Ruby Wax On Mental Illness

What's So Funny About Mental Illness?

Thought Provocation

Tasso In The Madhouse
Eugène Delacroix
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

• What ratio of people suffer from some form of Mental Illness?


• What can prevent a baby from distinguishing right from wrong?


• Which brain lobe enables vision?


• Which brain lobe enables hearing?


• Does illness in every organ induce sympathy, except the brain?


• How can you foster dendrite growth? Would you want to? Why?

Please view this post featuring Elyn Saks for her TEDTalk about mental illness.

How Do New Jersey Courts Decide Who To Summon For Jury Duty?

Cumberland County Courthouse
60 W. Broad St.
Bridgeton, NJ 08302

---

Photograph by Tim Kiser
(Self-photographed)
CC-BY-SA-2.5
via Wikimedia Commons

Who Is Responsible For Summoning Jurors?

The Assignment Judge of the vicinage bears the responsibility to summon jurors.

Superior Courts in New Jersey have jurisdiction over defined geographical areas.

These areas are called vicinages.

Eleven New Jersey vicinages coincide with the county where the courthouse stands. For example, the boundaries of Vicinage 4 coincide with the borders of Camden County.

Four vicinages, however, comprise more than one county. For example, Vicinage 15 includes Gloucester County, Cumberland County, and Salem County.

One judge in each vicinage bears the designation "Assignment Judge" ("A.J."). The A.J.'s authority extends throughout the vicinage.

The A.J. oversees the administration of summoning jurors.

How Does An Assignment Judge Decide Who To Summon For Jury Duty?

The Assignment Judge administers a process that is public and random.

Previously I described how New Jersey courts compile juror source lists. The A.J. administers the drawing of names from the juror source list before each Superior Court session.

The names drawn from the juror source list will be summoned either for grand jury or petit jury service.

The Assignment Judge must specify:

• how many panels of grand and petit jurors should be drawn,
• how many names should be drawn for each panel, and
• how the lists of names should be prepared.

When circumstances require additional grand or petit jury panels, an A.J. must provide the additional panels from the juror source list.

Drawing names and assigning individuals to panels must be public and random.

What Information About Citizens Is Collected?

The Assignment Judge gathers information about each juror's identity.

The resulting list must consist of each person's:

• name,
• address, and
• occupation, if available.

Are Tax Dollars Spent On An Efficient Summoning Process?

New Jersey courts embrace modern technology for efficient administration of randomly selecting jurors and assigning them to panels.

If modern technology is used for greater efficiency, the Assignment Judge must maintain the integrity of the courts.

To maintain the integrity of the judiciary the Assignment Judge must:

1. specify with particularity the method of random selection in his instructions, and
2. make available upon request for public inspection the specification of the method and any programs and procedures used to implement the method, including any computer programs.

New Jersey Trial Attorney, Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Based on trial experience, which includes selecting juries, Mr. Smolensky would like to help you.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

New Jersey Juror Summons, Questionnaire, and Penalties

Salem County Courthouse
92 Market Street
Salem, New Jersey 08079

Previously I blogged about the New Jersey Juror Questionnaire. That post, and a post about The Six Requirements for Jury Duty in New Jersey, describe:

• the court's authority to summon jurors and mail a questionnaire,
• examples of questions one may expect to be asked, and
• the legal basis for the questions.

A prospective juror must not ignore either the summons or the questionnaire.

Failure to respond to the questionnaire, failure to appear for jury service, or refusal to serve, will subject a person to a fine of up to $500, or punishment for contempt of court.

The only defense for an incompliant citizen is to appear in court with a reasonable excuse. A judge will determine whether the excuse is objectively reasonable.

This means New Jersey citizens are expected to cooperate with the courts. An individual who believes he should be exempt is expected to communicate his reasons to the court. Cooperation allows the courts to hear the reasons for an exemption request, and to decide accordingly.

Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all cases regarding the right to trial in New Jersey.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

Do You Want “Bruce Lee” Wisdom?

Be retweetable my friend.

~> ~> Follow Me <~ <~

Statue of Bruce Lee,
by 文子言木 (Own work)
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

New Jersey Juror Questionnaire

Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
March 8, 1841–March 6, 1935
U.S. Supreme Court, 1902-1932

How would it make you feel...

To receive a questionnaire in the mail?

To realize it is from the government?

To find out it is mandatory?

To see that stamp of Oliver Wendell Holmes?

Would your feeling change if...

This were your ticket to get out of jury service?

Indeed, any New Jersey citizen on the juror source list could receive a questionnaire. (It is unlikely, however, that stamp of Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., will appear on it.)

