Jury Service

[kallis3]

I have been called once so far, then I was a police officer and couldn't go (although they can now) and I was working in Washington State at the time, so a double no no!

[Cath]

I've had my deferrment accepted and have go in March next year. I will go and do my bit as best I can.

[kallis3]

I think you are only allowed to defer once and then have to go within either 12 months or two years. I know the daughter had to defer hers because of exams.

[size5]

I have never been called at all.

Never thought there would be an upside to that speeding ticket.....

Regards.

[johnnybriggs]

I'm pushing 40 and I've never been called for jury service

[Shining]

I'm pushing 50 and never been called. Maybe it was my speeding ticket too size5 and that was me caught in Manchester!

[Cath]

The letter said I can only defer this one time unless I have reason for exemption, oh well I will do it to the best of my ability, although a few clients have said how boring it can be and the judges are really strict when you're actually on a case.

One lady told me today that someone who was on a case that she was on went to the sales at lunch and came back late. The judge asked her how much she had saved in the sales, she said about £70 and he promptly fined her £70 for contempt of court!

[kallis3]

Not surprised, and I don't blame him. You are supposed to take jury service seriously if you do it. You are not allowed to discuss the case with anyone other than other jurors in the jury room, even if you want to.

[Cath]

The other funny thing was that a character witness was called up from a prison, they had to wait around for his transport to arrive and he continually said that although he was on a drugs charge it was only for personal use. It transpired that he was done for 48,000 ecstacy tablets, the guy was 50+, the jury laughed and the judge kicked him out as an unreliable witness and told the jury off for laughing!

[kallis3]

Don't blame him. The court is a serious place, doesn't matter what the offence is, or what the witness says. It should all be taken seriously and discussed in the jury room.

[minime]

Hi Sure you'll enjoy it, can be a bit boring at times, but I loved it. Found the experience of a courtroom fascinating. The cases where OK and the people I met were interesting.

Take some good books and enjoy
x

[kallis3]

I suppose if you're not used to courts and things it would be an experience.

I've been in more courts, and given more evidence than I care to remember. I'm always glad now that the witnesses have a seperate room to sit in, so the defendants don't see you until you get into the court.

I'm always glad now when someone pleads guilty and I don't have to go!

[Cath]

Never been in a court or given evidence in my life, thankfully! I will be in a better place next March to fulfill my duties and do my best!

[kallis3]

In my days as a police officer, when I worked on the Vice Squad, we even used to prosecute our own cases if the prostitutes arrested the night before pleaded guilty.

[Cath]

Glad I'm not in the police force! There's loads of pro's round here and they (the police) seem to be more on top of the kerb crawlers than the pro's. I guess that just be the way they are promoting it to the community though.