Jury duty during barristers strike

[Dapster]

My wife has been called for jury duty but can not find out how the barristers strike will effect things. Her work pressure is considerable and she could do without loosing 2 weeks. Will any jury trails be going ahead at all?

Court is in North London.

Thanks all

[Paul Dishman]

My wife was called to Exeter at the beginning of August. Picked for a jury on Monday, sent home at lunchtime as the judge didn’t turn up. Told to come back the following Monday, but had an E-mail on Friday to say discharged from duty as barristers on strike next week

[drewk1]

I'm due to start Jury duty today.

I had an email Friday telling me to turn up as originally instructed.

Court is in Ipswich.

[agtlaw]

Dapster said:

My wife has been called for jury duty but can not find out how the barristers strike will effect things. Her work pressure is considerable and she could do without losing 2 weeks. Will any jury trials be going ahead at all?

Court is in North London.

Thanks all

The strike only affects legal aid defence barristers.

Prosecution counsel are not on strike.

If the defendant is unrepresented or privately funding his defence then the trial will proceed.

[HantsRat]

There is ALOT of sitting around doing nothing. Just tell her to take her laptop and crack on with work whilst sat around.

[mr rusty]

.....and do check your house insurance. Many policies have an automatic pay-out for jury service. Our NFU policy will pay net salary less the court expenses fees for the period of jury service.

[PushedDover]

HantsRat said:

There is ALOT of sitting around doing nothing. Just tell her to take her laptop and crack on with work whilst sat around.

^^^^ this


I did it in January, so many folks spent day one staying at roof tiles or the carpet.

[surveyor_101]

PushedDover said:

^^^^ this


I did it in January, so many folks spent day one staying at roof tiles or the carpet.

The only issue is your employer may not be willing to pay you for that time and then your expected to work!

[vikingaero]

surveyor_101 said:

PushedDover said:

^^^^ this


I did it in January, so many folks spent day one staying at roof tiles or the carpet.

The only issue is your employer may not be willing to pay you for that time and then your expected to work!

I was in my early 20's when I got called for Jury Service. At the time I'd agreed with my employer that I would work nights for 6 months covering a new IT software installation. When I went into the Jury Office to register, the officious lady was keeping an eye on the nations purse strings - she deemed that if I was not called up, I should return to work, effectively doing a nightshift, and then coming into Court in the morning for Jury Service. I asked her what would happen if I fell asleep during the trial. It took a good 30 seconds for the cogs in her mind to work that one out!

[andygo]

I may remember that one if I get a call....

[PushedDover]

surveyor_101 said:

PushedDover said:

^^^^ this


I did it in January, so many folks spent day one staying at roof tiles or the carpet.

The only issue is your employer may not be willing to pay you for that time and then your expected to work!

Or
Happy to do my work, it would only backlog.
I didn’t seek compensation or payment from anyone when doing my Jury service

1. powerfullybuilt

[Paul Dishman]

PushedDover said:

surveyor_101 said:

PushedDover said:

^^^^ this


I did it in January, so many folks spent day one staying at roof tiles or the carpet.

The only issue is your employer may not be willing to pay you for that time and then your expected to work!

Or
Happy to do my work, it would only backlog.
I didn’t seek compensation or payment from anyone when doing my Jury service

1. powerfullybuilt

Obviously a powerfully built, stair dominating company director

[surveyor_101]

vikingaero said:

I was in my early 20's when I got called for Jury Service. At the time I'd agreed with my employer that I would work nights for 6 months covering a new IT software installation. When I went into the Jury Office to register, the officious lady was keeping an eye on the nations purse strings - she deemed that if I was not called up, I should return to work, effectively doing a nightshift, and then coming into Court in the morning for Jury Service. I asked her what would happen if I fell asleep during the trial. It took a good 30 seconds for the cogs in her mind to work that one out!

I got called at about 20 got all excited! Sent it back and then was told thanks for your prompt reply but they had managed to fill the required numbers and I was not needed!

I assume they send out a lot more than they need!

[rayny]

agtlaw said:

The strike only affects legal aid defence barristers.

Prosecution counsel are not on strike.

If the defendant is unrepresented or privately funding his defence then the trial will proceed.

As a slight aside to the thread - Am I correct in thinking that a barrister does some work as prosecuting counsel, some work as private defence, and some work as public (legal aid) defence ?
So barristers are not actually striking - They are just declining to undertake the lowest paid work ?
Will prosecuting counsel still be paid for their appearance, even if the trial does not go ahead ?

[agtlaw]

rayny said:

As a slight aside to the thread - Am I correct in thinking that a barrister does some work as prosecuting counsel, some work as private defence, and some work as public (legal aid) defence ?
So barristers are not actually striking - They are just declining to undertake the lowest paid work ?
Will prosecuting counsel still be paid for their appearance, even if the trial does not go ahead ?

No. That’s incorrect. Some exclusively prosecute or exclusively defend. Some of us, but not many, do 100% private client defence work and no legal aid cases.

I think my colleagues are refusing to accept new instructions or continue with all legal aid graduated fee work in the crown court.

Yes, not the trial fee of course. What’s a publicly funded mention fee? £100 or something similar?

[Geoffscars]

I sat there for 10 days
A barrister told us a great length that there had been a big fight on a council estate
Witness after witness followed
In the end all we knew was that there had been a big fight on a council estate
Who did what to who and who caused it remained a mystery
All were acquitted
My only memory is that it was monumentally boring

[Dapster]

Thanks all. To close this my wife attended on Monday and hung around until 11. She was sent home as no trails were taking place and was told to check her emails each evening. They would advise her by 5:30 if she were needed the next day. She wasn't called and was emailed today that there would be no trails next week so she's been released.