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with each other and make a decision as to the guilt or innocence of the person on trial. 6 Replies This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. . Find the date of the next annual Memorial observance. Had to ask to be dismissed because I was still undergoing Chemo treatments and didn't have the strength or energy to attend. Each Christian has to decide for himself what he will do, and others should not criticize his decision. Christians strive ?to mind their own business,? as it carries out such legal functions, for they do not want to ?take a stand against it? For example, on a grand jury, the jurors decide whether the evidence warrants someone's being brought to trial; they do not determine guilt. Marriage and Family. The others, though, pressured her to side with them to avoid a "hung jury" and subsequent retrial. In some lands, the judicial system uses juries selected from the citizenry. The judge will dismiss any whose impartiality may be questioned because of possible interest in the case. They were paid $35 per day for jury duty. The church also contended that the national organization isn't liable for the actions by Thompson Falls elders, and that too much time has passed for the women to sue. Paul directed the brothers to expel the wrongdoer. The judge will dismiss any whose impartiality may be questioned because of possible interest in the case. From a pool of persons called for jury duty, some are selected at random as potential jurors for a particular case. (Some may be exempted because they have strong personal, conscientious objections to jury service.) That would explain why some witnesses are called. Under the New Covenant, God clearly states that . Later, King Henry III of England provided for the accused to be judged by his neighbors. 49.Serve on jury duty 50. Some may automatically be disqualified, such as convicted felons and the mentally incompetent. For more than two decades, disturbing allegations of child sex abuse have emerged at . . What does this mean emulate what you respect in your friends? (Isaiah 33:22) In ancient Israel, experienced men who were upright and impartial served as judges to resolve disputes and decide questions of law. "?1 Peter 2:14. 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. friends. Generally, the court sends notices to appear for jury duty to individuals selected from lists of voters, licensed drivers, or the like. The Bible does not mention jury duty, so he cannot say, ?It is against my religion to serve on any jury.? When the life of an accused person is involved, this could mean incurring bloodguilt. Download. Some Christians have reported for jury duty and have served on certain juries. He went on to state that Christians should strive to avoid even taking their grievances or disputes to worldly courts for handling. 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. Volunteer safety personnel. 27-29 Questions From Readers ***. Will require a letter from superior. In a civil case, the jury might award damages or compensation. (Daniel 3:1-12; Luke 2:1-4) There are, though, factors that sincere Christians can consider. personal differences, especially those outside the congregation. What of a common trial? Jehovah's Witnesses believe salvation is obtained by a combination of faith, good works, and obedience. It's the least I can do after all those years of uppity judgment I used to have. Can someone tell me why we were not allowed to to this? However, I would rather spend the time on jury duty than having to go to the Grand Boasting Session. So there is a danger of becoming party to a miscarriage of justice. Exemptions, however, are not granted everywhere. If a person cannot be exempted when called for jury duty even after explaining matters to the judge, he can, nevertheless, state his conscientious scruples regarding a case when questioned by the lawyers before the trial begins. As time went by, the jury system changed into an arrangement whereby a group of citizens were to hear a case and reach a verdict based on evidence. Also, the attorneys for each side have the prerogative to dismiss a few jurors. Study psychology, philosophy, sociology, and viewpoints that might shake their faith 51. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 1978 (Personal matters but WTS discourages jury duty). A former Jehovah's Witness is using stolen documents to expose allegations that the religion has kept hidden for decades. What of a common trial? 14:1-4,10) However, a minister might well refer to Luke 12:13, 14 and 1Corinthians 5:126:8. Everybody knows that demons are known to infest people who sit on a jury. [612-25] Protection of jurors' employment. I was seated once, then they excused me because of a work conflict. Yet, authorities are increasingly eliminating exemptions so that all are obliged to report for jury duty, perhaps repeatedly over the years. jw (Compare Genesis 39:17-20; 1 Timothy 5:22.) ?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. When I was at Bethel, Bethelites LOVED jury duty. This was far more than the usual $3 per day. (Luke 4:18, 43) Jesus response may have moved the man to use the method for settling disputes that was set out in Gods Law. *** w97 4/1 pp. 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. My honey was called to jury duty. You sit in judgment of your peers. This is a petit (small) jury, in contrast with a grand jury. Paul directed the brothers to expel the wrongdoer. During my 38 yrs as a witness I was called to jury duty three times. But finally she agreed to vote for acquittal. The use of juries is not universal. A letter from your employwer generally is not enough. Not all reporting for jury duty necessarily sit as jurors in a trial. (Compare Genesis 39:17-20; 1 Timothy 5:22.) Some may automatically be disqualified, such as convicted felons and the mentally incompetent. You can also have a say in putting away thugs who prey on people. After God?s servants ceased to be under the Mosaic Law, they had to deal with secular courts in various lands. a Jesus attended such a feast in the city of Cana early in his ministry.. Any who are dismissed from that jury panel return to the jury pool to await random selection for other cases. In jury duty the task is to hear evidence and offer an honest opinion on points of fact or law. It's up to ajury to decide if their is enough evidence to convict that's all your head needs to be on. They can actually investigate things. (Luke 20:25) In jury duty the task is to hear evidence and offer an honest opinion on points of fact or law. 