On 28 May 2009 at 10:43pm Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
Have you ever been called up for Jury Duty?
If so, how old were you before you were called up?
I've always wanted to be on a jury (although I am told it can be very boring), and I'm getting a bit tired of waiting for my call!
On 28 May 2009 at 11:22pm Judge Dredd wrote:
You'll love it spinny, nosey old woman like you getting to hear about allsorts and getting paid!
On 28 May 2009 at 11:34pm Anon. wrote:
I was called up about 10 years ago.I didn't like the idea and thought I wouldn't be a good juror.But a twist in the case (caused by me,something everyone else had missed) resulted in an old guy getting a sentence for sexually abusing his 2 grand daughters.Turned out after he had been found guilty,he had been inside years before for raping a family member.
He was 85 and he got 18 months.His crimes against women stretched back 50 years.
Our 2nd case was a wide boy thief from Hastings.We all knew he had done the crime,but due to the sneaky and disgusting way he was collared... And just by the look of the 2 policemen that 'did' him,we unanimously decided to let him off.Sorry...True.
Thing is,you don't know their past when you are a juror.Even if he/she has a previous record,you are not told.It is hugely interesting,but if you are not called on the day,it can be boring.I was lucky,and had 2 cases in the 2 weeks I was there.I liked it and would do it again,but I had certain reservations about the British jury system.
On 29 May 2009 at 12:19am Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
Judge Dread - how right you are - I can't wait to say "guilty"
Anon - how old were you (I'm worried I have been overlooked and I am now past it)?
On 29 May 2009 at 12:33am Anon wrote:
41.
I was called up twice before and got off.The 3rd time I couldn't get off and had to do it.You would love it Spinney...
On 29 May 2009 at 12:42am Smiler wrote:
I was on a people smuggling case.
They were transporting people from China to Hong Kong to Spain then here and running a chippy at the same time. marvelous
On 29 May 2009 at 8:11am Rozzer wrote:
I was on the jury for an armed robbery when I was in the my early 30s. The jury split 10-2 finding the defendant guilty. He said he had been fitted up. A year or so later the copper who he said fitted him up was done for corruption. It's fascinating to do and everyone on the jury took it seriously.
On 29 May 2009 at 9:04am Anon wrote:
If you Google jury service the first link is the the Direct.gov website which tells you all you need to know.On this site there is also a short film explaining it all which is shown to all new jurors at the court before their case starts.
Jurors are picked randomly from the electoral register.Age range 18-69.
I was dreading it but found it fascinating.
I remember well the looks on the faces of the 2 policemen who were trying to prove that the wide boy had received stolen goods.He was guilty,we all knew he was...But the underhand way in which the 2 coppers behaved and the smug looks on their faces made us unanimously agree to let him off.
Everyone,includiing the judge,was aghast at the result.
Priceless.
On 29 May 2009 at 9:14am sashimi wrote:
Spinster, the process is a lottery. You can be called at any time from age 18 to 70. I was called three weeks after I had started a major new job. I got the call deferred for 6 months and found out a lot about the system. To get out of being put on any cases, I was advised to wear a suit, have a short back and sides, carry a copy of the Daily Telegraph and answer questions put to me in a parade ground voice: this would ensure that the defence would object to me being on their case. I did hear too that someone tried for something serious said that the scariest thing was to think that his fate lay in the hands of a group of people who were too dim or too lazy to get off jury duty. (Anon, Smiler and Rozzer, that cleqarly doesn't apply in your cases.)
On 29 May 2009 at 11:40am Anon wrote:
I was called in all 3 times.
I got off the first 2 by saying I had holidays booked I couldn't get off.I either wrote or rang,can't remember.
The 3rd time I was told I had to go,so I did.
I found it quite a worry as some of my fellow jurors were quite...difficult to work with.One guy folded his arms and refused to talk about the case.
Which apparently he had every right to do.
We still managed to get a majority on the child abuse case.Just about.
The silent one was one of 2 people who disagreed with the other 10.
Took us 2 days of arguing and debate to get there.
The wide boy case took us 10 minutes to decide with all 12 agreeing.
And he was plainly guilty!!
On 29 May 2009 at 8:07pm Lord landport wrote:
I keep getting called up for jury service ?
I have now run out of excuses and cant defer again so have to attend.
My reason for trying to get out of it is ?
Im self employed and the daily max rate i'd get is fraction of what I earn doing my job?
I also care for my children when my wife works so we will have to arrange care at a cost of more than the daily rate from the court for doing this or
my wife loses holiday while she cares but this could last 1 day 1 week 1 year how do I plan for this time when you dont know how long it will last.
Why can't they get people who can't work won't work or have no work to take my place.
As I might need a council house when I cant pay my mortgage and get repossesd.
On 29 May 2009 at 8:16pm Rozzer wrote:
Lord landport wrote: 'Why can't they get people who can't work won't work or have no work to take my place.'
I take your point Milord, but I'm afraid I'd rather be judged by you than someone who won't work.
On 29 May 2009 at 8:17pm Rozzer wrote:
The new system seems to have gone completely wrong Webbo - I posted after Lord Landport's post but it appeared before, making nonsense of it.
