Jury Duty

murphydublin

Hey

I have been summoned to serve on a jury soon and not sure how I feel about it.

I've served before and found the whole process quite fascinating. We were made exempt for 10 years after the case and literally the same month 10 years later the letter arrives.

Now I'm older I fear being called for a case involving rape or kids which would be horrific to have to sit through. Or any type of gangland **** which could put my safety or family at risk.

and on top of all that I've to pay to park all day in town for up to two weeks !

Have you been called ? Did you serve?

Dr Crayfish

I was called last sept and kicked off the jury on the first day as one of the junior counsel claimed she had met me at a party. Massive case. It was really surreal having all those eyes on you as you swear in etc, the central crim court is pretty tight you're right in the thick of it.

Doltanian

I got called earlier this year but as my luck would have it I was away abroad at the time. I called up the court and explained my situation and they just said send in a letter and you'll be excused. Never heard from them since. My understanding is there is no pay or compensation either.

beertons

You could say you recognise one if the witnesses. Got me out of one anyway.

SEPT 23 1989

Self employed so no

Doltanian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ue8jpSlwGPY

Was called once a few years back. Wasn't selected. My sister warned me if you don't want to be picked then dress like a thug. I duly obliged.

But basically they just cram 50+ people into a tiny space, and then draw your name from a hat at random. You then enter the juror's seating area, and as you do either the prosecution or the defence will say to the judge "objection on behalf of the prosecution (or) defence". And that's the end of it. No further questions, and no explanations. If you happen to be personally acquainted with either the arresting guard or the accused you need to point this out to the judge when your name is drawn, which then excuses you.

Oh yeah, was a smoker at the time so stepped out for a fag during a break. Witnessed with my own two eyes not six feet away from me the defence solicitor having a conversation with the accused and his mother where he more or less said (and I'm only paraphrasing slightly!) "Your son is bit of a scumbag. He's guilty. He did it. If he just changes his plea and stops wasting everyone's time and money the judge and jury might go a bit easier on him"

Seriously, a frank admission of guilt by the defence right in front of a potential juror was absolutely horrifying. I mean I have no sympathy for the criminals here, but what happens if a person turns out to be innocent?

Liam McPoyle

I'll see that Quimby kid hang for this!

Donald Trump

And miss your opportunity to give a speech like this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvZ2xRxdOWI

Donald Trump

You could always try the Sarah Silverman line if you want to get off Jury Duty but don't want to come across as a bad person

Edit: Found it :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTHeoE1pPL4

RayM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94zkBGm1IoU

Outlaw Pete

That's a damn stupid thing to do!

pgj2015

its probably just some black kid who is being accused of stealing a bun and you are going to set him free.

milehip

Outlaw Pete wrote: »

That's a damn stupid thing to do!

What's a dam stupid thing to do now exactly?

zoe 3619

pgj2015 wrote: »

its probably just some black kid who is being accused of stealing a bun and you are going to set him free.

?

mynamejeff

AAAAwww the jury system

where a complex legal case is decided by 12 people who were too stupid to get out of jury duty ..............

Outlaw Pete

milehip wrote: »

What's a dam stupid thing to do now exactly?

To roll up bits of paper and throw them at a fan.

amtc

I'm exempt for life. Served on a rape case. Boy was 17, girl was 16. We couldn't reach a verdict and was retried. It wasn't reported so to this day have no idea how it worked out.

I have two very distinct memories

...we spent overnight in the mater as one of the jurors fell out of the jury box and broke her leg but because we were all sequestered we all had to go on the trip to the hospital as there was a shortage of guards. We had no money to buy tea or coffee and had to be accompanied one by one to an atm by a guard.

..I ended up going out with one of the fellow jurors for some years!

Mark25

Deleted User wrote: »

Was called once a few years back. Wasn't selected. My sister warned me if you don't want to be picked then dress like a thug. I duly obliged.

But basically they just cram 50+ people into a tiny space, and then draw your name from a hat at random. You then enter the juror's seating area, and as you do either the prosecution or the defence will say to the judge "objection on behalf of the prosecution (or) defence". And that's the end of it. No further questions, and no explanations. If you happen to be personally acquainted with either the arresting guard or the accused you need to point this out to the judge when your name is drawn, which then excuses you.

Oh yeah, was a smoker at the time so stepped out for a fag during a break. Witnessed with my own two eyes not six feet away from me the defence solicitor having a conversation with the accused and his mother where he more or less said (and I'm only paraphrasing slightly!) "Your son is bit of a scumbag. He's guilty. He did it. If he just changes his plea and stops wasting everyone's time and money the judge and jury might go a bit easier on him"

Seriously, a frank admission of guilt by the defence right in front of a potential juror was absolutely horrifying. I mean I have no sympathy for the criminals here, but what happens if a person turns out to be innocent?

Weird that they would say that - i thought solicitors had to excuse themselves if they knew/thought that you were guilty.

