Judge Lets Jurors Know They Can't Escape Duty

DETROIT (WWJ) - A U.S. District Court Judge ordered five jurors who failed to appear for jury duty to a hearing Friday.

WWJ's Beth Fisher reports on the jurors who had their day in court.

Judge David Lawson listened to the excuses; work, childcare and one who said he never received the notices.

Lawson dismissed one man who claimed he didn't receive the letters because his grandfather has dementia and may have thrown them out.

That didn't sit well with James Elzi who was fined $100 and ordered to do 20 hours of community service because he failed to appear for jury duty.

"Yeah, it was the dude before me, he had a fabulous story, he said his grandfather had dementia and he lost two of the letters, but grandpa didn't lose the one that said they'll be a warrant if you don't come," said Elzi.

Elzi told the judge that he did get one and rescheduled because of work and he just forgot about the other one.

"All these criminals running around here, running around the court building, matter of fact, and they want to prosecute people for jury duty. C'mon now, America - we got to do better than this, I feel like Bernie Mac right now," said Elzi.

WWJ Legal Analyst and Talk Radio 1270 morning show host Charlie Langton says the judge is sending a message and maybe people will take jury duty more seriously.

"Because you have a job, you have kids - those are not good excuses, you have to rearrange your schedule to serve on jury duty - is it an inconvenience - yes. It is unfair, perhaps but yes, it's the law," said Langton. "And if you break the law you are going to pay the consequences."

Elzi says he's being persecuted - when he thinks that guy faked his story.

The judge did issue bench warrants for two no shows to court.