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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder how jury service works

113 replies

Bearbehind · 01/04/2014 22:05

On the news tonight there was an article about the Hillsborough enquiry and it said it is expected to last at least for the rest of the year.

How do they select the jury for that?

OP posts:
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 02/04/2014 12:07

I've done it twice, both times my employer (different ones) paid me the difference between my normal pay and my claimed amount.

Both times a large pool of people turned up, and then after the preambles about procedure, a very brief description of the likely length of the trial was given before a list of names was called out (the longer the trial the longer the list of names). If more than two weeks seemed likely you were then told you could write a note to to the judge explaining why this would not be possible for you. The judge reads these and a shorter list of names is read out as still being under selection. Those people go into the courtroom and then the final selection have their names read out. A list of the names of the defendant and witnesses are read out, if you know any of them you have to say so and the judge will consider whether to keep you on the jury or replace you with one of the others on the shortlist. You then get sworn in.

I did a two week murder trial first time and a 4 day assault trial second time, they have been some of the most interesting experiences of my life. Hoping not to get called again any time soon though, it is disruptive and could be very distressing (mine weren't).

GraduallyGoingInsane · 02/04/2014 12:14

Legal professionals and police are no longer exempt, although obviously it increases your likelihood of knowing someone in the case - if you're a barrister or a solicitor you may well know the lawyers on the case.

Nowerdays the only exemptions are if you are on bail for something yourself, if you are on licence following a release from prison, or if you have serious mental health problems. That's it.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 02/04/2014 12:22

Or if you have done it in the last two years.

A relative who is a retired policeman was called, he knew pretty well everyone involved in the case but was still allowed to serve on the jury as he had no personal relationship with any of them, and no conflict of interest as he was no longer working, also therefore no "insider" knowledge of the case.

ChrisPeaNuts · 02/04/2014 12:39

It would be interesting for someone who works in this field about the rules on when people can defer and for what reasons.

What happens to those who are medium-high earning self employed, or own businesses. If I was called for a lengthy trial I couldn't continue to run my business and 25 employees would be left without a job, as would I.

I'd love to serve on a jury, but couldn't risk my livelihood or the jobs of others to do it.

bishboschone · 02/04/2014 12:48

I got called for jury service a few years ago. At the time we had just found out my son had a genetic condition and had to have lots of tests . I called them in tears and said I can't do it . They were lovely and said not to worry and I didn't have to do it . I'm greatful as I wouldn't have gone ( bloody minded) and I would have been in no end of trouble I expect .

FairPhyllis · 02/04/2014 12:59

I was called up when I was a student for the period over Christmas and New Year. It was a bit of a pain in the neck as we weren't allowed to stay in our university accommodation during the vac and I would have missed Christmas with my family.

In the end I wrote basically begging to be let off and I was! I suppose the court wouldn't have been used much over that period anyway.

TheresOnlyOneWayOfLife · 02/04/2014 13:03

Police officers are no longer exempt as I have just found out....Hmm

evertonmint · 02/04/2014 13:24

It's lunacy that the reimbursement is so low. DH is a big earner but for a small company who probably wouldn't pay his salary while on jury duty. I earn infrequently as am freelance, but earn a lot when working my regular contracts. When not working, I am a SAHM to an infant school pupil, a preschooler and soon to a newborn too. Whenever in the year a call up happened, even if just for a fortnight, it would involve a significant financial cost to us and maybe even the permanent loss of a client for me so has much longer term consequences. If it were DH or me when working we would have to dip into savings to pay the mortgage and bills to the tune of a few thousand, or if it was me in my non-work time we'd have to find and fund childcare. We have the money to cover this fortunately and we would absolutely do our civic duty, but why should we have to subsidise the justice system to do this?

As somebody says, many medium-high earners or people with caring commitments would lose out so much financially that they couldn't do longer trials and you end up with less variety in the jury (as you would be much more reliant on say retirees or housewives or unemployed to fill those jury spaces) which is not good for our justice system.

Caitlin17 · 02/04/2014 14:02

Police officers in Scotland are. We kept all our "legal" exemptions which must rule out a significant proportion of the population of Edinburgh.

AbraStone · 02/04/2014 14:10

I heard that letters calling you up for JS aren't sent recorded delivery so if you don't want to/can't do it, it's safe to ignore them as there's no proof you got the letter.

I think the person who said that worked for the courts and said that they send out a lot more letters than they need jurors to allow for ignorers.

