“They seem to be people moving a little outside regular social norms and regular behaviour. Therefore I don’t give them the same level of respect as people who follow the line”

"It is the most important question being asked of dozens of New Yorkers lined up as potential jurors for the trial of Cecily McMillan, an Occupy Wall Street activist accused of assaulting a police officer: what do you think of her protest movement?"

Unfortunately for those keen on the swift procession of justice, a series of Manhattan residents who presented themselves at the criminal courthouse this week declared that they strongly disagreed with it – and could not promise to be impartial about one of its members.

 

“I’m involved in Wall Street things. I’m on the Wall Street side, not their side,” George Yih, one of a group of prospective jurors whose names were plucked from a tombola by the clerk, said under questioning from Judge Ronald Zweibel on Wednesday. “They can protest all they want, but they can’t brainwash my mind.” (read more)

the guardian

Michigan Man Gets 3 Days in Jail for Telling Off the Judge and Prosecutors

"A Bay City man who wrote a vulgarity-laden rant on a jury questionnaire form is heading to jail for the next few days, despite apologizing to the Bay County Circuit Court."

“I just want to apologize to the court and the men in uniform here for the rant that I put on the paper,” Haubenstricker said. “For me to be here right now is really embarrassing. I’ve gotten several calls from family members saying I really took it out of line.
“There are certain things in my life I’m working through right now,” the defendant continued. 

Haubenstricker’s attorney, Paul F. Beggs, asked the judge to be lenient... “Most people saw this as stupid rather than criminal,” Beggs said.

Sheeran (the judge) did not agree.

About a decade ago, Haubenstricker served seven years in prison, Beggs said, though he didn’t specify the nature of his conviction.

“As a convicted felon,” Sheeran continued. “All you had to do was fill out the form properly and you wouldn’t be serving as a juror anyway. You needlessly created a lot of trouble for yourself.”

Michigan Live Cole Waterman