Jury Duty

[SWP's back]

Just had a Jury Summons come through the post, never had one before.

But I have a question, having seen it lass at least 2 weeks and the "pay" for loss of earnings is a maximum of £64.95 per day, has anyone ever been able to get themselves excused from doing Jury Service? It says only "exceptional circumstances" will allow that to happen.

My view is that those who are asked to be a juror should make the necessary sacrifices. It's a civic duty, one of the few times that many of us give something back to society.

I was on a jury last year. A horrible case involving physical abuse of a young boy. While it was distressing, it was also very interesting. It represented one of the few times I have given something back to society. I lost out financially but I am glad I did it.

Nah, fuck my civic duty, I work my arse off (sort of) and have no money left each month as it all goes into my business and to the tax man. That is civic enough without paying the neck end £4 1/2k to sit doing nothing for 2 weeks.

I am not in a position to lose out that much financially unfortunately.<br /><br />-- Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:39 pm --<br /><br />

A work mate of mine was aked to do it about 10 years ago and he wrote back to them telling them that he was a 'conscientious objector' and that he didn't believe in the 'jury system'. They thanked him for his honesty and he didn't have to do it.

From memory, I think you can decline the first time (simply if it's inconvenient)but you will still get asked again and I think then you have no choice. Everybody told me there was no way out of it...bollocks. I wrote something like 'I do not feel I have the moral right to determine the future of another individual'. Job done as the above poster says. I run my own business and the bastards tax me enough without having to work for the fuckers for next to nothing.

SO I should put that down, along with "my business would suffer and may not recover as it's my busiest time (financial year end/ISA season), and put down I can get a Dr's note with stress.

Going to try all 3, cheers.

 

[york away to this!]

I have dibbed out twice, once I was at college finishing my finals, the second time I played the "self employed, need to manage the folk, lots of people rely on me" card - worked both times.

Chap in our place is just back after THREE MONTHS out on jury service on a big case in town - we certainly couldn't afford to keep him so he was on the minimum allowance, I think, (unless you can claim for loss of earnings?)

 

[daveduke67]

Write back in crayon saying

fanks i alwayz wantid to be a lwyaer sinse seieng the injerylaywers for yoo advirts. now i wil bee abul to say yur gowin daaaaaahhhhn lik thay du on teli :-D
xxx

 

[tamworthblue]

Just had a Jury Summons come through the post, never had one before.

But I have a question, having seen it lass at least 2 weeks and the "pay" for loss of earnings is a maximum of £64.95 per day, has anyone ever been able to get themselves excused from doing Jury Service? It says only "exceptional circumstances" will allow that to happen.

My view is that those who are asked to be a juror should make the necessary sacrifices. It's a civic duty, one of the few times that many of us give something back to society.

I was on a jury last year. A horrible case involving physical abuse of a young boy. While it was distressing, it was also very interesting. It represented one of the few times I have given something back to society. I lost out financially but I am glad I did it.

Nah, fuck my civic duty, I work my arse off (sort of) and have no money left each month as it all goes into my business and to the tax man. That is civic enough without paying the neck end £4 1/2k to sit doing nothing for 2 weeks.

I am not in a position to lose out that much financially unfortunately.

-- Wed Jan 16, 2013 2:39 pm --

A work mate of mine was aked to do it about 10 years ago and he wrote back to them telling them that he was a 'conscientious objector' and that he didn't believe in the 'jury system'. They thanked him for his honesty and he didn't have to do it.

From memory, I think you can decline the first time (simply if it's inconvenient)but you will still get asked again and I think then you have no choice. Everybody told me there was no way out of it...bollocks. I wrote something like 'I do not feel I have the moral right to determine the future of another individual'. Job done as the above poster says. I run my own business and the bastards tax me enough without having to work for the fuckers for next to nothing.

SO I should put that down, along with "my business would suffer and may not recover as it's my busiest time (financial year end/ISA season), and put down I can get a Dr's note with stress.

Going to try all 3, cheers.

No, seriously don't mention business or anything like that. I simply wrote that sentence on the actual form and sent it back. They can't put you on a jury if you won't make a decision (or indeed if you have a pre-determined decision) and that's what you're aiming for. I can only speak for myself, but it worked a charm and there were no comebacks.

 

[mick10]

No guarantee you'll even be picked for jury service SWP or do you just not want to chance it?
You go with oddles of other people,you've a number if it's drawn out you're called down to another area and if selected for jury service you then have to be selected by defence and prosecution lawyers. Chances are you'll be in the High court for at most an hour or two on the days your number is selected for possible service.
May not be that bad should you have to attend.
On the otherf hand.................................................?

 

[ell]

You can be excused if you have a criminal record.

If you have a criminal record you can still do jury service

Otherwise no scousers would be allowed to do it

 

[BluePurgatory]

Did jury service a few years ago and started out opened minded about the process. I thought I would take it seriously as a contribution to the community blah blah blah.

However, the reality was truly alarming. I was on 2 juries, one for a domestic violence case and one for driving a stolen car the wrong way down one-way streets in Sunderland. When we got in the jury room I was staggered by the prejudices, ignorance and general thickness of most of my 'colleagues'. Now, I appreciate that the jury should be representative of society, but fuck me how that lot would have coped with a detailed fraud trial I shudder to think.

I got elected foreman on both juries; the first time, and I kid you not, was because I was wearing glasses so I must be clever! And the second time was because some of the jurors had been on the first case and said 'you're the only one who's done it before'.

Having said all that (and please dont report me to the CPS for telling you) we probably got the verdict right in both cases, although in the second case not for the right reason. The case rested on the evidence of a copper who clocked the defendent driving the car and knew who he was - however, his mate was in the car at the time but had actually been convicted of nicking the same car in a previous case. So to my mind there was reasonable doubt as to who had been driving in our case (even though I thought the kid was banged to rights) - my fellow jurors though acquitted the scrote on the basis the 'coppers always lie anyway'.

The only memorable thing about the first case was hearing the judge and both barristers having to say 'spunk-bucket' several times. Don't ask.

So if you are thinking of committing a complicated foreign currency exchange fraud involving derivative contracts - go for it, the jury won't have a clue.

It was only when i sat on a jury a few years back at Minshull Street did I come to the same conclusion as that highlighted above. A jury call is suppose to represent a cross section of the British Public. God help us!

 

[SWP's back]

No guarantee you'll even be picked for jury service SWP or do you just not want to chance it?
You go with oddles of other people,you've a number if it's drawn out you're called down to another area and if selected for jury service you then have to be selected by defence and prosecution lawyers. Chances are you'll be in the High court for at most an hour or two on the days your number is selected for possible service.
May not be that bad should you have to attend.
On the otherf hand.................................................?

Don't want to chance it mate. My diary is booked up weeks in advance where possible and the loss if earnings is fucking ridiculous, especially when my business expenses will remain the same despite me not earning.

 

[jimmy2000]

ive been excused for saying i had anxiety, they didnt even check and ive never been asked again.

 

[scotty123]

I got out of it 20 years ago by saying i had been arrested that many times at football and each time i was fitted up and beaten up by the police i had lost all respect for them and wouldnt believe a word a policeman said in court.

This was true , i had a long list of offences at football dating back to 1971, something im ashamed of now but some of us went through that phase.

I received a letter excusing me for 30 years if i remember correctly