Jury Duty Selection

gaming_needs90

Hi,

I have jury duty coming up in a few weeks. I would just like any opinions on how to make sure I am selected once I get there. This is for the circuit court. Are there any ways to improve my hcances of actually getting on a jury?

Thanks

cml387

What a public minded citizen!

Dress nondescript. Too well dressed you'll be rejected by the defence, dress like a skanger and you'll be rejected by the prosecution. Other than that it's random selection

suvigirl

My mother has been called for jury duty 4 times, she's now in her 70s. Never sat on a jury. Just the way it goes

Atlantic Dawn

Last time I went in I calculated it was roughly a 25% chance of getting called going by the number of people in the jury selection room and those that are called. Can vary a lot depending on the number of cases scheduled for that week. As said previous go middle of the road dressed to have your best chance.

While it might sound great and interesting which I found it was, I wouldn't like to be handling any scumbag related cases that occured in or around where I live as you will likely be sharing public transport and walking route to and from court with the accused and their friends and family. I'd straight off refuse any case like this on the grounds you may know the accused or victim.

coylemj

+1 for middle of the road dress. To sit on a jury, you first need to have your name pulled in a lottery, a process over which you have no control. You then step forward to take the juror's oath and the two sides (prosecution and defence barristers) will size you up.

This is the critical moment, both of them have a number of free rejections where they can bump you without giving a reason. Don't stare at anyone, look blankly at the far wall and keep a neutral expression on your face. There's a good chance you will pass muster if you are not over or under dressed.

If you're not rejected, you're good to take the oath and once you start reciting it, you're in. If you are rejected, you stand down and rejoin the jury pool. You could be called up for the next case if this is Dublin and they're empanelling several juries.

naughtysmurf

Don’t look over enthusiastic, they don’t like that, I was just about to be sworn in, looking forward to some time off work, stepped forward with purpose, excitement in my eyes, hand aloft only to be objected to at the last second.

cml387

Serving on a jury is not a happy day out. It can be extremely boring because you may be in the jury room twiddling your thumbs while legal arguments take place, you may be faced with distressing pictures of crimes, or hear disturbing or sickening testimony. Be careful what you wish for.

Claw Hammer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123091456#Comment_123091456

You can't refuse to serve on such grounds. What you can say is, when the names and addresses of the witnesses are read out is that the names, that you think you know one of the witnesses. You will be rejected on that basis, not because you are scared on a bus.

artanevilla

It's not like the TV.

Just rock up, you name may be called, it may also not be called. You may be dismissed completely or may be called up and sent back down to the jury room and back into the random pot.

There's no tricks.

Atlantic Dawn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123105556#Comment_123105556

Yes that's exactly what I said in my post.

Oscar_Madison

Wear a suit and carry the Irish Times- don’t get picked

Wear casual clothes and carry the Irish Times - get picked.

That’s my experience - so from that limited experiment, carrying an Irish times won’t necessarily get you excluded but wearing a suit might.

The Davestator

I did jury duty last year and there was a guy in slacks and a Clontarf Yacht club blazer. He got drawn out 4 times in the week and was challenged each time! Not sure if this was his plan or not but he was exactly the opposite of what the defence were looking for

gaming_needs90

Went in…along with a solid 120 other people. Only one jury picked for two cases, second was a plead guilty case. Was just names out of a box to pick the jurors bar the challenges. Didn't get picked but was interesting all the same! Thanks for the tips.

EDIT: As one of the above posters said, its not like tv at all. Law and order it is not.

Oscar_Madison

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123112808#Comment_123112808

I’d say it probably was his “plan”- easier ways to get excused - a letter pleading to be excused in this occasion for whatever the reason is often responded to with an exception for that time - saving him a few days - personally i believe if you can serve then you should

Buddy Bubs

I was called twice, first time was there for a week mostly being sent home before lunch and my number never got called, 2nd time I was called and my number came up for a murder trial, I was eager to serve on this one but I got rejected by same person as rejected a young enough good looking college aged girl, I was a mid 30s hairy bearded rugby player so definitely different demograpgics, don't know if the rejector was defence or prosecution.

There's not much you can do to increase your chances, you don't control what trial you might be called for or what makeup of jury the legal eagles will be looking for.

Maybe a generic non stand out look but that might backfire too