Jury Duty
By nzinky
@nzinky (822)
United States
February 10, 2007 4:20pm CST
On the 31st of January, I had jury duty which doesn't bother me that much...I was glad to go do my civic duty......When they went to select the jury one person told the Judge that he didn't comprehend English and didn't think he should be on the jury, even tho he had been a citzen for over thrity years.....I was surprised when the Judge told him..."You are an American and jury duty is one of the things that goes with......I strongly suggest that you learn English and know it before you have another call to Jury Duty because I'm personal going to see your in my court room again.....If you don't you will be fined for Contempt of Court.........The man was excused and left the court room everyone was sure surprised at the judges orders..
I also learned they red flag people who use that excuse and they have to do jury duty to see if they complyed with the order of the judge sooner than normal....
4 people like this
4 responses
@CatVegas (709)
• United States
11 Feb 07
Laws are Laws and it is nice to see some are enforcing them...He has been here for 30 years and says he doesn't understand English, I bet he understands a lot more then he wanted to admit. I think he was just wanting to get out of being on Jury Duty..But either way yes I agree if you have been here that long you should know English...Geee if I went to other country I better learn the language or I know I sure wouldn't beable to work or even buy anything.. Part of becoming a US citizen is to know and speak English..
But I have seen many over the years not wanting to do their part of doing Jury Duty and have come up with all kinds of reasons why they can't do it...But now days you can't just call and say it is a hardship you have to show up. That is why you do have to go as the Judge now has to dismiss you...I enjoy being called into Jury Duty, sure it all takes time but there is times I wish I was picked to sit in on a case. I have before and I enjoy doing my calling...
@anonymili (3138)
•
10 Feb 07
Very strange one that. I can sort of understand though why the judge ordered the man to go learn English. Really if you've lived somewhere for 30 years you should know the language of the country. It is possible that the man did know English and pretended he didn't so he could get out of jury duty - everyone should take part in jury duty - as you said it's your civic duty to do so. Well done to that judge!
@claudia413 (4280)
• United States
12 Feb 07
My compliments to that Judge. I've seen that happen a lot here in South Florida. We have many citizens who have been here for 20 or more years, yet refuse to learn English. Since jury duty is a "duty", they shouldn't be allowed to become citizens until they can understand English. Unfortunately, our laws are different. They are given the citizenship test in their own language, not in English. I think this is totally wrong. If I lived in another country, I would learn the language there. When my grandparents moved to the US from Sweden many years ago, the first thing they did was learn English. Today, that just isn't happening, and I find it very sad.
How can they not speak English and live here for such a long time? It's very simple. They work for companies where everyone speaks their language, only associate with people who speak the same language, and are allowed to take their citizenship test, driver's license test, etc., in their own language. They can even vote in their language.
@nzinky (822)
• United States
13 Feb 07
You are so right....If they want to live here then they should have to learn english and they should also have to take the citizenship test in English......That way we would know they know the English Language...The Judges here are not letting them get by with not knowing the language....
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
10 Feb 07
This is wrong . I speak english as it is the only language I know but don't in any way feel that it is somehow better and this is what I get from this that somehow they are saying that you have to know english to live in their area .
1 person likes this
@nzinky (822)
• United States
11 Feb 07
NO it's not wrong if your a citzen of this country you should know the language........If they don't want to learn it then they shouldn't become a citizen....
