Jury Service - What actually happens?

Sncjw

I have told you in the past on at least 3 posts. You posted on other people's jury service posts saying you want to volunteer for this.

marliepanda

Sncjw wrote: »

I have told you in the past on at least 3 posts. You posted on other people's jury service posts saying you want to volunteer for this.

Can confirm, OP you've already commented 'I'm thinking of signing up to this' on other threads before.

If your memory is so poor then I really don't think you should be in any way responsible for the outcome of a trial.

jessex1990

They don't take volunteers because juries sit in the crown court where more serious trials go - they have the potential to be assigned some of the most traumatising cases and unlike people watching the public gallery are unable to leave.

xapprenticex

jessex1990 wrote: »

They don't take volunteers because juries sit in the crown court where more serious trials go - they have the potential to be assigned some of the most traumatising cases and unlike people watching the public gallery are unable to leave.

Wow, thanks for that.

jessex1990

xapprenticex wrote: »

Wow, thanks for that.

I was in the public gallery as part of my course and it was a serial pe***phile one, heard evidence from his victims, his ex-wife etc... All very very upsetting to hear exact details of what the sick ****** had done to young children.

The worst part was seeing him allowed out of the courtroom in public during breaks knowing we was near a school.

jessex1990

readingfan wrote: »

Of course they had to allow him out at lunchtime! Assuming he was on bail (as they wouldn't have otherwise) he was at trial. Ergo, he'd not been convicted of any offense. Therefore, no reason to forbid him the right to go out.

I know that, it was still unsettling to hear about his abuse and be let to hang out near a school during trial breaks.

He was later found guilty on all accounts and yes I know judges can't see the future, or the past (because they weren't there)

Tigsteroonie

You cannot just "sign up" to be a magistrate, you have to wait until your local courts are looking for more magistrates - so the first step is, check online to see whether your area is recruiting.

Then have a read of the information they send through very thoroughly. They recommend that you attend your local court at least once before applying, so that you can get a feel for what happens.

That is as far as I got in the process - I spent a day at the Mag Court in Manchester, it was very enlightening but also frustrating as I wanted to be a fly on the wall when the magistrates retired to deliberate! Unfortunately my circumstances changed, so I didn't go ahead with the full application; but it is something I will consider in the future, as my employer is supportive of this kind of extra activity.

Undervalued

jessex1990 wrote: »

I know that, it was still unsettling to hear about his abuse and be let to hang out near a school during trial breaks.

He was later found guilty on all accounts and yes I know judges can't see the future, or the past (because they weren't there)

You seem to be missing the whole concept of innocent until proved guilty and receiving a fair trial. If they jury had become aware that he was, say, banned from certain areas it could prejudice their minds.

Sadly some people do terrible things but it is vital that any accused person is treated fairly unless or until they are proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Not everybody who is charge with an offence is guilty and increasingly this country is in danger of forgetting that.

jessex1990

Undervalued wrote: »

You seem to be missing the whole concept of innocent until proved guilty and receiving a fair trial. If they jury had become aware that he was, say, banned from certain areas it could prejudice their minds.

Sadly some people do terrible things but it is vital that any accused person is treated fairly unless or until they are proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Not everybody who is charge with an offence is guilty and increasingly this country is in danger of forgetting that.

Where did I say I didn't understand the concepts? I just said it was unsettling to hear the accusations then 5 minutes later see him near a school. He wasn't free anymore at the end of the week. That's the thing about jury duty it's difficult emotionally and even when they admit to doing the act you still have to assess their mental culpability for it to be a crime.

xapprenticex

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

You cannot just "sign up" to be a magistrate, you have to wait until your local courts are looking for more magistrates - so the first step is, check online to see whether your area is recruiting.

Then have a read of the information they send through very thoroughly. They recommend that you attend your local court at least once before applying, so that you can get a feel for what happens.

That is as far as I got in the process - I spent a day at the Mag Court in Manchester, it was very enlightening but also frustrating as I wanted to be a fly on the wall when the magistrates retired to deliberate! Unfortunately my circumstances changed, so I didn't go ahead with the full application; but it is something I will consider in the future, as my employer is supportive of this kind of extra activity.

Thank you for that. Appreciated.