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Trials & Litigation

Juror who cursed at being selected is axed from panel and fined $500, despite apology

There was good news and bad this week for a woman who used what a local Pennsylvania newspaper describes as “the worst curse word of them all” when she was selected for jury duty on Tuesday.

Kathleen Port was axed from the panel, after Judge Ernest DiSantis was told by lawyers trying the Erie County weapons case of her outburst. But he also called her in front of the bench, held her in contempt and fined her $500, despite her repeated apology, the Erie Times-News reports.

Port, who told the judge she was upset about the loss of income she would suffer at work, could have said on her juror questionnaire that service would be a hardship, but didn’t, DiSantis pointed out. While it can be inconvenient, jury duty is an obligation of citizenship, he said.