Reply to: Jury Service

[mailric]

That just makes you part of the cross-section of society they want. Now that the general public is so varied in its constituents, you'd have to go to lengths that would see you on trial for outraging public decency (and probably then committed to a secure psychiatric institution for your own protection) before you could be deemed unfit to serve.

Just look at the types on the Bakerloo line in the morning rush hour

Yea, maybe a smart suit and tory blue tie will do the trick then!

[AZZIK]

Turn up day 1
Find out name of defendant (say, John Smith)
When defendant walks in look over and shout "Hey Jonno, hows it going. Finally got caught eh?"

You'll be home for lunch.

[JoJoGabor]

I had a mate who got called up and he simply wrote a letter back explaing that he was racist, sexist, blah blah blah and they said he wouldn't be suitable. He hasn't heard from them since (about 10 years ago)

[TheFaQQer]

I think it's a shame that people want to avoid jury duty (although I understand that if you are in contract then you will lose out).

On the (baseless) assumption that people on here are more clever than average, the chance to bring some reasoning and intelligence to the court proceedings should be encouraged rather than encouraging people to commit contempt of court and shirk the responsibility.

[moorfield]

Just send the letter back 'return to sender, no longer at address'.

Worked for me.

I did this also about 6-7 yrs ago and have advocated this approach on CUK before. It worked for me too. At the time I was renting in London and moving around regularly and I have moved house twice since so I think this misdemeanor is safely buried (I hope).

[expat]

Here's the link

I wouldn't have published a web doc with a name ending in 404 myself; but thanks for the link.

[Jubber]

Jurors may be excused for valid business reasons. Applications of this type should,
however, be looked at closely and granted only if there would be unusual hardship.
A small business is an example of a case where such hardship might be suffered,
although each case must be considered on its individual merits. Paragraph 4 (above)
applies.

Here's the link

[NickFitz]

Ah well

What about turning up in a lycra cycling shorts, a german army helmet and a my little pony pencil stuck up your nostril? Surely no court would want you deciding someone's fate?

That just makes you part of the cross-section of society they want. Now that the general public is so varied in its constituents, you'd have to go to lengths that would see you on trial for outraging public decency (and probably then committed to a secure psychiatric institution for your own protection) before you could be deemed unfit to serve.

Just look at the types on the Bakerloo line in the morning rush hour

[NickFitz]

It'd be a right arse if you got on to a murder trial or anything like that which would run for months. That could ruin a contractor's career and family.

If it's a case where it's expected that it will run for more than ten working days, you can be excused from sitting on it (if you have good reason) and sit around waiting for other cases until your ten days are up.

[ChimpMaster]

It'd be a right arse if you got on to a murder trial or anything like that which would run for months. That could ruin a contractor's career and family.

[mailric]

Sitting in a cell for contempt of court

Anyway, that's not how it works - you won't know which case you're on until the defendant is named in court.

Ah well

What about turning up in a lycra cycling shorts, a german army helmet and a my little pony pencil stuck up your nostril? Surely no court would want you deciding someone's fate?

[TheFaQQer]

Sitting in a cell for contempt of court

Anyway, that's not how it works - you won't know which case you're on until the defendant is named in court.

When I did it, I had three days of waiting before getting called for the trial. Trial took five days, so I took ten off in total.

but I was permie then

[NickFitz]

Turn up day 1
Find out name of defendant (say, John Smith)
When defendant walks in look over and shout "Hey Jonno, hows it going. Finally got caught eh?"

You'll be home for lunch.

Sitting in a cell for contempt of court

Anyway, that's not how it works - you won't know which case you're on until the defendant is named in court.

[TheFaQQer]

Turn up day 1
Find out name of defendant (say, John Smith)
When defendant walks in look over and shout "Hey Jonno, hows it going. Finally got caught eh?"

You'll be home for lunch.

back in the waiting room, on your own, waiting for a different trial to start.

Much better to get in there and get it over and done with.

[TheFaQQer]

Off on a tangent slightly but it struck me reading his thread whether it is possible or not to volunteer for Jury Service?

With some bench time looming possibly it might be a good time to get it out of the way. And it would do my self esteem wonders if I had the opportunity to send down some crims while looking for work.

No - the selection process must be completely random, so there is no scope for volunteering to be on the jury.

I wish I could have sent the little scrote down for the case I was on, but there just wasn't enough evidence, and I'm not a good enough Henry Fonda impersonator to sway my fellow jurors.

Still reckon he did it, though.