Ever get called/done jury service?

Mark25 · 27-06-2016 11:37PM

mynamejeff wrote: »

if you got picked you would have to give your details to the garda in charge of the jury who would check you out ,

Having a criminal conviction may not disqualify you automatically.

Say if your conviction was road traffic and the case was about an assault it would have no bearing on the case,

you could go along and say it to the garda in the court before selection started.

Suppose that makes sense. Actually checked on Citizens Info and you are disqualified if you've been sentenced to 3 months or more in the last 10 years so that rules me out. It doesn't seem to matter about anything other than if you have been in prison.

Seems you can get exempted easy enough if you want to

Tigger · 27-06-2016 11:44PM

mynamejeff wrote: »

depends on if its like no tax or dangerous driving drink driving or whatever

That's a civil offence I think

Neilw · 27-06-2016 11:54PM

I've been called 3 times.

1st time was a drug smuggling case.....guilty verdict.
2nd time I didn't get picked for a jury.
3rd time was a rape case....guilty verdict.

I found it very interesting and would have no reason to try and get out of it if called again.

After the rape case the judge excused us from jury duty for ten years because of the graphic nature of our case.

SpannerMonkey · 27-06-2016 11:57PM

Mark25 wrote: »

Got a letter for jury service but I can't do it because of having a criminal record.

Anyway wondering if anybody else has been called to do it and if you did it? Do you get told what to look for or how to come to a decision?

Did most people have the same opinions after hearing the case? Did you feel like you had alot of power in deciding if someone was guilty or not guilty?

did it earlier this year, serious enough case of arson and attempted murder . was shocked when charges were read out and scene was described . was amazing the man survived it

first thing is . its not like you see on tv . mostly waiting around in a room behind the court room

secondly it doesnt give you faith in the legal system . 3 days in we first heard the guy admitted doing it and wrote a statement saying he did weeks ago . and they then reduced the charge

when they had him 100% guilty made no sense considering how serious it was . soon after we were told he had changed his plea to guilty and the jury was excused

thing i didnt like was the jury selection . about 50 people waiting in lobby of court house and members of a certain community going around intimidating them walking up to them inches from their face staring them out of it . following them around into toilets and out to their cars afterwards . it was a disgrace that it was allowed to happen .

overall im glad i did it . id do it again . judge was a decent bloke who tried to keep everyone comfortable . excused now from jury service for 3 years

Karmella · 28-06-2016 12:04AM

I served once about 10 years ago ... got called onto a jury and sworn in and all that craic. Case was awful though. There were close to 60 counts of sexual assault and unlawful carnal knowledge of 3 girls over a period of years. They read out every single count and the guy pleaded not guilty to all of them. The next morning we got sent to the jury room while they talked about the case - and then brought back in and they read out every single charge again and he pleaded guilty! Thank feck, I don't think I'd have had the stomach to sit through the case! Judging by the dates of the charges these girls were only young kids when it happened. One had the same surname so was probably related to him. I think everyone on the jury was convinced he was guilty before there was a shred of evidence!!!
I was fascinated by the selection though... They call your number and you go sit up in the box. Then the defense and prosecution reject people. There didn't seem to be any reasoning for the rejection though, like they wouldn't ask any questions or anything. As it happened the jury ended up being majority women, which I found really strange as we sat there listening to all the charges.
Anyway after he pleaded guilty we were excused and didn't have to finish out the full week.

Nomis21 · 28-06-2016 12:21AM

I've never been on a jury but I have seen the mini-series...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5I_3eb23zU&index=4&list=PLLhbAU5zAhYnL3Xyr05RCz_-bbFIdkfAc

hullaballoo · 28-06-2016 12:36AM

Tigger wrote: »

That's a civil offence I think

We get this in the legal discussion forum from time to time. I have no idea where it comes from but there is no such thing as a civil offence.