Got called for jury duty last year but didn't hae to serve as I was disqualified for having been in prison myself. Got wondering how they would have checked those things if I had said nothing and just turned up.

I was up before a jury n 2013 and always wondered how they made their decision. I was looking at them during the trial and didn't know what they were thinking. I got found guilty by them in the end but it's strange to think they have such power over your life.

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Was called once a few years back. Wasn't selected. My sister warned me if you don't want to be picked then dress like a thug. I duly obliged.

Depends on the case.

Thugs might be great jurors for the accused in crimes involving property, when prim shopkeepers are bad.

On the other hand, in a rape case, the prim shopkeeper might disapprove of the victim wearing a short skirt and getting hammered while the thug might think "I did wild things but I was never so bad that I raped a woman, he's sick".

There are no hard and fast lines.

Erik Shin

Mark25 wrote: »

Weird that they would say that - i thought solicitors had to excuse themselves if they knew/thought that you were guilty.

Got called for jury duty last year but didn't hae to serve as I was disqualified for having been in prison myself. Got wondering how they would have checked those things if I had said nothing and just turned up.

I was up before a jury n 2013 and always wondered how they made their decision. I was looking at them during the trial and didn't know what they were thinking. I got found guilty by them in the end but it's strange to think they have such power over your life.

Any good solicitor would know if you're were guilty or not, would go towards the case the​ barrister presents in court ...if he doesn't know the truth, it could go very badly for his client

tomwaterford

I imagine it would be very boring and i guess youd not be allowed use your phone/wifi during the day??




Know a lad who got a doctor to write him a note saying he had bad nevres to get outta it years ago

Will I Am Not

I seen posters around my town recently that said 'stop jury duty discrimination', didn't get to read the full thing.
Is there discrimination in the selection process?

Doltanian

Got picked to serve on a jury. Was a case of a scumbag fighting two other scumbags. Ended up being thrown out on the first day because the victim refused to give evidence, claiming that he suddenly couldn't remember what happened, much to the surprise and annoyance of the solicitors and judge.

Judge was forced to throw it out, because it was dependant on the testimony, but his closing remarks were that he was sure it won't be the last time they'll be back before the judge.

Doltanian wrote: »

I got called earlier this year but as my luck would have it I was away abroad at the time. I called up the court and explained my situation and they just said send in a letter and you'll be excused. Never heard from them since. My understanding is there is no pay or compensation either.

There is no pay or compensation, but your employer has to pay you your wages while you're doing it. Sucks if you're self employed, obviously.

Winterlong

I have never been called. They use the electoral register - right?

I would be interested in serving. Just to see how the whole thing works, and to do my civil duty and get the scumbags locked up.

Hector Savage

I was only called once - when I was in college, I just got a note from the college.

cython

Was called earlier this year, wasn't selected the second day, had to go back a week later for another selection and got selected then. It was an assault case, and midway through the first witness we were dismissed for one of the jurors knowing the victim's family, and only announcing it when we got back to the jury room, rather than passing a note to the foreman in the courtroom (because of it happening outside the court, there was no way of knowing whether or not something would have been said that could have coloured the rest of the jury's opinions of the parties involved).

RiderOnTheStorm

I got called a couple of years ago. I was between jobs so didn't have issue getting out of work. I went along and sat in room with approx 50 ppl. None of us were called as both cases that day pleaded guilty. The judge gave nice talk to us at the end, telling us not to think that we did nothing, and that sometimes the accused see 50 people ready to judge him and they can change their plea, which did happen that day.

I would go again.

Wouldn't like to be on a big gang case however. Wouldn't feel safe.

ohnonotgmail

RiderOnTheStorm wrote: »

I got called a couple of years ago. I was between jobs so didn't have issue getting out of work. I went along and sat in room with approx 50 ppl. None of us were called as both cases that day pleaded guilty. The judge gave nice talk to us at the end, telling us not to think that we did nothing, and that sometimes the accused see 50 people ready to judge him and they can change their plea, which did happen that day.

I would go again.

Wouldn't like to be on a big gang case however. Wouldn't feel safe.

Gangland cases dont go before a jury. they are tried in the special criminal court in front of 3 judges.

GBX

I'm due on it soon. Can I go in and say "I know that bloke over there from Boards.ie" and get sent away?

C Montgomery Gurns II

It always baffles me how in Ireland, a country far more obsessed with crime stories than any other, people run a mile when they get a jury summons. Few weeks paid leave from work for something topical off the news, I'd love it.

C Montgomery Gurns II

Dr Crayfish wrote: »

I was called last sept and kicked off the jury on the first day as one of the junior counsel claimed she had met me at a party. ............

......

well, had she?

Elemonator

I can't do jury duty due to my chosen profession. My auntie gets called every couple of years or so, very much to annoyance of my mother as she can't be called for the same reasons as I.

Erik Shin

Elemonator wrote: »

I can't do jury duty due to my chosen profession. My auntie gets called every couple of years or so, very much to annoyance of my mother as she can't be called for the same reasons as I.

