[Nfbc-info] published letter
Mike Freeman
k7uij at panix.com
Sat Aug 21 23:50:28 UTC 2010
<<GRIN>> It was quite fascinating. Actually, in the end, it was
disappointing because we ended up with a hung jury because one of the
prosecution's witnesses absconded so he couldn't totally make his case.
Mike
----- 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 3:47 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbc-info] published letter
> 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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