Have you ever done Jury duty and how did you find it?

MLH1 · 22-07-2011 07:44PM #1

Got a summons today and could probably opt out since I work in a Hospital, but was wondering what boardsies have experience of this, wanna know bout jury duty as an experience and before any mods say anything please do not discuss ANY aspect of the cases, wanna know bout selection process, the head juror selection and lunch/ accommodation, also can a person volunteer for jury duty?

Absurdum · 22-07-2011 07:45PM

I found him guilty, didn't like the look of him

Einhard · 22-07-2011 07:45PM

Never done it, but I imagine I'd just turn up at the court house and find it there!

sorry, i just couldn't help myself:(

Biggins · 22-07-2011 07:54PM

Yes, have done it now at least six times for separate cases.
Most of them were for road accidents and were straight forward, one was for a death in a pub and another was of a matter I cannot discuss due to legal restrictions.

sunflower27 · 22-07-2011 07:58PM

A fraud case about 15 years ago. We all knew he was guilty from day 1 but had to go through all the evidence in detail. He was a sly bastard, constantly eye-balling us so we decided that we would all eyeball him at exactly the same time.

We picked a time and did it

He looked so uncomfortable shuffling around in his seat.

Verdict: Guilty

Got locked up for 18 months.

SEPT 23 1989 · 22-07-2011 07:58PM

Biggins wrote: »

Yes, have done it now at least six times for separate cases.
Most of them were for road accidents and were straight forward, one was for a death in a pub and another was of a matter I cannot discuss due to legal restrictions.

Jesus they must have you on speed dial:D

Run_to_da_hills · 22-07-2011 08:06PM

Did it in the 80's in a circuit court case involving armed robbery. ended out the gun was a fake and the getaway car was a Renault 4 which stalled down the road. We felt sorry for the guys, they got time anyway.

Biggins · 22-07-2011 08:07PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Jesus they must have you on speed dial:D

Sometimes the local court doesn't have the numbers sometimes to make up a full jury and as I'm know (in a good way I have to add) to Gardi, they ask me to step in sometimes with others to make up the numbers to fulfil the legal requirement.
I don't mind, it can be very interesting and a learning experience too.

Absurdum · 22-07-2011 08:09PM

Biggins wrote: »

Sometimes the local court doesn't have the numbers sometimes to make up a full jury and as I'm know (in a good way I have to add) to Gardi, they ask me to step in sometimes with others to make up the numbers to fulfil the legal requirement.
I don't mind, it can be very interesting and a learning experience too.

in other words, you make up the numbers

how does it feel to be second choice huh?????????????? :pac:

7sr2z3fely84g5 · 22-07-2011 08:11PM

Whats it like for murder trials?,i assume most of the accused in their own minds are confident and feel they are innocent?..

policarp · 22-07-2011 08:15PM

Called twice but was never picked. . .

Celly Smunt · 22-07-2011 08:16PM

went for jury duty,thought she was guilty didn't like the look of her and such,filled my housemate in on it and he thought i was a gob****e,i ended up meeting the accused girl in a café at the break,immediately got talking and broke a joke about the judge,saying he was so judgmental,we called him judge mental, from then on i knew she was innocent.Anyway we started going out texting and such,she was a bit rough though and i ended up being afraid of her and needed to get rid of her so i convinced the entire jury panel with my great speech skills to send her down,good episode of my life.

jez.

Biggins · 22-07-2011 08:17PM

MLH1 wrote: »

...wanna know bout selection process, the head juror selection and lunch/ accommodation, also can a person volunteer for jury duty?

Generally the selection process is random. Provided you have no crimes above a certain level against you on the books, you could be selected today or next year. Its pot luck.
In most cases the head juror is selected quietly in the court room while other things are going on (legal arguments etc between judges and two opposing sides themselves talking at near the judge at his box). In heavier cases such as murder, etc the jury is sequestered and send away - they then select their head juror - but like I said for much lighter stuff, most of the time, just to fulfil the legal necessities and to try speed up things, one is quickly nominated by the rest of the jury to be the head person in the court room.

In heavier cases where your isolated from the pubic, TV and other forms of media, basic costs are covered and this included of course, food etc.
Occasionally even phone calls to home etc are included - in the premise that you understand no details of the cases are to be discussed - only with those your on the jury with.

Biggins · 22-07-2011 08:19PM

Absurdum wrote: »

in other words, you make up the numbers
how does it feel to be second choice huh?????????????? :pac:

As long as it's not my death they are holding an inquest over - I'll still be happy to be second or even third choice any day!

7sr2z3fely84g5 · 22-07-2011 08:20PM

in the old days it used to be hilarious,if the jury couldnt reach a verdict they would sent to a hotel for the night,paid by the taxpayer!.

