A cat has been summoned to do jury service, even after his owners told the court he was "unable to speak and understand English".
Anna Esposito, wrote to Suffolk Superior Crown Court in Boston, US, to explain that a mistake had been made, but a jury commissioner replied saying the cat, named Tabby Sal, "must attend" on March 23.
Mrs Esposito had included a letter from her vet confirming that the cat was "a domestic short-haired neutered feline".
Tabby Sal had been entered by Mrs Esposito under the 'pets' section of the last census. "When they ask him guilty or not guilty? What's he supposed to say - miaow?" She said.
"Sal is a member of the family so I listed him on the last Census form under pets but there has clearly been a mix-up."
A website for the US judicial system states that jurors are "not expected to speak perfect English". (wrapup)
《字詞解析》
jury duty -- (n.) 陪審團任務，亦即到法院擔任陪審團員 (juror)。這是美國公民的義務之一。
summon -- (v.) 傳喚。
jury service -- (n.) 與 jury duty 同義。
jury commissioner -- (n.) 陪審團審選官。
neutered -- (adj.) 被閹割的；被去勢的。
census -- (n.) 人口普查。
guilty or not guilty -- (adj.) 認罪還是不認罪。
miaow -- (n.) 貓叫聲；喵喵聲。
mix-up -- (n.) 搞錯；弄錯。
judicial system -- (n.) 司法制度。
juror -- (n.) 陪審團員。
延伸閱讀：新聞英語的語法結構