Mind-numbingly dull when actually in court but in pocket re allowances. I did it over 30 years ago when things weren't so financially restrictive as I believe they are now.
We had minor cases in the fortnight and I didn't believe you could hear the same things repeated so many times.
Be prepared to be exasperated by your fellow jurors when one or more insists on passing a question to the judge asking for the defendants previous history. Or when they - in all seriousness and earnestness - declare the defendant not guilty on the basis that he (the juror) is not psychic and therefore cannot possibly know that the defendant knew he was committing a crime when he carried it out.
That aside, it was a brilliant experience and taught me a lot about how trials are conducted, how slippery lawyers can be and how incompetent the police can be in the witness box.
Well, it turns out my husband wrote a few words on the form you have to send back mentioning that he's a contractor and stood to lose a substantial amount of earnings.
Anyway, a letter arrived today telling him he's excused. He wasn't actually expecting to be excused (he was just trying on the off chance really) so this is very good news!
Be prepared to be exasperated by your fellow jurors when one or more insists on passing a question to the judge asking for the defendants previous history. Or when they - in all seriousness and earnestness - declare the defendant not guilty on the basis that he (the juror) is not psychic and therefore cannot possibly know that the defendant knew he was committing a crime when he carried it out.
That aside, it was a brilliant experience and taught me a lot about how trials are conducted, how slippery lawyers can be and how incompetent the police can be in the witness box.
Just finished, first trial collapsed in about two hours, due to competent police work, the second trial took just under three days. This time the copper was a total Clouseau. He had no evidence and hadn't even made contact with any witnesses until, 5, not days, not weeks but months after the offence. Then the goon had no record of contact with a defence witness who he had conversations with on 6 occasions, one of which seemed to be focus mostly on, whether she had a boyfriend!
Fellow jurors can be proper knit-wits. For example the first person who piped up with a guilty verdict during the deliberations, was asked if they were willing to stand up in court and state that. She stridently, said yes, she would. So it was suggested she should be the foreman, but when she flatly refused it pretty much killed her credibility and the conviction. Still took over an hour to agree.
Lots of regulations, protocol and repetition in court. Lots of extreme boredom out of it.
I give jury service a 6/10.
I remember having to do with Jury service the week I started my new job which was awkward.
I remember thinking how awful the lawyers were. They just made a load of insinuations and accusations. It was not dramatic at all. It was very boring and left me wondering how lawyers managed to get paid so much.
...
Fellow jurors can be proper knit-wits. For example the first person who piped up with a guilty verdict during the deliberations, was asked if they were willing to stand up in court and state that. She stridently, said yes, she would. So it was suggested she should be the foreman, but when she flatly refused it pretty much killed her credibility and the conviction. Still took over an hour to agree.
.....
Just because someone refuses to be the foreman doesn't make them a knit-wit.
it's actually quite an intimidating thing to do - when I was one I was acutely aware that my words were quite powerful - the action that would result, and I was extremely nervous.
When it was over, we walked out and the Court Clerk grabbed me “We advise all foremen to go straight home, and make sure you’re not followed. Here’s our number if you feel threatened, please phone us”. Now hearing that, I really was bricking it!
But out of the 12 of us, nobody wanted to do it, so I volunteered. Doesn't mean I thought the other 11 were knit-wits though...
I did it recently and it was great experience, I had two separate cases in the two weeks which both lasted 3 days each coming to a guilty verdict. Word of advice to get the most out of it, is to make an effort to socialise with your fellow juror's in the down time/ lunch break. This makes things so much more enjoyable and meeting all the different people was the best bit.
Just because someone refuses to be the foreman doesn't make them a knit-wit.
it's actually quite an intimidating thing to do - when I was one I was acutely aware that my words were quite powerful - the action that would result, and I was extremely nervous.
When it was over, we walked out and the Court Clerk grabbed me “We advise all foremen to go straight home, and make sure you’re not followed. Here’s our number if you feel threatened, please phone us”. Now hearing that, I really was bricking it!
