Sometimes they recommend which sentence stipulated by law should be applied. Then, too, many persons serving on juries do not desire to be guided by the laws of God?s Word in reaching a verdict. It is the civic duty of all Canadian citizens 18 years of . What to do? Jury Duty Excuse Letter Format Date Name Title Elsewhere, what is known as common law prevails, and juries are part of the judicial process. Naturally, if you live where the possibility exists of being called for jury duty, you might well ask, Should a Christian serve on a jury? For example, on a grand jury, the jurors decide whether the evidence warrants someones being brought to trial; they do not determine guilt. For example, on a grand jury . . Will require an attendance sheet to verify jury service. It is not uncommon for Jehovahs Witnesses to lodge a copy of their advance directives with their General Practitioner who should be contacted. Having the. But finally she agreed to vote for acquittal. Some Christians have refused jury duty, perhaps mentioning to the authorities how impractical it would be to compel a person to sit through a trial and then have a hung jury because he feels he would not want to pass judgment on anyones guilt. For example, in 1966 the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia upheld a Christian who refused jury duty. If so guilty if not not guilty. During the trial she realized that on her job at the hospital she had seenX rays of the victim, which were rejected as evidence at the trial. I was looking forward to it. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.". I never wanted to do it until the OJ trial. The second time, I didn't even make it through voir dire--and got dismissed that day. HC Deb 20 June 1988 vol 135 cc883-906 883. A jury of 12 or so persons hears the evidence and determines guilt or innocence. Here & Now Compass This is something I'm looking forward to in a lot of ways just for the "new experience" it will give me. I think that JWs should encourage jury duty. ONLINE LIBRARY. Thus it can be seen why serving on a jury might lead to serious conflicts of conscience. HELENA, Mont. It is a research tool for publications in various languages produced by Jehovah's Witnesses. Still, most people have only a vague idea of how juries are selected and what they do. Such "stand placed in their relative positions by God," and they make and enforce laws. In a short answer, yes, and employer can require proof of jury duty. personal differences, especially those outside the congregation. Also, the attorneys for each side have the prerogative to dismiss a few jurors. The legal requirements for serving on a jury and the provisions for exemption vary from place to place. But even if you live where such juries are not used, you can profitably consider the question, for some of the relevant Bible principles can apply to you if you are asked to judge in a dispute on your job or to mediate some dispute in your neighborhood. Other Christians, though, have decided otherwise. Not all reporting for jury duty necessarily sit as jurors in a trial. They listen to the evidence presented by both the defense and the prosecution, talk about the case with each other and make a decision as to the guilt or innocence of the person on trial. A prospective juror may be considered for exemption if they are: have active care of a child under age 10 : Can someone tell me why we were not allowed to to this? Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. In a criminal case, they are to determine whether the evidence supports a guilty verdict. The others, though, pressured her to side with them to avoid a "hung jury" and subsequent retrial. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that battles recounted in Hebrew scripture, such as the conquest of Jericho, and the divinely sanctioned military manoeuvres against surrounding nations were attempts to re-establish true religion by attempting to eliminate all traces of Canaanite religion. This can explain why the WTS has distanced itself officially and does not have an official position for or against jury duty. John 2:1-11. I don't see how they could actually get out of it. From a pool of persons called for jury duty, some are selected at random as potential jurors for a particular case. Some have referred to Jesus? Later, King Henry III of England provided for the accused to be judged by his neighbors. In reality, though, it is quite possible that the trial he is selected for does not involve such issues. I've already done the preliminary questionaire online and have to check (also online) the day before my scheduled appearance date to see if I must show up or if it has been cancelled. Even in other ways, might this sort of problem arise for a Christian juror? The jury duty excuse letter template is an opportunity for the juror to grasp. I wonder if the $9.00 a day is taxable income. Even in other ways, might this sort of problem arise for a Christian juror? After a number of days, a persons jury duty is fulfilled, whether he has actually sat as a juror or not. Some Christians have also reflected on the types of cases that jurors might face. Thanks Mis. That might be so if a case involves sexual immorality, abortion, manslaughter, or another issue on which his thinking is shaped by Bible knowledge, not by mere secular law. (Rom. This Act means that a wider base of people will be eligible for jury duty than before, including older people, people with certain disabilities, and those who work in certain legal professions. (Personnel who serve without compensation as fire fighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew for a "public agency.") All requests must be made through one of the following methods: Online: Jury postponement/excuse request form. Do you not judge those inside [the congregation], while God judges those outside?" Depending on local law, others?such as doctors, clergymen, lawyers, or owners of small businesses?may claim exemption. (John 15:19; Isa. When you vote in an election your vote gets diluted by thousands or millions. When most people think of a jury, they have in mind a panel of 12 citizens at a trialeither a civil dispute or a criminal casewho hear testimony to decide guilt or innocence. Jehovah's witnesses recognize that what people do with reference to