[humanser] A question for the group

Tue Feb 24 12:51:27 UTC 2009

The important thing is that visual evidence is secondary to the court
transcript.  If visual evidence was so persuasive, there would be no need
for a trial.  Diagrams and pictures are supplementary at best and often
misleading at worst.  To make this discussion about the NFB misses a point.
The reason most States have laws saying that blind jurors can serve is that
most Legislators are lawyers and they know that justice should be blind.
They also know that evaluating evidence is mental, not visual.  It requires
judgment and discernment and lots of things many jurors don't have, but,
it's the best system we have come up with.  If you don't want to serve, I
wouldn't use your blindness.  You have an obligation as an adult in America
to serve.  It's a responsibility of citizenship that goes to the founding of
our country.  You should perhaps be asking yourself why this is such a big
issue for you.  Is it perhaps because you look to quickly for blindness to
be a problem in anything you do?  
Although court clerks will probably allow you to use your blindness as a
disqualifying reason, they will be in error for doing so.  You are a part of
the broader population.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.  You neither bring
great advantage nor disadvantage to the jury box.  
Mike Bullis
-----Original Message-----
From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Jan Bailey
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 6:46 AM
To: Human Services Mailing List
Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group

Well then, interesting that so many blind people have already successfully
done it? If you feel that uncomfortable about it, I hope you ask to be
excused. Jan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeffrey Schwartz" <sidney.schwartz at sbcglobal.net>
To: "'Human Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 7:55 PM
Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group

>I guess that it is simply up  to the conscience of the blind individual.  I
> there is one chance in a thousand that I would miss something important, I
> simply would not want to let another person's liberty or life ride on my
> need to prove that a blind person can do anything that a sighted one can.
> I'm back to the cab driver and neurosurgeon.  NFB demagoguery   is simply
> wrong.  There are some things that we simply can not do.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:humanser-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Jan Bailey
> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 8:49 PM
> To: Human Services Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group
>
> I think all of the visual evidence could be described. I've read a lot of
> court cases, and that visual evidence just backs up the witnesses oral
> testimony. Then when the jury gets the case there is a lot of chance for
> discussion and going over the evidence, so I wouldn't feel uncomfortable
> about having visual evidence, because I would ask any questions I would
> have, and go over the testimony of the witness. A witness always has to
> testify and explain the evidence that is offered by either attorney.
>
> Jan
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Jeffrey Schwartz" <sidney.schwartz at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "'Human Services Mailing List'" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 4:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [humanser] A question for the group
>
>
>> 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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