I AM THE LAW

[andrewducker]

I was supposed to have Jury Service tomorrowat the High Court in Edinburgh. A quick call to their automated number has just told me that this is now not happening, and I should phone back on Monday night to find out if they'll want me on Tuesday instead.

I've been called for Jury Service twice before. The second time I phoned the line twice, and was told the second time that I wasn't needed at all. The first time I went in (along with 20-odd other people. They told us a little about the case, disqualified a couple of people for being too close to the case, and then picked names out of the hat to let us know which 12 would be on the actual jury*, and I wasn't picked. I was quite glad, as the case looked likely to be a gruesome one.

I find the concept of jury service fascinating, and would like to do it at some point. This is, however, not a good week, as there are a lot of important things I'd like to be involved in (including my final end-of-2011 review and a meeting with our UK CEO), so I'm kinda hoping that I'll be let off with it again.


*Over here in the UK lawyers don't get to disqualify you for no reason.

Comments

[jack-ryder.livejournal.com]

In my experience, there's never a good week to do jury service.

I've done it twice - the first time was a major case (i.e. it was in the news most nights) and took six weeks to resolve. I was given a 10 year exemption from jury service as result. Almost to the month the exemption was up I got summoned again. Thankfully a mistrial was called due to the antics of the defence lawyer (who seemed to think he was in LA Law, rather than Parramatta Criminal Court.)

That gave me another exemption.

The moment that was up - I got another summons. However, this one was in the middle of a major upgrade to the software I administrate. I could not get out of it - fortunately I wasn't selected for any jury and given a three year exemption.

Now that is almost up, and it's time to upgrade the software again...

(Mind you jury duty is certainly worth doing. Once.)

[fearmeforiampink]

You sure they don't get to disqualify you for no reason? Or at least not pick a particular person? As I remember my father saying he got out of jury service by wearing a particularly sombre black suit, and the defence lawyer deciding he looked too likely to be unsympathetic to his (teenage alleged thief) client, and thus passed him over/whatever.

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

Positive no disqualification unless they can somehow link you. i.e. you both live in the same small town/street/are related.

[andrewducker]

From

"During selection of a jury, an objection to a juror could be lodged by either side in the case. If it is a joint objection you may not become part of the jury. If just one side objects, a reason must be given and the judge will decide whether you should be excused or not."

So it looks like they _can_, but unless both sides agree that you're not suitable the judge gets to make a ruling. I got the feeling that they needed a very good reason.

[poisonduk.livejournal.com]

High court is dodgy. If picked it could be months! Fingers crossed you aren't!

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

I've been fortunate (in one sense, at least) in having never been called up for jury service here, in the ~15 years that I've been eligible. :]

[pisica.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I've been eligible for nearly two years and I want to be called up....

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

I'm not opposed to being called up, but it would definitely screw with my work schedule. :]

[simont]

I did the maths on the back of an envelope once and came up with an estimate that any given person had roughly an even chance of being called up ever in their eligible life.

Mind you, that was based on some made-up assumptions about population change over a typical juror's lifetime, so it may well be wrong. Certainly jack_ryder's anecdote above makes it sound at least somewhat implausible. (Although, on the other hand, I haven't done the maths to work out the probability of at least one person on andrewducker's friends list being called at least that many times even if my estimate is more or less correct.)

[guybles.livejournal.com]

I got called for the panel for the trial on that paedophile ring. It took 45 minutes just to read the charges. Fortunately, I wasn't selected as we were warned that it would last for a long time and involve viewing some pretty harrowing images.

That said, there was a vague implication that even being called for the panel would mean we were removed from the lists for the future. I can't fully remember, but part of me hopes not - I'm all for the civic duty.

[andrewducker]

Well, being called seemed to at least put me a chunk down the list, as it's a few years since they had me in.

[http://users.livejournal.com/puzzle_/]

I was meant to be at the supreme court tomorrow, it to was cancelled.

[andrewducker]

Ooooh. Are you supposed to be calling back tonight to see if you're needed on Tuesday?

I wonder what they do if two of you know each other.

[http://users.livejournal.com/puzzle_/]

No they sent me a letter. Told me I was going, the next day another arrives saying no!

I don't know if the Supreme Court is different.

[luckylove.livejournal.com]

I've had letters from them but have always managed to get out of it due to medical studies or evil brain pixies.

[alitheapipkin.livejournal.com]

I've never been called up but the Boy has been three times (he used to be a civil servant, apparently that makes you a prime target round here) - twice he got sent home for knowing people involved and last time he got out of it for being a nursing student.

[danieldwilliam.livejournal.com]

I’ve been called for Jury service once. High Court of Justiciary.

Bit of a special case, for some reason (I think logistical) it was held at the Sherrif Court rather than the High Court so they had a panel of 45 potential jurors and picked the 15 from this larger pool and set the rest home.

I was sent home and was quite relieved to be sent home. The case looked like it was going to be unpleasant and end up turning on which witness you believed.