jury duty is a personal matter, governed by the dictates of conscience. Since registering to vote 2 years ago, I have been called on the pool three times and had to go in once. The court ruled that the Jehovah's Witnesses illegally failed to report the abuse, and the jury awarded her $4 million in actual damages and $31 million in punitive damages. So could he agree, such as when being examined for jury selection, to make his decisions strictly according to civil law? They really should provide better compensation since people are taking time off work for that. Where this prevails, a Christian must decide how to respond when directed to report for jury duty. (Isaiah 33:22) In ancient Israel, experienced men who were upright and impartial served as judges to resolve disputes and decide questions of law. In some lands, the judicial system uses juries selected from the citizenry. The Biblea book for all peopleprovides practical advice that can improve your marriage and help you to raise your children. (Isaiah 33:22) In ancient Israel, experienced men who were upright and impartial served as judges to resolve disputes and decide questions of law. Paul wrote: "It is Gods minister to you for your good. ?Matthew 5:41. Naturally, if you live where the possibility exists of being called for jury duty, you might well ask, Should a Christian serve on a jury? The jury dismissed claims that the church should have reported the second woman's abuse by the same congregation member. response may have moved the man to use the method for settling disputes that was set out in God?s Law. God?s people recognize Jehovah as the Supreme Judge. Christians do not oppose the authority as it carries out such legal functions, for they do not want to take a stand against it and receive judgment.Romans 13:1-4; Titus 3:1. The Babylonian government commanded them to report to the plain of Dura, and their doing so did not violate God?s Law. Not every employer will pay someone who is on jury duty. Then the apostle added: For what do I have to do with judging those outside? And in the state of Colorado persons who can prove by documents that they are Jehovah's witnesses are granted exemption from jury duty. I thought that they got the names for jury duty off poll registrations for voting. Marriage and Family. For example, in the United States, a grand jury of from 12 to 23 members decides whether there is enough evidence for a person to be indicted for a criminal offense; it does not determine guilt or innocence. Any adult Canadian citizen can be considered for jury duty. Brought up, and read the First time. MARRIAGE & FAMILY. (Deuteronomy 1:16, 17) Valid as such points are, responding to a direction to report for jury duty is different from involving oneself in the business of others. In reality, though, it is quite possible that the trial he is selected for does not involve such issues. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? Military duty If you are serving in the military, then this may be a reasonable excuse from jury duty. However, I would rather spend the time on jury duty than having to go to the Grand Boasting Session. Definitely a place to be if you want to do something that has impact. So there is a danger of becoming party to a miscarriage of justice. The nurse, having studied the Bible with Jehovahs Witnesses, resisted for days. will be judging and it could become an issue of conscience *** w97 4/1 pp. The Montana case is one of dozens that have been filed nationwide over the past decade alleging Jehovah's Witnesses mismanaged or covered up the sexual abuse of children. The court opinion reported that he, stated that it violated his personal freedom of conscience to serve as a juror and that he felt he had authority under his religious beliefs to serve within his congregation with power to judge or decide but not to so serve outside his congregation and cited quotations from the scriptures to support his belief. (West Virginia vs Everly). friends. If a person cannot be exempted when called for jury duty even after explaining matters to the judge, he can, nevertheless, state his conscientious scruples regarding a case when questioned by the lawyers before the trial begins. He has to analyze the legal evidence put forward in the legal hearing and give an unbiased decision. So there is a danger of becoming party to a miscarriage of justice. For more than two decades, disturbing allegations of child sex abuse have emerged at . It has been reasoned that all citizens benefit from courts and so should be willing to be jurors, even as all benefit from other governmental services and so should pay taxes for these. The use of juries is not universal. (Exodus 22:2; Deuteronomy 21:8; 22:8; Jeremiah 2:34; Matthew 23:35; Acts 18:6) At Jesus trial Pilate wanted to be "innocent of the blood of this man." 3:16) Other Christians, though, have accepted jury duty but have asked to be excused from those cases where they felt their Bible-based thinking would be at variance with secular laws. 28 U.S.C.A. I'm on standby jury duty myself this week, call in and see if your number is included, as of Wednesday, haven't been called yet. Trial by jury existed also in the Roman Republic, though this was abolished under the emperors. It is not as if secular courts are fundamentally wrong.Acts 24:10; 25:10, 11. Which item does not have a food-contact surface? Your jury vote gets diluted by 12, and in many courts a sole vote can hang a jury. Proof of service to the court can be useful if the employee tells you he or she will be at jury duty for the week if you suspect . A Pennsylvania grand jury is investigating Jehovah's Witnesses for alleged sex-abuse cover-up, man who testified says. Some Christians have reported for jury duty and have served on certain juries. ?1 Peter 2:19. Secular courts are a function of "the superior authorities." While the Bible upholds a government?s right to execute a murderer, the individual asked to serve as a juror might question whether he could decide solely on the information presented at a trial. The Jews readily said: "His blood come upon us and upon our children. It is something to consider. . But a distinctive feature of "common law" countries is the use of juries composed of average citizens. 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