Ok, so I'm on a jury...

[anonymous-user]

Hypothetical questions.

I don't understand part of a process, do I ask the judge to clarify?

I don't understand what the witness/defendant has said, do I ask the prosecutor/defence lawyer to clarify depending whose in the box?

Or is it a case of just listen and guess what seems to be the best of the answers given?

[MustangGT]

pocketspring said:

Hypothetical questions.

I don't understand part of a process, do I ask the judge to clarify?

I don't understand what the witness/defendant has said, do I ask the prosecutor/defence lawyer to clarify depending whose in the box?

Or is it a case of just listen and guess what seems to be the best of the answers given?

You will likely get a briefing at court. Usually you remain silent through the proceedings. It is up to the two barristers to clarify any points they think need clarifying.

[MadCaptainJack]

I've got two words for you: Jury. Nullification.

PS: Hopefully it'll be a speeding-related case!

PPS: Watch 12 Angry Men beforehand.

Edited by MadCaptainJack on Friday 7th October 22:26

[deckster]

You will be given very simple and very clear directions by the judge. Everything is set up to make your job as a juror as clear as it can be so you can concentrate on your main responsibility of deciding whether the witnesses are lying or not.

Relax and enjoy the experience. I came away from jury service with a renewed belief in our justice system, and huge respect for our judges.

[Dingu]

MadCaptainJack said:

I've got two words for you: Jury. Nullification.

PS: Hopefully it'll be a speeding-related case!

Famously they require a jury to decide guilt.

[Ezra]

Try not to over think this in advance. You will get very clear direction / instructions from the Judge. Also, just because you've been called as a juror doesn't necessarily mean you'll get to sit as a juror, but there's a v good chance. Anyway, most folk who are chosen find its a very interesting experience.

[Tin Hat]

I’ll let you know - Mine starts Monday

[agtlaw]

pocketspring said:

Hypothetical questions.

I don't understand part of a process, do I ask the judge to clarify?

I don't understand what the witness/defendant has said, do I ask the prosecutor/defence lawyer to clarify depending whose in the box?

Or is it a case of just listen and guess what seems to be the best of the answers given?

Hypothetical answer.

Yes. Via a note.

See above.

No. Guesswork isn’t part of the process.

[Mojooo]

MadCaptainJack said:

I've got two words for you: Jury. Nullification.

PS: Hopefully it'll be a speeding-related case!

Someone I know had it with a drug dealer at a festival - she says it was obvious he was supplying but the jury were basically of the mind that its what happens at a festival so what.

[anonymous-user]

deckster said:

You will be given very simple and very clear directions by the judge. Everything is set up to make your job as a juror as clear as it can be so you can concentrate on your main responsibility of deciding whether the witnesses are lying or not.

Relax and enjoy the experience. I came away from jury service with a renewed belief in our justice system, and huge respect for our judges.

Same here, i enjoyed it a lot and the judge was very sharp. Thankfully the trial i was on was not something really unpleasant.

[ScoobyChris]

pocketspring said:

Hypothetical questions.

I don't understand part of a process, do I ask the judge to clarify?

I don't understand what the witness/defendant has said, do I ask the prosecutor/defence lawyer to clarify depending whose in the box?

Or is it a case of just listen and guess what seems to be the best of the answers given?

My experience was that the judges were very clear about the role and expectations of the jury and any questions will be via note to the judge. If a question arises during deliberation you push a bell and they will recall the court to allow the judge to clarify (in our case he read back from the transcript).

The deliberation will be on each specific charge and whether there is enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they are guilty.

Enjoy the experience - there is lots of waiting around when you’re not assigned to a case so take some form of entertainment to while away those hours!!

Chris

[AmitG]

I've done it 3 times now and would +1 a lot of the above.

You will get very clear instructions on the day so don't worry about a thing - you will be guided through the process. All your questions will get answered.

Make sure you take your documentation. You will have a letter calling you for service and another letter confirming your service with a juror number on it. I believe that on the first day you also need to take some ID. Read the letter, it will explain everything.

If you don't understand something during the trial you can write a note and give it to the court usher who will then decide what to do with it - which may include handing it to the judge. But again, you will be given instructions.

The case can be anything but in my experience it was always interesting.

Every time I did it, I came away with a renewed sense of pride and respect for our justice system. Everyone gets a fair go, regardless of race, gender, education level, language ability or citizenship status. I remember that many years ago the head of Goldman Sachs visited the London office and gave a speech where he said that the UK is the only country in the world where a non-citizen can take a citizen to court and expect fair treatment.

At a time when so much in the country is falling apart, it was heart warming to see.

The other nice thing is that you meet people from a cross-section of society. A whole mix of ages, jobs, ethnicities, education levels. People you might not normally mix with. The only common factor is that they all live somewhere nearby.

[Hotel Indigo]

As others have said, a tremendously positive experience. Made me very proud. Was harrowing though.

Bonus points if you are elected Spokesperson/Chair/whatever it’s called - the fact I was elected twice means a lot to me!

[CoolHands]

One word.

Guilty!

[Super Sonic]

CoolHands said:

One word.

Guilty!

Haha knew someone would!

[CoolHands]

With the shambles of our justice system these days I now think it’s fair enough to start from the guilty until proven innocent point of view.

[LukeBrown66]

AS a son of a copper, the time and money it takes to get cases into court is huge, so they only tend to do it when they feel they have a very good chance, the odds are all in favour of the defendant, remember that, if you are not told they have form, then THEY HAVE FORM, remember that as they will always tell if they have no record. Don't be put off by friends and family they are told to court you and will often do it anyway as they are used to it.

And also remember the barrister is ALLOWED to lie to represent his client, the CPS really are not! I know this is harsh,m but that is what seemed to happen in my case, it was ridiculous the garbage being spouted.

[agtlaw]

LukeBrown66 said:

AS a son of a copper, the time and money it takes to get cases into court is huge, so they only tend to do it when they feel they have a very good chance, the odds are all in favour of the defendant, remember that, if you are not told they have form, then THEY HAVE FORM, remember that as they will always tell if they have no record. Don't be put off by friends and family they are told to court you and will often do it anyway as they are used to it.

And also remember the barrister is ALLOWED to lie to represent his client, the CPS really are not! I know this is harsh,m but that is what seemed to happen in my case, it was ridiculous the garbage being spouted.

Lol. That’s a new one.

This is as stupid as saying coppers never lie on oath.

[FazerBoy]

LukeBrown66 said:

AS a son of a copper, the time and money it takes to get cases into court is huge, so they only tend to do it when they feel they have a very good chance, the odds are all in favour of the defendant, remember that, if you are not told they have form, then THEY HAVE FORM, remember that as they will always tell if they have no record. Don't be put off by friends and family they are told to court you and will often do it anyway as they are used to it.

And also remember the barrister is ALLOWED to lie to represent his client, the CPS really are not! I know this is harsh,m but that is what seemed to happen in my case, it was ridiculous the garbage being spouted.

99.99% of this post is absolute b*ll*cks. The other 0.01% is cr*p.

[ScoobyChris]

LukeBrown66 said:

if you are not told they have form, then THEY HAVE FORM, remember that as they will always tell if they have no record.

I thought this information was purposefully withheld as it has no bearing on the trial, only the sentencing if they are found guilty? That was certainly the case on a trial I was a juror for.

Chris