So I've got Jury Duty tomorrow...

Mr Benevolent · 10-05-2010 08:02PM #1

Who's done it? Is it fun? Interesting? Exciting? Unlikely I know, but I've watched far too many movies about it. All I know is that you're not guaranteed to be called up, especially not if you're as good-looking as I am.

Any hints? Tips?

JONJO THE MISER · 10-05-2010 08:04PM

Yes if there is any sign of a skanger in them, go with a guilty verdict and save the decent people from having to look and deal with these scum on a daily basis.

orourkeda · 10-05-2010 08:06PM

Dont forget to claim off your house insurance when youre finished.

Mention it to your home insurance company to see if you're entitled to make a claim.

Hank_Jones · 10-05-2010 08:07PM

When I was called up to do it the judge went on holidays and the jury was no longer needed for the case.
Quite the waste of time that was.

rizzla · 10-05-2010 08:12PM

Yeah I did it. Thought it was great, very tiring though. Living with the decision you will make at the very end always weighs heavy and makes you pay attention to everything being said and presented to you.

We had a Jessica Fletcher type girl in our jury, constantly coming up with bizare scenarios.

Degsy · 10-05-2010 08:16PM

I have a jury summons for June sometime..my ex girlfriend is on trial soon for murder so it'd be a beautiful coincidence if i was on the jury!

Revenge is a dish best served cold my friendssss!

AnonoBoy · 10-05-2010 08:17PM

Degsy wrote: »

I have a jury summons for June sometime..my ex girlfriend is on trial soon for murder so it'd be a beautiful coincidence if i was on the jury!

Revenge is a dish best served cold my friendssss!

Seriously?

That sounds like a movie script waiting to happen. Although they'd probably have you off the jury in a minute if she recognises you.

dsmythy · 10-05-2010 08:17PM

Confab wrote: »

Who's done it? Is it fun? Interesting? Exciting? Unlikely I know, but I've watched far too many movies about it. All I know is that you're not guaranteed to be called up, especially not if you're as good-looking as I am.

Any hints? Tips?

Say you believe everyone is guilty until proven innocent and you'll be home in no time.

Overheal · 10-05-2010 08:23PM

Its a civic duty and a priviledge. You want to know that when its you on trial that your panel is made of responsible jurors who will weigh the case fairly. Be fair and objective to all sides of the case.

In fairness though you're being screened for Jury Duty, you may not even make it to a trial. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_selection

Its not a paid service (you'll get lunch, but no travel etc) but its best to think of it as one of your responsibilities which is tied into your own right to justice. I think its rather hypocritical of anyone to complain about jury duty and at the same time demand unfettered access to the system. If you are on trial it means 12 (or more) Jurors have agreed to hear your case at the expense of their time and give you their impartiality. To not return the favor when called reeks of hypocrisy.

ntlbell · 10-05-2010 08:25PM

Confab wrote: »

Who's done it? Is it fun? Interesting? Exciting? Unlikely I know, but I've watched far too many movies about it. All I know is that you're not guaranteed to be called up, especially not if you're as good-looking as I am.

Any hints? Tips?

bring food!

ipod!

books!

newspapers!

Scarydoll · 10-05-2010 08:25PM

Hank_Jones wrote: »

When I was called up to do it the judge went on holidays and the jury was no longer needed for the case.
Quite the waste of time that was.

That happened to me too. I found it quite funny at the time.

Mr Benevolent · 10-05-2010 08:26PM

Overheal wrote: »

Its a civic duty and a priviledge. You want to know that when its you on trial that your panel is made of responsible jurors who will weigh the case fairly. Be fair and objective to all sides of the case.

In fairness though you're being screened for Jury Duty, you may not even make it to a trial. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_selection

Its not a paid service (you'll get lunch, but no travel etc) but its best to think of it as one of your responsibilities which is tied into your own right to justice. I think its rather hypocritical of anyone to complain about jury duty and at the same time demand unfettered access to the system. If you are on trial it means 12 (or more) Jurors have agreed to hear your case at the expense of their time and give you their impartiality. To not return the favor when called reeks of hypocrisy.

Uh, I'm not complaining about doing it, just want to know what others have experienced doing it...

Mars Bar · 10-05-2010 08:27PM

Degsy wrote: »

I have a jury summons for June sometime..my ex girlfriend is on trial soon for murder so it'd be a beautiful coincidence if i was on the jury!

Revenge is a dish best served cold my friendssss!

First you are hanging off a cliff and now you have a murderous ex - girlfriend?!

WTF man?!

thetonynator · 10-05-2010 08:28PM

Don't mention any details of anything about it on the internet or you could end up in trouble, and the case will be all messed up.

Biggins · 10-05-2010 08:31PM

Depending on what case it is - probably duty for an accident, cause of death decision or one more rarer case of non-accidental death - do expect to be bored most of the time, expect that most like yourself will have no clue just what to expect, expect that those with forthright opinions will soon make themselves known and some of those to be quick too pass judgement before full evidence is in. Expect to hear a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo, expect to be like in a room that is quite like a library in a number of ways.

Expect to have your eyes opened in some ways that you never thought of.

