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craola
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24 Jan 2009, 9:50 am

Excuse?
Surely unless there is a definitive reason that you can't do it you should let them know and let them make the decision.
Has anyone else noticed that Aspergers and Autism as well to some extent has become a joke to an awful lot of people, it seem to be everywhere.



BellaDonna
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24 Jan 2009, 11:37 am

No - it would make no difference at all and if it did you would only be locked up in the prison hospital - which is worse and more restrictive.



slowmutant
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24 Jan 2009, 11:39 am

Are you sure this whole thing isn't just the classic Avoidance of Social Situations? Some will stop at nothing to avoid social situations, as if their lives depended on it.



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24 Jan 2009, 11:50 am

slowmutant wrote:
Are you sure this whole thing isn't just the classic Avoidance of Social Situations? Some will stop at nothing to avoid social situations, as if their lives depended on it.


Nah. I'm not very shy. I am a misanthrope and would prefer to avoid people, but its not a necessity with me.


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24 Jan 2009, 12:37 pm

I think you'd have more chance of getting out of jury duty. But don't just tell them you have AS as they might not understand it. Tell them what problems it would cause so they'll know.


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KingdomOfRats
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24 Jan 2009, 12:58 pm

ASDs should not be automatic excluders from things based just on the name,it should be judged on the autists own impairments resulting from their ASD and how they would affect them or make them unsuitable for jury duty-not judged on the name of their condition.
people who are diagnosed with as/pddnos/autism and are able to do jury duty but need some sort of support or aid,should be able to apply for that under DDA or ADA,dont know name of any other countries disability acts.

dad is aspie,and liked doing jury duty-he got free meals,and a weekly mega rider pass for the bus.
some people who were there were supposed to have got paid for good hotel as well,but he lived to close so didnt get offered it.


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24 Jan 2009, 2:18 pm

You probably could get off using that excuse, but ask yourself why you don't want jury duty. Do you seriously think you couldn't handle it, and would shut down or meltdown in the courthouse? Would you have difficulty understanding the issues? Or do you just not feel like doing it? Because that would be a pretty crappy reason.

I've been called for jury duty a couple of times, but always at times when I can't go. For instance, I was called by NY when I was going to be abroad in Spain, and I was called by MA after I had already moved back to NY after finishing college. I would like to serve on a jury but not if it means flying across the Atlantic to do it, or even driving 3 hours to serve in a state I'm no longer living in. I'm living in PA now, and if they call me, I will definitely go.


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earthmom
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29 Sep 2009, 8:15 am

I was called 7 years ago and went. It was a nightmare from start to finish - being packed into a room with so many people that I was actually touching them on either side plus my knees were only inches from the next one across from me. They had us in rows of folding chairs that just filled a room like a human warehouse. I tried to bury myself in my book and then close my eyes and go away someplace else and when that got to the point it didn't work I excused myself to a the restroom - several times.

I was put on a jury for a murder trial. It lasted 2 weeks. I had my day job as a programmer and I had to do all of my work at night after I got home. I was more than exhausted and getting pressured all the way around - my job insisted I had to return, my family (4 kids and husband), but the worst part was not the trial details. The grisly murder before us was nothing compared to the horrors of being locked in a room with 11 other people, arguing the case - being the only hold out - everyone hating me, and several men getting very close to abusive. They stood over me and slammed their fists in the table and screamed on the last day, threatening me that we had to finish this today or else. I was in a state at that time that would be called overwhelmed. On the last day I did nothing but cry. openly. in the jury room and in the courtroom. I'm ashamed of that, and ashamed to admit that I caved.

Their knee jerk reaction was guilty of 1st degree murder - all of them within 5 minutes. Even tho they all later admitted that it was technically self defense. The defendant was black, it was an all white jury and there were snickers and comments made throughout that convinced me they were terribly racist. I believe that's what the verdict was based on. When I laid out the evidence they did admit it was self defense!! Then they wanted to vote for 1st degre murder anyway.

The man got 2nd degree - 6 years in prison - so my being there saved him something but I was holding out for not guilty until the last hour of the last day when I cracked under the extreme pressure.

I know so much more NOW - that I should have called for the bailiff to come to the room and I should have told the judge that I was being screamed at and coorced - there are things you can do besides sit and cry and let bullies go crazy on you in a locked room. I know that now.

Today I have to report for jury duty again. I can't begin to tell you how unhappy I am about this and how many things are going through my mind to try and get out of it. I have a very hard time lying, so things that friends and family members have told me about how to get out of it won't work. I do have a very traumatic experience in my past and I am chosing to disclose that I am an Aspie, not hoping that alone gets me out but to point out how it led to being traumatized in the last trial.

