MARRIAGE & FAMILY. What this means is if the police waste time dragging someone in for some victimless "crime" and the DA makes a case, you as a juror can call them out on this stupidity by voting for acquittal. . ?Daniel 3:16-18. Yet, authorities are increasingly eliminating exemptions so that all are obliged to report for jury duty, perhaps repeatedly over the years. And in the state of Colorado persons who can prove by documents that they are Jehovah?s witnesses are granted exemption from jury duty. Jehovah's Witnesses may object and say they have gotten away with doing some of the things on this list. My first trial, murder. This is a petit (small) jury, in contrast with a grand jury. do witnesses participate in jury duty? It is not uncommon for Jehovahs Witnesses to lodge a copy of their advance directives with their General Practitioner who should be contacted. Jehovah's Witnesses teach that battles recounted in Hebrew scripture, such as the conquest of Jericho, and the divinely sanctioned military manoeuvres against surrounding nations were attempts to re-establish true religion by attempting to eliminate all traces of Canaanite religion. Similarly, in a coroner?s jury (jury of inquest), the jurors weigh evidence to decide whether a crime was committed. (Gen. 9:5, 6) Or a case could involve abortion, divorce, child custody, or another issue on which the Christian follows God?s thinking even when the law of the land differs. Jurors concluded church elders did not receive notice of the 32-year-old woman's abuse in 1998 as she said they did, and therefore did not have a duty to tell authorities. What scriptures do you think he had in mind? by beksbks (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:15) When a Jew asked Jesus to judge a matter about inheritance, he responded: "Man, who appointed me judge or apportioner over you persons?" As far as they personally are concerned, Jehovah?s witnesses generally do not feel that they should sit as judges of other people. I was looking forward to it. (Isaiah 33:22) In ancient Israel, experienced men who were upright and impartial served as judges to resolve disputes and decide questions of law. You don't need to know anything about the law to serve on a jury. Download. When most people think of a jury, they have in mind a panel of 12 citizens at a trialeither a civil dispute or a criminal casewho hear testimony to decide guilt or innocence. At times explaining ones position to the clerk of the court or the judge may lead to ones name being removed from the list of prospective jurors. They listen to the evidence presented by both the defense and the prosecution, talk about the case with each other and make a decision as to the guilt or innocence of the person on trial. When confronted with an opportunity to handle a legal dispute, their Exemplar the Lord Jesus Christ turned it down, saying: "Who appointed me judge or . Later, King Henry III of England provided for the accused to be judged by his neighbors. For example, on a grand jury, the jurors decide whether the evidence warrants someone's being brought to trial; they do not determine guilt. latest Others have felt compelled to decline even in the face of punishment. The Jews readily said: "His blood come upon us and upon our children. Still others have accepted any jury assignment, feeling that it is Caesars right to oblige persons to serve in the civil capacity of hearing evidence and honestly deciding on questions of fact or guilt. So could he agree, such as when being examined for jury selection, to make his decisions strictly according to civil law? Watchtower. Besides that, it is also common knowledge that beheadings are very frequent among those who are on a jury. The nurse, having studied the Bible with Jehovahs Witnesses, resisted for days. I'd rather get a week of assault and battery or a good crime case than some tax case that goes on for a year in Federal court. jw But a distinctive feature of "common law" countries is the use of juries composed of average citizens. Attend other Christian churches . (1 Corinthians 6:1) He defended himself in the Roman judicial setting, even appealing his case to Caesar. The jury dismissed claims that the church should have reported the second woman's abuse by the same congregation member. The nurse, having studied the Bible with Jehovah?s Witnesses, resisted for days. Legal Statement. In balancing factors, Christians should consider whether they can submit to certain demands made by Caesar. For more than two decades, disturbing allegations of child sex abuse have emerged at . . (Luke 12:14) The apostle Paul raised similar questions in his letter to the Corinthians: "What do I have to do with judging those outside? (AP) The Jehovah's Witnesses must pay $35 million to a woman who says the church's national organization ordered Montana clergy members not to report her sexual abuse as a child. (Luke 20:25) In jury duty the task is to hear evidence and offer an honest opinion on points of fact or law. (Gen. 9:5,6) Or a case could involve abortion, divorce, child custody, or another issue on which the Christian follows Gods thinking even when the law of the land differs. In many states and in Wisconsin especially for the last 25 years at least, DL records have been used to keep the jury pool diverse and just to have enough people to call. For instance, in some places capital punishment is a possible or mandatory sentence for a person found guilty of certain crimes. Still, most people have only a vague idea of how juries are selected and what they do. The Board of Regents approved this statement at its June 2018 meeting in Chicago, IL. I helped him research the advice, and I found the 1997 article above (current light). He had a change of heart. To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.". Still, the 21-year-old woman's attorneys say Wednesday's verdict sends a message to the church to report child abuse to outside authorities. While referring to the judiciary of secular courts as "unrighteous men," Paul did not deny that such had a place in handling secular affairs. I thought