Jury Service...........
Discussion
se. Very very scarey 
Yep Done it last year...
2nd case went into the 3rd week...
I agree, having your life potentially judged by members of the public who might not give a stuff is very concerning..
A couple of the jury people on my cases were just plain ignorant...Not paying attention etc. Lucky for both defendant and the plaintiff (whatever) there were enough of us in sound mind to debate and make what we felt were educated decisions....
TBH.. I really enjoyed the experience although 2 rather disturbing cases.
2nd case went into the 3rd week...
I agree, having your life potentially judged by members of the public who might not give a stuff is very concerning..
A couple of the jury people on my cases were just plain ignorant...Not paying attention etc. Lucky for both defendant and the plaintiff (whatever) there were enough of us in sound mind to debate and make what we felt were educated decisions....
TBH.. I really enjoyed the experience although 2 rather disturbing cases.
I'll tell you a little story from the end of a jury trial.
Verdict was not guilty, but for a time it was a close run thing. Usual garbage like, eyes too close together, must be guilty if his wife lets him out with a tie and shirt like that. No he must be innocent because his suit is so smart.
No I really am not kidding.
Anyway afterwards the court official asks "so how many of you would elect for jury trial if faced with a prosecution." Not many takers in that 12.
Verdict was not guilty, but for a time it was a close run thing. Usual garbage like, eyes too close together, must be guilty if his wife lets him out with a tie and shirt like that. No he must be innocent because his suit is so smart.
No I really am not kidding.
Anyway afterwards the court official asks "so how many of you would elect for jury trial if faced with a prosecution." Not many takers in that 12.
I did it a couple of years ago in Chelmsford at Easter so I went home on the Thursday and didn't have to go back.
On the first day there were points problems on the railway and no baristers could get out of London.
On the Tuesday I got picked for a panel and was the 13th man, no-one was objected to and I went back to the waiting room.
On the Wednesday I did nothing.
On the Thursday I was on a jury...............
..but I'm not allowed to ever speak about it I believe.
On the first day there were points problems on the railway and no baristers could get out of London.
On the Tuesday I got picked for a panel and was the 13th man, no-one was objected to and I went back to the waiting room.
On the Wednesday I did nothing.
On the Thursday I was on a jury...............
..but I'm not allowed to ever speak about it I believe.
I've done it and would recommend giving it a go. It's very interesting and rewarding. I have also been on the other side and I would rather take my chances with a jury any day. Magistrates just don't have a clue but a jury will sit and listen and you get enough sensible people on a jury to talk sense into the ditherers.
I did it once, in Oxford in the 1990's.
I managed to get out of it twice but the third time I had no choice. I did an armed robbery (one youth taking a credit card and cash off another with a knife). Open and shut in my opinion. Back in the Jury room there were approximately 4 people with any intelligence. The other 8 listened and agreed with us. A little worrying. The problem is that most people with proper jobs and responsibilities can get out of it several times so jury's (in my limited experience) are made up of people who have the time - the unemployed, unemployable and retired.
I managed to get out of it twice but the third time I had no choice. I did an armed robbery (one youth taking a credit card and cash off another with a knife). Open and shut in my opinion. Back in the Jury room there were approximately 4 people with any intelligence. The other 8 listened and agreed with us. A little worrying. The problem is that most people with proper jobs and responsibilities can get out of it several times so jury's (in my limited experience) are made up of people who have the time - the unemployed, unemployable and retired.
No mention yet of the expenses you are allowed to claim. Only 50 quid a day maximum. Some small business men were phoning in and saying that it would bankrupt them. A woman rang in and said that her husbands business folded because of his jury service. A dentist rang in and said that it would cost more than 50 quid a day just to cover his overheads.
How do the self employed cope with it, or are they just stuffed?
I bet the judges wouldn't bother for fifty quid a day.
How do the self employed cope with it, or are they just stuffed?
I bet the judges wouldn't bother for fifty quid a day.
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