Judge fines man for skipping jury duty to drink

by The Associated Press

» 3 Comments

Story Published: Oct 7, 2008 at 11:45 AM CST

Story Updated: Oct 7, 2008 at 11:45 AM CST

By Gene Hartley

JACKSON, Mo. -- Curtis Lemons was supposed to report for jury duty in a drunken driving case. Instead, according to a sheriff’s deputy, the 50-year-old man from Cape Girardeau skipped jury duty so he himself could drink.

Lemons received a summons to appear as a prospective juror. When he didn't show up on Monday, a bailiff called his house. Lemons told the bailiff he was too busy to come to court.

Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Scott Thomsen instructed officers to bring Lemons to the courthouse. Deputies say they detected a strong odor of alcohol on him. They kept Lemons in custody during the driving-while-intoxicated trial.

Lemons told the judge that he had been drinking rum in the morning. Thomsen found Lemons in contempt of court and fined him $250.

Wednesday, Oct 8 at 4:09 PM redneckdrum wrote ...

Don't need anybody like this on a jury anyhow,no big loss.

Wednesday, Oct 8 at 1:18 PM CALHOUN2 wrote ...

I'LL TELL YOU HOW TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY. RESPOND ON THE NOTICE OF JURY DUTY FORM, "HE/SHE MUST BE QUILTY, HE/SHE IS IN YOUR JAIL, KEEP'EM THERE" WORKED FOR ME

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 10:07 PM Concerned citizen wrote ...

This man should serve 30 days for contempt, also, what kind of jury would this have been had he showed up, and had been drinking, people have no concern for our government and how it works.

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