« New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie: New Jersey teachers union are a group of political thugs | Main | Re: 'Chicago Tribune: 'If Not the Ryan Plan, Democrats, then What?' »

April 7, 2011

Power-mad Liberal Judge Sentences 'Racist' Juror to Indefinite Jury Duty

Topics: Political News and commentaries

From the New York Daily News: "Judge gives 'Juror No. 799' indefinite jury duty after she makes racist remarks on questionnaire":

An incensed federal judge sentenced a racist Brooklyn woman to indefinite jury duty on Tuesday after she trashed the NYPD and minorities. "This is an outrage, and so are you!" Federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis told the woman, holding up her bile-filled juror questionnaire.

Juror No. 799, an Asian woman in her 20s who said she works in the garment industry, was up for jury duty in the death penalty trial of Bonanno crime boss Vincent (Vinny Gorgeous) Basciano. It didn't take long for her to start looking worse than the defendant. Asked to name three people she least admired, she wrote on her questionnaire: "African-Americans, Hispanics and Haitians."

Regardless of her reasons for writing what she did, juror no. 799 has a right to say and write whatever she damn well pleases. Despite what Harry Reid and Lindsey Graham might otherwise wish for, we still have a First Amendment in this country.

James Joyner gives the rogue judge a well-deserved verbal spanking:

Whether this woman actually harbored the beliefs stated on the questionnaire or was intentionally being outrageous to game the system, she's not on trial or accused of any crimes. So what gives this idiot judge any right to speak to her in that manner? He's a public servant making a living off of her taxes. His function is to ensure that defendants get a fair trial and make rulings on matters of law before him, not offer his opinions on the views of ordinary citizens.

Nor is it clear where he derives the authority to hold her indefinitely for jury duty without empaneling her. Obviously, he can't put her on a case where either the defendant or any key witnesses are black, Hispanic, or Haitian.

If he's got strong reason to believe she's gaming the system to get out of jury duty, he should warn her of the penalties for false statements and ask her to reconsider her answers in that light. If she sticks to her story, perhaps an inquiry is in order. (Although, it's probably not worth the time unless this sort of thing is becoming commonplace.) But going off on a diatribe and abusing his power is indefensible.

Fortunately, ABC News now reports that the judge later relented, releasing juror no. 799 after a day of duty in which she sat alone in a holding tank. He allowed her to sneak out the back door to avoid the media. But it's the judge who ought to be sneaking out the back door ... hanging his liberal activist head in shame.

Hat tip - PoliPundit

Posted by Richard at April 7, 2011 8:29 AM

Articles Related to Political News and commentaries:

• Power-mad Liberal Judge Sentences 'Racist' Juror to Indefinite Jury Duty - Apr 07, 2011