Is that true?

overthemill · 02/04/2014 14:23

You cannot refuse to do jury service once called but you can defer for a number of reasons here

Some people are exempt and these are listed on the letter.

People who earn more than the allowance for loss of earnings simply lose out (I was freelance and couldn't book work during my 2 weeks so lost a lot of money).

I found the court staff very helpful - part way through my 2 weeks we got a cancellation appointment for a really important hospital consultation and told staff who got the week rearranged so I could go.

AbraStone · 02/04/2014 16:12

So are the letters sent recorded delivery?

tothesea · 02/04/2014 16:37

I just got a call up letter and I had to sign for it. They keep calling me and either I have deferred due to bf newborn or case cancelled x3. So this is fifth time and I want to do it so they will leave me alone!!! But I am SAHM with 3 yr old DS so what am I meant to do with him....

HarderThanYouThink · 02/04/2014 16:52

I wish they'd call me for jury service, id love to do it.

AmberLeaf · 02/04/2014 16:57

I dread being called for jury service.

I have a child with a disability who is at school, but who couldn't go to pre or after school provision. I don't have family living anywhere near me. It would be impossible.

My situation isn't going to change, so even defering would only help for so long.

I think doing JS could be interesting and theoretically, I wouldn't mind doing it.

overthemill · 02/04/2014 17:08

abra no they are normal post . If you don't respond they would send another one. It is your civic duty.

It is a totally random system - I've been called twice, one of my sisters 5 times and my DH never! Most people would enjoy it I think. If you cannot do it due to childcare you can defer but may get called again.

AntoinetteCosway · 02/04/2014 17:32

I did it when I was a university student. I deferred due to exams (was called in London where I was still registered as living at my mum's address but was in uni up north) and they rearranged it so I could do it during the holidays. It was interesting and I'm glad I got to do it. It was probably the easiest time to do it in terms of finances.

Aroundtheworldandback · 02/04/2014 17:42

What if you have a hearing impairment but do not use sign language?

squoosh · 02/04/2014 18:02

I did my jury duty to the best of my ability, but I certainly wouldn't say I 'enjoyed' it. I was thrilled when it was over! Courts are pretty humdrum places and the lunch they served everyday would have been considered a bit unappealing in 1974. After 5 weeks I felt I'd been released from a prison sentence.

Chippednailvarnish · 02/04/2014 18:20

I did jury service last year.

They would only reimburse childcare cost if your child was with a registered childminder, otherwise it was something ridiculous like £1.50 per hour, per child. So I lost out there massively.

Within a month of finishing my two weeks I was called to the Old Bailey. Luckily you can't be called again within two years of completing jury service, as financially that would have been really difficult.

extremepie · 02/04/2014 18:34

What if you were a carer? If it was a trial that long surely you would lose things like carers allowance?

CountessOfRule · 02/04/2014 18:39

I currently have an ebf baby, a preschooler (not yet eligible for childcare funding) and one in infant school. I work very part-time from home.

My childcare costs per day for our nearest crown court - assuming I could even get it sorted in time - would be something approaching £90, then something like £10-15 for travel.

My "loss of earnings" would be something like £5 per day. At £1.50 per child per hour I'd claw back under £50 for a day that cost me more like £100.

I'm a bit scared that I'd get a trial of some mega baddie and be worried about repercussions; or a fraud trial or similar that would be too complicated so I'd get bored or confused.

I think Stephen Fry recently got out of jury service by arguing that he was too famous so would prejudice the trial.

I do think trial by jury is hugely, hugely important though. I just hope I don't get called for a good while to come.

barkinginessex · 02/04/2014 18:48

I did jury service last year and a serving police officer was on the same jury as me. Very few people are excused now including people who work in courts and prisons!

macdoodle · 02/04/2014 18:52

My loss of earnings would be significant enough over a week or 2 I wouldn't be able to pay my mortgage. I am a self employed single parent, my professional subscriptions to allow me to work cost almost £700 a month. I wonder if the tax man would be happy to not have his next payment as I use my tax savings to survive. I have no objection to doing jury service but not at the personal financial cost of almost bankruptcy.

Pumpkinpositive · 02/04/2014 19:10

I work in courts quite frequently. One case, I remember, supposedly around 200 people had been called for jury selection and circa half that number showed up. I said joking to the court officer, "looks like a few people will be getting a knock at the door tonight?" He said no, not at all, the courts don't have the manpower or financial wherewithal to go chasing non attendees.

Obviously a juror absconding during the trial would be a different matter.