Southampton man writes letter to judge saying he shouldn't serve on jury due to 'extreme racist and homophobic views'

“I hold extreme prejudices against homosexuals and black/foreign people and couldn’t possibly be impartial if either appeared in court. Therefore it would not be in the court’s interest to have me a juror.” said the unnamed man in a letter to Presiding Judge Gary Burrell QC.

The man also claimed that he would do anything to bring his time as a jurer to as swift a conclusion as possible - saying he was prepared to agree with a majority if it meant it would bring the case to a conclusion, according to Hampshire-based local paper the Southern Daily Echo.

The judge criticised the rebellious juror, saying “If you do genuinely hold these views then you are someone who should not be on the jury and I question whether you should be doing anything responsible in society at all.”

The man was escorted from court and may now face Contempt of Court charges.

Whether the man actually was racist and homophobic, or whether he was telling fibs to get out of having to do jury duty may never be known.

Here's an appropriate quote from The Simpsons:

Homer: Now, what were we talking about, boy? 
Bart: Uhhhh... we were talking about the time you beat jury duty. 
Homer: Oh, yeah. The trick is to say you're prejudiced against all races.