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(Last updated February 15, 2007) |
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Kentucky Hall of SHAME! page 6 |
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Kentucky |
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Cindy West Cindy called me about a jury duty summons she received in late August 2005 from the Bourbon County Circuit Court in Paris, Kentucky. Cindy, a home-schooling parent of two children, ages 5 & 8, sent a letter back to the court requesting to be excused. She explained in the letter that not only would her children miss out on their schooling, but that she was her children’s only caregiver. Cindy and her husband were new to the area and had no family or friends available to help care for their children while she served on a jury.
Cindy received an impersonal form letter back from the court with a check-mark in the box on the form which read, "excuse denied".
Cindy then called the court and spoke with the clerk. The clerk was quite rude, gave short curt answers, and really didn’t provide Cindy with any helpful information. Finally, Cindy was able to get through to the judge on the phone and told him of her situation. The judge was courteous, but still refused to excuse Cindy from jury duty. Cindy told the judge that she would have to bring her kids to the courtroom and the judge replied, “Do what you have to do”. Cindy was concerned about what the judge said since typically children aren’t allowed in courtrooms, and she wondered what would happen when she showed up with them. The judge also assured Cindy that he wouldn’t assign her to any trials lasting more than a couple of weeks. How “magnanimous” of His Honor. |
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If you have been mistreated by the Courts in this way, or if you know of others that have, Please e-mail me and share your story! |