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Original poster

Tell me about your jury service experiences

59 replies

Ricekrispie22 · 28/05/2020 20:19

How many days?
How long was your day?

OP posts:
stellabelle · 28/05/2020 23:35

Three day rape case. It was very interesting - not particularly horrible but it was a good example of several silly people doing stupid things . We couldn't agree within the allotted time, so we stayed over at a hotel which was nice. The worst part was trying to get some of the jurors to judge the case on the facts, rather than their own prejudices. We found the accused to be innocent.

Original poster
Ricekrispie22 · 29/05/2020 08:44

I’ve received a summons for the middle of July. Apparently jury duties have been suspended for the time being but they’re still sending jury summons so that there is a jury available for when the government permits court cases to resume. Do you reckon they’ll have resumed by mid July? And we’re supposed to be camping mid August! What if it’s a long case?

OP posts:
ExpletiveDelighted · 29/05/2020 08:50

If there's a long case, if you are picked they invite you to write down any reasons that you can't commit to the dates and the judge will decide if you can be excused. The second time I did it the jury room was twice as crowded on the Monday morning and it turned out there was a 12 week case starting and lots of people were not going to be able to do it, it took all morning to sort out.

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Deathraystare · 29/05/2020 08:50

Mostly deadly boring. Been twice.

One was a guy who lived near me (not known to me). I was horrified because he was in court when our addresses were read out! Like he would remember 12 names and addresses!!).

It was for card fraud. All day whilst waiting his name was being called out for other court appearances!

2nd time was 2 dodgy Russians. Selling carpets off the back of a lorry, literally. Something about bill of loading.

What makes me laugh is the jury always has one bloke that thinks he knows it all, has done it before so knows everything. Errr no!

He was also keen to tell us
that whilst his wife was away he did not wash his underpants.,for two weeks!!!

Deathraystare · 29/05/2020 08:52

Oh, one was for a week I think or a few days. The second was around two weeks.

Redwren · 29/05/2020 09:29

My husband did it last year. He sat around the first few days, played pool with a couple of men and chatted to a nice woman. The 4th day he got called up and sworn in ready for the trial to start the next day, it then got postponed due to some evidence. He sat around again from the fri-tues and then told there wouldn't be anything so not to come in the rest of the week. He was disappointed he didnt see a trial

Juiceey · 29/05/2020 09:41

Thanks for this thread, I've always wondered what it would be like.

HaudMaDug · 29/05/2020 11:15

Weird arson case with young guy who was very clearly suffering with some MH issues about 15 years ago which lasted 5 days, Monday-Friday 9am - 4.30ish. Spent about 1 year afterwards haunted by the photo evidence we had to view.
On the plus side, Lunch provided at fab bistro next door. but due to mid summer swelter and jury box was set under skylight window and no fresh air in the place, I promptly fell asleep after lunch and was woken and ticked off proper by the Judge. Blush

pinkrocker · 29/05/2020 11:25

I was a juror 20 years ago on an ABH trial. I can remember the evidence of injury pictures being awful and the defendants and witnesses really scared to talk in the court, they were shaking. Lasted 2 weeks, nobody wanted to listen to my opinion in the jury room as I was so young Hmm I have no idea what happened afterwards, the guilty verdict was taken into account and further charges were brought afterwards. I did read in the local paper that the defendant received a prison sentence.
I do remember it was a very warm, stuffy courtroom and that I ate a lot of mints to stay awake!

geogteach · 29/05/2020 11:46

I've missed it during lockdown. They were sending reminders until about a week before then got a text saying no jury trials were happening. Was supposed to get a letter confirming that never arrived so not sure if I'm let off or will be called again.

Lurkingforawhile · 29/05/2020 12:03

I ended up on a trial for just over two weeks (two weeks and three days iirc). There was lots of sitting around and I got picked on the third day. During the trial we had a full day off, and a few early finishes

Lurkingforawhile · 29/05/2020 12:07

Also, make sure you follow the rules and don't discuss cases. The jury on my case before my jury was dismissed after a day because someone discussed the case in the post office (round the corner) and then the police investigated her. It's a privilege to have a jury system and they do take the rules seriously. Mine was really interesting as I was a solicitor at the time (although not specializing in criminal) and they had only just changed the rules so we could be jurors.

