Ray Allen was ordered to pay a fine this week after he failed to show up for jury duty, and the judge who handed down the penalty was not pleased with the Hall of Famer.
Allen was ordered to appear in a Miami courtroom on Wednesday after he skipped jury duty last week. The 46-year-old was selected as one of 14 permanent and alternate jurors in a deadly carjacking case. The trial was initially scheduled to begin on March 14, but Allen asked the judge if it could begin the following day since he had to attend Kevin Garnett’s jersey retirement ceremony in Boston. The request was granted, according to the Miami Herald.
Even with the trial being changed at his request, Allen still did not show. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke issued a show-cause order after repeated attempts to reach Allen.
“Through his actions in failing to appear for jury duty, Mr. Allen appears to not appreciate or understand the importance of jury service. The right to a trial by jury is sacrosanct,” Cooke wrote in the order. “However, the right to trial by jury can only be preserved if those who are chosen to serve on a jury actually fulfill their obligation to serve.”
Allen’s attorney said on Wednesday that Allen’s absence “was a complete misunderstanding.” Cooke scolded Allen and said “no man or woman is above performing that civic duty.” She ordered Allen to pay $1,000 to the charity of his choice.
The trial ended on Tuesday with a South Florida man being found guilty of fatally shooting another man during a carjacking.
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