Degsy · 10-05-2010 08:35PM

mars bar wrote: »

you have a murderous ex - girlfriend?!

WTF man?!

You mean you havnt?

jahalpin · 10-05-2010 08:38PM

I finished on a jury just over 2 weeks ago and the experience was actually very good.

The new Criminal Courts of Justice are actually very nice and, obviously, very modern.

The actual jury selection process is a bit frustrating as you are all sitting in a large room with a video link to the court and the clerk calls out the details of the case and then selects around 30 names from a box. If you are called you go over to the court and either;
- Make excuses to the judge as to why you can't serve on the jury
- Get objected to by the barristers
- Take the jury oath

Once the jury is selected you are sent to the jury room, which is room with a board table and 12 chairs, a tea\coffee area and 2 toilets.

You are provided with lunch everyday, you get a choice of 3 or 4 main courses and soup (except on Monday, when you only get a salad and soup)

We were normally called into the court at around 11.30 and stayed there until around 1. We went back after lunch at around 2.15 and stayed in the court until around 4.

The jury will sometimes be sent out so that the judge and barristers can discuss legal issues etc.

Mars Bar · 10-05-2010 08:39PM

Degsy wrote: »

You mean you havnt?

Well, no!
I'm not a lesbian.

John Lynch Ph.D · 10-05-2010 08:40PM

Biggins wrote: »

Depending on what case it is - probably duty for an accident, cause of death decision or one more rarer case of non-accidental death - do expect to be bored most of the time, expect that

It could be any type of case, not just relating to death.

Dravokivich · 10-05-2010 08:40PM

was avail for selection for jury duty... just spent the whole week in the basement of the 4 courts... I'm due to be doing it again next month...

thanks man... you me reminded me to tell'em i'm going to be out of the country at the time... er... really need to do that tomorrow...

pirelli · 10-05-2010 08:41PM

Lets not forget that many innocent people get wrongly convicted. Sometimes your the only person between justice and injustice.

Read some these cases.

http://www.innocent.org.uk/

http://www.google.ie/search?q=innocent&hl=en&prmd=vni&source=univ&tbs=nws:1&tbo=u&ei=y2DoS_qMKt6kOPDx7YIE&sa=X&oi=news_group&ct=title&resnum=13&ved=0CGQQsQQwDA

Biggins · 10-05-2010 08:43PM

John Lynch Ph.D wrote: »

It could be any type of case, not just relating to death.

Very true. Expect it to probably be a mundane routine case to be honest OP.

Dravokivich · 10-05-2010 08:49PM

Biggins wrote: »

Very true. Expect it to probably be a mundane routine case to be honest OP.

Yeha.. oddly enough... some of the cases I saw related to "Burglary" or "Assault & Burglary..."

There I was thinking it was gonna be like "12 Angry Men"...

bobblepuzzle · 10-05-2010 08:50PM

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Yes if there is any sign of a skanger in them, go with a guilty verdict and save the decent people from having to look and deal with these scum on a daily basis.

At least now he can claim he's become biased with this post... and can't do it :pac:

Paparazzo · 10-05-2010 08:56PM

Overheal wrote: »

Its a civic duty and a priviledge. You want to know that when its you on trial that your panel is made of responsible jurors who will weigh the case fairly. Be fair and objective to all sides of the case.

In fairness though you're being screened for Jury Duty, you may not even make it to a trial. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_selection

Its not a paid service (you'll get lunch, but no travel etc) but its best to think of it as one of your responsibilities which is tied into your own right to justice. I think its rather hypocritical of anyone to complain about jury duty and at the same time demand unfettered access to the system. If you are on trial it means 12 (or more) Jurors have agreed to hear your case at the expense of their time and give you their impartiality. To not return the favor when called reeks of hypocrisy.

Congratulations, you just convinced me to never try and get out of jury duty

10-05-2010 08:57PM

Overheal wrote: »

If you are on trial it means 12 (or more) Jurors have agreed to hear your case at the expense of their time and give you their impartiality. To not return the favor when called reeks of hypocrisy.

I don't think everyone intends to be on trial at some point in their life

Dravokivich · 10-05-2010 08:57PM

Tar.Aldarionftw wrote: »

At least now he can claim he's become biased with this post... and can't do it :pac:

You'd want to be carefull doing that... the Judge can fine you for acting the b0ll0x.

recylingbin · 10-05-2010 08:59PM

Confab wrote: »

Who's done it??

Twas the butler.

peanuthead · 10-05-2010 08:59PM

Degsy wrote: »

I have a jury summons for June sometime..my ex girlfriend is on trial soon for murder so it'd be a beautiful coincidence if i was on the jury!

Revenge is a dish best served cold my friendssss!

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Seriously?

That sounds like a movie script waiting to happen. Although they'd probably have you off the jury in a minute if she recognises you.

Yeah, seriously? :eek::eek:

Degsy · 10-05-2010 09:01PM

peanuthead wrote: »

Yeah, seriously? :eek::eek:

I can provide a link if required but i really dont wanna!

Mr Benevolent · 10-05-2010 09:02PM

Degsy wrote: »

I can provide a link if required but i really dont wanna!

I wouldn't if I were you mate.

So I've got Jury Duty tomorrow...

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