Jury Duty

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - A Gerrardstown, W.Va., man who received a $1,000 fine for failing to appear last month in Berkeley County Circuit Court for jury duty in a murder trial wasn't the only prospective juror punished, according to records maintained by Circuit Clerk Virginia M. Sine. In addition to slapping Philip Fisher V with a fine for what 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge David H. Sanders described as "egregious" behavior in ducking jury duty, two other prospective jurors also were punished - Dale Averella was fined $150 and Dylan Corbin was fined $50. They were among the five jurors who failed to appear for Thomas A. Dawson's murder trial, according to records.

Washington County State's Attorney Ken Long made a surprise appearance Thursday in the Washington County Circuit Court building as a juror. Long said he didn't try to use his leverage as one of the county's top law enforcers to get him out of jury duty, but the irony didn't keep others from having a good time at his expense. "I wanted to do my civic duty. If you get the opportunity to do it, do it," said Long, who usually spends his days upholding the laws of Maryland as the county's chief prosecutor.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A 23rd Judicial Circuit judge on Monday requested 60 people be summoned for jury duty in the upcoming murder trial of a New York City man accused in the shooting death of Martinsburg resident Donald L. "Dee" Redman. Judge Gray Silver III said he felt "comfortable" with the number for John J. Grant's trial after experiencing problems with getting enough people to show up for jury duty. Grant, aka "Butter," is accused of shooting Redman, 29, in the head at a North Third Street residence in Martinsburg in the early morning of Oct. 27, 2005.

Jurors who fail to arrive for jury duty more than once might have Sheriff's deputies knocking on their door, and working out of town or caring for small children are not valid reasons for residents to be excused from jury duty, according to Washington County Circuit Court Clerk Dennis Weaver. Any Washington County resident registered to vote or holding a driver's license or a state identification card could be called to jury duty, he said. Each year, 1,200 people are randomly chosen to serve as jurors for criminal and civil cases.

Hagerstown Police issued a warning Thursday about a new scam that has showed up in several states. Police said someone calls pretending to work for a local court, saying the person getting the call has failed to report for jury duty and a warrant was issued for the person's arrest. The victim says he or she never received a jury duty notice. The caller then asks for personal information - such as Social Security number, date of birth and credit card number - for "verification" purposes.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Gerrardstown, W.Va., man who received a $1,000 fine for failing to appear last month in Berkeley County Circuit Court for jury duty in a murder trial wasn't the only prospective juror punished, according to records maintained by Circuit Clerk Virginia M. Sine. In addition to slapping Philip Fisher V with a fine for what 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge David H. Sanders described as "egregious" behavior in ducking jury duty, two other prospective jurors also were punished - Dale Averella was fined $150 and Dylan Corbin was fined $50. They were among the five jurors who failed to appear for Thomas A. Dawson's murder trial, according to records.

I was sitting in the company breakroom the other day when I saw Herald-Mail managing editor Linda Duffield stalk up Summit Avenue. From all appearances she was dissatisfied about something. Linda is a tough, former AP reporter from the days when journalism wasn't so much an enterprise of pretty writing as it was an enterprise of full-bore attack. She was burning through a cigarette at about a half-inch-a-drag pace and it didn't seem a wise time for engaging in conversation.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Having twice failed to show up for jury selection, Terrance Williams was contrite Tuesday when he appeared for a juror contempt hearing before Franklin County Judge John R. Walker. "It was complete negligence on my part," Williams told Walker. Court Administrator Neil Burkholder told Walker that Williams did not acknowledge a summons to appear for jury duty in May, nor did he respond to a notice served by the sheriff's office to appear for the July trial term.

BALTIMORE (AP) - A man who tried to get out of jury duty by throwing a tantrum ended up with a jail sentence. And he still has to serve on a jury. Raleigh Brent, 43, was sentenced Thursday to serve one day in jail, pay a $100 fine, and report again for jury duty in February. The affluent insurance salesman asked Circuit Judge Kathleen O'Ferrall Friedman on Wednesday whether he could be excused because he wanted to attend a recital by his daughter and keep a business appointment.

HAGERSTOWN - The verdict came in 20 years ago. The sentence was life - a lifetime of friendship for a group of strangers brought together by jury duty. A core group of those former jurors has been enjoying "time served" on their sentence, which began in December 1985. "We started out with a picnic in August 1986 that was going to be once a year," ex-juror Maryann Miller said. That first event was so enjoyable, the group and their spouses decided to make it twice a month for dinner.

