[Nfbc-info] published letter

Sat Aug 21 22:47:10 UTC 2010

    Wow Mike I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do a Gun demonstration.
That would have been great. They would have talked about it for years.
It's great you got that oportunity to serve.
I would like to see a blind jurror on a high profile sequestered jurry.
That would show the media vividly in a way people understand we can do it 
and a movie about the experience could be fascinating especially if the 
blind person were elected foreman.
I wonder even if we don't have a real story could someone create one and 
even better could we get a blind actor or actress to play the role?
How about "More than "Just Us"
How this blind foreman leads a contentious jury from deadlock to unanimity.

In addition to the court proceedings the jurry has been sequestered for 287 
days when the case is handed down and they have bickered for another 45 the 
judge is about to declare a mistrial the public is in an uproar the police 
are on alert for fear of riots and violence
Judge bill henderson has one last conference giving the jury only 72 more 
hours to reach a decision.
Two Jurrors seem to have kept this major verdict from being reached
Do we tackle prejudice concerning blindness?
Do officials attempt to get the blind jurror removed hoping to break the 
gridlock claiming his lack of sight is obscuring things?
Does a brave judge stand up for him and refuse to take the requested action?
And, behind the sceens what's going on in that jurry room they are angry 
tired and just want to go home.
One woman has postphoned her wedding day twice,
another jurror complains of financial ruin if he doesn't get home fast.
What other side dramas are occuring?
DO we include a romance Does it involve the blind jurror?
I'm not a script writer but I bet some one could really educate the public 
with a movie like this.
If you like the idea go out and make your million maybe send me a ticket to 
the premier.
God bless:
MikePeterson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 2:27 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] published letter

