Tell me about Jury Service

[DragonScales]

I've never been called up for it, but I'm just curious about what happens. If you've done it did you enjoy it or was it awful to sit there and listen to really devestatingly depressing crimes/evidence? Would they pay for childcare if you're a sahm?

I've done it and found it really interesting. I got called for a drugs case and a rape case but then the jury was pulled from the rape case and a new jury requested for some reason. They pay expenses I think. I'm not sure about childcare.

Lots and lots and lots and lots of waiting around twiddling your thumbs

You spend a lot of time waiting with lots of other jurors, waiting to be assigned to a jury, waiting to be called into court, being sent out while something is discussed which the jury can't hear....
It is very interesting but I found it very disturbing at times, a feeling which lingers years afterwards.
I sat on 3 cases over two weeks.
I think they would have paid something towards childcare but I know I didn't go down that route as it got quite complicated.
There are members of staff whose job it is to look after jurors, help them out with claims, time keeping etc (and keep them in line too).

I did it and enjoyed it while I was on mat leave actually, it was a welcome break from the daily new baby drill. Yes a lot of hanging around waiting to be called up so take a good book. My case was a low level fraud but I enjoyed the whole process of listening to the evidence and coming to my conclusions after discussing it with everyone else.

I was forewoman of the jury on a manslaughter case that was absolutely tragic, on the jury for a tedious but short fraud case and on the long list for a very distressing sounding kidnap and rape. It was a real relief to be one of the three not selected for that jury.
As PP said, there's a lot of waiting around, but the days are short. When I did it, a notorious murder case was due to start and everyone was desperate to avoid being selected because it was expected to roll on for months and months. No idea how they get juries with sufficiently understanding employers and families for that.

I did it last year. I know you’re suppose to be honoured as it is your civic duty, but if I’m honest I really didn’t want to do it.

Mine was in a different town, a motorway drive, which I hated as I’d not long passed my test. I could have got the train though I suppose.

I got an alleged sexual abuse of a child (sisters actually). I only ended up sitting for one week and on the last day we were released from duty.
I liked the hours, ours were 9-4 and i normally work 8-8 so it was nice to be home early. They paid parking, petrol, food allowance and wages lost. The travel expenses was generous, and I didn’t lose out on earnings somehow, though it wasn’t my employer who paid it.

To be fair it was quite interesting, seeing how everything works and the processes involved. But there was SO much waiting around! The first day we were in a room with only roof glass that didn’t open, no air con....in July and we didn’t actually do anything until 4ish when we were all called through, 12 names were read out and then they said anyone who had ever worked for the local child services wouldn’t be allowed to do this one. We knew from that it wasn’t going to be anything as simple as petty theft....
We were back and fourth from court to the jurors room on and off all week, lots of hanging around or discussion. It’s interesting to chat to fellow jurors as well, all kinds from all backgrounds.

One thing I was surprised about was that when we were on breaks etc, so was the accused and they were allowed to come and go freely. Which is fair because everyone is innocent until proven guilty, I just found it weird.

A bit of both. It was really interesting to do and see how it all works. But also the case was harrowing and a lot of the details stay with me - it's a huge responsibility.
They will pay some expenses towards childcare but it might not cover the entire cost.

I did it and found it interesting. Though as already mentioned there is lots of waiting around. Some people sat for the while two week period waiting to be called into a case.
When I did it (8 years ago) the system was incredibly unfair to the self employed. They would pay only to a low amount for loss of earnings. There were lots of people complaining about now much it was costing them. I know a lot of people try to get out of it for this reason.

I was so excited to be called up but found it a pretty awful experience. Foreperson on a rape and sexual assault charge. Still in awe of the victim but on the other hand also feel a degree of guilt for the impact on the perpetrator. Hated some of my fellow jurors for piping up with every myth you’ve ever heard about rape victims. Was surprisingly grateful to MN/Feminism board during for equipping me with the tools to debunk a few. Hope I never get called up again.

You get reimbursed about £67 a day so for most people that is less than a full days wage. You only get a very small amount in travel/parking. In fact I might have heard from one of my colleagues you don't get parking. I think she was parking further away and walking in as parking was so expensive.

I don't think you get childcare expenses either. I know someone who was excused as she was a sahm and couldn't sort childcare.

Interesting that so many of you mention the waiting.

