Have you ever done Jury duty and how did you find it?

MLH1

Got a summons today and could probably opt out since I work in a Hospital, but was wondering what boardsies have experience of this, wanna know bout jury duty as an experience and before any mods say anything please do not discuss ANY aspect of the cases, wanna know bout selection process, the head juror selection and lunch/ accommodation, also can a person volunteer for jury duty?

Absurdum

I found him guilty, didn't like the look of him

Einhard

Never done it, but I imagine I'd just turn up at the court house and find it there!
























sorry, i just couldn't help myself:(

Biggins

Yes, have done it now at least six times for separate cases.
Most of them were for road accidents and were straight forward, one was for a death in a pub and another was of a matter I cannot discuss due to legal restrictions.

sunflower27

A fraud case about 15 years ago. We all knew he was guilty from day 1 but had to go through all the evidence in detail. He was a sly bastard, constantly eye-balling us so we decided that we would all eyeball him at exactly the same time.

We picked a time and did it He looked so uncomfortable shuffling around in his seat.

Verdict: Guilty Got locked up for 18 months.

SEPT 23 1989

Biggins wrote: »

Yes, have done it now at least six times for separate cases.
Most of them were for road accidents and were straight forward, one was for a death in a pub and another was of a matter I cannot discuss due to legal restrictions.

Jesus they must have you on speed dial:D

Run_to_da_hills

Did it in the 80's in a circuit court case involving armed robbery. ended out the gun was a fake and the getaway car was a Renault 4 which stalled down the road. We felt sorry for the guys, they got time anyway.

Biggins

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Jesus they must have you on speed dial:D

Sometimes the local court doesn't have the numbers sometimes to make up a full jury and as I'm know (in a good way I have to add) to Gardi, they ask me to step in sometimes with others to make up the numbers to fulfil the legal requirement.
I don't mind, it can be very interesting and a learning experience too.

Absurdum

Biggins wrote: »

Sometimes the local court doesn't have the numbers sometimes to make up a full jury and as I'm know (in a good way I have to add) to Gardi, they ask me to step in sometimes with others to make up the numbers to fulfil the legal requirement.
I don't mind, it can be very interesting and a learning experience too.

in other words, you make up the numbers


how does it feel to be second choice huh?????????????? :pac:

7sr2z3fely84g5

Whats it like for murder trials?,i assume most of the accused in their own minds are confident and feel they are innocent?..

policarp

Called twice but was never picked. . .

Celly Smunt

went for jury duty,thought she was guilty didn't like the look of her and such,filled my housemate in on it and he thought i was a gob****e,i ended up meeting the accused girl in a café at the break,immediately got talking and broke a joke about the judge,saying he was so judgmental,we called him judge mental, from then on i knew she was innocent.Anyway we started going out texting and such,she was a bit rough though and i ended up being afraid of her and needed to get rid of her so i convinced the entire jury panel with my great speech skills to send her down,good episode of my life.


jez.

Biggins

MLH1 wrote: »

...wanna know bout selection process, the head juror selection and lunch/ accommodation, also can a person volunteer for jury duty?

Generally the selection process is random. Provided you have no crimes above a certain level against you on the books, you could be selected today or next year. Its pot luck.
In most cases the head juror is selected quietly in the court room while other things are going on (legal arguments etc between judges and two opposing sides themselves talking at near the judge at his box). In heavier cases such as murder, etc the jury is sequestered and send away - they then select their head juror - but like I said for much lighter stuff, most of the time, just to fulfil the legal necessities and to try speed up things, one is quickly nominated by the rest of the jury to be the head person in the court room.

In heavier cases where your isolated from the pubic, TV and other forms of media, basic costs are covered and this included of course, food etc.
Occasionally even phone calls to home etc are included - in the premise that you understand no details of the cases are to be discussed - only with those your on the jury with.

Biggins

Absurdum wrote: »

in other words, you make up the numbers
how does it feel to be second choice huh?????????????? :pac:

As long as it's not my death they are holding an inquest over - I'll still be happy to be second or even third choice any day!

7sr2z3fely84g5

in the old days it used to be hilarious,if the jury couldnt reach a verdict they would sent to a hotel for the night,paid by the taxpayer!.

Absurdum

Adilynn Millions Man wrote: »

in the old days it used to be hilarious,if the jury couldnt reach a verdict they would sent to a hotel for the night,paid by the taxpayer!.

cheaper than cleaning up after a juror gets whacked at their home, am i right?!

cml387

MLH1 wrote: »

Got a summons today and could probably opt out since I work in a Hospital, but was wondering what boardsies have experience of this, wanna know bout jury duty as an experience and before any mods say anything please do not discuss ANY aspect of the cases, wanna know bout selection process, the head juror selection and lunch/ accommodation, also can a person volunteer for jury duty?