But out of the 12 of us, nobody wanted to do it, so I volunteered. Doesn't mean I thought the other 11 were knit-wits though...
My point was don't catagoricly state your willingness to do something in a situation, then in your next statement refuse. I assume it can be very intimidating to announce a verdict in court if the sentence could be seriously long. This case however was, as indicated by the attitude of the police officer, something trivial and to be honest, twatish.
What to do about conflict of interest when Deliberating? Costs, of up to hundreds of pounds per day, for some Members, surely preclude overnight or more delays when reaching a Verdict?
Only been on jury service once, in 1994. Spent about four hours on juries during the entire two weeks. Some days I wasn't required to go to the courts, and when I was there I spent most of my time reading books in a smoke filled waiting room.
I was on jury service for the 1st time in February - and I loved it. Yes, lots of frustrating waiting around with minimal explanation - but so worth it when I got to sit on a very interesting - but not distressing - case. I was selected as the forewoman and it was an awesome experience.
When I did it, I found some parts very enjoyable, but other parts were so mind numbing, I struggled to stop my mind wandering off and my eyes glazing over. Who knew people could discuss tachographs at length for 3 days solid.
Having said that, I would love to do it again, but not sure I could physically. I can't sit too long at a time without awful pain in my coccyx.
When I did it, I found some parts very enjoyable, but other parts were so mind numbing, I struggled to stop my mind wandering off and my eyes glazing over. Who knew people could discuss tachographs at length for 3 days solid.
Having said that, I would love to do it again, but not sure I could physically. I can't sit too long at a time without awful pain in my coccyx.
Sounds like a line from an Alan Bennett play :
Who knew people could discuss tachographs at length for 3 days solid. :D
I laughed so much, I think I changed my view on jury service, because if I hadnt done it, I never would have read this.
I was called for jury service, oh, easily 20 years ago. I couldn't have been 21, and was only a few years into my apprenticeship. It was for the usual 2 weeks at the court in Leeds (I live in Bradford). I remember that candidates were dissuaded from driving, but instead to use public transport, so it could be reimbursed (not an issue, since I didn't learn to drive till my mid-20s!) easier.
I never lost any money from my lowly 1st/2nd year apprenticeship wages, or from bussing it into Leeds and back every day for 2 weeks. It was all reimbursed with no problems...
I do echo others thoughts here though, that it could get pretty boring! In those 2 weeks, I went into just 3 courtrooms, and delivered ONE verdict.
The first trial was a drugs supplying charge. This got thrown out as it needed a retrial for some reason.
The second was receiving stolen goods, which we gave our verdict on.
The third? It was a child abuse trial. The biggest court of the lot, cameras and TV monitors everywhere. I was the last juror in the group, and so wasn't needed as the defendants team was obviously ok with the first 10 jurors in the room.
So to sum up: interesting (in parts) and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it, but it could be very boring in parts! (all the waiting).It was interesting seeing, and talking with, other members of the jury, from all walks of life.
Oh, and we were frequently allowed to go home very early in the afternoon anyway!
My mothers friend's partner (sadly no longer with us) did jury service at the old bailey. She told us it was a juicy case involving gangsters and money laundering and prostitution but sadly most of the cases are tv licence evasion or unpaid parking tickets.
Take a pair of those novelty glasses with eyes painted on them so you can sleep in court a la Homer Simpson when he did jury service.
My mothers friend's partner (sadly no longer with us) did jury service at the old bailey. She told us it was a juicy case involving gangsters and money laundering and prostitution but sadly most of the cases are tv licence evasion or unpaid parking tickets.
My mothers friend's partner (sadly no longer with us) did jury service at the old bailey. She told us it was a juicy case involving gangsters and money laundering and prostitution but sadly most of the cases are tv licence evasion or unpaid parking tickets.
Take a pair of those novelty glasses with eyes painted on them so you can sleep in court a la Homer Simpson when he did jury service.
