[humanser] A question for the group

Tue Feb 24 11:53:47 UTC 2009

Let your conscience be your guide.  In terms of diversity many are excluded
from the jury pool, felons for example.  It is not a simple random mix of
the population.  I would ask myself, if I were the defendant, "Would I want
my fate in this blind person's hands"?  Sometimes we push our notion of
different but equal too far.

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Doug Lee
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 10:04 PM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group

I think the point of having a jury is to balance our differences into
a common decision.  Diversity is therefore no loss and maybe a gain,
as it means more views and points of view are represented.

On Sun, Feb 22, 2009 at 05:44:23PM -0500, Jeffrey Schwartz wrote:
J.D.
As I think about it, there can be much more than pictures.  Depending on the
case there can  be an array of visual evidence.  On TV attorneys seem to be
very proud of their charts, time lines and other visual charts and displays.
I don't feel in good conscience that I could be as good a juror as I would
be sighted.  A great deal depends upon the case, of course.  I would hate,
however, to make a sociological point with someone's life or freedom resting
in the balance.  There are issues more important than how a small segment,
in a rare circumstance views the blind.  Would you want a blind cab driver
or neurosurgeon?  Would you insist on your guide dog's right to go into the
operating room.  Most of my dentists and periodontists  as well as
internists have let my dog come with me.  A number of them, dog lovers,
appreciated it.  I did, however,  have one dentist who didn't want the dog
in the room.  He wore a gown, mask, goggles and head gear.  I think that he
was afraid of getting a faceful of HIV or Hep C.  I don't blame him.  New
Haven has the highest per capita rate of AIDs in the country and he had an
inner city practice.  It's a complicated issue and good judgment must
dictate the parameters, not dogmatic adherence to our rights.  The latter
can make us look celf centered and foolish.
Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jeffrey Schwartz
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:08 PM
To: 'Human Services Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group

You may be waiting a very long time.  As a social worker, or other mental
health professional prosecutors don't want us on the jury.  They think that
we are too lenient and excuse antisocial behavior on the grounds that the
perpetrator is only a sad victim of his deprived childhood.  
Jeff Schwartz, PhD.
Clinical Psychologist 
-----Original Message-----
From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of JD Townsend
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 3:07 PM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group

Hi All:

I've been waiting a long time for a call to jury duty with no letter.  In 
Florida the jury rolls are determined by driver licenses, so it makes me 
wonder if my non-driver license may not find it's way into the selection 
box.  Like Melissa I've known blind friends who have serve.

Pictures play only a small part in the vast majority of cases.  And, blind 
jurors don't fall into the trap of the defendant who looks guilty. 
Listening is the biggest skill for jurors and I can say with some pride that

many blind folks can give the light dependent a run for their money on 
listening skills.

JD Townsend, LCSW
Daytona Beach, Florida, Earth, Sol System
Helping the light dependent to see. 

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-- 
Doug Lee                 dgl at dlee.org                http://www.dlee.org
SSB BART Group           doug.lee at ssbbartgroup.com
http://www.ssbbartgroup.com
"The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do
what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with
them while they do it."--Theodore Roosevelt

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