The 21-year-old from West Palm Beach, Florida, was summoned for a hearing in court last month. A circuit court judge asked Somerville why he didn't show up to the civil trial for which he had been sworn in as a juror."I just said, 'Sir, honestly I overslept, and I didn't understand the seriousness of this.' He asked me if I had a criminal record. I said, 'Sir, I've never been arrested,'" Somerville told CNN affiliate WPTV.
"Before my hearing, I walked into the courtroom a free man with no criminal record," Somerville said in court on Friday."I left a criminal in handcuffs." Friends and family vouched for Somerville's character in Friday's hearing, noting that he helps care for his disabled grandfather and has been involved in volunteer efforts in his community, WPTV reported. Somerville apologized in a letter to the judge.
Thats not justice, thats medieval torture.
America, we can jail a college student for missing jury duty, but we can't hold a president accountable to the nation.
This is an abuse of power by this Judge ! He should be forced to resign ! These are the kind of Judges who are causing the overcrowding of Prisons by Minorities in this Country !!!
Responsibilities
A 21 year old shouldn’t even be allowed to be a juror in the first place. We need to start recognizing adults don’t live and think like adults in this country until they are closer to 30....21 is the new 18
this should not be on his record. Period.
Agree. What bull shit
So he can’t be held accountable because of his skin color?
cthagod Judge deserves donkey of the day
There is this thing known as 'priorities'. Sadly, it's existence and meaning is completely lost on some people. My most heartfelt congratulations to the judge for wasting taxpayer money. Never mind the murderers! How dare you oversleep.
Show up for court. It’s your responsibility.
Seems 100% fair...*SARCASM* 'Felicity Huffman gets 14 days in prison in connection to college admission scandal - CNN'
Isn’t that what alternates are for?
And this is why I wanted Felicity Huffman to serve more than just 14 days in jail. This shit isn’t changing and using her as some sort of fairness guidepost is absurd.
He's colored so naturally, he gets the whole book thrown at him😒. SMDH!
This judge should be removed and have to serve the same sentence for stupidity.
Poor baby don't oversleep
Seriously. I overslept and was mortified that I was late. I did call the court right away and the power had gone out at my house but still. This young kid should not be penalized like that. That judge needs to be overruled. What an ass!
The judge needs to spend 10 days in jail
It’s called an alarm clock.
Just horrible
Forget about that job at NASA kid.....
Well wake up and go to jury duty. It's not optional as this young man just found out the hard way. Sorry not sorry. It's called responsibility. And holding yourself accountable.
These type of judges are why people have lost faith in the judicial system. Ridiculous. 10 day sentence and 1 yr probation along with 250 hrs community service for oversleeping for 45 minutes. No past criminal record till now. Please recall judge
Meanwhile the White House ignores subpoenas left and right. But a citizen, throw them in jail. 🙄👎🏼
He’s black. If he were a blonde white woman, the judge would have hugged her.
What?
The judge should have to spend 10 days in jail now. This is horrible.
Maybe he should have set his alarm!
Do not take it lightly. Wake your ass up and show up.
That’s ridiculous!
Could have just rescheduled the guy
God! The American judiciary. What is happening?
Yeah, so set an alarm next time.
Very ridiculous and waste of tax payer money. The jury duties I have been on, they generally have alternates in place just in case if the ijurors fail to show up. He was immature and irresponsible, but jail come on.
F'n hate jury duty. Been called 5x. Would rather be in jail for 10 days....
Then they better make goddamn sure that every single other person that doesn’t show up spend time in jail
His crime is he is a black man.
Whaaaaaa? the fuck?
Here is what’s wrong.....
Stupid
Total BS
Where's the hugs and sympathy for this guy?
Oh...
Zzzzzz
They just look for any reason to put black & brown people in jail, straight up.
I was playin’ before, but now👇🏼
Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.
Black and white !
Bunch of crap. Just put him back in the jury pool for another case.
Well that's some bull! Someone needs to find out if that judge gets a kick back when he sentences someone to jail etc.
There is no rational for this. That judge is on a power trip because his precious courtroom has to wait.
This judge is a lunatic and should not be on the bench. This was a CIVIL case that was delayed an hour and the punishment was entirely disproportionate to the “crime.” All anyone can ask for in a good judge is fairness and even handed treatment—the opposite of what happened here.
Land of the free
The US judicial system is shite
Well that’s a crock of shit. Wonder why that happened
He should have set his alarm. Its called responsibility!!!!!
What in the hell.
Guess what color the judge is.
Bruh