AIBU to think jury service feels badly organised and inefficient?

It’s an awful way to treat people.

I know I broke the law when I talked to my therapist about some of the things that were said in deliberation, but for my sake I had to. There was one man who, to me, went over and over and over the very worst details repeatedly because he liked seeing the discomfort on others. It made a difficult deliberation unnecessarily more difficult.

There should be easily accessible services you can access after experiences in jury duty.

Two days is nothing - like others, I was sitting around for all ten days! They ‘called’ my jury group for three cases but each of them ‘cracked’ as they call it. Whether that be someone pleaded differently once they arrived at court or some other reason, the interminable sitting around was mind numbing.
But….bad enough for the jury, but now imagine being the victim and their loved ones going through the same.

About 20 years ago, a friend was called up for JS. She was selected as part of the 12 members of the jury. One of the men on trial was her sister's ex who they split up due to his actions which led him to the appearance in court. She never knew his proper name - everyone knew him from his nickname, which hasn't got nothing to do with his name. She got the court clerk aside and explained she knew of one of the 4 or 5 men and explained the above. Court was adjourned whilst they sorted out the jury. Think 8 stayed, 3 others plus my friend were swapped. My friend never sat in a jury in the week.

My DM did JS in the mid 70s in London. Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court. It no longer exists as a court, its one on the main buildings next to Westminster Abbey. One of the jurors decided to do some shopping. She forgot the time and was late for the afternoon sitting. The Judge fined her what is now around £300 in today's money. It can be £1000 today

I did one fairly recently lots of sitting around. We were given very clear guidance on what we had to find to have a guilty verdict. We were unanimous on the answers to those questions but one juror insisted we ask the judge to clarify. Got back to the jury room and same juror still wouldn't believe it was that simple so we had 40 minutes of them prattling on.

Definitely with you on this one. I sat on a case of child rape, the child was similar age to my daughter, was absolutely horrific. The child gave evidence via recorded video played in court, but the mum was in the court, understandably distraught at times. A couple jurors got upset and were warned by judge to be 'dispassionate'. And then you just walk out and expected to get on with your lives as if nothing hapenned.

I was called but then had email after email saying I wasn’t needed that day. I was dismissed after a week. It was just a waste of my time.

The legal wrangling are unpredictable. It’s a pain, but they can’t stop issues arising.

I did a horrific case 20 years ago. We spent 11 weeks on jury duty and there was a lot of waiting around while legal points were argued.

The big issue I have with jury service is that people are just expected to trot off back to the daily life without a jot of support. Fine if you don’t do anything or your deliberations are a but a theft or something simple. We spend multiple days discussing and deliberating over some of the most horrific things I’ve ever heard. Then it was “thanks, bye”. No support or help whatsoever. I desperately hope that has changed, but from a few threads on here I don’t think it has.

Lols at the idea of capitalism not being around in the olden days 😂

Yes, there are definitely inefficiencies in the system but nobody want to fund the middle layer of management you actually need to get a system working properly.

Forty-odd years ago at the Old Bailey it was very efficient

However we jurors did share the same canteen as the defendant's relatives - don't think that happens nowadays!

The entire court system is a shambles. Needs some serious ovehaul.

My experience was waiting around for a few days on end. Then they decided because I'd been a probation officer yonks ago meant I couldn't be used. They thankfully discharged me early so I didn't waste another week.

I sat around at home for 2 weeks. They messaged me every evening to let me know I didn’t need to go in the next day.

I agree delays are most likely caused by last minute wrangling between the two sides, pleas changing last minute or similar.

@PinkCatCushion same here, at least I didn’t have to keep going there, as there was a number to call each evening to find out if you were called the next day and I never was.

I think it’s just because it’s an “ancient” service that hasn’t changed as demands on people’s time has. So in the old days before capitalism 🤣 companies would support their employees doing their civic duty etc. the pressure wasn’t there. But it doesn’t fit with modern life in any way really .

What seems disorganised? The judge? Or the court officials? Waiting around is sometimes surely unavoidable if pleas are being changed at the last minute or witnesses don’t attend. Things that would cause delay in any system.

I’m sure there are lots of inefficiencies but I’m not sure that the jurors not being in court is evidence of that.

There was a fair bit of sitting about when I did it, but I’d known that from a friend who’d done it. You need to take a good book! And there were jigsaws in our jury room.

Actually I found the process pretty well organised. My jury panel sat for 2 cases, one that took a few days, one shorter. TBH I found it all quite reassuring re the justice system. Ours was a large Crown Court though - 12 courts IIRC.

I was never called for a case in my 2 weeks of jury service. It was infuriating. Some people did 2 cases. I spent days sitting around waiting to be called and nothing.
They should at least ensure you do one case, especially if others are doing 2.

YANBU. Years ago when I was in the police, I had to wait around for two whole days waiting to give my 5 minutes of evidence that I could have easily given via a paper statement or afidavit. They don't put any value on peoples time and afford them no respect. Just like the NHS. I wonder if it's a "public sector" thing where people don't matter.

That’s a shame . I’ve done this twice and we got called straight away and it was very efficient