(John 15:19; Isa. (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 at the hands of a congregation member, a jury ruled in a verdict. #15. While the Bible upholds a governments right to execute a murderer, the individual asked to serve as a juror might question whether he could decide solely on the information presented at a trial. Non-Exempt Employees. And it is noteworthy that in most places being a juror does not involve sharing in political matters, which a Christian would not do because of his neutral position. And it is noteworthy that in most places being a juror does not involve sharing in political matters, which a Christian would not do because of his neutral position. During the trial she realized that on her job at the hospital she had seen X rays of the victim, which were rejected as evidence at the trial. After a number of days, a persons jury duty is fulfilled, whether he has actually sat as a juror or not. I was summoned once. If so guilty if not not guilty. I would love that duty. In some lands, civil and criminal cases are decided by a professional judge or a panel of judges. Jehovahs witnesses recognize that what people do with reference to jury duty is a personal matter, governed by the dictates of conscience. Sometimes they recommend which sentence stipulated by law should be applied. Then, depending on the type of case, the judge may sentence the guilty parties. I wonder if the $9.00 a day is taxable income. My testimony lasted more than two straight hours as I sat facing the Grand Jury and the Deputy Attorney General, together with several State Attorneys and Special Investigators. 27-29 Questions From Readers ***. Jury duty is mandatory for all summoned citizens unless excused. friends. Socrates was tried by 501 jurors. The nurse, having studied the Bible with Jehovah?s Witnesses, resisted for days. But a distinctive feature of "common law" countries is the use of juries composed of average citizens. After a number of days, a person?s jury duty is fulfilled, whether he has actually sat as a juror or not. The first passage tells of a Jewish man who asked Jesus to judge in a legal dispute over inheritance. For example, in 1966 the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia upheld a Christian who refused jury duty. In that case he should prepare himself to face whatever consequences may arise as a result of his decision. Of course, Jehovah's Witnesses had already executed retaliation on my wife and me in response to our efforts to shed light on the epidemic child abuse problem within the religion. Yet, authorities are increasingly eliminating exemptions so that all are obliged to report for jury duty, perhaps repeatedly over the years. At times explaining one?s position to the clerk of the court or the judge may lead to one?s name being removed from the list of prospective jurors. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 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. Even if you are called to jury duty, it does not necessarily mean you will serve. Any who are dismissed from that jury panel return to the jury pool to await random selection for other cases. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Serving as a juror is often described as a valid civic duty. All rights reserved. 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.". Some Christians have viewed jury service as rendering to Caesar what belongs to Caesar. Two others told. Remarry, unless they were granted a "scriptural divorce" by the elders on the basis of adultery, or if their spouse is dead. Having the. The legal requirements for serving on a jury and the provisions for exemption vary from place to place. 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. 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. Watching two good lawyers go after it on a good case is interesting. The Jews readily said: "His blood come upon us and upon our children. The others, though, pressured her to side with them to avoid a "hung jury" and subsequent retrial. A regular jury only hears what is given to them, but a grand jury is the mother lode. (John 15:19; Isa. and was represented by her father as Guardian Ad Litem. (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. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. It's amazing the system works at all considering how many people are trying to get out of it. 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. As far as they personally are concerned, Jehovah's witnesses generally do not feel that they should sit as judges of other people. (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. The Office of Public Information at the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses responded to the verdict with an unsigned statement. Generally, the court sends notices to appear for jury duty to individuals selected from lists of voters, licensed drivers, or the like. The Jehovah's Witnesses are not exempted from jury duty by statute. For example, on a grand jury, the jurors decide whether the evidence warrants someones being brought to trial; they do not determine guilt. This is the time to speak up if one has a conscientious reason for not serving because of the nature of that case. 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. All requests for jury duty deferral must be made in writing or online. latest Some Christians have also reflected on the types of cases that jurors might face. (Exodus 22:2; Deuteronomy 21:8; 22:8; Jeremiah 2:34; Matthew 23:35; Acts 18:6) At Jesus? The Babylonian government commanded them to report to the plain of Dura, and their doing so did not violate Gods Law. At least three grand jury witnesses said investigators want to question governing body members, who work out of the organization . Then the judge identifies the parties and their attorneys and describes the nature of the case. Some have referred to Jesus? Then, too, many persons serving on juries do not desire to be guided by the laws of God?s Word in reaching a verdict. 