A cat named Sal has been called for jury duty (NBC New York, 8 January 2010). Sal was listed as a pet on the census form filled out by his human companions, Guy and Anna Esposito.
The Boston couple attempted to get a disqualification for Sal based on the fact that he doesn’t speak English (the only disqualification option on the form that applied to a cat), but the request for disqualification has been denied and Sal has been ordered to show up for jury duty as previously requested. If the mess can’t be sorted out before the trial, Sal will be legally required to sit in the jury box.
*According to The Telegraph (17 January 2011), a jury commissioner has ordered that Sal must attend court on March 23. Apparently the request for disqualification based on the language barrier failed, because “Jurors are not expected to speak perfect English.”
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