett o rick Nov 2014 #145

With little information to go on, Jenoch Nov 2014 #146

Well, this is what you need to tell your kids: Tsiyu Nov 2014 #150

If you believe there are not dealers Jenoch Nov 2014 #152

If you believe that low level street dealers are as much of a problem Tsiyu Nov 2014 #159

You certainly are assuming a lot. Jenoch Nov 2014 #164

After reading through many of your posts Tsiyu Nov 2014 #165

you have not posted anything to indicate greater than zero knowledge of the topic CreekDog Nov 2014 #188

The only knowledge I have is from the OP, which is quite little. Jenoch Nov 2014 #190

No, what is naive is not believing that some of the prescription drugs are just as dangerous Live and Learn Nov 2014 #161

I have never made a statement saying there is not a problem Jenoch Nov 2014 #181

+1 nt Live and Learn Nov 2014 #158

you already decided that he's a drug dealer CreekDog Nov 2014 #187

I never said, wrote, posted, or decided that the Jenoch Nov 2014 #189

The prosecutor ... butterfly77 Nov 2014 #135

BRAVO!! Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #4

thx, I hope so librechik Nov 2014 #52

I'm impressed. gvstn Nov 2014 #5

thanks, I got pretty mouthy in grad school. librechik Nov 2014 #50

You should have stayed Savannahmann Nov 2014 #7

^^this^^ nt tblue Nov 2014 #11

I know, I thought about it furiously until they dismissed me. librechik Nov 2014 #19

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Nov 2014 #128

It's certainly an interesting case Major Nikon Nov 2014 #177

thanks, I worried about the timing. Next time i'll save it. n/t librechik Nov 2014 #27

Not sure I agree hueymahl Nov 2014 #35

bless you! and you are correct about the pleas-- librechik Nov 2014 #38

You could always also go for jury nullification. Jackpine Radical Nov 2014 #100

Why the quotation marks around the word cocaine? Just curious. WillowTree Nov 2014 #8

I'm guessing because she assumes they found crack, not powered cocaine. moriah Nov 2014 #18

yes--I just assumed. That guy was not a "cocaine" dealer librechik Nov 2014 #21

Cool! Except we need to serve on juries. tblue Nov 2014 #9

you are right-- librechik Nov 2014 #53

you're right. I've regretted being too honest in jury selection Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #70

Tell it to your fellow jury members, not the judge. Yo_Mama Nov 2014 #10

thanks for the advice, I suppose I could have been more subversive. Maybe next time! n/t librechik Nov 2014 #26

What you did took a lot of courage and I applaud you for it. rhett o rick Nov 2014 #108

Good for you! liberalhistorian Nov 2014 #14

will remember that for next year, thanks! n/t librechik Nov 2014 #54

I dont have an issue with pot Travis_0004 Nov 2014 #15

There should be NO criminal penalties for possessing, or personally ingesting anything! Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #76

Exactly! eom LittleGirl Nov 2014 #105

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, branford Nov 2014 #114

AND you are entitled to your opinion. Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #120

The issue is whether you would be honest about your opinions if called for jury duty. branford Nov 2014 #122

One thing I'm not is dishonest. Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #149

Lie Or This Fly Gets It! ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #186

Good. I hope by not lying all the flies die. Mosquitos too! Elmer S. E. Dump Nov 2014 #191

Hmmm! ProfessorGAC Nov 2014 #192

I'm not impressed Lee-Lee Nov 2014 #16

I would have been stopped at some point. My dad was an abusive Denver cop librechik Nov 2014 #25

Having endured abuse from Denver cops... MindPilot Nov 2014 #141

Thank you! Warpy Nov 2014 #20

thank you warpy--I am really of two minds about it librechik Nov 2014 #22

You stood up and told the truth Warpy Nov 2014 #23

Don't see any risk hueymahl Nov 2014 #40

I'm also of two minds after reading .. I did once make a point of being utterly honest Voice for Peace Nov 2014 #72

I agree with you about the drug laws. Would be best to be a part of the jury. Sunlei Nov 2014 #24

Thanks, I'm convinced librechik Nov 2014 #56

Good on you!!! nt SalviaBlue Nov 2014 #31

Excellent, excellent! rusty fender Nov 2014 #32

That story is cool. nt Dreamer Tatum Nov 2014 #42

thanks, Dreamer! n/t librechik Nov 2014 #79

Jury Nullification HoosierCowboy Nov 2014 #43

gosh, I had no idea, but several have mentioned that in this thread librechik Nov 2014 #55

been in your shoes before... iamthebandfanman Nov 2014 #44

thanks for trying! librechik Nov 2014 #59

MAN! FABULOUS! Impressive, librechik! calimary Nov 2014 #45

that's a low bar, calimary lol librechik Nov 2014 #62

Hey, I am the original low bar! calimary Nov 2014 #116

Btw - I LOVE your little percussion video! calimary Nov 2014 #117

........ daleanime Nov 2014 #47

ah, thanks! librechik Nov 2014 #64

Damn! They should have let you be foreman! KamaAina Nov 2014 #48

after this thread, that's what I'm going for next time librechik Nov 2014 #67

That would make a killer episode of Law & Order. KamaAina Nov 2014 #49

Bravo! MohRokTah Nov 2014 #57

My objection was mandatory sentencing laws Kelvin Mace Nov 2014 #58

!! Jack Rabbit Nov 2014 #60

I'm as surprised as you librechik Nov 2014 #85

Good for you! hedgehog Nov 2014 #68

thanks hh! librechik Nov 2014 #101

UNREC brooklynite Nov 2014 #71

hypothetical straw man librechik Nov 2014 #80

You got me...nobody EVER gets arrested for gun possession brooklynite Nov 2014 #86

