Klarinet Archive - Posting 001404.txt from 2004/03

From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Jury Duty
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 2004 22:34:45 -0500

The "Jury Duty" topic reminded me of a family joke regarding my wife's one
and only jury duty experience way, way back in Muncie, Indiana.

Several years before my wife was called for jury duty, our older daughter
was visiting some Ball State Orchestra friends at their dormitory on the
Ball State Campus. While she was there, the police caught one Tyrone "Doe"
attempting to attack a woman student in a ladies rest room. Quite
naturally, this event caught our attention and we closely followed the
newspaper coverage.

Fast Forward several years - My wife's Jury Summons arrives. She is
assembled with 49 other prospective jurors listening to the Clerk of Courts
describing their duties and the procedures of a trial, finishing with the
name of the defendant, Tyrone "Doe". The Clerk asked if there were any
questions before the jury selection began. My wife then innocently asked,
"Is he the same Tyrone who was arrested for attacking a woman in a ladies
rest room at Ball State?" Well, the proceedings suddenly came to a crashing
halt. Lawyers, clerks and sundry officials quickly huddled. Buzz, buzz,
buzz. It seems that my wife's question had "poisoned" the jury pool, so
they were all dismissed.

Thus, that innocent question not only got her out of jury duty, but also, 49
others.

We never knew for sure, but we wondered if this had anything to do with the
fact that she was never called again.

Guess it can sometimes be helpful to ask questions.

Under Florida law, being over 70 now, we are no longer subject to jury duty.

Regards,

Gene N.

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