So I got called for Jury Service...

whippet

I’ve gotten a jury call for next month in the circuit court.

No point in even considering looking for an excuse as I don’t have any valid reason for not doing it .. however I’m trying to make some arrangements work wise just in case.

In reality how likely are you to actually be selected ?

If selected what are the normal operating times of the court / when I’d be expected to be there ?

Is there any time during the day when I could take work calls / log in etc .. or is your time more or less court & lunch ?

looksee

How likely are you to be selected...it depends on what you look like (how someone else perceives you) and what the case is. The last time I was called the case was a young guy up for some sort of thievery. I look like an older (which I am), quite severe woman (just the way my face sits ) and I was promptly ousted. Daft thing was I was at the time working with people his age, not necessarily delinquents but not high flying college students either, and I had a very positive attitude towards them.

TheIronyMaiden

looksee wrote: »

How likely are you to be selected...it depends on what you look like (how someone else perceives you) and what the case is. The last time I was called the case was a young guy up for some sort of thievery. I look like an older (which I am), quite severe woman (just the way my face sits ) and I was promptly ousted. Daft thing was I was at the time working with people his age, not necessarily delinquents but not high flying college students either, and I had a very positive attitude towards them.

Yep, this. I got selected and saw a complete mix of people be vetoed. It's pretty much down to the case you get.
Also, your whole day is taken up - no down time at all. Well apart from your lunch hour!

Gerry T

For me your called for a week, show up every m9rni g. Jury's selected and those not picked go to work, that's about 10am. Show up the next day repeat.
If selected case could be 3 days, maybe 5 or if unlucky much longer. You have zero time during the day, brought to lunch in a cop van and back. No time to yourself until the evenings

whippet

Pretty much what I expected !! Also what is the dress code for jurors .. I’m assuming it’s what ever you normally wear ?

coylemj

There is no official dress code but I wouldn't turn up in shorts or wearing a dirty t-shirt. What you look like (incl. what you're wearing) will have a major bearing on whether you're accepted or not when you step forward as a prospective juror. Prosecution and defence counsel (the barristers) can each reject up to seven prospective jurors 'without cause shown' i.e. without giving any reason. Too smart or too scruffy and one side will reject you.

The Pheasant2

Can you not just dress up like an absolute weirdo then as a get-out?

coylemj

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

Can you not just dress up like an absolute weirdo then as a get-out?

Go too far and the judge could take it as contempt, next stop a trip in the paddywagon to Mountjoy for seven days. I wouldn't be testing the limits.

You can dress down without looking like a weirdo.

iLikeWaffles

Just stare the be-jasus out of who ever it is and you wont be selected ever!

The Pheasant2

coylemj wrote: »

Go too far and the judge could take it as contempt, next stop a trip in the paddywagon to Mountjoy for seven days. I wouldn't be testing the limits.

You can dress down without looking like a weirdo.

I'd actually love to try and find where the line is here :pac:
I mean obviously a mankini under a kilt would be too far...
But would shorts and a hawaiian shirt count as contempt for example? Or just dungarees? Seems like the judge could have quite a lot of leeway in basically deciding whether you're taking the the piss or not.

Truckermal

I was called before but attending would mean a 80 Mile round trip plus I would have to take time off work. I phoned and explained that it didn't suit to which I was told absolutely no problem.

markpb

Truckermal wrote: »

I was called before but attending would mean a 80 Mile round trip

How did that happen?

nuac

Mod
Title amended for clarity.
Jury service is an important civic function.
No more comedians, pls

ezra_

Is the pool drawn from Revenue or Electoral data?

L1011

ezra_ wrote: »

Is the pool drawn from Revenue or Electoral data?

Electoral register. One of the reasons people sometimes give for not voting!

ShamrockAir

whippet wrote: »

No point in even considering looking for an excuse as I don’t have any valid reason for not doing it ..

" a priest or minister of any denomination can be exempted from jury duty."

Have you ever though of becoming a minister of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

That would be enough to get you off the hook and we are always looking for more members.

OldMrBrennan83

L1011 wrote: »

Electoral register. One of the reasons people sometimes give for not voting!

One of mine anyway, though a very small part.

meforever

I was summoned for jury duty in July. Having a kid with special needs was deemed reason enough for exemption.

If unsuccessful, was preparing to arrive in clean but BO laden sweaty clothes. Keep in mind this was during our heatwave. Can't imagine how this would have failed.

Nobody has time for this outdated ritual. Being told how to vote by people wearing wigs is degrading and weird.

meforever

whippet wrote: »

I’ve gotten a jury call for next month in the circuit court.