Absurdum · 22-07-2011 08:22PM

Adilynn Millions Man wrote: »

in the old days it used to be hilarious,if the jury couldnt reach a verdict they would sent to a hotel for the night,paid by the taxpayer!.

cheaper than cleaning up after a juror gets whacked at their home, am i right?!

cml387 · 22-07-2011 08:25PM

MLH1 wrote: »

Got a summons today and could probably opt out since I work in a Hospital, but was wondering what boardsies have experience of this, wanna know bout jury duty as an experience and before any mods say anything please do not discuss ANY aspect of the cases, wanna know bout selection process, the head juror selection and lunch/ accommodation, also can a person volunteer for jury duty?

Once.
I became foreman because no one else wanted to be.
The judge addresses you personally then and you feel all important.

But our bit ended when the miscreant pleaded guilty on the second day.

You get the impression that everyone,the judge,defendent,barristers,solicitors etc. are all players in some elaborate play staged solely for the benefit of the jury.

Sugar Free · 22-07-2011 08:28PM

Summoned once and selected. Perjury trial, got thrown out soon after starting. Interesting while it lasted.

I'm exempt now for two years.

Edit: Only read the OP's post properly there.

Selection process (Circuit Criminal Court for me), a couple of hundred go through security into a large lobby.
Judge comes onto a tv screen and speaks directly to the potential jurors.
Accused/defendant/whatever you want to call them are brought in, chargers read out, asked how they plead. This is all viewed remotely in the waiting lobby.

A list of potential jurors are called to go up to the courtroom itself. This list is larger than the number of people who will actually sit on the jury (which is fourteen I think).

Both the prosecution and defence can challenge seven jurors without having to give a reason. I was challenged on my first day there.
If you're not challenged, you swear an oath which is read out to you. Once the full jury is selected you head off to a different room where you are kept isolated from everyone else.

Lunch was free, what you'd expect from canteen food but not bad.

7sr2z3fely84g5 · 22-07-2011 08:33PM

Absurdum wrote: »

cheaper than cleaning up after a juror gets whacked at their home, am i right?!

i belive the jury in serious cases can have garda escorts,and recent change in the law allowed trial by non jury in gangland cases.

Frank Black · 22-07-2011 08:42PM

OH just finished a stint a couple of weeks ago.
Abduction case, Eygyptian Dad fled the country with kid. Uncle up for aiding and abetting.

Helix · 22-07-2011 08:44PM

im wasnt able to do it in ireland due to my job at the time

Amirani · 22-07-2011 08:47PM

Got called but had exams at the time so I had to opt out.

kincsem · 22-07-2011 09:38PM

I went into the four courts and sat in a room with about 150 people. They were picking jurors for a few cases. With luck I would be out of there and away in fifteen minutes, and have a cusht day off work.

First case was a very serious crime. Third name called was mine. Wtf. This must be a mistake. I heard my name called again, so I shuffled forward and was told to sit in the jury box. Any objections? Someone said something and I thought there was an objection so started walking. Stay where you are and pick up the bible, and repeat after me ...

No justice in this country.

PS: the case lasted two weeks.

policarp · 23-07-2011 01:48AM

kincsem wrote: »

...

No justice in this country.

PS: the case lasted two weeks.

What was it?
Or can you tell?

laughter189 · 23-07-2011 01:51AM

Got called but reneged easily with doctors letter

jimmycrackcorm · 23-07-2011 01:52AM

I got duty twice in Dublin within the space of two years. Damn them for still using visual basic for random number generation.

OPENROAD · 23-07-2011 01:53AM

laughter189 wrote: »

Got called but reneged easily with doctors letter

Can I ask what the letter said ?

Brian? · 23-07-2011 01:53AM

Adilynn Millions Man wrote: »

Whats it like for murder trials?,i assume most of the accused in their own minds are confident and feel they are innocent?..

It's a nightmare. I did a murder trial about 6 years ago, quite a complicated one as well.

The trial lasted 10 days and we spent 2 days deliberating and spent a night sequestered in a hotel. Somehow I was landed with being the foreman of the jusy as well.

If I had a choice I would never, ever go through it again. The only plus was that I've been excused from jury duty for 25 years.

Kojak · 23-07-2011 01:57AM

Did jury duty once for a double homicide case back in the mid 1990's.

One highlight of the case was when the defendant was asked to put on a leather glove found at the crime scene in order to prove or disprove their guilt.

That demonstration proved to me the defendant was innocent.....

cml387 · 23-07-2011 01:59AM

Kojak wrote: »

Did jury duty once for a double homicide case back in the mid 1990's.

One highlight of the case was when the defendant was asked to put on a leather glove found at the crime scene in order to prove or disprove their guilt.

That demonstration proved to me the defendant was innocent.....

Total bullsh!t. They wouldn't have let you on the jury with that lollipop.

jill_valentine · 23-07-2011 02:02AM

Assault. Dude was not guilty by reason of insanity. Lasted a day. Found it interesting and rewarding to see the process, and I'd do it again.

Have you ever done Jury duty and how did you find it?

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