Texas Man Jailed 83 Days For Skipping Jury Duty

[babylonsister]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/09/douglas-maupin-jailed-83-_n_201117.html


Douglas Maupin Jailed 83 Days For Skipping Jury Duty
May 9, 2009 03:30 PM EST | AP


McKINNEY, Texas — A man arrested for allegedly failing to appear for jury duty was released Saturday after spending 83 days in jail, a length of detention that a judge called "unacceptable."

Douglas Maupin was released a day after The Dallas Morning News brought his plight to the attention of a Collin County judge.

Maupin, a masonry contractor, was arrested Feb. 15 after police pulled him over for speeding. Police then detained him on a 2003 warrant for failure to appear for jury duty.

He wrote a letter to the newspaper about his lengthy jail stay, then said in a jailhouse interview that he, his friends and family could not afford his $1,500 bail.

He said his attempt to get a public defender was rebuffed by a jail clerk.

District Judge Chris Oldner said he was unaware of Maupin's detention until Friday, even though the case was assigned to his court. The judge who signed the original 2003 warrant had retired, and officials said the case was assigned to the court of his replacement but the offense didn't fall under that court's responsibility.

"He should not have spent that much time. This is unacceptable," Oldner told the Morning News. "I don't know why the process failed to notify us."

Oldner also said that Maupin should have been allowed to apply for a public defender.

Maupin, 34, said he just wanted his day in court.

"I do know I have the right to due process and a speedy trial," he said. "I've had neither. It's not right."

The judge said he was "disappointed this has happened," and promised to investigate.

[Fumesucker]

1. Excellent way to discourage people from registering to vote..

People hear horror stories like this and realize it could happen to them if they are registered to vote and some kind of paperwork snafu keeps their jury summons from being properly delivered..

I'm not saying that's what happened in this case, but it certainly could happen that way.

[Raine]

7. I don't think they get jurors off of voter rolls anymore

I think they take them from driver's licenses and state ID cards.

[Fumesucker]

9. Apparently it varies state by state..

And voting registration lists are used as well as drivers license lists..

http://askville.amazon.com/jurors-selected-jury-duty/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=6097104

[Raine]

10. Oh, THANKS

I thought they had dropped the voter rolls.

[NightWatcher]

2. too many people get "lost" in jail

I know of several cases where they were sent to holding then forgotten about. It happens everywhere and all the time. Grab an ACLU attorney and prosecute or sue for lack of due process and hope to settle out of court for a shitload.

[monmouth]

4. At the very least for wages lost and his suffering. Poor guy...n/t

[enlightenment]

3. I agree that his right to due process was violated, but

it does tick up the irony meter that a man who couldn't be bothered to appear for jury duty could make that argument.

Living in a democratic system offers rights and entails responsibilities. Too many people demand the former, but shirk the latter.

[Adsos Letter]

5. Well said!

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

6. just show up and say your a white supremacist and against the death penalty

and that will get you out of the jury pool in most states,

[Raine]

8. No statue of limitations on this????

Geesh it's not like the man committed murder. :yoiks:

[Thothmes]

11. Sorry for his bad luck. Jury duty is the responsibility of

a free citizenry. Failure to participate is punishible by law. It is not fun, easy, or convinient, but it is a responsibility. If you are willing to avoid your responsibility, be ready to accept the consequences.