No point in even considering looking for an excuse as I don’t have

One can always find an excuse. Back trouble / depression as non definable conditions come to mind.

beertons

I recognised a witness, told the panel and got excused. Local Court though. Who's to say something similar won't happen to you.

prinzeugen

The type of work you do could exempt you also.

Two people I know were excused jury duty because they could come in contact with and might be recognised by people associated with the accused after the case was over.

One is a HSE dentist and the other worked full-time in a large store in Dublin city centre.

E mac

From memory from when I was on a jury pool (didn't get picked) the outline of the case is read out to everyone first. Wondered at the time if you told the judge you already had formed an opinion on the defendant would it get you excused?

coylemj

meforever wrote: »

If unsuccessful, was preparing to arrive in clean but BO laden sweaty clothes. Keep in mind this was during our heatwave. Can't imagine how this would have failed.

You think that the lawyers and court officials all smell of roses and Old Spice?

meforever

coylemj wrote: »

You think that the lawyers and court officials all smell of roses and Old Spice?

No not at all...I am uneasy with anything I deem to be flawed. I realise jury is viewed by some as a structural part of a civilised society. I for my own reasons don't buy into it and by such admission would be poor material as a jury member.

Nobody should be forced to be part of such ordeals.

whippet

OP here and just for clarification ... I have no issue with doing Jury Duty and I happen to think of it as something that should be treated with respect .. I am more interested in the mechanics of the whole thing and trying to legislate for the probability of being off the radar for a couple of days work wise.

I had a chat with my boss and he said that in the last couple of years they are clamping down on the usual attempts of making excuses from a work point of view. And unless it is fairly exceptional excuses don't wash ... the last time they said that the employee was vital to the business and they couldn't be without them .. they were asked 'what about annual leave' and how do they cope when the employee is on holidays

Spanish Eyes

From what I can remember when I last served many years ago, if we were either rejected or not required that day, then back to life/work whatever and turn up next day until you are either selected or your time in the jury pool is over, I think that's two weeks.

I ended up being selected on day three for a quite traumatic case which lasted two and a half weeks. I have to say while it was tough, it was very interesting to see how the courts work etc. and being on a jury we were well taken care of grub wise.

Anyway, lo and behold a few months ago I was called AGAIN! Couldn't believe it as no one in either my family or my circle has been called even once! But I have developed a severe hearing problem and I knew I would not be able to hear the evidence, so with a doctor's explanation, I was discharged no problem. This was a genuine issue for me, I just could not do it if I could not hear the proceedings properly.

So, OP if you are not called you go back to work, if you are selected, who knows how long the case may last. Tough one for you, but as others have said it is our civic duty, apart from genuine cases who cannot serve.

OleRodrigo

I was called last summer for a relatively long case ( 4 weeks ). It was a gruelling experience in certain respects but also very interesting.

The criminal courts are like a different world, amazing to see what goes on in this country. I never knew there could be such a high volume of criminal activity, pretty much an industry in its own right.

Overall I found it a valuable life experience, something I would do again. But it can be exhausting, depending on the case.

Cockadoodledoo

I was called a few years ago and spent most of the time sitting in a room chatting amongst ourselves. Some were reading a book and others were in and out of the room.

Then we actually got called in for jury selection which took maybe half an hour and back again in the afternoon for a second selection for another case. I was back in work by 3pm.

In my experience there was nothing to stop you from taking a call but I think we were delayed and they weren’t ready.

It’s a fascinating experience though but I didn’t get selected

troyzer

I've been called up twice (and I'm only 25). In both cases I genuinely was going on holidays.

mojesius

whippet wrote: »

In reality how likely are you to actually be selected ?

Depends on the number of cases that are taking place and the demographics of the jury the defence/prosecution are after. You could be called up and rejected by defence/prosecution several times or your number might not get called up at all.

I've been in for jury duty twice, both in CCJ. First time, I was 21 and went in for three days for selection, morning at 9 until around lunchtime. Got rejected by defence twice. You could read/do work during this selection process if you're not put on a case straight away. Second time, I was selected for jury duty and case lasted a week.

If selected what are the normal operating times of the court / when I’d be expected to be there ? For selection, iirc morning until early afternoon.

For cases, I think it was 930-430 but this depends on the judge and the day's proceedings

Is there any time during the day when I could take work calls / log in etc .. or is your time more or less court & lunch ?

If you're on a case, you have won't have time. It's court/jury room/lunch. It's an out of office duty for sure. Plus as others have mentioned, cases can be quite intense mentally and psychologically and flipping between the case and work would be tough going. You might need evenings to relax or digest what's happened in court that day.

BobMc

I've been called twice, something personally I'd love to do.

