Interesting Way to Avoid Jury Duty

This buffoon just sounds like a hapless loser trying to avoid jury duty, and it's become national news.

Potential juror's excuses rile judge

BARNSTABLE — Jury duty — that exercise in civics, that contract with democracy — isn't always embraced with gusto.

Least of all, perhaps, by Daniel Ellis.

Ellis, of East Falmouth, was skewered in Barnstable Superior Court yesterday for allegedly attempting to free himself from jury service by claiming he is a racist, a homophobe, and a liar. It was the worst case of jury duty avoidance Judge Gary Nickerson said he had ever seen, according to a preliminary transcript of proceedings.

"You say on your form that you're not a fan of homosexuals —" Nickerson began.

"That I'm a racist," Ellis interrupted.

"I'm frequently found to be a liar, too. I can't really help it," Ellis elaborated moments later.

"I'm sorry?" Nickerson said.

"I said I'm frequently found to be a liar," Ellis replied.

"So, are you lying to me now?" Nickerson asked.

"Well, I don't know. I might be."

Ellis, of 49 Sidewinder Road, had been called in with about 60 other potential jurors for possible service on a 23-member grand jury, which doesn't determine guilt or innocence but only whether prosecutors have enough evidence for a felony trial.

Potential jurors fill out a questionnaire with biographical information. On his form, Ellis apparently wrote that he was "not a fan of homosexuals and most blacks."

Now the dumbass may face perjury charges. They really are scraping the bottom of the barrel for potential jurors there.

Speaking of which, not mentioned in this story was the fact a drunken murderer was also called to jury at the same location Monday.

BARNSTABLE, Mass. - U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., reported for jury duty Monday, but was released from serving when a grand jury was chosen before his number was called.



Superior Court Judge Gary Nickerson got a big laugh in the courtroom when he acknowledged Kennedy’s presence and said, "He couldn’t get out of jury duty either."

Kennedy called the jury selection process "very impressive" and recalled that his wife, Victoria, served on a Barnstable jury for a three-day trial about 12 years ago.

Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.