Jury service - what do I need to know?

[C1239]

I’ve been called for jury service in a couple of months time, just wondering for those of you who have done it before what would your top advice be? I’ve heard there can be some waiting around so take a book. During the two weeks if you aren’t required one day do you go to work as normal? What if you are only in court for half a day do you then go to work, do they tell you work when you are and aren’t in?!

It was a violent drug gang and was intimidating. They were talking about the case and the lies they were going to tell on the stand. We weren't permitted to come into contact with them, they were in a sealed box in the court and we had our breaks at different times and in different areas. It was made very clear to us to not be anywhere near them. And we were to tell the judge of any contact.

We weren't licked in, but there has a guard on the outside and we would have had to ask permission to leave, cigarette breaks for example had to be planned in advance and everyone went together whether you smoked or not. We were in a violent drugs case that had been tried and failed twice before due to juror intimidation so they were taking no chances.

DH did it earlier this year he said it was very boring., crappy coffee and poor ventilation in the courtroom.
The jury were not allowed out at lunchtime, the day started at 9 and ended at 7pm.
He isn’t driving at the moment so left home at 7am, bus to train station, got there at 8.45, got home at 9pm.
If you plan on driving and get held up by road works etc you get fined, but not if using public transport.
You claim back your expenses.
IHis session would have ended after 2 weeks but one juror had further questions for the judge so everyone had to traipse back the following week.

My neighbour has been called 3 times, for one she ended up doing a 76 mile round trip every day for three weeks yet never got into the courtroom.
Personally I hope I never get called, I’m deaf and it would be a nightmare (apparently deafness doesn’t preclude you, they will provide someone to sign…but I don’t use signing 🙄)

Thank you for all the replies!

I dread getting picked for jury duty. Aside from the childcare issues (do they take that into account at all?), the thought of being on the jury for any sort of harrowing case terrifies me. Are you allowed to be excused from certain types of cases if you think you really couldn’t cope with gruesome details, photos etc? I’m guessing not - who on earth would volunteer for that. Do they have any sort of counselling service for jury members should they have been affected by things they’ve seen/heard?

@sandandsangria re this: “You cannot be part of the jury if you know anyone involved in the case or if you have heard about it/know what's going on”

What if it’s a really high profile case where most people will have heard about it from the news?

Another couple of things I’ve wondered - what if you are ill and it’s in the middle of the case? Do they have to start all over again? Or what if an emergency comes up for one of the jury?
And like others have said what if it’s a really disturbing case? I’m guessing you don’t get the option to say you don’t think you could deal with it?
Getting a bit nervous now!

Go with an open mind. I was dreading it but ended up really enjoying it and found it interesting. Totally depends what case you get though.

I was summoned for jury duty many years ago, but at the time had an EBF baby of 3 months, and was excused on those grounds. But a Canadian relative of MiL’s who was staying with her, told me that in Canada I’d have had to do it anyway!

MiL was quite put out, since she’d have loved to do it, but had never been summoned.

If you aren’t needed for a day are you meant to go to work that day? What happens if you are poorly during the two weeks ? I’m half looking forward to it half dreading it!

My son is on jury service this week. Obviously he won't tell me anything but he said there are permanent counsellors in the building in case the case is distressing.

He also says there is zero dress code, just be comfortable. If you can't go out for lunch they bring it in for you. Court isn't sitting on Friday so he's back at work then but still has to go back to court on Monday.

Thank you @nokidshere thats good to know!

We didn't get lunch brought in! At the end of the last day before the case was due to wrap up and we were going to start deliberations, we were told to bring in lunch the next day as we wouldn't be able to leave.

If a juror is ill they'll usually either postpone the case whilst the juror recovers or start a new trial from scratch. It depends how long the case has been running and how long it's likely to take. Sometimes you have alternate jurors, a couple of extra people who sit through the evidence but won't actually be involved in making a decision unless another juror drops out.

Generally an "emergency" for a juror won't excuse them from attending unless it's their own medical emergency. A family member being ill or your home being flooded wouldn't usually be seen as a legitimate excuse to not turn up.

You won't be allowed to avoid a case because it will be disturbing. Some courts have therapists on hand to help people who are disturbed by what they here. It's kind of pot luck though. Some people get PTSD from what they hear.

If a case is particularly bad or long the judge may excuse you from future jury service for a period of time, in that case you wouldn't be called up again for that period.

When I did it I spent a day and a half waiting a round and not being picked, probably because it was at the Old Bailey and I was excused from long cases due to being pregnant. Eventually got picked for a drugs trial which was actually fascinating, but agree with the previous comments about intelligence of fellow jurors. Some couldn't seem to follow logic even when it had been spelt out. Was allowed out for lunch most days but told to bring it in on the last day as we were deliberating. Finished Friday lunchtime of the first week and got told I didn't need to do the second as they had no more short trials.

Thank you @Dotjones thats really helpful. Not sure if I feel nervous or not about it coming up!

Do most people who get requested to jury end up doing the 2 weeks or do many turn up on the first day and get told they aren’t needed anymore? I’ve heard stories of both and just trying to plan a bit!

It depends how many cases are running that fortnight.
There's no way to predict it.

That’s a bit like asking for lottery numbers - nobody can tell you that

Likewise I guess some people are needed for more than 2 weeks? But are you given the opportunity to say you can’t commit to that for work / childcare etc?

You are given the opportunity to request that you’re not kept longer because of those, but you can’t insist you’re not kept longer

@C1239

DS started last Thursday, the case finished yesterday afternoon.. they still had 3 more days of their 10 day stint to do but they have been excused and don't have to go back next week.

I received a jury summons in 2017 and I did not actually serve on a jury. I appreciate my experience may not be the most up to date and FWIW this was at Birmingham Crown Court.
The first week, we were held in a waiting room whilst juries were formed. Names would be called at random - 15 people are selected each time a new trial starts and then this is whittled down to 12 inside the courtroom.
We were allowed out for lunch, and then dismissed for the day if not required at about 4pm.
The second week, I was among the 15 called for one trial which was was to be regarding a racially aggravated assault and expected to last no more than 2 days, but I did not make the final 12 and was dismissed back to the waiting room.
On the Thursday of the second week, those that were not on a jury were released at lunchtime since new trials do not generally start on a Friday.

Take a book and snacks would be my advice.

If it is truly random then actually this is often the pattern seen in general. For example, when you ask Spotify to randomise a play list it doesn't actually do that because if it did, people would say that too many songs were from the same album/ too similar.

@CheesesandWines that doesn't make any sense.