Next up on Endless Discussions:
EULAs: Are they always real or always imaginary?
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That’s why I referred to it as being ‘medieval thinking’ upthread.
The ceremony and the attendant message that this is important and the community expects you to tell the truth here is what is supposed to reinforce the desired effect.
It’s all part of the same apparatus that means we have courts set up in a certain way, with certain bits of regalia (we have the Crown coat of arms, the US has its seal and/or a flag, etc.), the court building tends to look like a church or temple, the judge tends to be elevated, possibly in a kind of pulpit and may or may not wear a silly outfit.
The New Jersey Supreme Court banned the practice in its jurisdiction as a result of this case.
Interestingly, their Rules Committee also recommended that jurors all provide a neutral non-religious affirmation in future.
https://njcourts.gov/courts/assets/supreme/reports/2017/evidence.pdf
The report runs through most of the discussion we’ve had here.
I have no idea whether that recommendation was adopted or has any weight.
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oh yeah. many years ago i was on a GJ in Southern District of NY… the hottest of the hot spots, right? well after 18 weeks with some of these other jurors, i can’t view news of an indictment being handed up in the same way. once, someone had to kick a guys chair to wake him up to vote. most people were serious and conscientious about the job. and some were morons. just like real life!
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This is at least partly why lawyers don’t like to know what goes on in jury deliberations.
It hurts our fee-fees to learn that all our effort and eloquence is less persuasive than some juror saying “Well, he looks like my uncle Myron who went off with the bridge club secretary and the holiday fund in '53. He’s definitely a wrong 'un.”
I didn’t want to say it in my earlier post since there are a lot of US persons reading but it is of course obvious that the silly outfits make all the difference. Clearly no one would lie in front of either of those fine gentlemen.
And the wool arm warmers are apparently very handy in some of the colder courtrooms in the RCJ.
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a person who refused to place his hand on the Bible… was therefore incredible
Well, thanks! You’re pretty great yourself!
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If I’m ever called to testify I’ll ask the judge if I may be allowed to pinky swear, or failing that, if “your honor would be willing to spit in your hand as I do mine and shake on it”. Really what’s the difference? All these swearing, affirming, oaths are all just as silly. Again we should just get to the real point and say “do you understand that lying to this court is punishable by law?” Rather than relying on superstition to compel people.
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The most difficult case of jury selection occurred in Regina vs Clacton Amusements. The defendant demanded to be tried before a jury of his piers.
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The new testament would still be of doctrinal religious relevance to a Muslim, right? Jesus was a prophet in the Muslim conception of things, although not the prophet.
I think the other was the Unrighteous Bible.
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall inherit the kingdom of God?..”
I Corinthians 6 : 9
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There are two reasons: the one you say, that some Christian sects actually pay attention to Jesus’ words and follow them, but also that some Christian sects (usually the same ones) believe that one must always tell the truth, so swearing that THIS TIME you’re really doing it is implying that normally you don’t. Affirming means that you’re nodding in agreement, yup, I’m telling the truth, just like I always do.
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Well, it wasn’t wrong.
Didn’t read the transcript, but that’s how we Olds were taught to indicate the title of a book when typing or writing.
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That would make sense. Thank you.
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Makes perfect sense.
If I had to lie, the first thing I would do is grab a bible.
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Yes, but while they accept certain things in there (e.g., the Virgin Birth, the Second Coming), they reject others (e.g., the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, the whole “Son of God” thing).
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You want an ignorant pig who looks at you and thinks “What a pack of drooling easily led tools”?
Experience has taught me NEVER do business with a man who makes a big public show of his religion because he’s the biggest liar and thief in the county.
“Who here thinks that the evil shall be struck down by a vengeful lord ? Vengeful lord please still hold your hands up … alright, Your Honor, I’d like to remove jurors 1 through 203.”
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