Then the government uses its authority "to express wrath upon the one practicing what is bad," or "to inflict punishment on evildoers. "?Matthew 27:24, 25. (Daniel 3:1-12; Luke 2:1-4) There are, though, factors that sincere Christians can consider. Copyright 2001-2015 Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information. Similarly, in a coroners jury (jury of inquest), the jurors weigh evidence to decide whether a crime was committed. In relation to the composition of juries, this historical development has been directed towards widening the classes of people liable to serve on juries with the object of making juries more representative of the whole community. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. This view is of interest to Christians because of what the apostle Paul wrote about governmental "superior authorities." And you can appreciate why the Christian in West Virginia might conclude that his efforts to ?judge or decide? File - In this Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, file photo, the iconic Watchtower sign is seen on the roof of 25-30 Columbia Heights, then world headquarters of the Jehovah's Witnesses, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Any adult Canadian citizen can be considered for jury duty. or redistributed. When you vote in an election your vote gets diluted by thousands or millions. MARRIAGE & FAMILY. Christians strive ?to mind their own business,? The Office of Public Information at the World Headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses responded to the verdict with an unsigned statement. A mature Christian would also reflect on whether he would share any responsibility for the sentence rendered by judges. Court opinions in West Virginia, Minnesota and Washington have, in fact, upheld a person?s right to refuse jury duty for religious reasons. (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. Only someone with a documented medical problem may be excused permanently from service. What was clear was that if he refused it, the WTBTS would not pay his legal costs. A different problem is illustrated with a nurse in Texas who was a juror at the trial of a young man, son of a prominent family, who was accused of beating to death another youth. not sitting in judgment of another person especially as all the 28 U.S.C.A. For more than two decades, disturbing allegations of child sex abuse have emerged at . A judge must review the penalty, and the Jehovah's Witnesses' national organization Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York plans to appeal. latest 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 . Rats! MANY persons look to the court or judicial system for justice. Then the apostle added: For what do I have to do with judging those outside? (Mark 15:1; Acts 5:27-34) There was no provision for the average Jew to be on a civil jury. Either side can dismiss individuals . He and the attorneys examine each potential juror. (a) An employer shall not deprive an employee of the employee's employment, or threaten or otherwise coerce the employee with respect thereto, because the employee receives a summons, responds thereto, serves as a juror, or attends court for prospective jury service. A professional judge guided them on points of evidence. He and the attorneys examine each potential juror. He was picked. 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 of Jehovah's Witnesses, another Jehovah's Witness corporation that communicates with congregations across the U.S. In the event of absences due to jury duty, witness duty, or temporary military duty, if an employee works any part of a week and misses the rest of the week for jury, witness, or military duty, he or she must receive the full salary for the workweek, but if they miss a full week, no pay is due for that week (see 29 C.F.R. (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. In some lands, the judicial system uses juries selected from the citizenry. So there is a danger of becoming party to a miscarriage of justice. For instance, in some places capital punishment is a possible or mandatory sentence for a person found guilty of certain crimes. What to do? "1 Peter 2:14. A professional judge guided them on points of evidence. Here & Now Compass The use of juries is not universal. "Matthew 27:24, 25. I've been out of work for four months. Christians strive to mind their own business, not getting involved in "other peoples matters." ?Acts 24:10; 25:10, 11. Socrates was tried by 501 jurors. Copyright 2001-2015 Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information. The first passage tells of a Jewish man who asked Jesus to judge in a legal dispute over inheritance. Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus is Michael the archangel, the highest created being. They have removed me from the role "Jehovah's Witnesses abhor child abuse and strive to protect children from such acts. latest In this Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, file photo, the iconic Watchtower sign is seen on the roof of 25 . What if a Christian does not feel that his conscience permits him to serve on a particular jury? . You can also find elders and MS that will say you can't (probably didn't read the last QFR). (Luke 20:25) In jury duty the task is to hear evidence and offer an honest opinion on points of fact or law. Each time I explained to the court that I felt in good conscience that I wouldn't make a good juror as I was a JW and to judge a person was not up to me but up to God. If a Christian reported for jury duty, as directed by the government, but because of his personal conscience declined to serve on a particular case despite the insistence of the judge, the Christian should be prepared to face the consequences?be that a fine or imprisonment. years ago I worked in small town radio. What are jehovah's witness olibigation when it comes to jury duty? I recently served on a Jury panel for a court case. Sorry, there was an error loading the video. (Isaiah 33:22) In ancient Israel, experienced men who were upright and impartial served as judges to resolve disputes and decide questions of law. never been on a jury but I have been in the standby pool for my District court. (Personnel who serve without compensation as fire fighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew for a "public agency.") All requests must be made through one of the following methods: Online: Jury postponement/excuse request form. (Gen. 9:5,6) Or a case could involve abortion, divorce, child custody, or another issue on which the Christian follows Gods thinking even when the law of the land differs. Paul counseled: "Render to all [the superior authorities] their dues, to him who calls for the tax, the tax; to him who calls for the tribute, the tribute; to him who calls for fear, such fear." Unlike the other jurors, she could not accept the claim that the injuries came from an accidental fall. (1 Corinthians 6:1) He defended himself in the Roman judicial setting, even appealing his case to Caesar. In lands where what is called "civil law" prevails, legal cases (both criminal and civil) are usually heard and decided on by a single professional judge, or by a panel of justices. 