Dalmatian90
01-05-2005, 12:17 PM
Supreme Court justice shows up for jury duty in Marlborough court
By Gina Holland / Associated Press
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
MARLBOROUGH -- No one took any notice of the tall, slim man who appeared yesterday for jury duty. Had he worn his black robe, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer no doubt would have drawn more attention.
Even Marlborough District Court Judge Thomas Sullivan Jr. did not recognize Breyer, a Cambridge resident, until he read the justice's name on a document listing potential jurors for cases he was hearing.
"When I looked at the slip, I said, 'Oh, my God,'" Sullivan said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
Two cases were to be heard, one for drunken driving and another for assault. Enough jurors were picked for the assault case before Breyer's name was called, and the defense attorney in the drunken driving case excluded the justice from that jury.
According to Sullivan, the defense attorney said, "The last thing I need is two judges on the case."
Breyer, 66, said he felt it was important to do his civic duty and report to the courthouse. He divides his time between Washington and Massachusetts.
"It proves that everyone can participate, and in a democracy that is important," Breyer said.
Sullivan was impressed.
"If anyone could have made a phone call and gotten out of it, he could have. He really wanted to sit on the case," Sullivan said. "That might put some other people to shame who were planning to try to get out of jury duty."
By Gina Holland / Associated Press
Wednesday, January 5, 2005
MARLBOROUGH -- No one took any notice of the tall, slim man who appeared yesterday for jury duty. Had he worn his black robe, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer no doubt would have drawn more attention.
Even Marlborough District Court Judge Thomas Sullivan Jr. did not recognize Breyer, a Cambridge resident, until he read the justice's name on a document listing potential jurors for cases he was hearing.
"When I looked at the slip, I said, 'Oh, my God,'" Sullivan said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
Two cases were to be heard, one for drunken driving and another for assault. Enough jurors were picked for the assault case before Breyer's name was called, and the defense attorney in the drunken driving case excluded the justice from that jury.
According to Sullivan, the defense attorney said, "The last thing I need is two judges on the case."
Breyer, 66, said he felt it was important to do his civic duty and report to the courthouse. He divides his time between Washington and Massachusetts.
"It proves that everyone can participate, and in a democracy that is important," Breyer said.
Sullivan was impressed.
"If anyone could have made a phone call and gotten out of it, he could have. He really wanted to sit on the case," Sullivan said. "That might put some other people to shame who were planning to try to get out of jury duty."