Sent by the Assignment Judge of each county, the answers enable our courts to determine whether:

• one is qualified for jury service,
• grounds exist for claims of exemption, or
• grounds exist to grant a deferral of service.

A questionnaire may arrive with service of a jury service summons. Or it may arrive before service of the summons. In my county, the Assignment Judge sent the questionnaire with the a jury service summons.

Corresponding with the six requirements for jury duty in New Jersey, the questions inquire about various personal issues.

Age Qualifications

• Are you 18 years of age or older?
• If you are age 75 or older, do you want to be excused?

Residency Qualifications

• Are you a resident of the county where the court sits?
• Are you a resident of the United States?

Physical and Mental Ability

• Are you mentally and physically able to perform the functions of a juror?
• Can you read and understand English?

Criminal Disqualifications

These questions are not about traffic or disorderly person offenses.

• Have you been convicted or pleaded guilty to a crime?
• What is your criminal history?

Employment

• Who is your employer?
• What is your occupation?
• Are you employed full time by
  • the State of NJ, or
  • any county, municipality, public school or college,
  • or any NJ government agency, commission, entity, etc?

Other Personal Questions

• What is your phone number?
• What is your date of birth?

Trial Attorney Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all cases regarding jury and bench trials.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

The Four Sources of Juror Lists in New Jersey

Juror Source Lists

Le triomphe de la Justice
Louis-Jean-Jacques Durameau (1733-1796)
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

Did you ever wonder how a court tracked down you, a New Jersey resident, for jury duty?

Each year, if not more frequently, the Assignment Judge of the county court where you live combines the following lists of New Jersey residents:

• Registered voters,
• Licensed drivers,
• Filers of State gross income tax returns, and
• Filers of homestead rebate or credit application forms.

The Assignment Judge receives these sources from the:

• County election board,
• Motor Vehicle Commission (formerly Division of Motor Vehicles), and
• State Division of Taxation

This is not an exhaustive list. Either the Assignment Judge or the Supreme Court of New Jersey may rely on other sources to contribute to the breadth of the juror list.

Merger into a single list, however, must include reasonable efforts to eliminate name duplication.

Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all cases regarding jury selection and trial in New Jersey.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

The Six Requirements for Jury Duty in New Jersey

The Jury, by John Morgan
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Previously I blogged about jury duty in New Jersey.

Continuing with the same topic, this post will provide the qualifications for jury service in New Jersey.

Under New Jersey law, every person summoned as a juror must:

1. be 18 years of age or older,
2. be able to read and understand the English language,
3. be a citizen of the United States,
4. be a resident of the county in which the person is summoned,
5. not have been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of this State, another state, or the United States, and
6. not have any mental or physical disability which will prevent the person from properly serving as a juror.

Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all cases regarding jury and bench trials.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

Whitman's “City Invincible” is Camden, not Camelot

Daydreaming
(The Shoe Shine Boy)
John George Brown (1831-1913)
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

“In a dream I saw a city invincible.”

The proud motto of America's poorest city, Camden, New Jersey, appears above its City Hall entrance.

Derived from Walt Whitman's I Dream'd In A Dream, the motto is somewhat ironic.

Because of rampant poverty and crime, it is only in a dream where one may hope to see Camden as an invincible city.

And because of the city's decay, one expects most people would hope to see Camden never at all.

Despite the irony, however, the choice of these words from Whitman's poem is also fitting.

Its ambiguous opening may mean this describes a dream within a dream.

Indeed, assuming this was Whitman's intent, the poet's dream represents unattainable human aspiration.

I Dream'd In A Dream

I dream'd in a dream, I saw a city invincible to the attacks
    of the whole of the rest of the earth,
I dream’d that was the new City of Friends,
Nothing was greater there than the quality of robust love—it led the rest,
It was seen every hour in the actions of the men of that city,
And in all their looks and words.

Camden, America's poorest city, fights crime, poverty
March 8, 2013

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Although Camelot may never come to Camden, her residents today hope and dream of a better future there.

South Jersey Criminal Defense Trial Attorney Michael Smolensky, Esq., knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all criminal cases pending in a New Jersey court.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

Camden, New Jersey

America’s poorest city struggles with crime, violence
March 7, 2013

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Le Marauder
François Barraud (1899–1934)
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

Is Camden really like this?

I attended Rutgers School of Law—Camden, and I clerked for a criminal court judge in Camden.

To truly begin addressing Camden's many problems, one must understand it is a city of many contradictions.

People in Camden need help. But the people I have met distrusted any hint of benevolence.

Many people in Camden did not complete high school. Despite opportunities for further education, only a few people have embraced them.