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? The first time, I was an active witless and dogged it during selection (I got on the bench and came up with a lame excuse to get out). 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. He and the attorneys examine each potential juror. what part of the country are you in ! My understanding was always that they could as long as the death penalty wasn't an issue. There is variety in the types of juries, the number of jurors, and what is involved in reaching a verdict. For instance, in some places capital punishment is a possible or mandatory sentence for a person found guilty of certain crimes. 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. Will require an attendance sheet to verify jury service. Then the government uses its authority "to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad," or "to inflict punishment on evildoers. If a guilty verdict is in error and the death penalty is imposed, would a Christian on the jury share bloodguilt? For more than two decades, disturbing allegations of child sex abuse have emerged at . 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 . 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. 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. Where this prevails, a Christian must decide how to respond when directed to report for jury duty. Jury duty is a right and a privilege, but there are some reasons people are excused from jury duty. They can actually investigate things. Court opinions in West Virginia, Minnesota and Washington have, in fact, upheld a person?s right to refuse jury duty for religious reasons. (Exodus 22:2; Deuteronomy 21:8; 22:8; Jeremiah 2:34; Matthew 23:35; Acts 18:6) At Jesus trial Pilate wanted to be "innocent of the blood of this man." 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. Later, King Henry III of England provided for the accused to be judged by his neighbors. Following a jury award of $35 million to a woman who accused the congregation of covering up her childhood sex abuse, other former Jehovah's Witnesses say there's a pattern of mishandling allegations. Civil suits or fraud etc. In a civil case, the jury might award damages or compensation. A Pennsylvania grand jury is investigating Jehovah's Witnesses for alleged sex-abuse cover-up, man who testified says. You can also have a say in putting away thugs who prey on people. What of a common trial? Copyright 2001-2015 Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information. . So, what is your experience and opinion of the judicial process if you've ever done jury duty? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, (1 Corinthians 6:1) He defended himself in the Roman judicial setting, even appealing his case to Caesar. The use of juries is not universal. I've been summoned twice and both times our jury pool was dismissed early. OK jury duty no problem for me on a Christian level it's not my business to decide guilt inocence or sentence. 1866.But there is no assurance from this record or elsewhere that if the names of all adult Jehovah's Witnesses were added to the master jury box source, the same religious tenets that compel these people to decline participation in the electoral process of government would not lead them to attempt to refuse . personal differences, especially those outside the congregation. After God?s servants ceased to be under the Mosaic Law, they had to deal with secular courts in various lands. If any Jehovah's Witness is deemed to be an apostate, she or he will be disfellowshipped. So getting an overview will be helpful whether you face jury duty or not. He has been charged with Aggravated Indecent Assault, Indecent Assault, and Endangering . Some jurors have consulted horoscopes, given in to personal prejudice or yielded to pressures from others in making a decision. This is the time to speak up if one has a conscientious reason for not serving because of the nature of that case. In that case he should prepare himself to face whatever consequences may arise as a result of his decision. Jehovah?s witnesses recognize that what people do with reference to jury duty is a personal matter, governed by the dictates of conscience. What to do? Jury Duty Excuse Letter Format Date Name Title 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. Understandably, Paul did not here mention serving on a jury, for under Roman rule there were no citizens juries as now exist under Anglo-American law. This view is of interest to Christians because of what the apostle Paul wrote about governmental "superior authorities." The Adventist movement emerged in the 1830s around the . What scriptures do you think he had in mind? For example, on a grand jury, the jurors decide whether the evidence warrants someone?s being brought to trial; they do not determine guilt. Understandably, Paul did not here mention serving on a jury, for under Roman rule there were no citizens? The apostle Paul urged "holy ones" in Corinth to settle differences within the congregation. When a summons is issued by the court to be a part of a certain trial. HC Deb 20 June 1988 vol 135 cc883-906 883. Since I regestered to vote a few years ago and actually voted for the first time in this presidential primary, my name is on the county hotlist and I received a summons for jury duty in the middle of July. As far as they personally are concerned, Jehovah?s witnesses generally do not feel that they should sit as judges of other people. Within the United States, the situation in one state may be quite different from that in another state. But a distinctive feature of common law countries is the use of juries composed of average citizens.