I do not want to do this. I do not want to do this. I do not want to do this.


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zer0netgain
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29 Sep 2009, 9:55 am

I was on a federal grand jury for a year. Never called up.

Having attended law school, no lawyer would want me on the jury.



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29 Sep 2009, 1:48 pm

I've been called 3 times in 2 states and claimed hardship because I was the sole caretaker of my children and it was no problem.

I'd actually like to serve as a jurist because I find law fascinating, but it will have to wait until my responsibilities allow it.

I wouldn't consider AS/ASD a disqualifier for jury duty, but rather the things that go along with it like attention issues, anxiety, sensory issues, etc. so it depends on where you lie on the spectrum and how severe the issues you deal with are. if they would interfere with your ability to function as a jurist, then you should ask to be eliminated.

earthmom sharing your experience that you may encounter bullies and how you'll deal with that is good information. a jury behaving like that could easily lead to a mistrial.



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29 Sep 2009, 1:54 pm

I have been summoned for jury duty several times and just recently served for the first time. It was a dui case. I was worried that my difficulties with focusing would prove difficult for me, fortunately I found the entire process fascinating so I was able to follow along (I also took constant notes).

I agree with what was previously said regarding judging others, jurors aren't there to judge the person, simply to determine what actually occurred based on evidence presented.

In the case I was involved with, my views actually swayed the other jurors. I looked at the case completely logically and nothing the defense attorney said made sense. Once I pointed out all the faulty explanations, everyone readily agreed with me. Though I must admit, I am uncomfortable with knowing I had such a heavy impact on someone's life.


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29 Sep 2009, 2:14 pm

Free at last Free at last - Thank God Almighty I am Free at Last!!

It was quite stressful but they released me! They did call me up for questioning, I mentioned Asperger's and a couple of the positive/negative traits that I have with it - I told them the last case was so stressful and I never wanted to do this again and I don't want to be here and I really don't want to do this - that was note reason enough to release me. So the prosecutor asked me a BS question (Have you ever seen a person that was drunk and how did you know they were drunk?) and I told him it was a trick question because of course I've seen a drunk person but I've also seen people who were diabetic or had a palsy condition or were on some medication that made them slur words or swoon or stumble and you might think they were drunk at first look but they weren't, so you don't always know someone is drunk just by visually seeing them. That made him mad and he dismissed me! :D heeheee What I said is true but I think that is a big part of the defense's case (accidentally).

It was a DUI case - but the defendant was under the influence of some kind of prescription medication so it wasn't alcohol. I think I made the defense's case - she was very pleased at that response. He moved to get rid of me.
In at 8 am and out just before noon. Being squished into the room to wait was again uncomfortable and just when I thought I might be starting to lose it a woman came in who felt the same way. Amazing - she disliked being around people, especially close, said she was agorophobic and we started expressing what loners we each are and how much we hated this. We decided to be best friends because we're guaranteed we'll never call each other or ever see each other again. :D It was pretty funny but actually helped a great deal to relieve stress and pass the waiting time for each of us.

YAY!! !! !


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29 Sep 2009, 6:41 pm

I was called up to serve on a jury but they selected their 12 plus alternates before they ever got to me.

I would have loved to have been on a jury (being a perry mason/matlock/Law and Order), and since I am not employed it wouldnt' have been a hardship.



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29 Sep 2009, 7:01 pm

I got a summons for jury duty once, I was kinda excited 'cause I'd never done it before.. and then I got another thing in the mail saying it was "undue hardship." I don't know how they determined that, it's not like I sent anything in saying that I couldn't do it.. I WANTED to.. maybe they think that if you don't try to get out of it you're not fit? :? I was like 19 at the time, and I felt all adult and stuff that I was summoned, but then I didn't get to even go and sit around reading a book not getting called. :cry:



WoodenNickel
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29 Sep 2009, 7:12 pm

I was a jury once. The judge's instructions were very clear, which made things easy. Even the prosecutor gave grounds for dismissal.

When we had our once around the table, I spoke a bit incoherently. Still, I was able to make points in response to others, such as whether grand jury testimony was admissible or the value of the goods in question.


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29 Sep 2009, 8:27 pm

Spokane_Girl wrote:
People using their problems or conditions as an excuse to get off makes me sick. :roll:


I would never use mine to get off, let them decide if I am fit for it or not.


I had similar attitudes in my early twenties. Wait until you've spent a few years in the real world. The powers that be will quite happily take your demands for equality at face value and use them as an excuse to screw you over in every way possible. Take my advice. Don't go there.