Lol! I don think parking tickets will make it to crown court
Comments
We had minor cases in the fortnight and I didn't believe you could hear the same things repeated so many times.
That aside, it was a brilliant experience and taught me a lot about how trials are conducted, how slippery lawyers can be and how incompetent the police can be in the witness box.
Anyway, a letter arrived today telling him he's excused. He wasn't actually expecting to be excused (he was just trying on the off chance really) so this is very good news!
Just finished, first trial collapsed in about two hours, due to competent police work, the second trial took just under three days. This time the copper was a total Clouseau. He had no evidence and hadn't even made contact with any witnesses until, 5, not days, not weeks but months after the offence. Then the goon had no record of contact with a defence witness who he had conversations with on 6 occasions, one of which seemed to be focus mostly on, whether she had a boyfriend!
Fellow jurors can be proper knit-wits. For example the first person who piped up with a guilty verdict during the deliberations, was asked if they were willing to stand up in court and state that. She stridently, said yes, she would. So it was suggested she should be the foreman, but when she flatly refused it pretty much killed her credibility and the conviction. Still took over an hour to agree.
Lots of regulations, protocol and repetition in court. Lots of extreme boredom out of it.
I give jury service a 6/10.
I remember thinking how awful the lawyers were. They just made a load of insinuations and accusations. It was not dramatic at all. It was very boring and left me wondering how lawyers managed to get paid so much.
it's actually quite an intimidating thing to do - when I was one I was acutely aware that my words were quite powerful - the action that would result, and I was extremely nervous.
When it was over, we walked out and the Court Clerk grabbed me “We advise all foremen to go straight home, and make sure you’re not followed. Here’s our number if you feel threatened, please phone us”. Now hearing that, I really was bricking it!
But out of the 12 of us, nobody wanted to do it, so I volunteered. Doesn't mean I thought the other 11 were knit-wits though...
I've just been called, pleased to find this thread
The only needles I saw were outside the court by a canal with a few NOS cylinders and empty cans of Spesh.
My point was don't catagoricly state your willingness to do something in a situation, then in your next statement refuse. I assume it can be very intimidating to announce a verdict in court if the sentence could be seriously long. This case however was, as indicated by the attitude of the police officer, something trivial and to be honest, twatish.
I would urge Members to be impartial, diligent and attentive and to take notes.
Don't be like this lot
What to do about conflict of interest when Deliberating? Costs, of up to hundreds of pounds per day, for some Members, surely preclude overnight or more delays when reaching a Verdict?
Having said that, I would love to do it again, but not sure I could physically. I can't sit too long at a time without awful pain in my coccyx.
Sounds like a line from an Alan Bennett play :
Who knew people could discuss tachographs at length for 3 days solid.
I laughed so much, I think I changed my view on jury service, because if I hadnt done it, I never would have read this.
I never lost any money from my lowly 1st/2nd year apprenticeship wages, or from bussing it into Leeds and back every day for 2 weeks. It was all reimbursed with no problems...
I do echo others thoughts here though, that it could get pretty boring! In those 2 weeks, I went into just 3 courtrooms, and delivered ONE verdict.
The first trial was a drugs supplying charge. This got thrown out as it needed a retrial for some reason.
The second was receiving stolen goods, which we gave our verdict on.
The third? It was a child abuse trial. The biggest court of the lot, cameras and TV monitors everywhere. I was the last juror in the group, and so wasn't needed as the defendants team was obviously ok with the first 10 jurors in the room.
So to sum up: interesting (in parts) and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do it, but it could be very boring in parts! (all the waiting).It was interesting seeing, and talking with, other members of the jury, from all walks of life.
Oh, and we were frequently allowed to go home very early in the afternoon anyway!
Without a good excuse you wouldnt have much of a choice
Take a pair of those novelty glasses with eyes painted on them so you can sleep in court a la Homer Simpson when he did jury service.
That's not true.
Lol! I don think parking tickets will make it to crown court