AIBU to think jury service feels badly organised and inefficient?

Hubby was called up for last week. Jury line told him to see if they called on Monday between 9-1. If not phone back after 5pm. After 5pm same message for Tuesday. Got a phone call at 12.20 to say he was in the ballot for 2pm and if called would have a call by 5pm. If not call the jury line again. No further phone call. Then dismissed at 5pm.

This was a mare for his work as he gets a list of jobs to attend so had to wait until 9.30am to be allocated as his usual work had been reallocated just in case. Then he had the same on Tuesday too. So it messes everyone up.

i work in a school so would need to have my phone on me when we aren’t meant to have them. Then someone would need to come and cover me.

The system post covid doesn’t work for some jobs.

There’s a lot going on that you can’t see, is the obvious answer. Some jurors don’t hear cases because each defendant makes their plea on the day, and if they plead guilty there is no trial. And if several do that in a day, no case will go to court that day for those jurors. It’s annoying for jurors, I agree.

Maybe ripe for a bit of automation. AI jurors? It’s all very old fashioned and still based on the olden days where twelve locals could just pop in and sit on the jury.
I bet lawyers hate juries.

I spent two full weeks sitting in a room waiting to be called, it was awful. Glad to hear that some courts allow you to wait at home now - that’s much more civilised.

I got called to the Old Bailey earlier this year and was shocked / horrified at how chaotic it all was. I didn’t end up sitting on a case, but the lack of organisation from the first couple of days of sitting around actually scared me.

1. It's a waste og people's time.
2. You get £64.95 per day for the first 10 days increasing to £129.91 per day for longer trials.
3. My work won't pay me so it would really be a mess for me on those £. I would have to find a way not to spend 2 weeks hanging around that way.

It does involve sitting around

Remember nobody knows if there will/won't be a trial until the day - the defendant pleads not guilty = trial but if the defendant pleads guilty = no trial. But they need to have a jury ready just in case...

Then there is often legal arguments that the jury is not allowed to be present for - so sometimes you go back in and the more convincing parts of the case have been thrown out on legal grounds

I think the courts where you can be told not to go in if you aren't going to be selected seem a long way in front of others, where they have dozens and dozens of people sitting around all day.
Apart from the part about it being so much easier and less frustrating for people called for Jury Service, it must save a fortune in expenses they pay out for train fares and lunch allowance.

I also agree about the ridiculously short days.
When I did it, I was fortunate enough to be in the first batch of people called and was allocated to one case which then finished on the Thursday of the 2nd week so we were released and got one day back. However, we didn't have to be there until 10am any day once the jury was formed, and were then released around 3.30 each day. Put a lunch break into that and it is only half a day.

No it’s not - there’s probably a lot of stuff going on eg discussions on what evidence is allowed and judge has to decide but jury can’t hear as might prejudice them before case starts. As witnesses you have to be available as court doesn’t know what will come up and and how long each witness will take you know that’s why cases overrun. This is an adverserial system and the prosecutors and defend lawyers have to do their jobs and for justice to be done and to be seem to be done.you can’t just say ‘well I’ve got to go now I’m not available so my evidence which might be critical can’t be heard.’ The problem is the public sector is creaking at the seams so we don’t have the physical capacity to hear all the cases and allow everybody to have justice
edited for typos

I did the same. There were a couple of horrible misogynistic men who said the child was basically asking for it because of how she was dressed

I got through several very long books.

couldn’t work as I’m a teacher.

Agree totally. I am thankful to have managed to get to my mid 50s and to never have been asked. I would think of any excuse under the sun I could think of to not go. I would HATE it. As you say, very badly executed, dragging people in who don't want to be there, and some are not very well educated and don't know much about anything, and some could be racist and sexist, and they have someone's life in their hands. And as you say, some people lose a fortune, as you only get a set amount of money, which often doesn't cover what they lose. Nowhere near for many.

Have you got a good book OP?

I did when I attended as a witness once - but I wasn’t allowed to plug anything in unless it was PAT tested 😣 .

The facilities aren't always great. No desk space, no privacy, noisy, shit or no WiFi that your work might not let you connect to anyway. Not a good place to work.

YANBU, I did it some years ago and it was an utter shambles.

Are you allowed to take laptops and work there while you wait?

My experience was poor and the courts are a failing that needs to be put right. It is no justice for victims or the accused the length of time before trials take place.

The alternative of no juries is worse though.

This must have been my London court - it was absolutely shambolic. Summer holidays and less cases. Absolutely BAKING. Two days sitting around although I had brought my work laptop. Doctor sat next to me had to cancel two days of clinics 🤦🏼‍♀️ I was called to a short case and was so relieved - but so much sitting around

I’ve been called up more than once and I had cases. I think theres probably a lot of legal wrangling going on behind the scenes that we don’t know about but I’m not sure there is a solution to this.

I was called for Jury service 2 years ago and went to Manchester Crown Court. It was very well organised. On the first day we had all been allocated a number and sat in a long airy room. Some were called. At the end of the day we were to,d to ring a number and only come in if we heard our number. Had to ring each day.

I was called for jury service a few years ago and couldn't believe how archaic the organisation was.

• it's was Easter but it hadn't been taken into account. Fewer courts were sitting because so many people were on holiday.
• courts ran 10-16 with a 2 hr lunch break, come on let's work a full day at least.
• the jury room was SO uncomfortable
• the people running the jurors seemed clueless

2 weeks I sat there every day - never saw the inside of a court or sat on a case!

It's the 21st century, there must be a better way of organising it.

For the record I was at a major London court that is frequently on the news ( not the old Bailey)