Jury discharged after juror falls asleep

Fred Swanson · 13-02-2017 6:46pm #1

This post has been deleted.

sReq | uTeK · 13-02-2017 6:48pm

Yes I believe so. It was in a good Sampsons episode

irishgeo · 13-02-2017 6:51pm

One way of getting out of jury duty.

GM228 · 13-02-2017 6:58pm

Fred Swanson wrote: »

Has this ever happened before?

Have heard of it before in the US, UK and Australia.

Any cases of sleeping judges I wonder?

punisher5112 · 13-02-2017 6:58pm

Must be extremely worn out individuals.

That would have been a good case to hear all goings on. Obviously a rouse to get off oraybe were bribed.

riffmongous · 13-02-2017 7:01pm

Should have brought some glasses

tayto lover · 13-02-2017 7:59pm

GM228 wrote: »

Have heard of it before in the US, UK and Australia.

Any cases of sleeping judges I wonder?

Yep.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/uk/judge-allegedly-falls-asleep-during-rape-trial-1.1879512

johnnyskeleton · 13-02-2017 8:26pm

I blame the courts service for cheaping out on the good coffee in the jury room!

GerardKeating · 13-02-2017 10:39pm

GM228 wrote: »

Have heard of it before in the US, UK and Australia.

Any cases of sleeping judges I wonder?

Did this not happen during the Nicky Kelly trail in 1976.

coylemj · 13-02-2017 11:26pm

GerardKeating wrote: »

Did this not happen during the Nicky Kelly trail in 1976.

I think the judge was more very ill than falling asleep, he died soon after.

GM228 · 13-02-2017 11:28pm

coylemj wrote: »

I think the judge was more very ill than falling asleep, he died soon after.

Judge O'Connor if I recall, his death rather than the accusation of falling asleep caused a retrial.

Comment

J.W.O'Connor was the leading goto barrister in the Connaught Bar for many decades.

His directions on proofs, always handwritten, were carefully kept in many Mayo and Galway practices

nuac

Skatedude · 14-02-2017 1:49pm

Surprised It dosent happen more often, I was working nights at the time I was called for jury duty. I told them outright that I was not going to be able to stay awake during the trial due to that fact. Did't make any difference and was still called.

I was also told that i was supposed to keep working my night shift at the same time as doing jury duty as the times did not conflict. luckily I had an understanding boss who let me take the few nights off.

El Tarangu · 14-02-2017 1:52pm

GM228 wrote: »

Judge O'Connor if I recall, his death rather than the accusation of falling asleep caused a retrial.

AFAIR, there was an episode when he had fallen asleep, and one of the barristers, rather than go over to wake him up (I suppose it is a bit of an uncharted territory, etiquette-wise), repeatedly picked up and dropped a heavy law tome in an effort to wake him.

coylemj · 14-02-2017 7:46pm

El Tarangu wrote: »

AFAIR, there was an episode when he had fallen asleep, and one of the barristers, rather than go over to wake him up (I suppose it is a bit of an uncharted territory, etiquette-wise), repeatedly picked up and dropped a heavy law tome in an effort to wake him.

The defence eventually went to the High Court seeking to have the trial stopped and a mistrial declared. The presiding judge (in the ongoing trial) either gave direct evidence or submitted an affidavit to the effect that all was well with the (apparently) sleeping judge and that he was fully compos mentis so the application was refused. Acute embarrassment followed when the poor man died shortly afterwards.

Jury discharged after juror falls asleep

Comments