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Original poster

Bloody jury service

347 replies

fussychica · 29/05/2015 14:14

In all my years at work, where I would have been paid by my employer, I was never called for jury service. I'm now retired and I've been called right in the middle of the summer. Although I don't mind doing the actual thing getting there will be a nightmare, (I dont drive) and the subsistance doesnt even cover 2 drinks let alone lunch. I dont have an actual holiday booked but had quite a few plans for this part of the summer. I know its my civic duty but Im a bit pissed off about it as if you couldnt tell

OP posts:
AbbeyRoadCrossing · 29/05/2015 16:31

I was in central London and there were loads of options. I brought my lunch and was given the £6 each day, and my own lunch cost me nowhere near that. I think tea / coffee / water was free, I don't remember paying for it anyway.
Travel wise they insisted I had to show them a one day paper travel card on day one, couldn't be oyster (this was a few years ago) and they paid that amount each day. I used my oyster on the other days as it was cheaper and they were fine with this - I found that rule rather odd, I imagine it's updated now though.
I was also lucky in that my work paid me. I thought they all did this but have now realised they don't from reading this thread.

Anyway, back to the OP. You should still get your pension surely so no loss of earnings? And if you're close to 70 you could defer then not have to do it at all if you reach 70 in the meantime. Any holidays booked you can defer the service until afterwards.

Andro · 29/05/2015 16:34

I can understand anyone not really looking forward to jury service, spending a chunk of summer stuck in a court room is not an enticing thought.

I've done 2 lots and the nightmares crucified me both times...if I'm never called again it will be too soon!

HamishBamish · 29/05/2015 16:34

I have been called twice, both times I was on maternity leave and exclusively breastfeeding. I just explained my circumstances and they took me off the list.

DH has done it twice, although it was for only a few days each time. He found it interesting. There was no disruption to his pay though. Not sure how it worked out, but he works for a large financial services firm, so I guess they are used to it.

I can understand why it's annoying to be called when it's a tricky time for you though.

Mumoftwoyoungkids · 29/05/2015 16:35

My dad was called a couple of years ago. The thing that surprised his about it was that, when it got down to the deliberating, just how seriously everyone took it. There was a real cross section - including a teenager, a bloke he "wouldn't want to meet down a dark alley", a mum of 4 under 5s(!!!!!!!!!), someone he vaguely knew as his son played rugby with my brother 20odd years ago and some others I've forgotten.

The case wasn't a particularly serious one but they were debating the detailed points lover and over until they were all happy.

crazykat · 29/05/2015 16:37

We'd be up a creek if I got called up. We don't use childcare and it would cost us about £100 per day for child care for our dcs, assuming we could get it at short notice. Even getting the 4 hours + expenses rate would leave us almost £40 a day out of pocket. We're lucky to have £10 a week left after everything is paid.

I don't have a problem with doing jury service but no one should be put of pocket performing their civil duty.

Original poster
fussychica · 29/05/2015 16:37

I appreciate that as a retired person I will find it easier than many people who work but are not paid by their emploer so would be out of pocket. I'm having a moan because it's messed up my plans for the middle of the summer and the trouble is you don't know how long it will go on so you can't make further plans until you are discharged. The travel is also a concern as I said. Didn't think I'd get it in the neck because I felt a bit ticked off but that's MN for you.

OP posts:
Lariflete · 29/05/2015 16:46

I was on a 6 week trial that really dragged on - it should have lasted 5 days!
Please make sure that you listen properly, however little you want to be there. I was the only person on the jury to make any notes during the trial and quite frankly, the thought of a trial by a jury of my peers frightens me when it became obvious how little attention most people were paying to the evidence.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 29/05/2015 16:51

We had one person fall asleep. On a murder trial. So either someone going free that shouldn't or someone going down for 20+ years that shouldn't. It happened most days too. Good job there were 12 of us

LurkingHusband · 29/05/2015 16:51

Hmmmm ...

  1. Almost everyone here agrees jury service is important
  2. Almost everyone here agrees there are serious flaws in the system

If you add to these two facts a further fact

  1. Nothing is being done to address (2)

you can pretty much deduce how important jury service is to the justice system. I know what I think.

FyreFly · 29/05/2015 16:53

I've never been called up for it, and I hope I never am (unless I find myself in the fortunate position one day of having a high wage and good savings to cover it).