> I've served on a jury in Washington state. Bravo to Chuck for setting the 
> record straight.
>
> Actually, I'm not sure, given the blather of some defense attorneys, but 
> that sleeping thru much of the presentations might be an intelligent way 
> to cope. (big grin)
>
> My case was a reckless endangerment with firearms case and the biggest 
> surprise to the attorneys was when they asked if I'd handle firearms and I 
> said I had, both rifles and pistols. (grin)
>
> Mike Freeman
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Michael Peterson" <its.mike at att.net>
> To: "NFB of California List" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 12:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] published letter
>
>
>>        Hi Chuck.
>> First thanks so much for taking the time to educate your community by 
>> challenging this ladies contentions. Your letter gives the public great 
>> information that dispels stereotypes and prejudice.
>>  Sounds like although blindness is being used the real "problem" is this 
>> lady doesn't want her aged mother to serve on juries.  I can honestly 
>> tell you not all the courts in CA are as above board as you describe in 
>> Fresno. When I was first ask to appear on jury duty I went to San 
>> Fernando. It was fun I worked for DMV at the time.  In fact because of 
>> transportation issues and time off requirements with pay it was all most 
>> like a vacation. I  was going to be given a DUI case I think.  Anyway 
>> when the judge had me come up I was called in to chambers and the defense 
>> attorney used his exemplary challenge to disqualify me and it was using 
>> the very same arguments concerning "seeing the evidence"
>> that your lady in Fresno used for her mother.
>> The attorney even ask me how would you know what I put up on a screen or 
>> what exhibits I was showing.  I offered a variety ofalternative 
>> techniques and also explained that it is his job to tailor his arguments 
>> to his audience whatever it's composition is, Although he could have 
>> easily disqualified me because I worked for the department of motor 
>> vehicles his problem and it was obvious was my blindness.
>> If I pursued the matter it would have been impossible to prove as the 
>> exemplary challenge requires no reason at all and neither the judge nore 
>> the prosecutor seemed interested in giving him any flack.
>>
>> I when I had my cafeteria in Van Nuys was told we'll just take you out of 
>> the pool it's a hardship. and they did.  Again later in Van Nuys they 
>> took me off all they did is take one look and said oh don't worry about 
>> it.
>> Now in Rosamond they also ask me to go to Mojave and I had no 
>> transportation that was reliable so again I didn't serve.
>> In Van Nuys I would have willingly.
>> I suspect that the majority of blind people called to serve don't.
>> I also do think that some jury laws should be changed in the case of a 
>> senior who really isn't that healthy who might sleep during the 
>> proceedings do we really want him/her serving on a jury?
>> I guess he/she could get a doctor's note that would take care of the 
>> exemption.
>> I had a next door neighbor who told them he had a felony just to get out 
>> of serving.  his infraction probably 30 years prior was Fishing without a 
>> license. He wasn't blind.
>> Probably if we really want blind people serving on juries as intended we 
>> need to do a lot more to educate the legal system it's self attorneys 
>> judges etc.
>> And that is a real problem when we are still fighting to get our blind 
>> legal students to be able to get through their studies without 
>> discrimination.
>> I wonder if the truth were known in California what percentage of the 
>> blind ask to serve on juries actualy do and what per centage actually 
>> don't.
>> I also wonder for those who didn't why were they exempted?
>> To bad the jury exemptions aren't "transparent"
>> IN Los angeles county the pool is big enough that some didn't need 
>> exemptions because you just call in every day and your group gets 
>> excused. That too seems weird to me for a court system that is 
>> backlogged.
>> Mike Peterson
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: <ckrugman at sbcglobal.net>
>> To: "NFBC" <nfbc-info at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Friday, August 20, 2010 6:16 PM
>> Subject: [Nfbc-info] published letter
>>
>>
>>> Thought you would be interested in this exchange of letters to the 
>>> editor in the Fresno Bee.
>>> Chuck
>>> Blind can serve on juries
>>> Posted at 12:06 AM on Friday, Aug. 20, 2010I am greatly offended by the 
>>> Aug. 15 letter written by Sandy Johnson bemoaning the fact that her 
>>> 92-year-old mother, who is legally blind, was called for jury duty. As a 
>>> blind paralegal, I review and evaluate critical evidence every day.
>>>
>>> In California, and throughout the country, there are blind people who 
>>> are jurors, lawyers and judges who effectively carry out these duties on 
>>> a daily basis, and who are proud to serve in these capacities.
>>>
>>> While provisions for hardship exist for people to be excused from jury 
>>> duty, fortunately the court is aware of the provisions set forth in 
>>> California Code of Civil Procedure Section 203(a)6 and properly carries 
>>> out their duty to ensure that the right to serve as a juror is granted 
>>> to all eligible Fresno County residents.
>>>
>>> Rather than relying on negative stereotypes of the blind, perhaps Ms. 
>>> Johnson could help her mother and other blind people by becoming 
>>> familiar with the positive achievements and undertakings of the blind by 
>>> familiarizing herself with organizations such as the National Federation 
>>> of the Blind.
>>>
>>> Charles L. Krugman
>>>
>>> Fresno
>>>
>>>
>>> Clueless Superior Court
>>> Posted at 12:36 AM on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010Well, once again, the 
>>> Superior Court of Fresno County has summoned my nearly 92-year-old 
>>> mother to jury duty. This is the second summons she has received in the 
>>> past six months. In addition to being elderly, and mom would not be 
>>> insulted that I used this term, she is legally blind and has been for 
>>> nearly 20 years.
>>>
>>> The summons notice gives various reasons to claim you are ineligible, 
>>> but none of them fit her situation. If you are curious, you can check 
>>> out reasons you are ineligible on their website. So, once again, I have 
>>> written to the Superior Court to explain the circumstances.
>>>
>>> I had hoped that my first letter would take care of it, but apparently 
>>> that is not the case.
>>>
>>> I guess we just have to assume that the prospective jury pool in Fresno 
>>> is just so small that they need to select anyone who stands upright. No 
>>> matter that the juror cannot read or view any evidence. Of course, she 
>>> could just ignore the summons, not appear and then wait for a sheriff to 
>>> show up and arrest her. Won't he be surprised! If that is the case, I 
>>> will be sure to have the local TV stations filming the arresting 
>>> officer. News at 11!
>>>
>>> Sandy Johnson
>>>
>>> Coarsegold
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