Jury Service - Coroner's Court

[TheSpottedZebra]

I've just got my call up for jury service in a Coroner's Court. I've never done any jury service, and have no link to lawyers or law enforcement. There's loads of info about what it's like as as juror in a criminal court, but not much about Coroner's Court.

Has anyone ever done this, or works in related area are and can tell me what it might be like?

Hopeful bump

A friend had to do it in a coroner's court. Her case was about a woman had committed suicide by jumping in front of a train. She was quite upset by it as they had to look at photographs of her. Apart from that side of it she found it really interesting.

I've done this for a case similar to the one above. It was very sad but interesting to see the workings of the court. Was struck by how odd the court was compared to a crown court, quite small and dingy.

You will have to look at graphic photographs but that's the jury duty. You can be quite detached as you have a job to do. When i did mine the Coroner was very funny, had quite a dark humour about him.

good luck with it! when is it?

Husband has attended as a professional, they are really interesting, it is along the same as a criminal court, but this is based around a specific death and the reasons behind it. Just be prepared to see and hear things that are quite distressing

Oooh, replies - thanks!

Yes, I'm a bit wary that we'll see upsetting details,but I guess if I were a relative, I'd need a jury to go through it so that my (deceased) relative was 'done right by'.

It's in about a month, and is probably going to be 2-3 weeks long.

The court is in quite modern building and I am very intrigued as to how 'court-like' it will be.

I did this. It was interesting but also sad. We did have to watch a fairly distressing video but it wasn't gruesome or anything and the coroner was careful to make sure no one became upset (jury and family of the person who died). It was less formal than what I know of regular court. There was more people called up than needed so they can exempt people if, for example have a possible link with the case. That could be quite a vague link - such as someone working in the same industry as the person who died even if you had never met or heard of them.

Ahh, ok, so I could be dismissed as per criminal court? That makes sense, I guess.
Might there be much sitting about, or does it tend to run more to time?
Do I have an excuse to stock up on reading material?