My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

AIBU?

To think that if people are forced to do Jury service...

94 replies

Pseudonym99 · 29/07/2013 19:21

...against their will, then you cannot expect them to take it seriously, abide by the rules and they shouldn't be held responsible when they break those rules? And how can it be in the interests of justice to have jurors there who do not take it seriously or do not want to be there?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23495785

OP posts:
Report
NarkyNamechanger · 29/07/2013 19:22

Yabu!

Report
ageofgrandillusion · 29/07/2013 19:34

Yabu. For me, these idiots should be serving a year or more behind bars. The utter contempt and arrogence they show is beyond belief.

Report
RobotBananas · 29/07/2013 19:36

YABU. Imagine you only had people who wanted to do it, and would do it repeatedly. Wouldn't you be worried about their motives?

Report
Pseudonym99 · 29/07/2013 19:37

Perhaps people should be allowed to claim some sort of 'conscientcous objection' to Jury Service? If people are unable to be impartial, or object to it, how can it be in the public interest to have those people in a jury?

OP posts:
Report
hermioneweasley · 29/07/2013 19:38

YABU, it's the responsibility of every citizen. They should throw the book at these idiots.

Report
hermioneweasley · 29/07/2013 19:39

OP, I am sure if that if you unable to be impartial due to a genuine conflict of interests, then I'm sure you will be put on a different case.

Report
DeepPurple · 29/07/2013 19:40

YANVU. They should have gotten a year each for contempt. Idiots.

Report
ilovesooty · 29/07/2013 19:40

You don't think the jurors can be expected to take it seriously and can't be held responsible? Wtaf?

I also think a substantial term behind bars is appropriate.

Report
thebody · 29/07/2013 19:41

I managed it at 18 because I am not a prize prat.

we are all citizens in a democracy and in my opinion they should be jailed for contempt of court.

you are being very daft op.

Report
Heebiejeebie · 29/07/2013 19:42

On what grounds could you consciencously object to juries? Because you're committed to Ducking stools or coin tossing?

Report
specialsubject · 29/07/2013 19:47

exactly. Always easy to complain about a system - IF you are lucky enough to live in a country that allows complaint.

juries aren't perfect but they are a lot better than the alternatives.

Report
DameFanny · 29/07/2013 19:48

Yabu, unless you're against the idea of a fair trial?

Report
ComposHat · 29/07/2013 19:48

The judge was remarkably lenient on the pair of clowns.

OP YABU. The possibility of being called up for jury service is a price you pay for living in a democracy with a (relatively) transparent judicial system. It is a civic duty and should be taken as seriously as that implies.

OP if you were put on trial for a serious offence, would you rather be tried in public and the verdict decided upon by a jury of your peers or tried by some government 'officials' who have a vested interest in seeing you convicted, (a la Guantanamo Bay)?

Thought so.

Report
stargirl1701 · 29/07/2013 19:51

YABU. Jury trial is one of our most important freedoms. It is an honour to serve.

Report
Sinkingfeeling · 29/07/2013 19:51

YABU. Juries in this country are selected randomly to represent a cross-section of society, idiots and all.

Report
TiggyD · 29/07/2013 19:53

If you want a jury to represent people in this country then you're going to sometimes have utter dick heads in the jury.

Report
TiggyD · 29/07/2013 19:53

x post with Sinky

Report
JacqueslePeacock · 29/07/2013 19:54

Please explain "conscientious objection" to jury service.

Report
Bumpotato · 29/07/2013 19:57

There should be an exemption box to tick that says "I'm too stupid for jury service"

Report
Alisvolatpropiis · 29/07/2013 19:58

Yabu.

Obviously.

Report
HollyBerryBush · 29/07/2013 20:02

the object of a trial by jury is that you are tried by your peers. Frankly an 18yo nor a 70yo are my peers. So its all a bit pointless.

However I do agree that there should be professional jurors. There are some idiots out there - and very shades of Tony Hancock, my mate was on jury service at Belmarsh - they convicted one on the grounds that his post code was dodgy and acquitted another because it Friday and they wanted to go home.

Report
missedith01 · 29/07/2013 20:06

YABU.

Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

IncrediblePhatTheInnkeepersCat · 29/07/2013 20:11

YABVU

Also, by your logic, people should be free to disregard any rules (or laws) because they disagree with them, without consequence! I hope you can see the flaw with this. If you disagree with a rule, law or system then campaign for change. It doesn't give anyone the licence to just ignore it and think that means they don't get a consequence.

Report
morethanpotatoprints · 29/07/2013 20:12

YABU

Report
stargirl1701 · 29/07/2013 20:16

Professional jurors?!!!! Dear God, abandon democracy now.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.