Should she have been punished for this?

[Stepharoonie!]

Juror Says Too Stressed to Continue

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Barbara Sparkman's attempt to duck jury duty nearly landed her in jail. Sparkman, 54, was serving as an alternate juror in a murder trial when she left a message Thursday morning with court officials, saying she was too stressed to continue.

Circuit Judge Thomas Clark wasn't pleased and ordered deputies to find Sparkman and bring her to court to explain herself.

Sparkman told Clark and her co-jurors that she didn't want to view crime scene and autopsy photos, that she had an asthma attack Wednesday night and that she was worried about her mother in a nursing home.

Clark then told the jury to pick Sparkman's fate: one day in jail, a return trip to the jury pool next week or a sentence of sitting somewhere in the courthouse for the rest of the trial.

Jurors decided against jail, but chose the other two penalties.

Clark then sentenced Sparkman to sit in the jury pool gathering room throughout the rest of the trial, which is expected to end next week. He has yet to decide if she will have to serve on another case.

Late Thursday, Sparkman sat in the jury pool room alone, saying she was afraid to go home without permission.

"I just felt like I couldn't deal with it today," she said. "I don't think this is fair."

State law makes it a crime for jurors to not appear for trial, punishable with fines and jail time.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I wouldn't want to view autopsy and crime scene photos either. I don't think people should be forced to look at graphic images of death if they do not want to.

I personally know I would be haunted by the images and unable to eat or sleep. Unable to sleep possibly for a long time.

 

[vettechick99]

I think so. She potentially ruined the trial by not showing up. She knew that jury duty is not something to mess with. If she was so worried about being stressed out, she should have gone in and talked to the judge, whoever.

I don't have much sympathy for her. But it does stink...

 

[gallaj0]

Serving on a jury is one of the "prices" we pay to live in a society of laws. It is a duty every American must take as seriously as if their freedom counted on it. Maybe she would be the juror to convict a criminal that deserved it, or maybe she would set free an innocent person.
It may be distasteful, but this is the time when one person can and should make a difference in other people's lives.

An I say that with Jury duty coming up in a month.

 

[Octoberbride03]

Here's some advice. If autopsy photos are too graphic for you, then say so at the BEGINNING when you haven't been picked as a juror. Also mention the Asthma and mom. You just might get out of it instead of starting the trial and then calling in "stressed."

She may very well be telling the truth but if you have problems like that you just can't call and say i won't be in today. Its not school. Ask to speak with the judge b4 proceedings for the day start. In person is less likely to see you punished.

 

[poochie]

She definately went about it the wrong way. I too would not be thrilled to see that kind of evidence. But I was called twice to serve. Showed up and was chosen 1st seat the first time ( Great!! ). Showed up for the trial and it was settled out of court. HMMMM

The 2nd time, the prosecuting atternory (SP) never showed and we were all dismissed.

Most people do not like to serve, but we all buck up and go. If it was noticed during the trial she was having a hard time. I am sure something would have been done, hopefully not a mis-trial.

The law is the law after all, not always conventient but must be obeyed.

 

[Kimberle]

I have been on many jury's. They all have alternates. It is very common for a jury not to be able to complete a trial (illness, etc.). This woman could have been excused without jepordising the trial.

She probably shouldn't have been put on this type of trial. Yes, it is our "duty" to be available for jury duty, but it is also the courts "duty" to assure a fair and impartial jury.

I was recently "excused" from a case that involved medical malpractice with small child(ren). Having a child in a NICU unit for a long time, I was NOT a good choice for this type of trial.

As a potential jury, I've always found that as long as you are honest and upfront with the court, they will work with you. (Besides the jury's I served on, I've been interviewed for at least 50 other cases.)

Should she be "punished"? I don't know. I don't know enough about the circumstances. If she truly tried to do her best, then she should be reassigned to another case. If the courts are "forcing" people to continue/serve on a case that is not "suited" to them, then, our system of justice will suffer.

If you were on trial, wouldn't you want impartial jurors who are doing their best to produce a fair verdict and not jurories being "held" with a proverbial "shotgun" to their head?!

 

[Keli]

Serving on juries is the price we pay as a society in order to receive justice ourselves should the situation arise for us. I realize that some people really can't handle certain jury duties though and they should be excused by the judge. But the time to ask to be excused is before the trial begins. It is really unfair of this woman to hurt someone else's chance for justice by waiting until the trial is in full swing to remove herself and risking a mistrial. She was wrong for doing what she did in my opinion and her actions did deserve some sort of sanction.

 

[caitycaity]

it's called jury DUTY for a reason. it's not jury volunteers or jury come if you feel like it.

she should be penalized. it REALLY irks me when people don't take their civic responsibilities seriously.

 

[wovenwonder]

I think she would have rather spend one day in jail and then go home than to spend an entire week sitting in a room?

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by caitycaity
it's called jury DUTY for a reason. it's not jury volunteers or jury come if you feel like it.

.

ITA!!!!

I have been on jury duty at least 4 times and I never thought to get out of it! My son was called last year while he was living up at MSU. We had to drive up there to pick him up and he served. He never even thought about getting excused!!!!

Amazing, simply amazing how people take everything for granted and leave the responsiblities to everyone else.

pinnie

 

[Miss Jasmine]

She should have been punished. She potentially could have wasted the Court's time, the lawyers time, the other jurors time, etc. There are alternates for a reason. Just because you are an alternate doesn't mean you don't have to pay attention, show up each day, and pay as much respect to the proceedings as other jurors. Also she handled it TOTALLY wrong. Sounds like she just got miffed at being inconvienced. Calling in sick for jury duty, I have heard it all now.

 

[Kallison]

Yes