Jury duty, why should I?

sleepyme

Wow, I just read this thread hoping to find some interesting information but apart from a couple of useful posts I didn't manage to find what I was looking for.

Like the OP I have also been called up to do Jury Service, at first I was annoyed that I had been called because I have recently started my own business and was worried about the impact taking a few weeks out would have on that. I also have small children so that was a worry as well. But now it is getting closer I am really looking forward to doing it, I am abit nervous about going in on the first day because I imagine it will be like going into a new job but after that I think it will be really enjoyable. I have only ever met one other person that has done jury service so it is a very rare experience and infact a lot of my family and friends are really jealous of me being called.

OP if I can do it with a young child and new business then you can do it with no job. Think positive about it, you will gain an experience that very few people have. And if you go in feeling positive you might actually enjoy it.

Mrs_Arcanum

sleepyme wrote: »

Wow, I just read this thread hoping to find some interesting information but apart from a couple of useful posts I didn't manage to find what I was looking for.

Like the OP I have also been called up to do Jury Service, at first I was annoyed that I had been called because I have recently started my own business and was worried about the impact taking a few weeks out would have on that. I also have small children so that was a worry as well. But now it is getting closer I am really looking forward to doing it, I am abit nervous about going in on the first day because I imagine it will be like going into a new job but after that I think it will be really enjoyable. I have only ever met one other person that has done jury service so it is a very rare experience and infact a lot of my family and friends are really jealous of me being called.

OP if I can do it with a young child and new business then you can do it with no job. Think positive about it, you will gain an experience that very few people have. And if you go in feeling positive you might actually enjoy it.

Good luck with the new business and try to network whilst you are waiting to actually be on a case.

The first day it is very important you arrive on time.
At the court I went to there was a short talk and film about jury service. What your conduct is expected to be and how things work in the court.
Then there is a lot of waiting around (would recommend a flask as you only get a small drinks allowance for each day you attend and take a book if you are not very sociable). There is usually some sort of canteen attached to the court. You may or may not be assigned a case on the first day.

For following days our court had a system whereby you telephone a number in the evening and if your Jury number is read out you will be needed the next day.

sleepyme

Thank you, some great advice there, I would never have thought to take drinks or a book. I suppose I should take a pack up as well incase there's no canteen.

The more I read about it the more excited I am feeling, sad I know but I am really looking forward to doing it.

bod1467

I was called for jury duty in spring 2007, at a Sherriff's court here in Scotland. (I guess that's like a Magistrate's court in England?) I attended each morning (Monday-Thursday) and never even got to the stage of sitting. (Each time there was either a postponement of the case to be heard, or the defendant copped a plea). I was there for 9AM and was away by noon each day. On the Thursday the Sherriff thanked us for our time and discharged us from duty.

One day the case looked like it might go to trial, but the defendant copped a plea. The irony is that if I was called I would have had to declare a potential conflict of interest - I knew the son-in-law of the defendant. :rotfl:

Flyboy152

bod1467 wrote: »

I was called for jury duty in spring 2007, at a Sherriff's court here in Scotland. (I guess that's like a Magistrate's court in England?) I attended each morning (Monday-Thursday) and never even got to the stage of sitting. (Each time there was either a postponement of the case to be heard, or the defendant copped a plea). I was there for 9AM and was away by noon each day. On the Thursday the Sherriff thanked us for our time and discharged us from duty.

One day the case looked like it might go to trial, but the defendant copped a plea. The irony is that if I was called I would have had to declare a potential conflict of interest - I knew the son-in-law of the defendant. :rotfl:

Not really, magistrates courts don't have juries.

bod1467

From what level of court do juries sit in England? County?

adouglasmhor

Flyboy152 wrote: »

Not really, magistrates courts don't have juries.

You are right it's roughly equivalent to county court. Though they do Sheriff trials and Sheriff and Jury trials. Sheriff is a judge not an official ceremonial post as in England and not wearing a "tin star" and a wideawake hat as in the USA.

Flyboy152

bod1467 wrote: »

From what level of court do juries sit in England? County?

County, Crown and High courts. The juries consist of eight, eleven or twelve people, as opposed to fifteen in Scotland.

bod1467

Every day's a school day.

Thanks guys.

anxious_mum

I've just received a summons to do jury service in December and I'm quite excited. It took quite a bit of explaining to my boss though, as I work in Western Europe although I live (and am employed and paid by) the UK section of my company. He's Dutch and they don't have a jury system in the Netherlands! How odd, is it just the UK that has this then?