Once.
I became foreman because no one else wanted to be.
The judge addresses you personally then and you feel all important.

But our bit ended when the miscreant pleaded guilty on the second day.

You get the impression that everyone,the judge,defendent,barristers,solicitors etc. are all players in some elaborate play staged solely for the benefit of the jury.

Sugar Free

Summoned once and selected. Perjury trial, got thrown out soon after starting. Interesting while it lasted.

I'm exempt now for two years.

Edit: Only read the OP's post properly there.

Selection process (Circuit Criminal Court for me), a couple of hundred go through security into a large lobby.
Judge comes onto a tv screen and speaks directly to the potential jurors.
Accused/defendant/whatever you want to call them are brought in, chargers read out, asked how they plead. This is all viewed remotely in the waiting lobby.

A list of potential jurors are called to go up to the courtroom itself. This list is larger than the number of people who will actually sit on the jury (which is fourteen I think).

Both the prosecution and defence can challenge seven jurors without having to give a reason. I was challenged on my first day there.
If you're not challenged, you swear an oath which is read out to you. Once the full jury is selected you head off to a different room where you are kept isolated from everyone else.

Lunch was free, what you'd expect from canteen food but not bad.

7sr2z3fely84g5

Absurdum wrote: »

cheaper than cleaning up after a juror gets whacked at their home, am i right?!

i belive the jury in serious cases can have garda escorts,and recent change in the law allowed trial by non jury in gangland cases.

Frank Black

OH just finished a stint a couple of weeks ago.
Abduction case, Eygyptian Dad fled the country with kid. Uncle up for aiding and abetting.

Helix

im wasnt able to do it in ireland due to my job at the time

Amirani

Got called but had exams at the time so I had to opt out.

kincsem

I went into the four courts and sat in a room with about 150 people. They were picking jurors for a few cases. With luck I would be out of there and away in fifteen minutes, and have a cusht day off work.

First case was a very serious crime. Third name called was mine. Wtf. This must be a mistake. I heard my name called again, so I shuffled forward and was told to sit in the jury box. Any objections? Someone said something and I thought there was an objection so started walking. Stay where you are and pick up the bible, and repeat after me ...

No justice in this country.

PS: the case lasted two weeks.

policarp

kincsem wrote: »

...

No justice in this country.

PS: the case lasted two weeks.

What was it?
Or can you tell?

laughter189

Got called but reneged easily with doctors letter

jimmycrackcorm

I got duty twice in Dublin within the space of two years. Damn them for still using visual basic for random number generation.

OPENROAD

laughter189 wrote: »

Got called but reneged easily with doctors letter

Can I ask what the letter said ?

Brian?

Adilynn Millions Man wrote: »

Whats it like for murder trials?,i assume most of the accused in their own minds are confident and feel they are innocent?..

It's a nightmare. I did a murder trial about 6 years ago, quite a complicated one as well.

The trial lasted 10 days and we spent 2 days deliberating and spent a night sequestered in a hotel. Somehow I was landed with being the foreman of the jusy as well.

If I had a choice I would never, ever go through it again. The only plus was that I've been excused from jury duty for 25 years.

Kojak

Did jury duty once for a double homicide case back in the mid 1990's.

One highlight of the case was when the defendant was asked to put on a leather glove found at the crime scene in order to prove or disprove their guilt.

That demonstration proved to me the defendant was innocent.....

cml387

Kojak wrote: »

Did jury duty once for a double homicide case back in the mid 1990's.

One highlight of the case was when the defendant was asked to put on a leather glove found at the crime scene in order to prove or disprove their guilt.

That demonstration proved to me the defendant was innocent.....

Total bullsh!t. They wouldn't have let you on the jury with that lollipop.

jill_valentine

Assault. Dude was not guilty by reason of insanity. Lasted a day. Found it interesting and rewarding to see the process, and I'd do it again.

Zebra3

True story.

Got two weeks off from work for the jury duty. Work didn't expect me to turn up late each day if I didn't get picked-obviously I'm a waster in work. :cool:

For those who don't know, if you don't get picked for a jury on the Thursday, you don't have to go back in on the Friday.

So, I really wanted to go out on the piss on the Thursday night and needed to make sure I didn't get caught up in a case on that day.

Needless to say I got called up on the Thursday for a case of some bloke shoplifting.

Strolled up to be sworn in and the prosecution took one look at me and objected-they can do this for seven(?) punters without giving a reason.

Judge told me to jog on.

Wearing a full tracksuit, runners and baseball cap worked.

Got locked that night.

Scored.

Day off Friday.

The system works. :pac::pac::pac:

OPENROAD

Zebra3 wrote: »

True story.

Got two weeks off from work for the jury duty. Work didn't expect me to turn up late each day if I didn't get picked-obviously I'm a waster in work. :cool:

For those who don't know, if you don't get picked for a jury on the Thursday, you don't have to go back in on the Friday.

