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- Path: sparky!uunet!charon.amdahl.com!pacbell.com!ames!olivea!bunker!hcap!hnews!124!2120!Ann.Stalnaker
- From: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Stalnaker)
- Newsgroups: misc.handicap
- Subject: JURORS
- Message-ID: <25710@handicap.news>
- Date: 18 Nov 92 21:23:17 GMT
- Sender: news@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
- Reply-To: Ann.Stalnaker@f2120.n124.z1.fidonet.org
- Organization: FidoNet node 1:124/2120 - Fingers Talk, Irving TX
- Lines: 43
- Approved: wtm@hnews.fidonet.org
- X-Fidonet: Silent Talk Conference
- Originator: wtm@sheldev.shel.isc-br.com
-
- Index Number: 25710
-
- [This is from the Silent Talk Conference]
-
- LG> What does everyone think about deaf people on juries? I think that, if a
- LG> deaf person is accused of a crime, it is only basic
- LG> justice to provide him with a free interpreter or with
- LG> captioning.
-
- The law states an interpreter will be provided for a deaf person
- who is arrested for a crime and the same goes for appearing in
- court, etc. One needs to contact their local DHS ahead of
- time when appearing in court. I don't know about elsewhere but
- I do know in this part of the country, all police officers,
- hospital personnel and ambulance personnel are being trained
- to sign the basics as well as being provided with small cards
- to carry that show the signs. Many state agencies are providing
- this training for city and state officials.
-
- LG> But deaf jurors are something different. Contrary to what
- LG> some deaf people believe, the purpose of a jury trial is not
- LG> to provide an interesting, exciting experience for the
- LG> jurors.
-
- It is very doubtful open captioning would be provided during
- a jury trial but it is the right of every hearing impaired
- individual to request an interpreter, sign or oral, if they
- are summoned for jury duty. I've been summoned three times,
- the first two I was excused but the third time, I let the
- judge talk me out of serving - something I regretted doing
- but no sense in dwelling over it. With the ADA now in
- effect and more awareness of our rights and needs, I think
- we'll be seeing more hearing impaired people serve on the
- jury.
-
- There are quite a few hearing impaired attorneys practicing
- now - most of them are oral, many of them use TC. My
- brother is one of them. A few years ago, there were only
- 5 known deaf attorneys but nowadays there are more.
-
- --
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