Jury service

hawkmoon269

I have been called for jury service. For work reasons I would like to get out of it.

If I state that I have recently started a new job and wish to avoid taking time off from work so soon into the job (which is true), is this likely to be accepted as a valid reason for being excused for jury service?

besty

hawkmoon269 wrote:

I have been called for jury service. For work reasons I would like to get out of it.

If I state that I have recently started a new job and wish to avoid taking time off from work so soon into the job (which is true), is this likely to be accepted as a valid reason for being excused for jury service?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054891264&highlight=jury+duty
Something in there may be of assistance.

I think that if you get correspondance from your employer stating the above facts, your hand will be considerably strengthened in evading the jury duty. I'm open to correction on that but I believe there is some loophole for newly contracted/under probation employees.

MrVestek

Ive always wondered, is it the same here as in the states where a random PPS number is selected and that person is called for jury duty?

hawkmoon269

besty wrote:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054891264&highlight=jury+duty
Something in there may be of assistance.

I think that if you get correspondance from your employer stating the above facts, your hand will be considerably strengthened in evading the jury duty. I'm open to correction on that but I believe there is some loophole for newly contracted/under probation employees.

Ok, thanks for that.

Karoma

I think there's supposed to be a pamphlet attached to the summons - read it,as it explains who is excusable.

That, or get yourself arrested and charged.Now!

besty

Achilles wrote:

Ive always wondered, is it the same here as in the states where a random PPS number is selected and that person is called for jury duty?

Well there are certain restricted persons, so it's not completley random. The 1976 Juries Act outlines these restrictions. Bankrupts etc.

Karoma

besty wrote:

Well there are certain restricted persons, so it's not completley random. The 1976 Juries Act outlines these restrictions. Bankrupts etc.

The result seems to be that it's "upper working class" that are picked each time.

padser

Achilles wrote:

Ive always wondered, is it the same here as in the states where a random PPS number is selected and that person is called for jury duty?

Its done off the voting register but is random (excluding excluded persons obviously) afaik.

In answer to the original poster I have heard (but am not certain its true) that the first time you are called you can give any excuse (eg a holiday booked at that time will even suffice) but that they keep a record of it and will look closely if you attempt to dodge it again. As i said I have no idea if thats true, just random gossip I heard.

Ian147100

Just because you get called doesn't me you'll be picked. Counsel for the defence will choose the 12 they want from a group, they say you can manipulate them by dressing, grooming and behaving in a certain way.

hullaballoo

The jury is picked at random by pulling 16 names from a hat. The first twelve sit in the box. Council for the defence can ask 4 people to stand down, in which case, the next person (one of the four "subs") will sit in.

The coucil for the defence doesn't pick the entire jury - I don't think that would make a whole lot of sense.

padser

I thought prosectution can veto people also/?

EducatedGuess

Jury selection is done by both the defence and prosecution. Questions are asked as to the suitability of each juror, i.e. job etc. An interesting fact for those pre-school teachers out there, as a rule Teachers are not excused [Principals are] but its thought that Pre-school teachers relate to adults and adult situations differently because of their teaching methods. So they wont be asked esp. in a case concerning a child [murder of or sexual assault]. A majority jury of males are looked for in murder trials, females in both female and male rape cases etc.

Trojan911

And believe it or not, police officers in England & Wales are now being called for jury service.....


TJ911...

Eru

Trojan911 wrote:

And believe it or not, police officers in England & Wales are now being called for jury service.....


TJ911...

We get called here as well but obviously we cannot actually do it and have to fill in the back explaining why not.

Trojan911

I'll rephrase,

Police officers in England & Wales are being called to perform the duties of Jury service, there was a change in the law a couple of years back...

TJ911...

hullaballoo

EducatedGuess, I'm not sure what sort of a system you think they work, but it certainly isn't as accommodating as you are suggesting. Only the defence are allowed to veto jurors, and they can only do it up to four times. The prosecution has no say whatsoever. So says my own experience of having done jury duty.

Sangre

Lawyers don't have to do it...yay!

Eru

Trojan911 wrote:

I'll rephrase,

Police officers in England & Wales are being called to perform the duties of Jury service, there was a change in the law a couple of years back...

TJ911...

I know, I was only pulling your chain

Our man in Havana

The defence may challenge 7 jurors without cause and any number after that with cause. The prosecution may challenge as many as it wants with cause. That was my experience when I did jury duty.

hullaballoo

Oh yeah actually, that's it. Sometimes, I don't know where I get it. I must just make it up.

rsynnott

Karlitosway1978 wrote:

We get called here as well but obviously we cannot actually do it and have to fill in the back explaining why not.

That seems like poor organisation, really.

I was called recently, but had exams; they were happy enough once I sent them a letter to that effect from the college exam office. I was sort of disappointed, actually; it'd be an interesting thing to do once, and during college seems like an ideal time to get it out of the way.

hullaballoo

It was very interesting, I ended up being called both days. The first day my name was first out of the hat, and I ended up being foreman.

The second day, I was the 16th person out of the hat, but they seemed to want me (or else didn't want some of the others) to do it, because they objected to four of the other jurors. The cases were interesting, but quite straight-forward. One acquittal and one conviction.

rsynnott

I can't help thinking I'd be rejected anyway on the basis of opting for the non-religious swearing-in equivalent...

Our man in Havana

It is usually too late at that point.

Thirdfox

Aren't students exempt from performing jury duty? (Especially law students?) Although I would love to serve on the jury at least once...

Our man in Havana

They are exempt if they wish to be. You can simply not say your a student and attend for selection.

Eru

Bond-007 wrote:

The defence may challenge 7 jurors without cause and any number after that with cause. The prosecution may challenge as many as it wants with cause. That was my experience when I did jury duty.

Happened across this by accident and remembered this topic, it seems that Bond was the closest too the truth;

"An accused person may "challenge" up to seven prospective jurors, without giving any reason. The prosecution may also "challenge" seven prospective jurors" (http://www.courts.ie/courts.ie/library3.nsf/pagecurrent/C747C1365EEC126F8025704400518E7A)

Trojan911

hawkmoon269 wrote:

I have been called for jury service. For work reasons I would like to get out of it.

If I state that I have recently started a new job and wish to avoid taking time off from work so soon into the job (which is true), is this likely to be accepted as a valid reason for being excused for jury service?

I would love to do it, purely to examine the quality of evidence offered to the courts over here (& of course come to a verdict at the end of it).....


TJ911...

Our man in Havana

And of course the quality of the pub lunches that you also get.

Trojan911

Bond-007 wrote:

And of course the quality of the pub lunches that you also get.

Excellent point.....:D

mountainyman

If you wear a suit and carry a copy of the Irish Times you will be challenged.

FACT

rubadub

when they call your name start barking, very simple.

Our man in Havana

mountainyman wrote:

If you wear a suit and carry a copy of the Irish Times you will be challenged.

FACT

Also those that were elderly and well dressed were all challenged on the jury I was on.

Lisa Mag

rubadub wrote:

when they call your name start barking, very simple.

Must remember that one next time as i've been called on two different occasions already and blagged my way out of it the twice.... doubt i'll get away with it again lol