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. In some lands, the judicial system uses juries selected from the citizenry. . However, the 1977 Act still The Adventist movement emerged in the 1830s around the . For publication downloads, please visit jw.org. It is closer to the situation of Daniels three companions. I have been through it twice. If a person cannot be exempted when called for jury duty even after explaining matters to the judge, he can, nevertheless, state his conscientious scruples regarding a case when questioned by the lawyers before the trial begins. i think otherwise he would have done it. Copyright 2001-2015 Jehovah's Witness Discussion Forum | JW.Org Community Information. 2:1-4; Acts 5:29) Hence, some Christians have concluded that they ought to accept jury duty. A Pennsylvania grand jury is investigating Jehovah's Witnesses for alleged sex-abuse cover-up, man who testified says. EXEMPTION FROM JURY SERVICE. But a distinctive feature of "common law" countries is the use of juries composed of average citizens. The jury dismissed claims that the church should have reported the second woman's abuse by the same congregation member. Our Savior's answer is, "Judge not that you be not judged. The Bible does not mention jury duty, so he cannot say, It is against my religion to serve on any jury. Depending on the case, he might state that serving on the jury for a particular case is against his personal conscience. A legal challenge to that law is pending before the Montana Supreme Court. You don't always know what kind of a case you I wonder if the $9.00 a day is taxable income. (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:15) When a Jew asked Jesus to judge a matter about inheritance, he responded: "Man, who appointed me judge or apportioner over you persons?" Some may automatically be disqualified, such as convicted felons and the mentally incompetent. Not all reporting for jury duty necessarily sit as jurors in a trial. The court opinion reported that he, stated that it violated his personal freedom of conscience to serve as a juror and that he felt he had authority under his religious beliefs to serve within his congregation with power to judge or decide but not to so serve outside his congregation and cited quotations from the scriptures to support his belief. (West Virginia vs Everly). Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Paul directed the brothers to expel the wrongdoer. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, It's all good. They generally do not feel they should, but it is their favorite hobby! Jehovah's witnesses recognize that what people do with reference to jury duty is a personal matter, governed by the dictates of conscience. Which item does not have a food-contact surface? That would explain why some witnesses are called. Definitely a place to be if you want to do something that has impact. After a number of days, a person?s jury duty is fulfilled, whether he has actually sat as a juror or not. In 2018, a Montana jury awarded $35 million to Alexis Nunez, who said she was sexually abused for years by a member of the Thompson Falls Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. When a summons is issued by the court to be a part of a certain trial. The nurse, having studied the Bible with Jehovah?s Witnesses, resisted for days. Military duty If you are serving in the military, then this may be a reasonable excuse from jury duty. Even if you are called to jury duty, it does not necessarily mean you will serve. 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. If so guilty if not not guilty. Where this prevails, a Christian must decide how to respond when directed to report for jury duty. ONLINE LIBRARY. The jury duty excuse letter template is an opportunity for the juror to grasp. not getting involved in "other people?s matters." As far as they personally are concerned, Jehovah?s witnesses generally do not feel that they should sit as judges of other people. Yet, authorities are increasingly eliminating exemptions so that all are obliged to report for jury duty, perhaps repeatedly over the years. All Dating & Courtship Marriage Managing Money Communication Raising Children Raising Teenagers. I helped him research the advice, and I found the 1997 article above (current light). Still, most people have only a vague idea of how juries are selected and what they do. When most people think of a jury, they have in mind a panel of 12 citizens at a trial?either a civil dispute or a criminal case?who hear testimony to decide guilt or innocence. (Matthew 22:17-21) If Caesar says that citizens must give of their time and efforts to clean roads or perform other work that is among Caesars functions, each Christian must decide whether to submit.Matthew 5:41. Do you not judge those inside [the congregation], while God judges those outside? He went on to state that Christians should strive to avoid even taking their grievances or disputes to worldly courts for handling. Socrates was tried by 501 jurors. I don't see how they could actually get out of it. That's how I feel. (Exodus 18:13-22; Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 21:18-21) By the time Jesus was on earth, the judicial function was handled by the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. They were paid $35 per day for jury duty. All rights reserved. It is not uncommon for Jehovahs Witnesses to lodge a copy of their advance directives with their General Practitioner who should be contacted. Then it was, I wanted my turn. OK jury duty no problem for me on a Christian level it's not my business to decide guilt inocence or sentence. 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. 1997 (Personal matter but WTS "gives permission" to serve on a jury and have the congregation not levy any punishment (in print anyway). Announcement. How come it's only people who don't want it that get it? (West Virginia vs Everly). Don't know about times past, but I think it's a conscience matter now. In a headline-making decision, a California jury awarded her $28 million, the largest verdict against the organization at the time. Office of Jury Commissioner Address Street Address 560 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118 Directions Mailing Address 560 Harrison Ave., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02118 Directions Phone Juror helpline (toll-free in Massachusetts) (800) 843-5879 (THE-JURY) Monday-Friday 9 am - 4:30 pm Delinquent jurors (877) 966-7469 by freddi Jurors also participate in coroner's inquests. Witness leaders said in a statement that they "welcome an opportunity to explain our beliefs and practices to government officials.". . 33 Replies `At the end of Schedule 1 to the Juries Act 1974 there shall be added "those who object on grounds of religious belief to serving on juries.".' [Mr. Peter Archer.] . 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. The Jury Amendment Act was instigated in 2010, with most of the changes taking place at the beginning of this year. 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