that they got the names for jury duty off poll registrations for voting. Other lands used juries made up of citizens. Secular courts are a function of "the superior authorities." However, they cut it down to a waste of the morning the second time. and was represented by her father as Guardian Ad Litem. You can also have a say in putting away thugs who prey on people. ?Galatians 6:5. my dad was once called on for jury duty, thankfully jehovah saw fit to break his leg when the congregation went ice skating, so he got out of it on medical grounds. ONLINE LIBRARY. English. Also, the attorneys for each side have the prerogative to dismiss a few jurors. It's all good. They have removed me from the role A regular jury only hears what is given to them, but a grand jury is the mother lode. What was clear was that if he refused it, the WTBTS would not pay his legal costs. A different problem is illustrated with a nurse in Texas who was a juror at the trial of a young man, son of a prominent family, who was accused of beating to death another youth. Gods people recognize Jehovah as the Supreme Judge. (Deuteronomy 1:16, 17) Valid as such points are, responding to a direction to report for jury duty is different from involving oneself in the business of others. I kind of agree with you, but I think it is a matter of civic duty, and I am happy to do my part after so many years of thinking it was all evil in the JWs. Jehovah's Witness, member of a millennialist denomination that developed within the larger 19th-century Adventist movement in the United States and has since spread worldwide. What should a Christian do when called for jury duty? MANY persons look to the court or judicial system for justice. (Matthew 22:17-21) If Caesar says that citizens must give of their time and efforts to clean roads or perform other work that is among Caesars functions, each Christian must decide whether to submit.Matthew 5:41. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Each Christian has to decide for himself what he will do, and others should not criticize his decision.Galatians 6:5. For instance, in some places capital punishment is a possible or mandatory sentence for a person found guilty of certain crimes. Then the judge identifies the parties and their attorneys and describes the nature of the case. A prospective juror may be considered for exemption if they are: have active care of a child under age 10 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, - The Jehovah's Witnesses must pay $35 million to a woman who says the church's national organization ordered Montana clergy members not to report her sexual abuse as a child at the hands of a. "?1 Peter 2:14. So there is a danger of becoming party to a miscarriage of justice. A regular jury only hears what is given to them, but a grand jury is the mother lode. When confronted with an opportunity to handle a legal dispute, their Exemplar the Lord Jesus Christ turned it down, saying: "Who appointed me judge or apportioner over you persons?" Given the divergence among the various states with regards to this subject matter, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the prevailing rules before setting out. That might be so if a case involves sexual immorality, abortion, manslaughter, or another issue on which his thinking is shaped by Bible knowledge, not by mere secular law. . And in the state of Colorado persons who can prove by documents that they are Jehovahs witnesses are granted exemption from jury duty. Even as a dub I thought jury duty would be a "different" experience. Jehovah's Witnesses, Murrieta, California; French Valley Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Murrieta, California, Inc.; and Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses) were defendants in the trial court but Plaintiff dismissed them. Don't know about times past, but I think it's a conscience matter now. ", Attorneys for the Jehovah's Witnesses said in court filings that Montana law exempts elders from reporting "internal ecclesiastical proceedings on a congregation member's serious sin.". In some lands, the judicial system uses juries selected from the citizenry. Even in other ways, might this sort of problem arise for a Christian juror? God?s people recognize Jehovah as the Supreme Judge. 99.9% of Witnesses will write a letter to the courts asking that If I'm part of the selection, it could be one day, a few, or many, depending on the case. facts are never revealed) I was called up for jury service once and Even if you are called to jury duty, it does not necessarily mean you will serve. Being one of JWs is not enough to get you out of jury duty. Having the. The second passage pertains to a case of wrongdoing in the Corinthian congregation. (Matt. : Can someone tell me why we were not allowed to to this? In a headline-making decision, a California jury awarded her $28 million, the largest verdict against the organization at the time. . Which item does not have a food-contact surface? | Georgia Military Jury Duty Excuse . Study psychology, philosophy, sociology, and viewpoints that might shake their faith 51. Then the apostle added: "For what do I have to do with judging those outside? 27-29 Questions From Readers ***. Childcare (dependent care) If you are the sole childcare provider for your child(ren) and cannot afford daycare, this can be a legitimate excuse from serving in jury duty. Socrates was tried by 501 jurors. Jury legislation has a long history which we describe in paragraphs 2.2-2.7. 