No-Jury trial proposals ?

[bor]

What do you think (particularly you legal cats) about proposals to process complex trials, or trials likely to last an excessively long period without juries ?

Also, should members of the jury be paid a significant premium above their normal salary as an incentive, or should we indeed, have professional jury members - possibly with some legal training, to replace the current system where jurists are somewhat reluctant to be there ?

[zippee]

I was called for Jury service last year and successfully had 2 of the jurors removed from my group by the Jury manager. Basically they could be overheard saying how much they didn't want to be there, that they were just stating it was a waste of time and the defendant was obviously guilty if it had got this far etc. I didn't think it at all fair that potentially innocent people are tried by such muppets. Their life, career etc was in the hands of chavs who just didn't care.

[bor]

Yeah, my jury duty experience was similar. I was OK to serve, out of curiosity as much as civic duty, but other members clearly didn't give a shit and wanted to be finished asap. I'm pretty sure I could have manipulated them to vote any direction I wanted.

[simpo two]

Interesting point. At least there are 12 muppets instead of just one, as in a Magistrate's Court.

Maybe jurors should pass an exam first? Perhaps we need profesional jurors, or a system where the discussion is invigilated by someone else?

[Youth Gone Wild]

I wouldn't be keen on being tried where the verdict was decided by only one person.

[JagLover]

Youth Gone Wild said:

I wouldn't be keen on being tried where the verdict was decided by only one person.

You could have a case decided by three judges.

I think for complex fraud trials this may be the way forward. The average Juror is not capable of understanding the issues involved.

[Balmoral Green]

How about selecting the jury from a field of experts in whatever the trial was about if the subject is too complicated for the regular Joe.

[grumbledoak]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

What, like a Magistrates Court ? Have you been to one ?
"educated", "knows the law" and "understands" don't often enter into it!

[simpo two]

grumbledoak said:

What, like a Magistrates Court ? Have you been to one ?

Three miserable yet ego-flexing old women with no doubt frustrated marriages; it was like being in primary school seeing the head for stealing conkers. Pathetic. They don't get paid, so they must enjoy it, which proves they are weird.

[Mad Dave]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Problem is, what you get there is someones who has spent 20 years having the scum of society dragged before him/her and has potentially become rather cynical and sees everyone, including their own offspring as guilty until proven innocent?