Jury service twice in just over a year?
Discussion
Just wondering if you can be selected for jury service twice in just over a year? Was selected in July 2016 but wasn't required in the end, and today I've received a letter for August 2017.
Feel like I've read somewhere that you can't be made to do it twice in under two years but wondered if the circumstances were different because I wasn't required last time.
Thanks in advance!
Feel like I've read somewhere that you can't be made to do it twice in under two years but wondered if the circumstances were different because I wasn't required last time.
Thanks in advance!
I always get annoyed by the fact that it's almost compulsory to do jury service if you get called up.
As I see it, many people simply don't want to be given the responsibility of determining the fate of someone else's life by having to do jury service.
A couple of people I work with have done jury service (not on the same case), and both of them said that the barristers/lawyers were incredibly clever at manipulating the wording of what actually happened to suit their clients version of the story, to such a point that they struggled to really understand the truth of the situation.
In the end, one of them said: "He looked like a wrong 'un so I went with guilty". So having been made a bit confused on the evidence, he simply decided based on how the defendant looked!
(Apparently, it later transpired that the guy had previous convictions for a similar offence, but My colleague didn't know that at the time)
My other work colleague said that, having deciphered the evidence as best as she could, she decided the guy in their case must have been guilty, and he was was convicted, but she came away concerned that they (the jury), may have got it wrong, and that she might be partly responsible for ruining someone's life. We tried to reassure her that she'd done the right thing if that's what the evidence told her, but she was really bothered by whether she'd got it right or wrong.
To My mind, you should be given the option to simply opt out if you don't think you want that amount of responsibility, it shouldn't be forced upon you.
As I see it, many people simply don't want to be given the responsibility of determining the fate of someone else's life by having to do jury service.
A couple of people I work with have done jury service (not on the same case), and both of them said that the barristers/lawyers were incredibly clever at manipulating the wording of what actually happened to suit their clients version of the story, to such a point that they struggled to really understand the truth of the situation.
In the end, one of them said: "He looked like a wrong 'un so I went with guilty". So having been made a bit confused on the evidence, he simply decided based on how the defendant looked!
(Apparently, it later transpired that the guy had previous convictions for a similar offence, but My colleague didn't know that at the time)
My other work colleague said that, having deciphered the evidence as best as she could, she decided the guy in their case must have been guilty, and he was was convicted, but she came away concerned that they (the jury), may have got it wrong, and that she might be partly responsible for ruining someone's life. We tried to reassure her that she'd done the right thing if that's what the evidence told her, but she was really bothered by whether she'd got it right or wrong.
To My mind, you should be given the option to simply opt out if you don't think you want that amount of responsibility, it shouldn't be forced upon you.
4rephill said:
To My mind, you should be given the option to simply opt out if you don't think you want that amount of responsibility, it shouldn't be forced upon you.
That's fine, so long as those same people who don't want to do it sign a form to agree to trial without a jury should they ever find themselves in court.If you don't want to do it for others, you shouldn't expect others to do it for you.
warning...Jury service is the single most important civic duty that we as citizens of a modern democracy can have. It is the bedrock of our legal system and it is absolutely fundamental to our rights that we are entitled to have our legal cases judged by a jury of our peers.
There is a discussion to be had on the details of the implementation (in particular the remuneration for people whose employers choose not to pay them over the course of their service) but it is frankly disgusting to hear people try to wriggle out of serving because they can't be bothered, or don't see the need, or don't want the responsibility.
Back on topic...having said that, twice in a year does seem excessive and as above you have an automatic right to decline if you have served within the last two years. Write back saying this and you should be excused.
Tiggsy said:
Not sure of the issue?? I've been called up twice and both times said I work for myself and couldn't spare the time/cost......never heard anything back.
This is my fear - the maximum expenses allowed for the day dont offer enough to recompense for my money lost. To date, ive never been called up but I do have an insurance to pay up my lost income if I do (and cant get out of it like you did).lee_fr200 said:
I wish they would call me up for it
Careful what you wish for.An ex colleague of mine, perfectly normal family guy was called up and had to sit through a gruesome child sex abuse case.
It so badly affected him that he had to have counciling and he ended suffering with severe depression and other mental health issues.
It wasn't straight afterwards but about 6 months later. Poor bloke said he couldn't get the images and testimony out of his head.
deckster said:
warning...Jury service is the single most important civic duty that we as citizens of a modern democracy can have. It is the bedrock of our legal system and it is absolutely fundamental to our rights that we are entitled to have our legal cases judged by a jury of our peers.
There is a discussion to be had on the details of the implementation (in particular the remuneration for people whose employers choose not to pay them over the course of their service) but it is frankly disgusting to hear people try to wriggle out of serving because they can't be bothered, or don't see the need, or don't want the responsibility.
Back on topic...having said that, twice in a year does seem excessive and as above you have an automatic right to decline if you have served within the last two years. Write back saying this and you should be excused.
I'll agree that the bunch I ended up with when I was on Jury Service were all thick as mince and wouldn't have wanted them to pick the menu let alone have an impact on someone's life.
Ranging from 'lets hurry up and say anything because it's Friday and I want to go out' to Social worker trying to bring his work into Court, I know it's supposed to be 'your peers' but man.. if that's the typical standard f today's peers I'd rather take my chances with a Judge than a jury.
Ranging from 'lets hurry up and say anything because it's Friday and I want to go out' to Social worker trying to bring his work into Court, I know it's supposed to be 'your peers' but man.. if that's the typical standard f today's peers I'd rather take my chances with a Judge than a jury.
After being selected the charges were then read (quite a few) we were then sent for a coffee break before the trial itself started.......cue a moron in the jury room stating the following: "He must be guilty because the police wouldn't take it this far if he wasn't"
A replacement juror was installed before the trial started.........with a stern warning from the judge.
A replacement juror was installed before the trial started.........with a stern warning from the judge.
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