I guess trials on tv shows always focus on the drama in the courtroom, so I'd assumed there was lots of tension and questioning and evidence and the whole thing would be fast paced and interesting

It's luck of the draw on the waiting. Some people will be sat in the waiting room for the full two weeks, others might get a trial.
Even if on a trial the jury often get sent out whilst some things are discussed.
In terms of courtroom drama, the judge on ours was very good at keeping everything relevant. The prosecution and defence aren't really allowed to go into dramatics and it's got to be focused on the evidence and testimony.
You can read the write ups of court cases online if you are interested. You are also entitled to sit in the public gallery aren't nd watch. So you can see almost all that the jury sees apart from the jury deliberations which are secret.

I was selected for service a few years ago. Parking was paid for and my employer didn't deduct wages as long as I went to work if my day was cut short (I was part time time and only did 3 days a week). My parents were on hand for childcare so I was really lucky in that respect.
There was a lot of hanging around and when I did get a case, it was dismissed on day 2 as the judge knew some one involved.
I was with a great bunch of people which helped. It was also near Xmas so we had a lovely turkey dinner and Xmas pud in the canteen, paid for out of expenses.

Yes, I did it a few years ago. It was really interesting to see how the justice system works.

I sat on a rape case - which we found not guilty after two days of solid argument in the jury room and an overnight stop in a hotel. Where I had to share a room with a woman I'd been arguing with all day , whoops. Awkward !

You get a small amount of expense money, but they don't pay for child care. And remember that you can easily end up staying overnight in a hotel, so if you've got small children you're better off to get excused . Some cases can go for weeks, too - it really isn't a job for anyone with child care needs.

I was called a good few years ago. I was dismissed after 4 days. Was called for jury once, but I was not selected. I mainly sat there reading a book. The week I did it was the start of a horrible case of parents being accused of battering their baby to death, and in a way I was very glad I a holiday booked (which you declare at the start), as that trial went on for weeks, if not months and was very traumatic, so relieved I wasn't called for that.

What's that about sharing a hotel room @stellabird?!

I haven't ever been called to service but I was a key witness along with my boss who I got on quite well with. We were kept waiting in a roasting hot room with plastic chairs and a hot water urn for shite powdered drinks. I was heavily pregnant with ds and found sitting for hours on end painful. We were so hungry (my boss gladly snapped up some sandwiches I'd brought along ) Just as we were ready to be called the defendant pleaded guilty. I was shitting it about standing in court and was relieved in a way but we were both fuming that we were pretty much told "You're not needed see ya". So can't imagine how the jury must have felt.
This was in Manchester so we had to pay 10 quid for parking (2003 dread to think the price now).

A young relative of mine did it recently. He was terrified and nervous, he actually got called up last year but deferred for a year. He said some parts were interesting, but a lot was waiting round being bored.

I did it, about 16 years ago, did full two weeks, but got days off and early finishes, so I went into work then. I really enjoyed it and met some interesting people, I got two gbh's and the police evidence was useless.

The expenses didn't cover the cost of travel, parking, food etc.

I always wanted to do it, and was finally called earlier this year (much to the annoyance of my Mum, who never got called and is now too old). I sat on one case, and was called for three more but not selected to sit those. My one case was sexual in nature, defendant was acquitted.

Huge amounts of sitting around, I read two hardback books whilst waiting to be called on cases or released to go home.

They were expecting a long case to begin during my tenure, we all had to complete a form at the start of the first week to say if there was a reason why we might not be able to sit for the duration of that case. I cited childcare issues as school holidays were coming up; and I wasn't picked for that case.

I've been called up twice. First case was really interesting, but the jury was dismissed because one of the witnesses threatened the accused from the witness box, so we were judged to be no longer impartial.

The second time there was a quite famous person who had also been called up as a juror, so he was sitting in the waiting room with all of us. (It quite changed my opinion of him as I'd been a big fan and then realised that he was actually quite a miserable, unpleasant git, and he seems so jolly and pleasant on screen....maybe he just REALLY didn't want to be there.)

But agree with people above. LOTS of waiting around. (embarrassed cough I have a bit of a weak bladder issue so was having to nervously go to the loo every half an hour in case we suddenly got called and I didn't get a chance. You can be sitting around for literally days and days, but once you get called then you're off to the court room within a couple of minutes.)

I'm currently on jury service and so far I've sat in a room for three days! I was called for one case but didn't make the cut. I really hope I get a case tomorrow. My tip would be to take snacks, you can't leave the room until you are discharged and there is only a drinks machine and a sweets/crisps vending machine in the court I'm at.