So, I really wanted to go out on the piss on the Thursday night and needed to make sure I didn't get caught up in a case on that day.

Needless to say I got called up on the Thursday for a case of some bloke shoplifting.

Strolled up to be sworn in and the prosecution took one look at me and objected-they can do this for seven(?) punters without giving a reason.

Judge told me to jog on.

Wearing a full tracksuit, runners and baseball cap worked.

Got locked that night.

Scored.

Day off Friday.

The system works. :pac::pac::pac:

:eek::D

Richard Hillman

Did it once and enjoyed it. We found the guy not guilty and i got a free lunch everyday. Wouldnt like to do a sexual assault case or a murder case though.

OPENROAD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihx4cYJIunc

mikemac

Never been called but I've seen people in work get time off to do it so I wouldn't mind for a bit of a change and to learn new things.
I believe your employer has to let you go if you are called

Anyone reading this thread and thinking of Homer Simpson delaying the case and getting hotel and room service courtesy of the tax payer?
I wouldn't mind a nice break for myself

policarp

The jury system is antiquated.
Going back to the third or fourth lsst century.
It's a land owners system of justice. . .

Cill Dara Abu

OPENROAD wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihx4cYJIunc

Is that Jim from Eastenders in that video?

Dont tell anyone I watch that muck

OPENROAD

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

Is that Jim from Eastenders in that video?

Dont tell anyone I watch that muck

Yup thats him

Dennis the Stone

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

Is that Jim from Eastenders in that video?

Dont tell anyone I watch that muck

I don't think he'll be doing much more jury duty in the future.

dark crystal

Was chosen for Jury Duty in a serious assault case a few years back.

Found the guy guilty - trial only lasted one day.
His lawyer was useless, in fairness.


the victim's family gave us a heartfelt thank you on our way out of the court. They were very emotional and I really felt justice was done that day.

murrayp4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AzusuXSj8Y0

borderlinemeath

Only ever called once about 10 years ago. Central Criminal Court in Dublin

Sat there like everyone else. They called all the cases, chose everybody and then had to re choose a jury for the first case called as one of the jurors knew one of the barristers. This had seemingly only transpired when they went into the courtroom so the entire jury was thrown out and a new one chosen. Yep yours truly got called for that jury.

We chose a foreperson amongst ourselves and the food wasn't great to be honest, going between a couple of cheap Dublin city centre hotels.

It was awful. It was a rape and assault & battery case. Two weeks it lasted and we had to stay in a hotel for 2 nights at the end when we were deliberating. We had a couple of gardai stay with us as well. They confiscated our mobile phones and we weren't even allowed go buy a newspaper in case it swayed our decision.

We ended up a hung jury on one of the charges. He was charged with the other. He was remanded for sentencing at a later date.

Got excused from Jury Duty for 10 years after that.

bijapos

Cill Dara Abu wrote: »

Is that Jim from Eastenders in that video?

Dont tell anyone I watch that muck

And thats Cassandra (Rodneys gf/wife) from Only Fools and Horses at the end of the table too.

Mike 1972

Sugar Free wrote: »

I'm exempt now for two years.

This is the bit I dont get. Why some people get called multile times and others (most people) never get called.

Surely having served once one should never have to serve again unless/until everyone else in the area has served or been exempted/disqualified.

Rubberlegs

Aw, I'd love to be called for jury duty, never have been yet:(. A friend of mine was called for a rape case. It turned out it was a friend of hers and she had no idea she'd been raped. Kinda awkward. So obviously she couldn't do it then. I love the thought of being responsible in a way, for putting a murderer or other scumbag type behind bars. Must be the vigilante in me.

Jess16

Zebra3 wrote: »

Wearing a full tracksuit, runners and baseball cap

When is the country going to have a referendum about this?

Mike 1972

policarp wrote: »

The jury system is antiquated.
Going back to the third or fourth lsst century.
It's a land owners system of justice. . .

TBH I hope to fuk I never to find myself in a situation where my guilt or innocence is being decided by 12 people from a random cross section of that group of idiots, cranks and bigots known as the general public :eek:

policarp

Mike 1972 wrote: »

TBH I hope to fuk I never to find myself in a situation where my guilt or innocence is being decided by 12 people from a random cross section of that group of idiots, cranks and bigots known as the general public :eek:

I think you might have misunderstood my post.
What I meant was that Rich and Famous and the Upper Class were never called to do jury duty only the Joe Soaps. . .
Sorry 'bout that. . .

Teyla Emmagan

I've never been asked. I'd love to do it though. Which probably makes me the exact kind of person they wouldn't pick...

Amazingfun

I just got called today: will be in the Criminal Court, Dublin. If I do get picked I hope it's an interesting one!