So I got called for Jury Service...

How likely are you to be selected...it depends on what you look like (how someone else perceives you) and what the case is. The last time I was called the case was a young guy up for some sort of thievery. I look like an older (which I am), quite severe woman (just the way my face sits ) and I was promptly ousted. Daft thing was I was at the time working with people his age, not necessarily delinquents but not high flying college students either, and I had a very positive attitude towards them.

For me your called for a week, show up every m9rni g. Jury's selected and those not picked go to work, that's about 10am. Show up the next day repeat.
If selected case could be 3 days, maybe 5 or if unlucky much longer. You have zero time during the day, brought to lunch in a cop van and back. No time to yourself until the evenings

There is no official dress code but I wouldn't turn up in shorts or wearing a dirty t-shirt. What you look like (incl. what you're wearing) will have a major bearing on whether you're accepted or not when you step forward as a prospective juror. Prosecution and defence counsel (the barristers) can each reject up to seven prospective jurors 'without cause shown' i.e. without giving any reason. Too smart or too scruffy and one side will reject you.

The Pheasant2 wrote: »

Can you not just dress up like an absolute weirdo then as a get-out?

Go too far and the judge could take it as contempt, next stop a trip in the paddywagon to Mountjoy for seven days. I wouldn't be testing the limits.

You can dress down without looking like a weirdo.

Truckermal wrote: »

I was called before but attending would mean a 80 Mile round trip

How did that happen?

Is the pool drawn from Revenue or Electoral data?

whippet wrote: »

No point in even considering looking for an excuse as I don’t have any valid reason for not doing it ..

" a priest or minister of any denomination can be exempted from jury duty."

Have you ever though of becoming a minister of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

That would be enough to get you off the hook and we are always looking for more members.

I was summoned for jury duty in July. Having a kid with special needs was deemed reason enough for exemption.

If unsuccessful, was preparing to arrive in clean but BO laden sweaty clothes. Keep in mind this was during our heatwave. Can't imagine how this would have failed.

Nobody has time for this outdated ritual. Being told how to vote by people wearing wigs is degrading and weird.

From memory from when I was on a jury pool (didn't get picked) the outline of the case is read out to everyone first. Wondered at the time if you told the judge you already had formed an opinion on the defendant would it get you excused?

coylemj wrote: »

You think that the lawyers and court officials all smell of roses and Old Spice?

No not at all...I am uneasy with anything I deem to be flawed. I realise jury is viewed by some as a structural part of a civilised society. I for my own reasons don't buy into it and by such admission would be poor material as a jury member.

Nobody should be forced to be part of such ordeals.

From what I can remember when I last served many years ago, if we were either rejected or not required that day, then back to life/work whatever and turn up next day until you are either selected or your time in the jury pool is over, I think that's two weeks.

I ended up being selected on day three for a quite traumatic case which lasted two and a half weeks. I have to say while it was tough, it was very interesting to see how the courts work etc. and being on a jury we were well taken care of grub wise.

Anyway, lo and behold a few months ago I was called AGAIN! Couldn't believe it as no one in either my family or my circle has been called even once! But I have developed a severe hearing problem and I knew I would not be able to hear the evidence, so with a doctor's explanation, I was discharged no problem. This was a genuine issue for me, I just could not do it if I could not hear the proceedings properly.

So, OP if you are not called you go back to work, if you are selected, who knows how long the case may last. Tough one for you, but as others have said it is our civic duty, apart from genuine cases who cannot serve.

I was called a few years ago and spent most of the time sitting in a room chatting amongst ourselves. Some were reading a book and others were in and out of the room.

Then we actually got called in for jury selection which took maybe half an hour and back again in the afternoon for a second selection for another case. I was back in work by 3pm.

In my experience there was nothing to stop you from taking a call but I think we were delayed and they weren’t ready.

It’s a fascinating experience though but I didn’t get selected

whippet wrote: »

In reality how likely are you to actually be selected ?

Depends on the number of cases that are taking place and the demographics of the jury the defence/prosecution are after. You could be called up and rejected by defence/prosecution several times or your number might not get called up at all.

I've been in for jury duty twice, both in CCJ. First time, I was 21 and went in for three days for selection, morning at 9 until around lunchtime. Got rejected by defence twice. You could read/do work during this selection process if you're not put on a case straight away. Second time, I was selected for jury duty and case lasted a week.

If selected what are the normal operating times of the court / when I’d be expected to be there ? For selection, iirc morning until early afternoon.

For cases, I think it was 930-430 but this depends on the judge and the day's proceedings

Is there any time during the day when I could take work calls / log in etc .. or is your time more or less court & lunch ?

If you're on a case, you have won't have time. It's court/jury room/lunch. It's an out of office duty for sure. Plus as others have mentioned, cases can be quite intense mentally and psychologically and flipping between the case and work would be tough going. You might need evenings to relax or digest what's happened in court that day.