Every violation that ends up in court, if proven, results in a criminal conviction. Many of them are not considered to be serious so left out of Garda vetting etc. but they are still permanently on your record.

Even an unpaid parking ticket that gets to court is a criminal conviction.

Kop On · 28-06-2016 12:57AM

hullaballoo wrote: »

We get this in the legal discussion forum from time to time. I have no idea where it comes from but there is no such thing as a civil offence.

Every violation that ends up in court, if proven, results in a criminal conviction. Many of them are not considered to be serious so left out of Garda vetting etc. but they are still permanently on your record.

Even an unpaid parking ticket that gets to court is a criminal conviction.

How does that work given the below?

Under the Probation of Offenders Act 1907 (pdf), a judge in the District Court may decide that the facts alleged against you have been proven but may decide not to convict you. This is a form of second chance which the judge has the discretion to apply. The charge may be dismissed or you may be conditionally discharged.

hullaballoo · 28-06-2016 01:41AM

Kop On wrote: »

How does that work given the below?

Under the Probation of Offenders Act 1907 (pdf), a judge in the District Court may decide that the facts alleged against you have been proven but may decide not to convict you. This is a form of second chance which the judge has the discretion to apply. The charge may be dismissed or you may be conditionally discharged.

Yes, you can be given the benefit of the Probation Act to prevent a conviction being recorded but it is never sought or applied in relation to minor RTA cases because they are not serious enough. The Probation Act is for things like theft and other more serious offences (but if the offence is too serious, it won't be applied.)

There has also been a practice of accepting a donation to the poor box in place of recording a conviction for minor offences and this is sometimes applied for RTA offences, though less so now that the papers kicked up a storm about it.

AllGunsBlazing · 28-06-2016 01:49AM

Three times within the space of six years!

Did it the first time around (the case of the stolen Massey Ferguson), wrangled my way out the second call up and the third one got cancelled.

Ted Plain · 28-06-2016 02:04AM

The Constitution requires citizens to display loyalty to the State and fidelity to the nation and that is done by jury service...

... Those who fail to show are failing in a very important civic duty and potentially committing a criminal offence.

As remarked by a judge recently when over half of those summoned didn't turn up.

Mark25 wrote: »

Got a letter for jury service but I can't do it because of having a criminal record.

Anyway wondering if anybody else has been called to do it and if you did it? Do you get told what to look for or how to come to a decision?

Did most people have the same opinions after hearing the case? Did you feel like you had alot of power in deciding if someone was guilty or not guilty?

This is not necessarily an excuse for you to get off. You have to have spent at least three months in prison within the last ten years or at any stage in the past have been sentenced to five years detention or longer.

Was on jury duty recently enough. The leaflet you would have gotten with the jury summons should have outlined that.

If you go and are selected it might just as easily end up being a civil law case and not a criminal prosecution one.

Go for it if you're still eligible. It's an interesting experience. :-)

r93kaey5p2izun · 28-06-2016 02:07AM

I've been called twice in the past five years. Both times my employer wrote a letter saying I couldn't do it. I'd like to do it once for the experience though.

Ted Plain · 28-06-2016 02:37AM

mynamejeff wrote: »

if you got picked you would have to give your details to the garda in charge of the jury who would check you out ,

Having a criminal conviction may not disqualify you automatically.

Say if your conviction was road traffic and the case was about an assault it would have no bearing on the case,

you could go along and say it to the garda in the court before selection started.

That's not how it works. :-)

You are summoned and you show up on the morning.

There will then be a roll call.

Your name will then be put into a box and will then be pulled out. If this happens you have to get up and approach the jury bench.

The solicitors on both sides will look you up and down and object to you if they don't like the cut of you. Each side can object to seven of those called without giving a reason. After the seventh rejection they have to provide justification, but it didn't get to that stage the time I was there.

After all jurors are selected they are sworn in there and then by the judge. You can choose to pledge allegiance to the Constitution or a mainstream religious book.

