Trial by jury

[Ianonabike]

https://observer.co.uk/news/nationa...to-trial-by-jury-in-drive-to-fix-court-logjam

"An idea whose time has come” - Sarah Sackman, courts minister

Have you ever served on a jury? I haven't.

 

[briantrumpet]

https://observer.co.uk/news/nationa...to-trial-by-jury-in-drive-to-fix-court-logjam

"An idea whose time has come” - Sarah Sackman, courts minister

Have you ever served on a jury? I haven't.

I had to turn down the invitation in 1982, and haven't been asked since.

 

[Beebo]

I had to turn down the invitation in 1982, and haven't been asked since.

Me too.
I was called to the Old Bailey in 2001.
My boss said it would be too long and wrote a letter which somehow got me off.
I was gutted as only the serious stuff ends up at the Old Bailey.
Never been asked again.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

No. I know quite a few people that were called but only one ever actually sat on the jury which seems a phenomenal waste of many peoples time.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Me too.
I was called to the Old Bailey in 2001.
My boss said it would be too long and wrote a letter which somehow got me off.
I was gutted as only the serious stuff ends up at the Old Bailey.
Never been asked again.

I think these days you can delay under exceptional circumstances but they will call you back.

 

[BoldonLad]

Was never called for Jury Service. I think I am over the age limit now, so, an experience I will never "enjoy".

 

[Ian H]

Why do we even need trials? Just lock 'em up.

 

[Bazzer]

Mrs B was once, a few years ago. She is the only person I personally know, who has been open about being called.

 

[All uphill]

I've done jury service, twice.

The first time we sat and waited, and waited, and waited before having one hour in court

The second time was marginally more productive, but only marginally.

 

[rakkor]

I was called up to Aylesbury Crown Court about 6 months after moving to South London, told them this and thought nothing of it and the about 6 months later was called up to the Old Bailey. The first pool I wasn't selected, on the second one of the potential jurors tried to get out of being selected and the judge insisted they would be part of that jury. I had a holiday coming up and in the next pool the judge suggested this trial would last 3 weeks which meant it would finish before my holiday I didn't object to being selected. It was a murder trial and I was elected Foreman and uttered the words "guilty, your honour" at the end of it. It was interesting, lots of time off while technical stuff was being debated. The only bad bit was the first 3 days hanging around waiting to be selected.

 

[briantrumpet]

As UK court cases aren't normally televised, I feel pleased to have found a filmed example. I think this is as realistic as it gets.

 

[CXRAndy]

If it wasn't for just about every British citizen scrambling around trying to make ends meat, they would likely be more happy to stay and do some of these longer jury service trials

 

[Bromptonaut]

Was called in 1983 but at the time I worked for the Lord Chancellor's Department (now Ministry of Justice) and was barred from jury service by law.

That changed subsequently but I've never been called again.

 

[Rusty Nails]

Been called twice, twenty years apart. The first time I had a couple of disturbing/interesting cases and the second time I had to hang around a lot with nothing to do due to problems with the backlog caused by the Barristers' pay dispute. Thankfully now past the age of selection for jury service.

 

[Ian H]

I was called once, thirty odd years ago. I'd just started a new business and was on my own. They accepted that as an excuse. A couple of years later it would have been fine - I had minions.