What worries me though, is what happens if victims of child abuse are asked to act as juror for a child abuse case? If victims of rape are asked to sit in on a rape case?

It doesn't seem right to me that someone like that could be dragged into jury duty against their will and made to sit through another court case, even if it isn't theirs.

Even if you haven't suffered anything like that, what happens in some of the more distressing cases? Do the jurors have to sit psychology tests before hand and are they offered counselling and support throughout and afterwards?

I know why it's important, but I can also understand why it's deeply unpopular. Frankly I'd rather pay £1000 than sit in a court room listening to detailed descriptions of child abuse for two weeks.

Original poster
fussychica · 29/05/2015 16:56

Just for the record I'm not deferring, I have no problem actually doing it and I will be taking my duty seriously. However, just because I no longer work doesn' t mean I don't have commitments and a life!

OP posts:
tilliebob · 29/05/2015 16:58

My DH was called for Jury service last year. He was chosen to be on the jury and although he found the experience interesting, we were screwed over financially as he was away from work for 4 weeks. We also have no free parking anywhere vaguely near our court and parking charges aren't refunded, which just added to our financial hassles.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 29/05/2015 16:59

FyreFly no there was nothing like that. The case I was on was horrendous and was on the news and still comes up occasionally. I found it pretty strange and difficult on the odd day when we went early or didn't sit to be at work doing normal things. Even more so at the end as you just go home and that's it. No support, nothing

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/05/2015 17:02

What worries me though, is what happens if victims of child abuse are asked to act as juror for a child abuse case? If victims of rape are asked to sit in on a rape case?

If your name is drawn for a particular case you will be told the name of the accused, and a brief description of the crime "Joe Biggs, armed robbery, somewhere road, June 2013". The judge will then asks if anyone has any reason why they should not serve on the jury for that case. So you could say why you felt you could not do it, and they wouldnt do it. They dont want someone on the jury who will struggle to be objective.

Adarajames · 29/05/2015 17:07

I's like to do Js but I have ME and other health issues and would struggle to be awake / seated and coherent for any length of time so would have to be excused, which I think is a shame if I'm ever called

Andro · 29/05/2015 17:12

FyreFly - no counselling offered after either of the cases I was on, even though it was badly needed (especially after one of them in particular).

Hygellig · 29/05/2015 17:14

I've never been called and don't know anyone who has. It would be quite useful if you could report when a convenient period would be - I would have liked to have done it between jobs but I wouldn't like to have to do it now as a SAHM to young children.

Purpleball · 29/05/2015 17:16

I had to refuse due to financial difficulty. My employer wouldn't pay me as they would have been massively out of pocket as my work is chargeable to customers.
Personally I'd have had a massive drop in income that frankly we can't afford.
I don't feel good about it. I think it's important to do your civic duty. If they'd have covered my wage or even 3/4 of it, I'd have done it. I just couldn't afford to take the hit. I offered to prove my earnings but they couldn't budge

MissClemencyTrevanion · 29/05/2015 17:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DarthVadersTailor · 29/05/2015 17:21

Just tell them you are sexist, racist and incredibly prejudice against pretty much everything and anything. And fucking swear all the fucking time.

Bang! No more jury service Grin

BobandKate0 · 29/05/2015 17:21

If you are far too keen,then i think people should not be allowed to do jury service.
Got called a few years ago,in the middle of a shit storm at work.
Did try to beg off going,but none of the reasons are valid.
It was really,really slow,lots of waiting,staying silent like a monk - take a good book to read and nice packed lunch.
In all likelyhood it will only be for two weeks.
I was surprised that the trial didn't have a transcript,thou, like in USA films.

Diamond23 · 29/05/2015 17:31

Dramaofthehighcs - your posts are fascinating me. Are you saying that you lie awake at night worrying about being called for jury service even though you have not?

theblackrider- unfair dismissal it might be, but you're still unemployed.

Alisvolatpropiis · 29/05/2015 17:39

I got summoned for jury service recently. The letter arrived in my first day of maternity leave and was due to commence the day after my due date.

I've deferred.

DramaQueenofHighCs · 29/05/2015 17:46

Diamond23 yes I am! Only when I'm going through big anxiety/depressive episodes though. I know it sounds stupid and pathetic by the way - I think that myself! Doesn't change it though! Smile

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 29/05/2015 17:49

It would definitely play on my mind if I was still eligible to be called up and I'd get myself in a real state if I was actually called up!