Bloody lighthouse keepers!

tomwaterford

Elemonator wrote: »

I can't do jury duty due to my chosen profession. My auntie gets called every couple of years or so, very much to annoyance of my mother as she can't be called for the same reasons as I.

Butcher??

notsoyoungwan

I'm exempt due to my work as well. I'm just as glad tbh, would not like that responsibility.

Dravokivich

murphydublin wrote: »

Have you been called ? Did you serve?

I've been called for selection twice, went the first time and spent the week waiting to be called up to a court. Didn't get anything. Second time I was excused as I already had plans to travel during part of the selection period.

JaMarcusHustle

I was called a couple of years ago.

It was a drugs case where someone else was already convicted and they were trying to convicted a second person.

I was foreman, and I was very annoyed at how others in my group approached it. People using how the accused dressed, the people she showed up to court with etc. as reasons to find her guilty. A couple of them were adamant that we should find her guilty because they couldn't take any more time off work and wanted to get home as quick as possible, even though we hadn't reached deliberation yet. Using lines like "we wouldn't be here if she didn't do it" as reasoning.

Really made me question the whole jury system. Personally I (and a few other) were shocked at how flimsy the prosecution's case was. On day 3 or 4, the judge called us in and advised us that we were to find her not guilty by direction of the judge, which I've since learned is a typically what happens when the judge decided that no jury could possibly find the accused guilty given the case/evidence bring presented. She (the judge) seemed incredibly annoyed at the prosecution's case throughout the trial. It really was a patchwork, bumbling series of errors and mishaps.

But it was sad to see how little seriousness others on the jury brought to their responsibility.

Free-2-Flow

murphydublin wrote:

Now I'm older I fear being called for a case involving rape or kids which would be horrific to have to sit through. Or any type of gangland **** which could put my safety or family at risk.

Gangland activity does no require a jury, but 4 judges.

Got the letter today for 24th of July.

2nd time up in 5 years

stesaurus

Got called once and couldn't wait to do it. Whole thing fascinates me, why would you want to get out of it unless self employed? Anyway i got picked and was asked to swear in. Being an atheist it was a bit nerve wracking as I really didn't want to swear on a bible but it's a high pressure situation and I didn't want to be 'that' guy. Thankfully someone else was the same and asked for a different swearing in and I followed suit shortly after.
It was a rape case and was quickly apparent it was going to last more than an afternoon. Lunch was pretty meh and you have to stick with your fellow jurors even at meals. Pick 12 random people and I guarantee you'll hate at least 5 after an hour or two being stuck with them. 2nd day of the trial and we've gotten through some heavy stuff. Retired to the jurors room a few times also as legal matters come up about what can be stated in front of jurors. So at this point we start discussing a little. I'm taking things very seriously, as, well it's rape, your innocent until proven guilty, right? Well despite that being hammered down to you by the judge some people still don't gaf. "He was smiling away when she was giving evidence, guilty bastard", "i've a job to be doing tomorrow, i'll go whatever way yis all want", "did you see his clothes and the way he keeps looking at us, creepy bastard must be guilty". Honestly mind blown, it went on like this. You see this type of crap on tv and think nah people are better than that, jury duty is serious business but no people are assholes. I would never trust a jury after that experience.
Later that day a family member in the court shouted about how guilty he was and it wasn't the first time apparently. None of us heard anything but mistrial it was and off we went on our merry way. It's an eye opener and a headf**k, can't wait to be picked again though

pgj2015

stesaurus wrote: »

Got called once and couldn't wait to do it. Whole thing fascinates me, why would you want to get out of it unless self employed? Anyway i got picked and was asked to swear in. Being an atheist it was a bit nerve wracking as I really didn't want to swear on a bible but it's a high pressure situation and I didn't want to be 'that' guy. Thankfully someone else was the same and asked for a different swearing in and I followed suit shortly after.
It was a rape case and was quickly apparent it was going to last more than an afternoon. Lunch was pretty meh and you have to stick with your fellow jurors even at meals. Pick 12 random people and I guarantee you'll hate at least 5 after an hour or two being stuck with them. 2nd day of the trial and we've gotten through some heavy stuff. Retired to the jurors room a few times also as legal matters come up about what can be stated in front of jurors. So at this point we start discussing a little. I'm taking things very seriously, as, well it's rape, your innocent until proven guilty, right? Well despite that being hammered down to you by the judge some people still don't gaf. "He was smiling away when she was giving evidence, guilty bastard", "i've a job to be doing tomorrow, i'll go whatever way yis all want", "did you see his clothes and the way he keeps looking at us, creepy bastard must be guilty". Honestly mind blown, it went on like this. You see this type of crap on tv and think nah people are better than that, jury duty is serious business but no people are assholes. I would never trust a jury after that experience.
Later that day a family member in the court shouted about how guilty he was and it wasn't the first time apparently. None of us heard anything but mistrial it was and off we went on our merry way. It's an eye opener and a headf**k, can't wait to be picked again though

His family member or a family member of the victims?