On 29 May 2009 at 8:41pm Another Anon wrote:
Sashimi, I was on an old bailey murder trial and from watching US TV shows expected the defence to have a say in who was on the jury, but it was purely random with no questions asked. The defendants were immigrants and I could have been a BNP activist for all anyone knew. Did surprise me. It was fascinating though, and while disturbing at times I'm glad I did it.
On 29 May 2009 at 11:46pm Anon wrote:
You are asked as soon as you get there if you can do a case lasting more than a week or so.
You are not put onto cases that last longer.
If you say you can,you are given longer cases.
If you keep quiet,you don't.
Simples.
I am sure you can sort it if you get back to them and state your case if hardship such as yours comes up....
On 30 May 2009 at 12:08am Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
This really is not fair - some have been called up several times - I only want to get called up once!
Ho hum........
On 30 May 2009 at 7:55am Katie Boyle wrote:
I was on Juke Box Jury a lot - does that count?
On 30 May 2009 at 8:02am Lopster wrote:
I too am desperate to do jury duty -I have friend who has done it three times but never heard a case - 3 lots of two weeks - going home at lunchtime (so able to a work a bit in the afternoons and not upset "work") - I often thought having a few professional jurors maybe 1 on each jury - who knew the ropes, and could recognise certain signs, would help oil the process...
On 30 May 2009 at 8:06am Lopster wrote:
I clicked on the "most recent post" button (which was the one above) - felt inspired and commented - and it is ABOVE the post - so now I have found the one I intended answering and have added this comment (to see wher it ends up)
On 30 May 2009 at 8:08am Lopster (frustrated) wrote:
only IT WASN'T an ANON post that I commented on - it was SOTP of 30 may 00:08 - THIS one I have added after Lord LP (right at the bottom)
On 30 May 2009 at 8:11am VERY VERY FRUSTRATED Lop wrote:
oh bugger - this thread is pooped every post wherever you post it goes in the middle in a vertically climbing, non offset, ladder style UPWARDS - uuh!!!
On 30 May 2009 at 9:19am Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
This is hilarious - has Webbo deliberately sabotaged this thread so that posts are back to front? Anyway, I still WANT to do jury duty!
On 30 May 2009 at 9:19am Anon wrote:
You are asked as soon as you get there if you can do a case lasting more than a week or so.
You are not put onto cases that last longer.
If you say you can,you are given longer cases.
If you keep quiet,you don't.
Simples.
I am sure you can sort it if you get back to them and state your case if hardship such as yours comes up....
On 30 May 2009 at 9:41am Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
Anon - did you "break" the thread order? Interesting that you have been able to post at the bottom and in reply to the last post.
On 30 May 2009 at 9:42am Spinster Of This Parish wrote:
It did not work for me - Anon must have a magical touch!
On 30 May 2009 at 10:15am Lord Landport wrote:
Hardship doesn't seem to get you off they defer the date once for that but you can only defer once at that time you have to give any dates you can't do
Looks like I'm going to have to do it hopefully I will get a short trial.
On 30 May 2009 at 10:15am Anon wrote:
No Spinney...But Lord Landports post deserved an answer and I gave it...
And it got so lost in the muddle up there,I posted it again so LL didn't miss it.I know money can be a problem...You just have to get in touch and stste your case.Cases last 2 weeks max,and as I said you do not have to stay any longer than that.
On 30 May 2009 at 10:17am Anon wrote:
What IS going on...?
I answered Spinneys question and got stuck in the middle!!
I wonder where this post will end up?
On 30 May 2009 at 10:25am Lord Landport wrote:
Rozzer see your point but my concern is what happens if the jury is made up
of people who dont wan't to be there? would your fate be decided wrongly as they may just want to get it over with ?
I suppose the same goes for making people who refuse to work but claim benifit's to do a days work
please note I said refuse to work ! not people with genuine reasons for claiming benifit's
On 30 May 2009 at 10:47am Anon wrote:
I hope this one goes in the correct place!!
LL.you are going to have to go in the end...State your case about your circumstances well beforehand and keep on at them,you never know,you may get off again.Or at least you may get more money...I know if you refuse a 3rd time something happens,but I don't know what.Maybe if it is a fine it may be worth paying it?
As to folk who don't want to be there...Well,to be honest,hardly anyone actually wants to be called up.But once you get there,something changes and you can't help getting swept up in it all.
I was lucky in that I had 2 cases in 2 weeks.Your names for each case are literally pulled out of a hat,and to be honest,if it is a toss up between sitting around for 2 weeks (and some folk did) and being on a case....
You end up willing your name to be called out.
I was dreading it.I loved it and would go again like a shot if I was called up again.
On 31 May 2009 at 2:25pm Pearlie wrote:
Seems to be the way....my sister wa called several times, I've never been called. I think they have favourites!
On 31 May 2009 at 2:30pm Pearlie wrote:
Bugger, don't shout at me I got a hangover and posted in the middle for the first time ever by mistake....
On 1 Jun 2009 at 7:41pm Lopster wrote:
never mind Pearlie -it has been sorted - hangovers for all now and post where you like- HUZZAH!!
On 8 Jun 2009 at 9:58pm 40 something wrote:
I know someone who did it and they are scarred for life as it was such a harrowing case. What if you get a real nasty case which causes so much distress that you need councelling? After hearing a case of child abuse, neglect or even death, one would never shout at their kids again!
I wouldn't want to do it and if I ever get called up, I will do everything I can to get out of it.