Lurkingforawhile · 29/05/2020 12:07

Also, make sure you follow the rules and don't discuss cases. The jury on my case before my jury was dismissed after a day because someone discussed the case in the post office (round the corner) and then the police investigated her. It's a privilege to have a jury system and they do take the rules seriously. Mine was really interesting as I was a solicitor at the time (although not specializing in criminal) and they had only just changed the rules so we could be jurors.

bobbikato · 29/05/2020 12:25

Mine lasted approx 4 weeks,same terrible experience of waiting around - take a paper crossword ( phones are not allowed ).
I found the food in the canteen dire,although you get a voucher for the crap choices ( baked beans ) but other gourmet delights ( a sausage roll !) you can pay for.
You can go outside the court at lunch,to Costa etc - but then you have to faff about to get back in - better to bring a packed lunch or have big breakfast .

nettytree · 29/05/2020 12:41

I did mine about 20 years ago. I actually made money doing it. 1st day we had to fill a form with our travel expenses. I had to travel to Croydon in peak time. After that off peak. But they paid me the peak rate for 7 days.

BackforGood · 29/05/2020 13:56

The rules in different courts must be different Bobbikato. All the 'waiting jurors' could use phones and laptops when I did mine last year..

quarentini · 29/05/2020 15:02

Several years ago , the case was over with in 5 days. Half got dismissed, half told to come back Monday.
It was the most boring experience ever.
Lots of waiting around doing nothing.
Won't be sorry if I never do it again

Ivegotnothing · 29/05/2020 15:15

About 18 years ago, it was very boring. We had to go in every day and wait around until 3ish to be sent home if we weren’t called. I did get on a very small trial which, although they were clearly guilty, got away Scott free as the evidence and contradictory stories couldn’t back it up. Mostly it’s sitting around for 2 weeks, I would say take books, puzzle books and snacks.

Milicentbystander72 · 29/05/2020 15:19

I did it about 20 years ago.

I was informed before I started it would be around 2 weeks.
All jurors were held in a 'green room' type room. A court official came through and called my name.

We were asked in court if any of the main participants had any reasons or objections to any of us (eg. if we were known to any of them) We were sworn in.

First case - it was a weird drug dealing offence. Very strange it came to court as there wasn't a huge amount of evidence. That was a hung jury and the jury was dismissed. This took about 3 days.

I was sent back to the 'green room'. Next day my name called again. New jury, new case. This time it was attempted murder. It was horrible. I was quite blasé after the first one.
The reminder of my jury time was on this case. We returned a guilty verdict 10 - 2,majority.

Looking back I enjoyed the experience. It's true a huge amount of it was slow paced and dull. It's hard not to drift off and loose concentration. But you must.

I was self employed at the time. I submitted a few invoices as proof of earnings and they provided me with 'expenses' I think it was about £300 for the 2 weeks (loss of earnings etc)

LilyE1234 · 29/05/2020 15:22

My friend got put on a 6 month fraud case Confused

Dullblue · 29/05/2020 15:24

2 summers ago... lasted 11 weeks! Overall an interesting experience.

Sarcelle · 29/05/2020 15:44

I have been called to do it 4 times, but only did it 3 times.

As many have said, lots of hanging around. Even if you are on a case you get chucked out of the courtroom for an indeterminate time so they can argue about points of law.

Last time I did it, phones were allowed, but when you were deliberating as a jury you had to hand them in.

Interesting sometimes, especially watching the process. I was not particularly impressed with the a Crown Prosecution Service at one of my cases, a lot of bungling.

The last case I was on the jury were getting evils from the defendants friends and families to try and intimidate us. Which we ignored.

MummBraTheEverLeaking · 29/05/2020 16:06

Lots of waiting. I was on 2 cases, neither of which were horrible things thank goodness. There was one long day of waiting and then 5 minutes before the end of the day the defendant changed their plea to guilty and we weren't needed after all! I'm quite shy in new groups of people but for some reason this sparked a confidence in me and I really enjoyed the deliberations and contributed quite a bit.

beachbreeze · 29/05/2020 16:12

It was years ago, I was only about 19/20. It was three weeks, two cases, all day each day

beachbreeze · 29/05/2020 16:14

I was told I wouldn't be allowed to do it again as I have since worked in barrister's chambers. Glad I had the opportunity, it was interesting (if upsetting)