Jury Service

[Burnleyareback2]

I’ve been selected.

Anybody got any experience or tips to share?

[Rileybobs]

Go with guilty. Chances are they are, or why would they be in court?? Also, you get to leave early whilst you’re still being paid. Happy days, enjoy.

[Colburn_Claret]

Teesside has great facilities. Cafe, books, jigsaw.
The chances are that you will be sat around most of the time doing nothing. Even if you do get called, you get sent out regular while they discuss points of law away from you.

I've done it twice and was only actually in a courtroom for 2 days.

[tim_noone]

Go with guilty. Chances are they are, or why would they be in court?? Also, you get to leave early whilst you’re still being paid. Happy days, enjoy.

[JohnMac]

Don't talk about it.

[bobinho]

Excellent reply Rileybobs.... nearly spat my tea out.

Mr Angry will be along anytime....

[South West Claret.]

Don't talk about it.

Afraid he already has so...go to jail and do not collect £200

[ColneMonkey]

Not that it's the same for everyone, but it was the most boring 2 weeks of my life.

Essentially sat in a waiting room with the other potential jury folk with no cases to do. I was beginning to think it was some sort of hidden camera style social experiment!

It got to the last day, with my boss expecting me back on the Monday after and a case came up. Thankfully I missed out on being chosen - a bit like desperately not wanting to win at a raffle.

I can see from my time there why the jury system is so slow. Most days we were sent home at 2pm as it was, to quote, 'too late' to start any court proceedings (the judges also didn't start any potential cases until 10am onwards!).

Good luck and if you fancy reading War & Peace, now's your best chance.

[box_of_frogs]

Did it once, sent the sc um to prison. As per others, sat around a lot but I did enjoy it in s strange way.

[Suratclaret]

Did it once, sent the sc um to prison. As per others, sat around a lot but I did enjoy it in s strange way.

When did juries start sentencing?

[Dark Cloud]

I've never done it, but someone who used to work for me had time off for it and absolutely loved, it, especially when 2 weeks became 4 because it was a fairly big case. Then again that person was always reading crime fiction, so they were just bound to enjoy it!! I just hope I never get called as I believe for most people it's boring and tiresome.

[box_of_frogs]

When did juries start sentencing?

In the military, the “jury” pass the sentence. Other than that, it’s the same as civvie jury service. Civvie judges and lawyers.

We even waited till 1000 to start proceedings!

[gc14]

Did two weeks a few years ago, the first week sat reading books and magazines but got a case on the second week,
played my part in finding a heroin dealer guilty .. there was a few doubters but when the verdict was given the judge
told us he already had two previous convictions for the same crime ... never did find out what sentence he was given
as he was bailed to appear at a later date for sentencing ..
If you use the car park once and save your receipt you get paid for your parking for every day you are there even if you
have walked or parked somewhere else ..

[wilks_bfc]

Done it once.

Take a book or two to read.

Like others have said there is a lot of waiting around, first to be actually be on the jury and secondly being in and out of court during the case.

You’ll be one of about 30 for the 2 weeks so it’s a bit of a lottery if you are actually chosen. Some in my group didn’t get a case at all, others actually had 2.

[wilks_bfc]

Did two weeks a few years ago, the first week sat reading books and magazines but got a case on the second week,
played my part in finding a heroin dealer guilty .. there was a few doubters but when the verdict was given the judge
told us he already had two previous convictions for the same crime ... never did find out what sentence he was given
as he was bailed to appear at a later date for sentencing ..
If you use the car park once and save your receipt you get paid for your parking for every day you are there even if you
have walked or parked somewhere else ..

That’s one thing we found. The jurors and the defendants (and family) use the same entrance/exit.
After we had found him guilty there was a group of family & friends of his outside the entrance which some found intimidating so we’re allowed to leave via the back entrance - to walk round to the car park

[bfcjg]

Simple. People of colour or not from Great Britain guilty. People who move around in caravans despite colour guilty, yoofs guilty, scousers obviously guilty.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

We are a cruel and nasty people, so make sure you push for hanging as a sentence.

[LeadBelly]

I'll do a serious reply..... I did jury service c 20 years ago in a county court, found it very rewarding. My big-company employers were happy for me to be away and still paid my salary (and I could pop into work for a few hours most days before/after court & odd Sat morning to keep up-to-date). Court expenses were enough re food & travel; without being able to milk it.
I was on a fairly big case which stretched a bit beyond 2 weeks (which I was forewarned about).
I found the proceedings pretty interesting as I'd never been in court before. There were 5/6 accused and several charges (historic sex-abuse related) and so quite a lot of jury deliberations - even more interesting than the proceedings. Jury was a good mixture re gender/age /background/life-experience & it was illuminating to observe the interactions between all parties before we came up with verdicts. All the jury members took their duty seriously - though we had a few laughs.

[gc14]

That’s one thing we found. The jurors and the defendants (and family) use the same entrance/exit.
After we had found him guilty there was a group of family & friends of his outside the entrance which some found intimidating so we’re allowed to leave via the back entrance - to walk round to the car park

Went for lunch and saw the defendant and his mum in Costa's through the window, no communication though i had been
to Gregg's