Jury duty excuse: I'm a racist, homophobic liar

[razors edge]

BARNSTABLE, Massachusetts (AP) -- A Cape Cod man who claimed he was homophobic, racist and a habitual liar to avoid jury duty earned an angry rebuke from a judge on Monday, who referred the case to prosecutors for possible charges.

"In 32 years of service in courtrooms, as a prosecutor, as a defense attorney and now as a judge, I have quite frankly never confronted such a brazen situation of an individual attempting to avoid juror service," Barnstable Superior Court Judge Gary Nickerson told Daniel Ellis, according to a preliminary court transcript of the exchange.

Ellis, of Falmouth, had been called to court with about 60 other potential jurors for possible service on a 23-member grand jury.

On a questionnaire that all potential jurors fill out, Ellis wrote that he didn't like homosexuals and blacks. He then echoed those sentiments in an interview with Nickerson.

"You say on your form that you're not a fan of homosexuals," Nickerson said.

"That I'm a racist," Ellis interrupted.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/07/10/reluctant.juror.ap/index.html

I'm going to bed, see yall tomorrow. :freak: :freak: :freak:

[spoony]

1. What if he really is those things?

Who really wants a guy like him on a jury...besides a prosecutor maybe.

[lpbk2713]

2. Interesting point if Ellis is telling the truth.

Will the judge punish him for answering truthfully?

[AlCzervik]

3. so he's a republican then.

[Catherine Vincent]

4. It's disgusting, but at least he's telling the truth. n/t

[Alexander]

5. How can you prove he's lying?

I don't think you can.

Better to just keep this guy and others like him out of the jury box.

[Az]

11. Well if he is lying then he is telling the truth

He did say he was a liar. So if he is lying then he is honest which means that he was lying which means he was telling the truth which means .... :banghead:

[Alexander]

12. In any case, we should be grateful he's not a juror.

[SoCalDem]

6. Most valid jury excuse ever was my husband's

His panel was chosen for a murder trial.. The victim was the son of a friend of ours. Immediate excuse ..

he saw Judy in the courtyard and asked what she was doing there.. when she said the trial was possibly going to start that day.. he said.. "Hey I'm here for jury duty".. what are the odds..?

[silverojo]

7. Tying for top place was my aunt's excuse for jury duty

She passed away a few weeks before being called for jury duty. That's right, folks, they tried to call up a dead person....

[SoCalDem]

8. A san bernardino judge had the best comeback ..EVAH!!

A friend of mine was on the jury, and a lady tried to get out of serving because she was allergic to a certain tree that was in the vicinity. The judge temporarily excused her, and called a court aide to the bench.. a few minutes later, he called her back to inform her that the trees are defoliated in October, and she would be REQUIRED to return then :) zinggggg!!!

[rwenos]

9. Peremptory Challenge

The best reason to peremptory this clown is that he is too stupid to be on a jury. The judge just saved me one of my peremptories.

[JackBeck]

10. Dad?

Oh, right, you've been dead for 10 years, but you still gave me this advice to get out of jury duty.

[Laurier]

13. Jurors = Cabbages

Just another example that illustrates the failings of the jury system.