Councillors try—and fail—to wriggle out of jury duty

Councillors try—and fail—to wriggle out of jury duty

Adam Vaughan says an exemption from jury duty would be “ a recognition of the work we do here” (Image Christopher Drost)

A majority of city councillors want to get out of serving jury duty like federal and provincial politicians (making us wonder which councillor was recently mailed a summons). On Wednesday, city council voted 23 to 11 in favour of asking the province to exempt them from jury duty after Adam Vaughan suggested councillors are performing a role much too tied to the courts system for them to be eligible jurors. (The outcome annoyed the civic-minded Doug Holyday, who said councillors “can go through it just like an ordinary citizen would”). However, a spokeswoman for the Attorney General has already nixed the idea, saying the province has no plans to amend the Juries Act. Looks like councillors will have to dream up some other excuse.  [Toronto Sun]