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Summons

I’ve been called for jury duty at federal district court in Phoenix and have received a juror questionnaire from one Judge Silver that simply floored me.

I was asked in a document that I’m required to fill out what newspapers and magazines I read; what books I read; what TV shows I watch; whether I have bumper stickers on my car and their content.

Name a person whom I admire and state why. Do I approve or disapprove of homeschooling? What do I like/dislike about my job; what is my spouse’s occupation; what are my children’s occupations? Do I or family members own guns? Do I use social media?

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Summons

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I’ve been called for jury duty at federal district court in Phoenix and have received a juror questionnaire from one Judge Silver that simply floored me.

I was asked in a document that I’m required to fill out what newspapers and magazines I read; what books I read; what TV shows I watch; whether I have bumper stickers on my car and their content.

Name a person whom I admire and state why. Do I approve or disapprove of homeschooling? What do I like/dislike about my job; what is my spouse’s occupation; what are my children’s occupations? Do I or family members own guns? Do I use social media?

Since when can a federal judge (or any federal entity) demand to know what I read, what I watch, whether I use social media, whom I admire, whether I’m happy in my job, whether there is a bumper sticker on my car, what I think of homeschooling?

I understand the court’s need to verify that jurors are fair-minded and reasonably intelligent. But these types of questions are too intrusive. What will they ask next? Do you prefer cats or dogs? Are you considering changing gender? Did you vote for Donald Trump?

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