Woman fined $500 for cursing after she was picked for jury, judge also tosses her from case

ERIE, Pa. — A Pennsylvania woman has been fined $500 for cursing because she was frustrated with being picked to serve on a jury.

The Erie Times-News (http://bit.ly/1bQA4hF ) reports Erie County Judge Ernest DiSantis levied the fine Wednesday on Kathleen Port.

DiSantis told the Erie woman she was "totally out of line" and explained jury service is a duty of citizenship.

Port, whose phone number is unlisted, apologized several times but was fined nonetheless.

She told the judge she was upset because jury service would make her miss work and cost her income.

DiSantis says Port could have claimed a hardship on her jury service questionnaire, but did not.

Port was also thrown off the jury, which was picked to hear an illegal weapons case.