Jury Duty

eglons

bryanb wrote: »

That's right, but you can only defer once. Exemption is only on very specific grounds. The easiest way is to reach your 70th birthday!

I think exemption and excusal are the same thing then. I've been told that I can get an excusal if my business would suffer serious risk, which I could easily spin, but I'm trying hard not to!... as long as they are prepared to give me the loss of earnings payment (which doesn't come close to covering my actual loss) then I'm prepared to do my duty.

woody01

eglons wrote: »

and we'd get completely unbiased juries :rotfl:

Why would this make juries biased?

eglons

woody01 wrote: »

Why would this make juries biased?

The essence of picking a jury is diversity, picking 12 people with a common theme is not really diverse. Whilst many people can detach their personal situation from any legal decision they may have to make there would undoubtedly be those who had a mild bias based on their current personal experience. I wouldn't want to be someone under trial for illegally sacking a bunch of people or perhaps employing illegals with a jury of people who wanted but couldn't find work (extreme example I know but hopefully it explains my point).

Back to my situation, I emailed the jury office explaining the situation, explaining I was very happy to do it but needed to be sure that I wouldn't get longer than the 2 weeks and that my income would be compensated not just salary (within the limits). I got an email back the day after simply saying "You've been excused". I'm actually a little upset as I'd have liked to do it but I guess they didn't fancy the complication of my question. So I still dont know the answer to the orignal divident/salary question!:(

woody01

eglons wrote: »

The essence of picking a jury is diversity, picking 12 people with a common theme is not really diverse. Whilst many people can detach their personal situation from any legal decision they may have to make there would undoubtedly be those who had a mild bias based on their current personal experience. I wouldn't want to be someone under trial for illegally sacking a bunch of people or perhaps employing illegals with a jury of people who wanted but couldn't find work (extreme example I know but hopefully it explains my point).

Back to my situation, I emailed the jury office explaining the situation, explaining I was very happy to do it but needed to be sure that I wouldn't get longer than the 2 weeks and that my income would be compensated not just salary (within the limits). I got an email back the day after simply saying "You've been excused". I'm actually a little upset as I'd have liked to do it but I guess they didn't fancy the complication of my question. So I still dont know the answer to the orignal divident/salary question!:(

Just because people are unemployed, it doesn't make the diversity change.
Not everyone without a job is a button pusher from a council estate.

eglons

woody01 wrote: »

Just because people are unemployed, it doesn't make the diversity change.
Not everyone without a job is a button pusher from a council estate.

I gather you didn't bother reading my post then! The point isn't that they are unemployed it's that they share a common theme and therefore aren't balanced. It would be the same if you went for all women, all chinese, all martian etc.

dmg24

eglons wrote: »

I gather you didn't bother reading my post then! The point isn't that they are unemployed it's that they share a common theme and therefore aren't balanced. It would be the same if you went for all women, all chinese, all martian etc.

Unemployment is no more relevant a 'common theme' than living in the same city. Unemployed people come from all sorts of backgrounds and represent all areas of the community.

eglons

dmg24 wrote: »

Unemployment is no more relevant a 'common theme' than living in the same city. Unemployed people come from all sorts of backgrounds and represent all areas of the community.

I disagree but then that's what makes life interesting isn't it

Ignite

The only time I've been called for jury duty was at my old address a month after I'd moved from the midlands to the south. I called them up and offered to attend but told them that they would have to provide accomodation for me. They declined and I was let off. That was 15 years ago. I've never been asked since.

pimento

eglons wrote: »

I've done it once before 4 years ago and got a child abuse case... no fun I can tell but you do feel like it's a worthwhile duty, just hope I don't lose 2 weeks work for no cash!

You see, there's something wrong with a system that will call some people several times and others not at all.

eglons

pimento wrote: »

You see, there's something wrong with a system that will call some people several times and others not at all.

I guess it proves it's completely random!