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 congregation member, a jury ruled in a verdict. (Personnel who serve without compensation as fire fighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew for a "public agency.") All requests must be made through one of the following methods: Online: Jury postponement/excuse request form. Military duty If you are serving in the military, then this may be a reasonable excuse from jury duty. What of a common trial? Rats! Welcome. years ago I worked in small town radio. Announcement. This is the time to speak up if one has a conscientious reason for not serving because of the nature of that case. In a criminal case, they are to determine whether the evidence supports a guilty verdict. Two others told. Within the United States, the situation in one state may be quite different from that in another state. Moreover, Jesus was not sent to earth to arbitrate in such a matter, but was commissioned to use his time preaching the Kingdom good news. All rights reserved. Later, King Henry III of England provided for the accused to be judged by his neighbors. Serving as a juror is often described as a valid civic duty. A jury of 12 or so persons hears the evidence and determines guilt or innocence. Each time I explained to the court that I felt in good conscience that I wouldn't make a good juror as I was a JW and to judge a person was not up to me but up to God. If a person cannot be exempted when called for jury duty even after explaining matters to the judge, he can, nevertheless, state his conscientious scruples regarding a case when questioned by the lawyers before the trial begins. ", 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.". What scriptures do you think he had in mind? They have removed me from the role matters should be confined to the congregation, rather than be a juror in a secular court of law. However, I never got to actually sit on the jury. 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. What is the attitude of Jehovah?s Witnesses toward jury duty??U.S.A. Just take a pillow with you and a coin to flip during deliberations. 99.9% of Witnesses will write a letter to the courts asking that 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. The Office of Public Information at the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses responded to the verdict with an unsigned statement. 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? 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?" When the life of an accused person is involved, this could mean incurring bloodguilt. He had a change of heart. Such "stand placed in their relative positions by God," and they make and enforce laws. Depending on local law, others?such as doctors, clergymen, lawyers, or owners of small businesses?may claim exemption. If a Christian reported for jury duty, as directed by the government, but because of his personal conscience declined to serve on a particular case despite the insistence of the judge, the Christian should be prepared to face the consequencesbe that a fine or imprisonment.1 Peter 2:19. Some Christians in this situation have used the time to do informal witnessing. For example, on a grand jury, the jurors decide whether the evidence warrants someone?s being brought to trial; they do not determine guilt. . never been on a jury but I have been in the standby pool for my District court. And you can appreciate why the Christian in West Virginia might conclude that his efforts to ?judge or decide? A jury duty excuse letter aims at explaining to the court officials why you would rather not attend the duties altogether. I did not want to do this at all. Then it was, I wanted my turn. ONLINE LIBRARY. (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?" friends. 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. But of course, we were "encouraged" not to be involved for some reason or other. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. (Some may be exempted because they have strong personal, conscientious objections to jury service.) In a short answer, yes, and employer can require proof of jury duty. "?1 Cor. 3:16) Other Christians, though, have accepted jury duty but have asked to be excused from those cases where they felt their Bible-based thinking would be at variance with secular laws. He told the elders. Jehovah's Witness Rules About Divorce Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to: Apply for a divorce without proving to the elders that their spouse is guilty of adultery. Most of the JW's I knew tried the conscience thing to get out but failed most of the time. But a distinctive feature of "common law" countries is the use of juries composed of average citizens. Next day he went back to the judge and told him he was a JW. In the final analysis, each Christian faced with jury duty must determine what course to follow, based on his understanding of the Bible and his own conscience. It has been reasoned that all citizens benefit from courts and so should be willing to be jurors, even as all benefit from other governmental services and so should pay taxes for these. 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. The Babylonian government commanded them to report to the plain of Dura, and their doing so did not violate Gods Law. It was felt that since they knew the accused, their judgment would be fairer than procedures in which he tried to prove his innocence by combat or by surviving some ordeal. What he will do, and others should not criticize his decision 21-year-old 's. Small ) jury, in contrast with a Grand jury duty, are! 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