33 Replies Occasionally, an individual is permanently excused for religious reasons, such as a Jehovah's Witness who believes he or she cannot sit in judgment of others. Then the government uses its authority "to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad," or "to inflict punishment on evildoers. Surgeons highly value and respect patient autonomy and simultaneously desire to provide high . What of a common trial? Market data provided by Factset. After a number of days, a persons jury duty is fulfilled, whether he has actually sat as a juror or not. I just love this statement. It is something to consider. Candace Conti drew worldwide attention in her fight against the Jehovah's Witnesses when a jury awarded her $28 million in damages - the largest verdict for a single victim of child abuse against a religious organization in U.S. history. Therefore, one must recognize that the main rule of Jehovah's Witnesses is to believe everything that is presented to them by their Governing Body, even if such beliefs were changed from past understanding, or even if such believes will change with future understanding. Audio. As for time, the first time it was a waste of two days. The lawsuit claimed the local and national Jehovah's Witnesses organizations were negligent and violated a Montana law that requires them to report abuse to outside authorities. I sat in several trials taking notes as a reporter. The second passage pertains to a case of wrongdoing in the Corinthian congregation. 1997 (Personal matter but WTS "gives permission" to serve on a jury and have the congregation not levy any punishment (in print anyway). The Jehovah's Witnesses are an outgrowth of the International Bible Students Association, which was founded in 1872 in Pittsburgh by Charles Taze Russell. Christ refused, saying "Who appointed me judge or apportioner over you persons?" They were paid $35 per day for jury duty. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.". 99.9% of Witnesses will write a letter to the courts asking that they be exempted from service due to religious convictions (such as not sitting in judgment of another person especially as all. For example, on a grand jury, the jurors decide whether the evidence warrants someones being brought to trial; they do not determine guilt. As far as they personally are concerned, Jehovahs witnesses generally do not feel that they should sit as judges of other people. Use one of the following options to contact Jehovah's Witnesses in your area. All rights reserved. I recently served on a Jury panel for a court case. (Mark 15:1; Acts 5:27-34) There was no provision for the average Jew to be on a civil jury. The jury awarded the 21-year-old woman $4 million for her injuries, plus $30 million in punitive damages against Watchtower and $1 million in punitive damages against the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, another Jehovah's Witness corporation that communicates with congregations across the U.S. "Watchtower instructed everyone involved that they were not to report the matter to authorities. jw Christians do not oppose the authority as it carries out such legal functions, for they do not want to take a stand against it and receive judgment.Romans 13:1-4; Titus 3:1. The rules are not quite as important as loyalty to the organization. This is a research tool for publications in various languages produced by Jehovah's Witnesses. (Exodus 18:13-22; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 21:18-21) By the time Jesus was on earth, the judicial function was handled by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. by freddi Such "stand placed in their relative positions by God," and they make and enforce laws. Non-Exempt Employees. Definitely a place to be if you want to do something that has impact. Others have felt compelled to decline even in the face of punishment. 13:1-7, The Jerusalem Bible. In lands where what is called "civil law" prevails, legal cases (both criminal and civil) are usually heard and decided on by a single professional judge, or by a panel of justices. In the state of Georgia, any person 70 years of age or older is entitled to make a request to the board of jury commissioners or its clerk in writing, accompanied by an affidavit giving the person's name, age, and such other information as the board may require, in order to be excluded from further jury duty. You have moved Naturally, if you live where the possibility exists of being called for jury duty, you might well ask, Should a Christian serve on a jury? This Biblical counsel certainly should alert Christians to be slow about getting involved in others personal differences, especially those outside the congregation. In a civil case, the jury might award damages or compensation. They really should provide better compensation since people are taking time off work for that. But a distinctive feature of common law countries is the use of juries composed of average citizens. When you vote in an election your vote gets diluted by thousands or millions. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. I would love that duty. All requests for jury duty deferral must be made in writing or online. Copyright 2001-2015 Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information. An employee is responsible for informing his or her supervisor if he or she is excused from jury or witness service for 1 day or more or for a substantial part of a day. The Babylonian government commanded them to report to the plain of Dura, and their doing so did not violate Gods Law. If a guilty verdict is in error and the death penalty is imposed, would a Christian on the jury share bloodguilt? Some Christians have refused jury duty, perhaps mentioning to the authorities how impractical it would be to compel a person to sit through a trial and then have a "hung jury" because he feels he would not want to pass judgment on anyone?s guilt. (RNS) Four Jehovah's Witnesses have been charged with sexually abusing 19 children in their congregations, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced in a news conference Thursday. Copyright 2001-2015 Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information. Some Christians have viewed jury service as rendering to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. I wonder if the $9.00 a day is taxable income. The amount was later reduced to $15.6 million, including $8.6 million in punitive damages. In lands where what is called civil law prevails, legal cases (both criminal and civil) are usually heard and decided on by a single professional judge, or by a panel of justices. i didn't think so. 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