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Should atheists have to do jury duty? Will I be able to do my civic duty without placing my hand on the bible? I'm being threatened with arrest if I don't show. Will I also be arrested if I refuse to put my hand on the bible and acknowledge a deity?

IAJO163 8 June 2
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62 comments

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2

Almost nowhere uses a babbleor any other "holy book" to swear on, they simply ask you to affirm/attest/agree to tell the truth (if a witness) or do your duty (if a juror), no melodrama! Show up, ferpetssake!

12

I’ve served on juries and they just had us sign a form that said “swear or affirm” Go do your civic duty.

12

I've done jury duty. I did not put my hand on a bible and swear to "god".
You can just say you object to being sworn in on a bible, that's not illegal,
and you cannot be arrested.

You can simply affirm that you will do your duty, and be truthful.
Take a breath. You'll be okay.

8

You do not have to place your hand on a Bible. Where did you get that idea? Witnesses are sworn and they don't have to use a Bible either. They need only affirm that they will tell the truth. If you do not show up a bench warrant may well be issued against you.

8

The U.S. Constitution prohibits a religious test for public office in Article 6: "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust." Judicial decisions apply. The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 448 (1961), in a case brought by a nonbeliever in Maryland who was given a religious oath when he applied to become a notary public. The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which is applied to state and local governments by Amendment 14, prohibits government was forcing a person to profess a belief in God or in any religion as a condition of obtaining public services or benefits. Despite the Torcaso decision, a few states are holdouts and have retained unconstitutional religious tests for public office, for jury duty, etc. However, there have been a variety of lower-court decisions on the matter, including People v. Velarde, 616P.2d 104 (1980), in which the Colorado Supreme Court held that, although jurors are required to state affirmations, they are not required to swear an oath to a god.

8

When I was a juror recently, the oath was secular, and there was no Bible involved.

Orbit Level 7 June 2, 2019
8

I have served on jury many times...no Bible...tell the court clerk ahead of time if you are concerned...

7

I did it last year. No bibles were used nor harmed.

7

It’s not requirement to lay your hand on the bible and swear an oath, but it is to attend court on response a summons to do so. In any case swearing on a bible would have no real significance even if you did have to...it’s just a book, pretend it’s Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

7

Jury duty is an obligation, like paying taxes, that comes with civilization. In Mass, you'll be arrested for blowing it off, even if you're a judge. I don't think that you'll have to place your hand on a bible if you object.

7

If I was on trial, I would want Atheists jurors on my panel!!!

6

I have served on both local and Federal juries here in Philadelphia, and had only to affirm. The bible was not used.

6

Just show up and do your duty. And remember: If the accused is black, latino, woman, atheist, gay, transgender, hippie or democrat, vote "not guilty".

Unless they're guilty. Because of this thing called evidence.

@Paul4747 Everybody is guilty nowadays. But here is a secret: Those I mentioned will never get pardoned by the president.

@COGITOERGOSUM Uh huh. And then what happened?

6

You are not required to put your hand on a bible, swear to god, etc. It's a popular misunderstanding.

5

I go to court often, only asked to say I will tell the truth. there isnt even a bible in the table. I am always glad there is water, though.

5

You actually think you have to swear on a bible?

Seriously?

5

Don't have to put your hand on the bible.

5

The was no Bible involved when I did jury duty.

5

It is very important to uphold the right and honor of executing one's civic duty. Placing one's hand on the bible is only a minor inconvenience.,

5

When I was sworn in as a lawyer, I asked not to have a bible present, nor to say, "so help me God." "Because," I said, "I am an atheist." The judge who swore me in accommodated my wishes.

4

In UK there is no swearing on the bible/qoran etc you just swear to tell the truth.

you do not have to swear on a bible here either. one is asked to swear or affirm. no bible is involved. the fuss is over nothing here.

g

4

Our courts have made provisions so you don’t need to swear on a bible, but when you go to the grocery store you will be using currency that states that you trust in a god.

@maturin1919, My point exactly. Why did our government decide to make declarations on our currency that not everyone holds to be true?

Should debit and credit cards say "In God We Trust"? Lol

@ClaytonE83, Don't give them any ideas...lol

@maturin1919, It doesn’t for me either, but I think it attempts to.

@ClaytonE83 Nah, the credit card slogan can be ‘In Amex We Trust’. Just an updated version of the same idea!

@Sandman07 it was the 50's and The Red Menace threarened....plus Joseph McCarthy & his witch hunts....that's when the words "under God" got put into the Pledge of Allegiance, too. I was in 4th grade & we had to rehearse the new words/cadence of the Pledge, which we said every day at the start of school. I remember how upset & unhappy a lot of the adults were over all of this, people had excellent Civics/History education then, and understood Seperation of Church & State & how important it was, but, even then the religious faction could ram things thru

@AnneWimsey I remember reciting the pledge when I was in kindergarten in the early 60s. And yes, "under God" was in it. For me, there was not a time when it wasn't. Of course, at that age I didn't think anything of it. I just said what they told me to say. The words could have been "under Bugs Bunny" and I wouldn't have gave a shit.

4

Of course you have to do your civic duty if you want the civic benefits. And if you care about swearing on a bible you’re not really an atheist you are just an argumentative pedant. An explanation of your situation would be sufficient without creating drama!

@maturin1919 How so? It’s America. The most god fearing nation on the planet! Perhaps have a library of every influential texts from the Torah to a DVD of The Return of The Jedi to cover all influential based.

An agnostic/atheist has no need to be concerned about some divine intervention if they do not give an honest testimony I should have thought.

If the ‘holy’ text were The Blind Watchmaker would there be a fuss from the non-believer fraternity?

@maturin1919 I shouldn’t think so but more damage is being done by a religious judiciary than a lump of paper, ink and leather.

@Geoffrey51 yes, it is America where, thanks to the ACLU/Bill of Rights, you can swear/affirm on nothing, or on "Lady Chatterley's Lover" if you wish, and have been able to do so for decades. Less hangdog & more educating yourself would be Great!

4

there is no requirement to put your hand on a bible. every court lets you affirm, without any religious reference.

g

4

Btw I am fairly sure swearing in is for witnesses not jurors. 😊

I never actually got to sit for jury duty - and now I never will (medical exemption - I can't sit that long). And I really wanted to! It kind of looked interesting?

Now call your courthouse tomorrow and find out. No sense getting in trouble if you're mistaken.

@Stevil I really would have enjoyed that! Everyone I know who has gone has sort of enjoyed the experience. It's pretty fascinating.

The one case I almost sat on - they let me go home after a few questions that seemed very random - I'm sure I read as too liberal. (sigh).

@Stevil Like the poor guy hadn't had a bad enough day without the cop getting involved with a wreck that happened on his own property? hahaha.... OMG. His poor wife? I can only hope it happened before she got into he car.

@Stevil Poor dude! He needed a ride to the hospital. And a tow. Not a ticket. lol

@Stevil I'm 99% sure it will be a criminal case if I get chosen. LOL!!!

4

Why not? We're more likely to care about the facts than those who aren't. Having dealt with the law from time to time (not me), you don't have to put your hand on a bible. Nor are you required to say, "So help me god."

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