Been selected for jury service, (!!!!!!!!)

xapprenticex

morals.. in today's society... dont make me laugh...never been called, hope i never get called, if i do, ill opt for the dodgy clothing route and hope for the best.

Murphybear

steampowered wrote: »

Surely I can't be the only one that thinks you should go?

It is your legal and moral duty to do jury service. It is an important part of keeping society running.

Have some self-respect for yourself, and some respect for your country, and do the service. Unless there is an extremely good reason why you can't do it.

If you are an employee, your employer is required to give you time off to do jury service.

I was called for jury service in 1972 ish. I was quite looking forward to it. Then my boss told me I was exempt as I worked for the National Blood Transfusion Service which counted as part of the emergency services. I didn't turn up at the court and nothing drastic happened. They phoned me and I explained that I was exempt and they were happy with that and said they wouldn't call me again.:D

Gettingtherequickly

I was called about 15 years ago, was in a dilemma as had been offered a new job but not the start date, although I knew it would be around about the dates I was called. Spoke to the courts explaining the situation, was advised to leave it as it was and if the start date clashed, to ring & defer. As it happened, start date was 2 weeks after the service dates. Didn't get to serve on a trial, was gutted!

I used to support families of murder victims and a client had just turned 18 and was called to serve about 6 weeks after losing sibling. I advised about being able to defer, especially in the circumstances (I was concerned that it could potentially be a murder trial), but they were determined to do their duty. That is what I call being honourable.

Gavin83

worried_jim wrote: »

A great experience and I believe the only duty expected of you as a citizen. I look forward to doing it again, and if ever you find yourself in the dock, don't wear attire from JD Sports, not a good start.

This is the kind of prejudice from some of the general public I was referring to. Your choice of clothing doesn't make you guilty of a crime yet it seems people would allow this to influence their decision.

Lily-Rose wrote: »

Have to agree with SDW ^ I think if there are valid reasons to go, that's fine (and being self employed is a valid excuse IMO,) but if the reason is you can't be bothered, then that's very poor. And saying stuff like you don't owe the country anything and wouldn't adhere to any 'duty' is typical of the selfish entitled-to attitude of some.

I think the answer is to change the law so employers have to pay the employee their full standard pay and also make self employed people exempt. Losing out financially is a very valid reason IMO and this would erase that issue.

Derwent

Check your home insurance policy. If you have the legal protection cover then a lot of these policies cover you for loss of earnings while on jury service.

Fireflyaway

I did jury service 10 years back and would love to be called again, it was so interesting. I seem to recall you can request to be excused (once only I think) if you are on holiday or have something on at work that is of importance.

Malthusian

bugslet wrote: »

Who needs a decent customer that will pay for the employer to pay the employee

No, they just need some slack built into their business so they can do without one employee for a short period.

If your business is living hand to mouth and falls apart if one employee isn't present for a few weeks (plenty of other things than jury duty can cause this, e.g. sickness or injury) then it's badly run.

I appreciate that it's different for the one-man-band self-employed where if they don't work, they don't eat. In their case I would recommend the Union Jack trousers and the EDL badges.

aife

fira wrote: »

Jury Service has been pretty constant for me over the years, both the High Court and Sheriff Courts (in Scotland).

Just following on from what someone said above, at the last one a juror who had been picked a few days earlier never appeared. Everything was delayed and in around an hour, she arrived. Two police officers had been sent to get her after she slept through her alarm. She was embarrassed as she was told to stand up in the jurors’ box and was given a long, long lecture by the judge. She mentioned later that the police asked if she had been drinking the evening before and had that caused the lateness as they may have to breathalyse her.

I have to say too that when the clerk court checks everyone off the list before heading in to the court itself I'm always surprised at just how many haven't turned up. I wonder if the police are then sent out to find them.

Fair enough to send the Police to fetch a juror who hasn't shown up , trials are expensive. But it's shocking they threatened to breathalyse her. How is it any of their business if she had a drink the night before ?

theoretica

aife wrote: »

Fair enough to send the Police to fetch a juror who hasn't shown up , trials are expensive. But it's shocking they threatened to breathalyse her. How is it any of their business if she had a drink the night before ?

If you drink a lot the night before, it is perfectly possible to still be drunk the next morning (as anyone who may drink heavily and late and then consider driving the next morning should know) and I think not being drunk on jury duty is a fairly obvious and reasonable expectation.

aife

theoretica wrote: »

If you drink a lot the night before, it is perfectly possible to still be drunk the next morning (as anyone who may drink heavily and late and then consider driving the next morning should know) and I think not being drunk on jury duty is a fairly obvious and reasonable expectation.

it is quite possible to have an alcohol level above the legal limit that registers on a breathalyser and still be quite capable of rational thought.
I'm assuming she wasn't staggering or slurring her speech . I think this is heavy handed and intrusive.