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By Charlie Spiering
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
Rappahannock jurors were reminded last Friday that failing to appear for jury duty results in a stiff penalty.
After seven jurors failed to show up for a July 5 hearing, Judge Jeffery Parker demanded each absent juror to explain why in the Rappahannock District Court last Friday.
Most of the jurors said that they had been aware of their previous scheduled appearances, but had failed to remember the most recent date, July 5.
“I was helping put on the 4th of July celebration on Route 522,” said one failed juror, who added that she had been keeping a list of dates handy to remind her. “I completely forgot,” she admitted.
Parker asked her to stand to the side, as she was found to be in contempt of court.
Other jurors joined her as each admitted that they forgot the date that fell right after Independence Day.
Parker noted that for each trial, the court had issued subpoenas and scheduled witnesses - as well as lawyers from both sides - who were ready for trial.
“Forgetting is not acceptable to the court,” Parker stated during the ruling. “I’m not going to pretend that I have not forgotten things in my life, we all have, but the fact remains that when we have these jury trials set, we have plan on people being here.”
The jurors included Mark Ames, Melissa Clinedinst, Connie S. Davenport, David Poe, Gregory Robertson, and Caroline Ruffner.
Judge Parker fined each juror $100 for failing to appear, but gave
See JURORS, Page A2
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