"This is for the Sharpsburg caller who made the comment about organizing a work crew, road crew and then being qualified to be president. This is, I guess that would be better than one who was an alcoholic and a drug addict, couldn't finish his military time and then was elected president. " - Hagerstown "When I read Mail Call, I can't help but sense people are genuinely miserable. Maybe it's because the Orioles are doing so badly. Maybe it's because the comics aren't that funny anymore.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Having twice failed to show up for jury selection, Terrance Williams was contrite Tuesday when he appeared for a juror contempt hearing before Franklin County Judge John R. Walker. "It was complete negligence on my part," Williams told Walker. Court Administrator Neil Burkholder told Walker that Williams did not acknowledge a summons to appear for jury duty in May, nor did he respond to a notice served by the sheriff's office to appear for the July trial term.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A 23rd Judicial Circuit judge on Monday requested 60 people be summoned for jury duty in the upcoming murder trial of a New York City man accused in the shooting death of Martinsburg resident Donald L. "Dee" Redman. Judge Gray Silver III said he felt "comfortable" with the number for John J. Grant's trial after experiencing problems with getting enough people to show up for jury duty. Grant, aka "Butter," is accused of shooting Redman, 29, in the head at a North Third Street residence in Martinsburg in the early morning of Oct. 27, 2005.

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - A Gerrardstown, W.Va., man who received a $1,000 fine for failing to appear last month in Berkeley County Circuit Court for jury duty in a murder trial wasn't the only prospective juror punished, according to records maintained by Circuit Clerk Virginia M. Sine. In addition to slapping Philip Fisher V with a fine for what 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge David H. Sanders described as "egregious" behavior in ducking jury duty, two other prospective jurors also were punished - Dale Averella was fined $150 and Dylan Corbin was fined $50. They were among the five jurors who failed to appear for Thomas A. Dawson's murder trial, according to records.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A Gerrardstown, W.Va., man who received a $1,000 fine for failing to appear last month in Berkeley County Circuit Court for jury duty in a murder trial wasn't the only prospective juror punished, according to records maintained by Circuit Clerk Virginia M. Sine. In addition to slapping Philip Fisher V with a fine for what 23rd Judicial Circuit Judge David H. Sanders described as "egregious" behavior in ducking jury duty, two other prospective jurors also were punished - Dale Averella was fined $150 and Dylan Corbin was fined $50. They were among the five jurors who failed to appear for Thomas A. Dawson's murder trial, according to records.

Jurors who fail to arrive for jury duty more than once might have Sheriff's deputies knocking on their door, and working out of town or caring for small children are not valid reasons for residents to be excused from jury duty, according to Washington County Circuit Court Clerk Dennis Weaver. Any Washington County resident registered to vote or holding a driver's license or a state identification card could be called to jury duty, he said. Each year, 1,200 people are randomly chosen to serve as jurors for criminal and civil cases.

Last week's question Members of the Hagerstown City Council changed their minds a couple of times on the procedure for replacing Kristin Aleshire. How should they do it if a vacancy occurs again? The next highest vote-getter should be placed in the vacant seat. We the people elected them, (not) the sitting body. Judging by who the people vote for, I don't think it would be a good idea to let the people decide. Elect two alternates when you have elections.

HAGERSTOWN - The trial for an inmate charged with murder in the death a Roxbury Correctional Institution officer will be moved out of Washington County. Circuit Judge Frederick C. Wright III granted Brandon T. Morris' request for a change of venue during a motions hearing Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court. Morris' attorneys argued that pretrial publicity and a large number of employees at state prisons in the county and Washington County Hospital would prevent Morris from getting a fair trial here.

HAGERSTOWN The trial for an inmate charged with murder in the death a Roxbury Correctional Institution officer will be moved out of Washington County. Circuit Judge Frederick C. Wright III granted Brandon T. Morris' request for a change of venue during a motions hearing Wednesday in Washington County Circuit Court. Morris' attorneys argued that pretrial publicity and a large number of employees at state prisons in the county and Washington County Hospital would prevent Morris from getting a fair trial here.

HAGERSTOWN - The verdict came in 20 years ago. The sentence was life - a lifetime of friendship for a group of strangers brought together by jury duty. A core group of those former jurors has been enjoying "time served" on their sentence, which began in December 1985. "We started out with a picnic in August 1986 that was going to be once a year," ex-juror Maryann Miller said. That first event was so enjoyable, the group and their spouses decided to make it twice a month for dinner.