Jury Duty... Wheelchair Access...

Darthvadar

Hi All...

I've just received a High Court Jury Summons... It's for Court No. 24, Chancery Place, Dublin...

I'm happy to serve, particularly as the Jury Office were very good about excusing me from service when I was called on two previous occasions while I was caring for my late mum... I am no longer caring, so am now in a position to serve...

What I need to know, is it Wheelchair Accessible???... I have already called the Jury Office Information Line... They didn't know the answer, but said they'd find out and get back to me...

I need to organise accessible transport, so the sooner I can find out, the better...

Does anybody know, please???...

Darth...

nuac

Many of the modern courthouses have wheelchair access.

If not, you will excused.

Darthvadar

Thank you, Nuac...

I realise that recent Court builds must be accessible...

I may be wrong, but I think that Court No 24 is in the older building of the Four Courts... This is why I ask...

I'd really rather not be excused... I'd like to serve...

I really appreciate you taking the time to reply, and thank you again!...

Darth...

hullaballoo

The Four Courts complex, including the Chancery Street courts are all wheelchair accessible (albeit I wouldn't go as far as saying they are wheelchair friendly!)

There are ramps and electronically assisted doors and platform lifts etc. where needed but bear in mind that these structures were superimposed on old buildings so the use of them can be a tight squeeze. Also, there is afaik only one wheelchair accessible toilet and it is placed in probably the most awkward part of the complex from a wheelchair user's perspective given it is almost as far away as they could have put it from the nearest wheelchair ramp and requires the circumnavigation of one of the most labarynthine buildings in Dublin.

Also, from the Chancery Street side of the complex, you will need to go around the outside of the complex to the Áras Uí Dhálaigh entrance to get into the building that houses this toilet, before basically tracking back the way you came, this time inside the complex.

Darthvadar

Thank you, Hullabaloo...

Sounds like 'Business as Usual' whenever I need to deal with 'officialdom'...

Appears to be just about 'doable' but when you mention 'a tight squeeze', and I use a fairly hefty powered wheelchair (Invacare Storm 3), that could be 'interesting'...

I wonder if it would be possible to visit the building to assess for myself if this could work???... I'll ask when the Jury Office get back to me...

Your time, and your imput are much appreciated... Thank you...

Darth...

GM228

Whatever about wheelchair access to the building/court, is there wheelchair access to the jury box itself and the jury room which is I'd imagine the bigger issue if the OP were to be selected? The room is I believe but I'm pretty sure the box isn't?

This got me thinking and raises the question - is there any "rules" that a juror must actually sit in the jury box?

looksee

Just because you have been called does not mean that you will serve. There will be a good few there and the defence legal team will refuse or accept people on an apparently arbitrary basis. I was refused on (presumably) the grounds that I looked like a middle aged (being kind) aul wan who would string up the young fella in the dock just on that basis. They were wrong but there is no accounting for the way the decisions are made.

NUTLEY BOY

Just a side point.

I see OP was called to the High Court so it seems to be a civil matter.

However, if this was the Central Criminal Court would a wheel chair juror be more easily identifiable outside the courts complex and more vulnerable to an inappropriate approach e.g intimidation ? I am thinking of the personal security of a wheel chair user in this situation and wonder what steps there are for their safety.

hullaballoo

I'm going to nip over to Court 24 now and have a look to see if it's wheelchair accessible including the jury box.

hullaballoo

Right, so the Courtroom is accessible as is the jury room (via a lift) but the jury box is absolutely not accessible and there is no way for a wheelchair user to get into the jury box. The layout of Court 24 is such that probably the only place that a wheelchair user could safely watch proceedings would be from the opposite side of the room, which may cause a difficulty for the parties if you are selected as you might be too close to the lawyers/clients while they are trying to communicate. Although, since it appears this is in relation to the civil sittings, there may be no objection.

Of course, this may all be pie in the sky since even if you attend, there is no guarantee you will be selected for a jury. I suppose the only thing you can really do (assuming you want to sit on a jury) is to show up on the day and see what happens. You will probably already be prepared for this but the one thing you can expect is that the entire process will be at best comical and at worst embarrassing for you. Unfortunately, 2017 has come a bit too soon for the Courts Service.

Darthvadar

Thank you everyone for the advice and information!...

Hullaballoo, you are an absolute saint to go to all that trouble for me!... Thank you from the bottom of my heart!... You confirmed my suspicions about access!...

Yes, it may be surprising, but I do really want to serve!... I've always felt that it is my duty to do so if I can at all...

I don't mind a comical experience, and I'm nigh on impossible to embarrass, but I take perverse pleasure in embarrassing 'the powers that be' in publically funded organisations when disabled members of the public are denied equal access!... I have a thick skin, and I'll wear two lairs of it on the day!...

You have been so helpful!...

Darth...