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Post by CMF Newsman on Sept 23, 2008 8:05:41 GMT -5
The only black juror asked to be removed from the jury in East Tennessee's first federal death penalty case. The juror told the court that she works part-time and her employer is refusing to pay her the difference between her salary and what the government pays her for jury duty. U.S. District Judge Curtis L. Collier did not make a decision on the request today, but said he will decide tomorrow. Media reports about a prosecutor saying that 24-year-old Rejon Taylor, the defendant, described the Chattanooga jury in a recorded telephone conversation as "racist rednecks" has defense attorneys asking for a mistrial and change of venue. Jurors earlier convicted Taylor in the 2003 murder of Guy Luck after less than four hours of deliberation. They are scheduled to begin the sentencing phase of the trial Tuesday. www.newschannel9.com/news/taylor_971740___article.html/hearing_death.html |
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tuffmustang
Senior Member
The Cartoon Messiah
Posts: 593
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Post by tuffmustang on Sept 23, 2008 8:16:58 GMT -5
Is this not against the law? Are not employer's required to still pay the difference if a employee is on jusy duty? |
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Post by Justin Thyme on Sept 23, 2008 10:14:46 GMT -5
No. Employers are not required to pay you if you are not working due to jury duty.
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Post by LimitedRecourse on Sept 23, 2008 10:17:38 GMT -5
I think she's just worried about her reputation. Nothing kills your street "cred" more than being labeled a "racist redneck."
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Post by gridbug on Sept 23, 2008 12:09:00 GMT -5
We'll just pretend that last statement sounds less racist than it does...
There is reason to believe other than she wants to step down to get back to work? I would hate to waste time AND lose money on jury duty. I'd much rather be out making a living than sitting in court.
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Tookie
Senior Forumite
Posts: 2,747
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Post by Tookie on Sept 23, 2008 12:32:59 GMT -5
Is this not against the law?
No. An employer is prohibited by law from firing the employee for serving on the federal jury, or from any acts of reprisal. State laws differ. It could also be in violation of some bargaining unit agreements.
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Post by mojo on Sept 24, 2008 17:30:49 GMT -5
Hello, I've been a frequent visitor to this forum, but as my post count indicates I haven't participated previously. I was in the jury pool for the Rejon Taylor case; specifically, I was in the same voir dire group as the black woman mentioned above. I don't presume to know all the reasons why she chose to drop out, but she was concerned even at that stage about missing too much work. She was elderly and had a part-time job to supplement her income.
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