Jacksonville man with mental capacity of a 6-year-old must report for jury duty, judge says

A Jacksonville man is being required to report for jury duty at the Duval County Courthouse, despite having severe autism.

Dathon Mason is 25 years old, but his mother Dina said he has the mental capacity of a 6-year-old.

“He can’t make decisions. He doesn’t even understand why he’s there, let alone decide if someone is guilty or innocent,” said Dina Mason.

Dathon Mason’s doctor faxed the required excusal form to the court, saying he’s not capable of making decisions.

A week later, the Masons got a letter in the mail from a judge saying that excusal was denied.

Dina Mason said she and her husband will have to take off work to bring their son to the Duval County Courthouse.

She said it’s a meltdown waiting to happen. Her son panics when he leaves home and becomes frightened while being transferred from his wheelchair to the car.

“He panics and he fights it,” said Dina Mason. “There’s no reason why we should have to take him down there. And there’s no reason why we should have to keep jumping through these hoops when it was that same court that issued the guardianship and declared him incompetent.”

Action News Jax called the Duval County Clerk of Courts and Court Administration, and no one has been able to provide a reason why Dathon Mason’s excusal was denied.

Texas Judge Says God Told Him Defendant is Not Guilty Texas Judge Says God Told Him Defendant is Not Guilty

Cox Media Group