I don't see anything in the Constitution or Bill of Rights about making jury duty compulsory. That's the part that I find unjust. The Bill of Rights just says the jury should be "impartial".
Back when the US jury system was created (and the Bill of Rights written), juries were free to investigate a case outside the courtroom. That was one way to ensure that they weren't getting bullied by the court. Take away that right and suddenly you eliminate as ideal candidates all those jurors who believe in independent research. So much for "impartiality". All that's left are those jurors who believe that information can/should be limited. Yes, sir, Mr. Bush... Yes, sir, Mr. Television...
Not all of us are passive when it comes to accumulating information. Many of us have to hunt for information as our job. We are accustomed to doing our own detective work. Never trust one source of information, always look externally for supporting or refuting evidence. Always question, question, question in order to refine our understanding.
How can someone with that personality type be content to sit quietly while important points are being discussed? How can we keep our mouths and minds shut if we don't understand something, or if we spot a possible inconsistency? How can we willingly don the hat of yes-sir-no-sir couch potato if we don't even watch TV in real life?
As a student, I often interrupted (and corrected) teachers. It wasn't out of disrespect, but out of an obsessive need to refine my understanding by seeking clarification, clarification, clarification.
When the Bill of Rights was written, juror were allowed to seek clarification outside the courtroom. Nowadays they cannot. Heck, they cannot even seek clarification inside the courtroom; they just have to hope that it's handed to them (on a TV tray).
I'd rather the jury system be made up of volunteer legal specialists (who are permitted independent research), just as our military is made up of volunteer military specialists.
"Scraped from the masses" civilian militias and civilian juries are obsolete. Our country can benefit the most from accurate allocation of specialists, not slaves.