• Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Skip to content
SUBSCRIBE
  • MAGAZINE
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Celebrity
    • Of The Essence
    • Celebrity News
    • If Not For My Girls
    • The State Of R&B
    • Time Of Essence
  • Fashion
    • 2023 Best In Black Fashion Awards
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • Red Carpet
    • Fashion News
    • Accessories
  • Beauty
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • 2023 Best In Black Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Nails
    • Hair
      • Hair News
      • Natural
      • Relaxed
      • Transitioning
      • Weave
      • 4C
  • Lifestyle
    • Love
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
    • Bridal Bliss
    • Lifestyle News
    • Health & Wellness
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Money & Career
  • News
    • Latest News
    • Paint The Polls Black
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Video
  • Events
    • 2023 Fashion House
    • 2023 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture
    • 2023 Wellness House
    • 2023 Black Women In Hollywood
    • 2023 ESSENCE Film Festival
    • 2023 HOLLYWOOD HOUSE
  • Studios
  • Girls United
Home · News

Judge Clears Record Of Black Man Who Overslept, Missed Jury Duty 

Deandre Somerville, 21, spent 10 days in jail after being found in contempt of court but will no longer have a criminal record.
Judge Clears Record Of Black Man Who Overslept, Missed Jury Duty 
Getty Creative Images
By Breanna Edwards · Updated November 3, 2020

Deandre Somerville, 21, will no longer have a criminal record after being thrown in jail for 10 days for oversleeping and missing jury duty.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, Circuit Judge John Kastrenakes said that Somerville will face no further punishment, considering the various headlines prompted by the outrage sparked by Somerville’s case. The judge noted that he only wanted to impart the importance of jury duty, and that has been sufficiently relayed.

“Given the abundant publicity surrounding Mr. Somerville’s case, I have concluded that the importance of a sworn juror abiding by the law has been made clear,” Kastrenakes wrote. “Therefore, there exists no reason to continue Mr. Somerville on probation.”

Somerville was initially sentenced to 10 days in jail, alongside 150 hours of community service, a year of probation and $233 in fees. He also had to submit a written apology of at least 100 words.

“This was an immature decision that I made, and I paid the price for my freedom,” Somerville said, reading from his letter.

On Friday, the judge reduced Somerville’s sentence, ordering that he serve only three months of probation, instead of a year, and become a local spokesman of jury misconduct and his consequences.

By Monday, Kastrenakes again changed his mind, rescinding his original contempt finding and vacating Somerville’s probation.

Kastrenakes claimed that Somerville, who has never been in trouble before, “has been totally rehabilitated” and is not the same person “who refused to come to court and intentionally violated his oath as a sworn juror.”

TOPICS:  Deandre Somerville John Kastrenakes Judge John Kastrenakes jury duty
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now