Holman
In one of the most startling and biased jury surveys I have ever seen, the federal district court of D.C. is identifying “good government” people for possible disqualification from jury service in the Kevin Ring corruption scandal case.
Kevin Ring was an instrumental player on Team Abramoff, smack dab in the middle of the corruption conspiracy that so far has resulted in the conviction of one member of Congress and almost two dozen lobbyists and congressional staffers. Ring served as Rep. John Doolittle’s chief of staff — Doolittle was part of the “Ney, DeLay and Doolittle” congressional team that fought vociferously against limits on money in politics (all three have since been forced out of Congress because of corruption scandals) — before Ring moved on to the riches found in lobbying for Jack Abramoff. Ring appears to have played the revolving door well for Abramoff, his clients and, most importantly, himself. Ring is facing a whole series of charges of fraud and conspiracy stemming from his days of giving gifts, free meals, tickets to sporting events, travel and even a $96,000 part-time job for Doolittle’s wife as part of the influence-peddling strategy of Abramoff on behalf of their clients. Oh, yes, and Ring pocketed a personal fortune from Abramoff’s tribal clients in return.
If it sounds like I would not qualify as a juror in this case, you are probably correct. But nor would you, if you support Public Citizen or any of the “good government” groups who support openness and integrity in government. Though we feel a little snubbed because “Public Citizen” is not specifically identified on question 44 of the jury survey, we are clearly implicated. One of the likely disqualifying questions is:
Question 44: “HAVE YOU DONATED MONEY TO OR OTHERWISE SUPPORTED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADVOCATE OPEN OR ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT SUCH AS COMMON CAUSE, CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBILITY AND ETHICS IN WASHINGTON, OR TAXPAYERS FOR COMMON SENSE?”
Reminds me of the questions posed to Arlo Guthrie that disqualified him from military service during our invasion of Vietnam. His conviction for littering cast doubt in the minds of the military whether Arlo was fit for service. He was given a questionnaire to fill out, and as Arlo describes it: “I turned over the piece of paper, and there, there on the other side, in the middle of the other side, away from everything else on the other side, in parentheses, capital letters, quotated, read the following words:
“KID, HAVE YOU REHABILITATED YOURSELF?”
So next time you are called for jury service and you do not want to serve, either sing a bar of Alice’s Restaurant Massacre with full orchestration and five part harmony — or proclaim that you are a member of Public Citizen — and walk right out.
Better yet — serve on that jury and teach the court a lesson in integrity.
Craig Holman is the government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen.
joe.attaboy
I fail to see the tempest about this. I read the questionnaire carefully, and find those specific questions no more “biased” than any of the other questions on the form. I have to assume, not being knowledgeable of the process, that both the prosecution and the defense had a say in what questions were added to this form. I can’t imagine that the prosecution would want those specific questions there, but I also can’t imagine that the defense would allow them (or something like them) to be left off.
Frankly, I find it just as offensive that I have to reveal my personal opinion of the Congress and the Executive Branch (about both of which I have an extremely low opinion). How is what I think of either going to influence what kind of verdict I would be willing to render toward Mr. Ring? If the preponderance of the evidence points to his guilt, that’s how I would find (or not guilty, if that’s the case).
But, then again, I’ve never been called to a jury in my 55 years. And I’ve lived in the same community in Florida for nearly 26 years. Maybe I’m just too damn smart for my own good.
August 25, 2010 at 8:47 am
Cuyler Brooks
The Byzantine strategies for tuning the make-up of the “twelve good men and true” to serve on a jury have long since made a mockery of the jury system. When I worked at NASA/Langley in Tidewater Virginia it was well-known that prosecutors did not want research engineers on their juries, as having too-inquiring minds – and this in spite of the fact that federal employees could not accept any per diem, as they remained on salary during jury duty.
August 27, 2010 at 1:13 pm
Fully
joe.attaboy: If you find him guilty based on the “Preponderance of Evidence”, you are failing in your duty as a juror in a Criminal Proceeding. Criminal trials have a higher standard which is “Beyond a reasonable doubt” as their penalties are harsher than in civil court. You’re “so damn smart” that you don’t know that?
August 27, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Richard
The “Only ” way to solve this dilemma is the establish a law that pays every elected official a “Minimum” wage as is required for “The People”.
The best way is to “Not” pay them anything except for expenses such as living in dorms or buildings that can support all of the elected individuals so they can make it to work on time.
In other words, if they have to live and exist like “The People” then maybe they will pass more legislation for the betterment of “The People”.
Remember our so called elected officials are supposed to be representing “the People” and not themselves.
They shall not be “Influenced” by “Any” form of bribery of a person or group or political party that wants “Their” agendas before “The People” or they will be imprisoned.
Hows that for a start??
August 27, 2010 at 6:05 pm
S S
Judges in state/federal courtrroms can be VERY corrupt–They often judge books by their covers.
Judges can within the confines of their chambers intepret or thumbs down regulations of prescribed judicial conduct and hate transparancy. They can aid and abet criminal public servants.
Judges–Last of the truly GOOD OLD BOY, unreformed, un transparent American institutions still with us that may as it chooses, thwart the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
August 28, 2010 at 8:37 am
Paul
Just pay the $50 and pick up the garbage, and have a seat on the Group W bench.
August 30, 2010 at 8:36 am
Elmer
It never ends, those that have, are willing to do near anything to keep or improve their position. Maybe I should remove near.
It never ceases to amaze me how the IN crowd will pick a war to ensure that some country can achieve Democracy, while doing everything in their power to ruin it for the PEOPLE that are struggling to maintain it here.
I wonder if they have ever read the constitution or bill of rights
September 2, 2010 at 12:50 pm
Money & Democracy Update: Downturn? What downturn? « CitizenVox
[...] duty? Just say you support Public Citizen! In one of the most startling and biased jury surveys we have ever seen, the federal district court of D.C. is identifying “good government” people for possible [...]
December 24, 2010 at 5:48 pm