In a city where the poor steal from the destitute, where people shun gainful employment because it means loss of Medicaid, and where rodents feast while people live in poverty, is it any surprise that local leaders are running in a hamster wheel? Under these circumstances, one can easily become jaded by Camden's daily vagaries.

Yes, Camden is really like this.

Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Smolensky, Esq., knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all criminal cases pending in a New Jersey court.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

“You The Juror” -- Jury Duty in New Jersey

Not Just Another Day

Trial By Jury
(or Laying Down The Law)
Edwin Henry Landseer
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

Earlier this week I went to court. “Mike,” one may wonder. “Is this different from any other day?”

I noticed, while standing outside the Jury Orientation Room, many among the hundreds assembled had found seats.

But a substantial number in the crowded room were standing.

Court staff were not playing the New Jersey Judiciary Orientation Video. Instead, a single staff member addressed the group in the orientation area. She did not have a microphone or amplification equipment.

Confusion Breeds Contempt

Observing all this, I wondered whether the speaker was aware of a simple truth: jurors feel nervous about jury duty.

Before orientation, various questions occupy one's thoughts. Without knowing what will take place in the court, the fears may appear the evening before jury service begins. Interruptions to one's ordinary routine may increase the anxiety. One's commute may cause unwelcome confusion. None of these emotions, however, dissipate upon setting foot in the courthouse.

Without belaboring the point, trial-by-jury is not supposed to be a dog-and-pony show. I trust the court is working with all deliberate speed to fix the malfunctioning audio-video system. I expect court staff would prefer these things not break. Indeed, without knowing the nature and extent of the cause of the technical problem, I cannot attribute any shortcomings to this branch of government or its employees.

It is easy, however, for me to judge the circumstances this way. I do not know the cause of the technical failures. Similarly, I do not know the impression the judiciary left on the individuals who had been summoned for jury duty. This illustrates the difference between common sense and speculation.

The New Jersey Judiciary Juror Orientation Videos

New Jersey Judiciary Juror Orientation Video Part 1.

First half of instructional video for those called for jury duty.

New Jersey Judiciary Juror Orientation Video Part 2.

Second half of instructional video for those called for jury duty.

New Jersey Lawyer Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all cases regarding the right to trial by jury.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.

Where Are Dishonest Attorneys Minted?

The Art Expert
By Adolf von Becker (1831 - 1909)
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

Does a character trait for honesty matter in the legal profession? Based on my professional experience, a mere character trait for honesty is not enough. A lawyer should make it a professional habit.

Without resorting to ethical rules, the reason is simple. Among other considerations, one accustomed to conducting business out of court amid exaggeration, fabrication, deception, and subterfuge can be expected to do the same in court. And you had better believe that it absolutely matters in court. In addition, clients not only expect but more importantly deserve honesty and candor.

During the summer after my first year of law school (1L year), many fellow students competed for a position with Rutgers Law Journal.

True to the time honored tradition of law school indoctrination, we were told during the 1L academic year about the importance of Law Journal as to one's career.

Some of my classmates, like me, were indoctrinated before we set foot on campus. Naturally, those of us who were accepted on Law Journal thought we had clenched the brass ring.

But it turns out the opportunities we had imagined and hoped for did not materialize. Rest assured, however, I am unable to name anyone who committed any of the egregious violations of trust mentioned above.

Despite my personal experience, I continue to believe the story was true, once upon a time. Furthermore, it is only fair to admit that as I write this I can think of classmates who benefited from volunteering for Law Journal—two exceedingly talented students.

Cynicism is an occupational hazard of practicing law. While I cannot exempt myself from the affected, in all sincerity I am honored to post a piece of my legal research that was selected for publication in Rutgers Law Journal.

The 6 Steps to “Better Thinking”

“Better Thinking” on Quora*

Forbidden Fruit
George Agnew Reid (1860-1947)
[Public domain],
via Wikimedia Commons

While researching social media websites, I recently discovered Quora.

After poking around enough to satisfy my curiosity, I created a user account, and I found this question: “How do I become a better thinker?”

I reviewed some of the submissions, and I posted an answer. Based on positive feedback, I am sharing it here.

The 6 Steps To “Better Thinking”

Read Quote of Michael Smolensky's answer to Thinking: How do I become a better thinker? on Quora
* For the uninitiated, Quora organizes knowledge by allowing users to work together asking and answering questions. Quora users earn credibility based on peer reviews--upvotes and downvotes.

South Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations--answering and asking questions--on all criminal, juvenile, and municipal court cases in New Jersey.

Call Now—(856) 812-0321.