Jury Duty

dark crystal · 04-02-2011 11:48PM #1

Was speaking to a group of friends today and we got talking about jury duty. I have been called twice now (chosen once), but none of them had ever even been called, nor knew of anyone else who had.

I served on a serious assault case and we ultimately found the defendant guilty. We were all pretty much in agreement, but there was one guy who was arguing in his favour. He eventually relented and all in all, the case only lasted a day. Was hard when the verdict was read out, as yer man was eying us all up menacingly, but it was definitely the right decision, given the evidence presented to us.

Has anyone here ever served on a jury and what was your experience? (Obviously, no names of anyone involved please!)

easyeason3 · 04-02-2011 11:51PM

No never got asked or invited or whatever it is.
I wouldn't mind it though, in fact I'd love it but I'm a nosy bitch.

PCPhoto · 04-02-2011 11:51PM

im exempt from jury duty.

aoshea83 · 04-02-2011 11:53PM

PCPhoto wrote: »

im exempt from jury duty.

me too :mad:

epgc3fyqirnbsx · 04-02-2011 11:54PM

got called but not picked, pretty boring experience, I had fantasies of a Primal Fear type court room drama unfolding though it was unlikely in the mayo circuit court

hondasam · 04-02-2011 11:54PM

PCPhoto wrote: »

im exempt from jury duty.

me too

dark crystal · 04-02-2011 11:54PM

PCPhoto wrote: »

im exempt from jury duty.

Why so?

hondasam · 04-02-2011 11:56PM

dark crystal wrote: »

Why so?

for me it's because of my job.

phasers · 04-02-2011 11:56PM

A lot of ex cons in this thread...

aoshea83 · 04-02-2011 11:58PM

Fathers job rules me out

LEIN · 05-02-2011 12:00AM

Never called but and never want to be called tbh.

05-02-2011 12:00AM

Not jury duty in the usual sense but I was on a jury in the Coroners Court once.

Pauleta · 05-02-2011 12:00AM

I did it once and enjoyed it. Free lunches everyday were also fantastic.

Praetorian Saighdiuir · 05-02-2011 12:02AM

Im exempt too.......id love to do it though. I heard you get free cookies.

dark crystal · 05-02-2011 12:02AM

hondasam wrote: »

for me it's because of my job.

Aah, fair enough.

Just realised me asking that question could be construed as being kinda nosy and intrusive

It's just that it was drummed into us at the courthouse that this was a solemn civic duty blah blah. A few people tried to get out of it, but were told in no uncertain terms that they would need be a pretty serious reason to get out of doing it.

omahaid · 05-02-2011 12:04AM

aoshea83 wrote: »

Fathers job rules me out

?

Didn't think your parents could do that?

dark crystal · 05-02-2011 12:05AM

Karsini wrote: »

Not jury duty in the usual sense but I was on a jury in the Coroners Court once.

Really? That sounds intriguing....

I thought the coroners court was merely the coroner relaying the findings of an autopsy - never knew there was a jury involved.

galwayrush · 05-02-2011 12:05AM

It would probably mean no pay for a day / days.
Do you at least get a free lunch?

AckwelFoley · 05-02-2011 12:05AM

Would like to be called.

Id find whoever it was guilty.

Just for the lulz

hondasam · 05-02-2011 12:05AM

dark crystal wrote: »

Aah, fair enough.

Just realised me asking that question could be construed as being kinda nosy and intrusive

It's just that it was drummed into us at the courthouse that this was a solemn civic duty blah blah. A few people tried to get out of it, but were told in no uncertain terms that they would need be a pretty serious reason to get out of doing it.

you have to be exempt because of some jobs, conflict of interest may arise.

dark crystal · 05-02-2011 12:06AM

galwayrush wrote: »

It would probably mean no pay for a day / days.
Do you at least get a free lunch?

Your employers are required to pay you for any time off incurred.

And yes, you get really nice lunches!

dark crystal · 05-02-2011 12:07AM

hondasam wrote: »

you have to be exempt because of some jobs, conflict of interest may arise.

Yep, I just read up on that - there are a fair few professions exempted, actually.

hondasam · 05-02-2011 12:07AM

snyper wrote: »

Would like to be called.

Id find whoever it was guilty.

Just for the lulz

would you feel bad having to decide on someone's freedom ?

could you just walk away and forget about it?

hondasam · 05-02-2011 12:09AM

dark crystal wrote: »

Yep, I just read up on that - there are a fair few professions exempted, actually.

must read that, don't know what professions are exempt.

dark crystal · 05-02-2011 12:10AM

hondasam wrote: »

must read that, don't know what professions are exempt.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/courtroom/eligibility_and_selection.html

PCPhoto · 05-02-2011 12:10AM

dark crystal wrote: »

Why so?

work

Praetorian Saighdiuir · 05-02-2011 12:12AM

hondasam wrote: »

must read that, don't know what professions are exempt.

Here ya go.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/courtroom/eligibility_and_selection.html

oooops, just in ahead of my DK....well played!

galwayrush · 05-02-2011 12:12AM

dark crystal wrote: »

Your employers are required to pay you for any time off incurred.

And yes, you get really nice lunches!

Aw well, i'm self employed so no money then.:(

05-02-2011 12:13AM

dark crystal wrote: »

Really? That sounds intriguing....

I thought the coroners court was merely the coroner relaying the findings of an autopsy - never knew there was a jury involved.

It's more a formality, in the cases I was present for (two in one day), the first verdict was death by misadventure and the second was accidental death. The coroner will generally suggest some options that the jury can then discuss, they are not allowed to attribute blame.

The jury are also given the option to suggest a rider, for example, in the case of an RTA the jury may make a suggestion on how the accident could have been prevented. This is then put on the official record.

phasers · 05-02-2011 12:15AM

* those who have a disability or are unable to read so that it is not practicable for them to serve on a jury.

Why don't more people just say they're illiterate?

Thomas828 · 05-02-2011 12:38AM

hondasam wrote: »

would you feel bad having to decide on someone's freedom ?

could you just walk away and forget about it?

I didn't feel bad about sending those two scummers to jail. I did jury service in 1999 at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London and it was a case of attempted armed robbery. After we had passed the guilty verdict the prosecuting counsel revealed that the two defendants had a string of criminal offences going back more than fifteen years.

Jury Duty

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