Hence, the judicious and righteous incarceration of patients ingesting medical marijuana in Texas. LanternWaste Nov 2014 #119

Many here are saying that you should have kept quiet Curmudgeoness Nov 2014 #74

thanks for the thoughtful reply, Curmudgeoness librechik Nov 2014 #82

Good for you. NaturalHigh Nov 2014 #77

Freaking awesome! We just decriminilized most drugs to a misdemeanor in CA. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #78

I am so glad you did this. iscooterliberally Nov 2014 #81

thank you dear scooter librechik Nov 2014 #84

LOL - I have been here a long time. I just don't post much. iscooterliberally Nov 2014 #94

I've been called to jury duty a few times but have never served on one. hunter Nov 2014 #83

Same here. We have the system where you are added to a pool and have to phone in to see if FSogol Nov 2014 #87

Never been called, never will davidpdx Nov 2014 #166

good for you!!! SCantiGOP Nov 2014 #88

thx, SC--love your sig! librechik Nov 2014 #97

That's not really jury nullification. branford Nov 2014 #113

I've seen this before: "define it and then call them wrong" jhart3333 Nov 2014 #156

You can personaly define a term any way you wish, branford Nov 2014 #162

There you go again. jhart3333 Nov 2014 #184

Yay! You did good! Sienna86 Nov 2014 #90

Very noble, but you crucified the poor guy JayhawkSD Nov 2014 #92

wrong, I don't feel so good about it. In fact it's pretty nauseating. librechik Nov 2014 #95

JayhawkSD : SCantiGOP Nov 2014 #107

reread the OP annabanana Nov 2014 #125

Thank you for standing up! PasadenaTrudy Nov 2014 #93

Been there Cartoonist Nov 2014 #103

yikes! librechik Nov 2014 #151

Outstanding! rug Nov 2014 #106

You are a brave soul. nt Chalco Nov 2014 #110

I found the easiest way to be excused from the jury is to be completely, honest. alfredo Nov 2014 #111

As a juror YarnAddict Nov 2014 #112

you are mistaken grasswire Nov 2014 #155

You are awesome Tsiyu Nov 2014 #115

Fuck. obxhead Nov 2014 #118

12 Angry Men !! bleedinglib Nov 2014 #121

Should have kept your mouth shut, got on the jury, and aquitted the man. ncjustice80 Nov 2014 #123

Jury Nullification: Google it. Hoppy Nov 2014 #126

Viva, librechik. Speak truth to power. merrily Nov 2014 #127

Good response but you must lie and nullify. Telling the truth and being forthright just leads to a TheKentuckian Nov 2014 #129

It's called jury nullification vlyons Nov 2014 #130

thank you! G_j Nov 2014 #131

K&R! Kudos! Rhiannon12866 Nov 2014 #132

I stayed and acquitted mine. Fuck 'em. n/r jtuck004 Nov 2014 #133

As a fellow Coloradan... kag Nov 2014 #134

Well done for having the integrity to make that clear. Donald Ian Rankin Nov 2014 #136

Yay, I did the same, got excused duhneece Nov 2014 #138

i like jury duty. unionthug777 Nov 2014 #139

Occupy Juries... seems to be a good idea too on these cruel cases stuffmatters Nov 2014 #140

bravo heaven05 Nov 2014 #143

Wonderful! babylonsister Nov 2014 #144

I was on jury duty one time and completely forgot getting the notice. I could have gotten out brewens Nov 2014 #147

An awesome deed you did! Dont call me Shirley Nov 2014 #148

Too bad you didn't stay quite and try to get on the jury. ZombieHorde Nov 2014 #153

nullification! grasswire Nov 2014 #154

Excellent move if you couldn't be seated and remain a holdout. lonestarnot Nov 2014 #160

I'm sure the Public Defender was very annoyed woolldog Nov 2014 #163

Not sure I agree with the original post BruceW Nov 2014 #167

Way to go, librechik! Enthusiast Nov 2014 #168

I Would Have Gone RobinA Nov 2014 #171

My thoughts exactly. Nullification is a right, not a reason to recuse yourself. Amimnoch Nov 2014 #172

Fantastic! Thespian2 Nov 2014 #173

I hope I act like you did if I am ever in your situation. marble falls Nov 2014 #174

Jury Nullification, all juries have that right. CaptainTruth Nov 2014 #175

You are a hero in my eyes. And I love that about 20 hands went up. FourScore Nov 2014 #176

I did that one time leftyladyfrommo Nov 2014 #178

God bless you! Baitball Blogger Nov 2014 #179

I agree with you, but I would have stayed and voted my conscience. DesertDiamond Nov 2014 #180

Great story Gothmog Nov 2014 #182

BRAVO!!!! B Calm Nov 2014 #183

I had a similar experience. Plus, I am a physician. McCamy Taylor Nov 2014 #193

Why would you be surprised that the defendant was represented by an attorney branford Nov 2014 #194