Jury Service

[Cath]

Is very boring!

they cancelled me for Mon and Tue and sat around all day doing nothing on Wed. Got picked on Thur but knew the prosecution solicitor so couldn't sit. I was actually quite glad about that as my stomach was churning and heart rate up as soon as I set foot in the court room.

Got sent home until Monday.....probably more sitting doing nothing!

[kallis3]

Daughter did two weeks phoning up every night and nothing!

[Julie]

I hope I never get called...sounds really boring Cath!

I wouldn't have the attention span to sit through a long trial!

[kallis3]

I hope I don't get called either! I'm afraid I would tell them that if they are in the dock they are guilty!

Comes from being an ex bobby I suppose and still working for the police.

[Cath]

There are people who have been there for 8 weeks and still going!

Hopefully I won't get picked next week as I didn't like the feelings I got. It is quite a responsibility.

What a waste of time/money when I could be working though.

[Shining]

I think it's an immense responsibility and hope I've not got Jan on my jury! x

[Julie]

I don't agree with the whole jury selection ...but thats my opinion,

Hope I never find myself in the dock then Jan [:D]

[Cath]

Me too lol!

[kallis3]

It's ok Lesley - as soon as I say I'm biased they would be showing me the door!

[Cath]

The jury selection is completely random and I assume very old fashioned, they shuffle a set of cards to pick the jury panel and then the members when the panel gets into the courtroom. That bit was quite interesting!

[Cath]

Would you really be that biased Jan? I guess your work experiences may have made you cynical!?

[kallis3]

I'm afraid I would. 20 years as a bobby, plus the position I work in now, I know criminals well.

I could not be unbiased.

[Shining]

But not everyone is guilty?

Where I work (college) recently introduced a criminal disclosure form for all students whether they're 16 or 106 and I find it discriminating as if they answer they have a record or a pending conviction their application goes to a panel....I hate it!

[kallis3]

With me it's 40 years working for the police in one form or another.

It does make you biased.

[Cath]

I would say that if I do have to make that decision I will be as thorough and objective as I can be but until that day, I don't really know.

There are always some innocent parties who slip through the net.