There are no checks of any kind carried out. You are not asked to provide any identification.

MiskyBoyy · 28-06-2016 02:46AM

I was called to it before, I think like 100 people get called for the 3 days.
If you don't get picked for Jury on Day 1 you have to come back for Day 2.
If you don't get picked on Day 2 you have to come back for Day 3.
If you don't get picked on Day 3, you're thanked for your service and sent off.

That was my experience anyway.

demanufactured · 28-06-2016 07:03AM

rubadub wrote: »

If this is legit what did they say, if anything? guessing it might be just joking as I heard it in a film or something. But I wonder what would happen.

I would sooner act a bit mad/odd, well madder/odder:pac:, start using offensive language like it was the norm etc. I also would be interested in people called mulitple times, do you think you were on a a "good list" if you were seen to be co-operative. Or does someone work in department who knows the way it works.

I also wondered about food requirements, I know they are meant to give meals, if you say from the start you have special requirements would you be let off. Can you insist on fillet steak every day due to your "special needs", do you have to have proof etc.

You heard it on the Simpsons

beach_walker · 28-06-2016 09:28AM

I say hang 'em all.

I've yet to be called successfully to serve.

Lollipops23 · 28-06-2016 10:20AM

I haven't yet been called.

My older brother was when he was only 18/19, and was selected. The case was for the murder of a child and he was panicking badly- what full grown person has the emotional fortitude for that, let alone a teenager?

Thankfully the guy changed his plea at the last minute, so my bro didn't have to sit.

keano_afc · 28-06-2016 10:27AM

Was called about 10 years ago. I went in unshaven and dressed in a tracksuit as I was told if you look a bit rough you're more likely to be challenged and as a result told to step down. Sure enough, I get selected and up I go. Defence challenged me and the judge told me to be on my merry way. I was delighted, it was a murder trial that ended up going on for months.

PurplePrincess · 28-06-2016 10:37AM

Did a week 3 years ago. Didn't enjoy it at all. Was selected once and went up to the courtroom but wasn't picked for the jury. After 4 days of sitting in the waiting area listening to the case details I was convinced this country was full of murderers, rapists and paedophiles.
We were excused for 2 years and sure enough 2 years later I was called again along with 3 of my work colleagues. The director wrote to them and got us excused as it would have caused a problem as we would all have to be replaced while absent. I was so relieved.

Two things that I was curious about was over the 4 days I was there when they called out names a lot of people weren't there, and people who were called up to the courtroom said they had holiday booked exams etc, do they follow up on these and check them out?

rogercross · 28-06-2016 10:38AM

Do you get paid for all that time?

28-06-2016 10:46AM

I got called for Jury service. One scummy person got jumped by two scummy people, resulting in pretty bad injuries. Case got thrown out when defendant withdrew their statements and "couldn't remember anything" about the night. Jury members all suspected intimidation must have been involved. Judge and prosecution solicitor were both very taken aback.

rogercross wrote: »

Do you get paid for all that time?

No, your employer has to pay you your wages. But you're f*cked if you're self-employed.

HensVassal · 28-06-2016 01:04PM

Nataly Skinny Bayonet wrote: »

Got called twice but was in Antarctica for one and Malawi for the other and was excused.

You're a migratory bird?

HensVassal · 28-06-2016 01:07PM

mynamejeff wrote: »

depends on if its like no tax or dangerous driving drink driving or whatever

I don't think you get a criminal record for driving offences like parking tickets and breaking a red light etc.

HensVassal · 28-06-2016 01:10PM

Lollipops23 wrote: »

I haven't yet been called.

My older brother was when he was only 18/19, and was selected. The case was for the murder of a child and he was panicking badly- what full grown person has the emotional fortitude for that, let alone a teenager?

Thankfully the guy changed his plea at the last minute, so my bro didn't have to sit.

I empathise with your brother, bless him.

Ever get called/done jury service?

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