However, myself and my dad (he's 66) run a family business just the two of us, I do all the production, he does phones and pays bills etc. etc the money side. I write via registered post simple explanation, I'm not at work no work done, no wages
for either family

but love to do it someday maybe when I retire, Guilty your Honour !

ichabod

whippet wrote: »

OP here and just for clarification ... I have no issue with doing Jury Duty and I happen to think of it as something that should be treated with respect .. I am more interested in the mechanics of the whole thing and trying to legislate for the probability of being off the radar for a couple of days work wise.

I had a chat with my boss and he said that in the last couple of years they are clamping down on the usual attempts of making excuses from a work point of view. And unless it is fairly exceptional excuses don't wash ... the last time they said that the employee was vital to the business and they couldn't be without them .. they were asked 'what about annual leave' and how do they cope when the employee is on holidays

An employer is obliged to release you for Jury Service AND pay you. If the employer's excuse is " vital to business ", get a written confirmation from your employer to this effect and submit that to the court in advance. It may be enough to be excused.
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/courtroom/jury_service.html

rovertom

What about self employed one man operation. If I'm sitting in jury, I'm not making money and not getting paid.

OleRodrigo

There are court officials who will look after any work related issues. They can issue a court letter, which is essentially an order from the judge, to alleviate any particular issue you have.

I was working on-call at night before starting, so essentially had been up all night for 3 nights going into the first day of a trial. They gave me a letter addressed to my employer saying I wasn't to do any work that would impact on the trial.

Not sure about being self employed but they are used too all sorts of scenarios so it's worth talking to them.

Dr Brown

Can people with criminal records be called for jury duty ?

Peregrinus

You're disqualified if:

- You have ever received a sentence of 5 years or more: or

- In the last ten years, you have received a sentence of 3 months or more, and have actually served any part of it.

Criminal convictions resulting in lesser sentences, including non-custodial sentences, are not a disqualification.

GrumpyMe

How's your hearing? I SAID HOW IS YOUR HEARING?

Dr Brown

Peregrinus wrote: »

You're disqualified if:

- You have ever received a sentence of 5 years or more: or

- In the last ten years, you have received a sentence of 3 months or more, and have actually served any part of it.

Criminal convictions resulting in lesser sentences, including non-custodial sentences, are not a disqualification.

Does that include criminal convictions from other countries or just Ireland ?

Peregrinus

Dr Brown wrote: »

Does that include criminal convictions from other countries or just Ireland ?

The Republic or Northern Ireland.

cudsy1

whippet wrote: »

I’ve gotten a jury call for next month in the circuit court.

No point in even considering looking for an excuse as I don’t have any valid reason for not doing it .. however I’m trying to make some arrangements work wise just in case.

In reality how likely are you to actually be selected ?

If selected what are the normal operating times of the court / when I’d be expected to be there ?

Is there any time during the day when I could take work calls / log in etc .. or is your time more or less court & lunch ?

bump

Oasis1974

I did it for two weeks last summer in the Cork District court. It's actually grand but getting picked early for a case is your best bet. Never called up for the 2 weeks it got boring and annoying fast 4 of those days we had off because of no cases. Guy was exempt from following week because he had a week in Lanzarote with his family and just told them. Dress code seemed low key lot of people just had normal causal clothes.

cudsy1

thanks very much its cork city id be reporting to. was it pretty possible to pull out a letter from your employer after a few days or at the start of a second week if youre sick of it and havent been given a case?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

cudsy1 wrote: »

thanks very much its cork city id be reporting to. was it pretty possible to pull out a letter from your employer after a few days or at the start of a second week if youre sick of it and havent been given a case?

Your employer can't really ask for you to be excused. Only the professions listed on the notice you received are exempted.

cudsy1

Andre Mushy Mining wrote: »

Your employer can't really ask for you to be excused. Only the professions listed on the notice you received are exempted.

my profession is listed on the notice alright

.G.

Got called myself for January, no way out of it really but if I'm going to work after it each day I'll be in scruffy clothes while in court. I work on building sites.

.G.

How does payment rules work for this.

The literature I got said I'm only entitled to be paid for the hours I have to attend. Court is at 10.15 but my job begins at 7.30 so I'm going to work beforehand but will then lose time as I travel to and from the court back to work if not picked. Should I be paid for that or only the actual time I'm in there?

Peregrinus

.G. wrote: »

How does payment rules work for this.

The literature I got said I'm only entitled to be paid for the hours I have to attend. Court is at 10.15 but my job begins at 7.30 so I'm going to work beforehand but will then lose time as I travel to and from the court back to work if not picked. Should I be paid for that or only the actual time I'm in there?

You're paid by your employer, not by the court service. The legal requirement is that your employer must pay you for "any period when [you are] absent from [your] employment or apprenticeship in order to comply with a jury summons". So that covers the time spent travelling to and from court as well as time spent actually at court.