jury duty?
 

anyone done it?

i got picked for it at the high court of all places on friday :-(

it's kind of interesting in a way but there's something to be said when someones future hangs in 15 peoples hands and all they're thinking is: this is shit i want out of here and back to normality as soon as possible.

I really want to do it ... mind you, I've spent a lot of time in court anyway over the last few years (for my Law degree! Before anyone says anything :D)

it sucks man. as much as i never thought i'd say this but i resent being in there because it's keeping me out of uni.

i've got 3 essays one mini essay and a presentation to do withing the next few weeks and i could be doing without this little real life jeremy kyle episode.


the crown and defence have finished their evidence so tomorrow's summing up and hopefully tomorrow or wednesday i'll be out.

yeh i suppose its a bitch and you dnt get paid for it lol

i also think its a bit daft that there are a bunch of people such as lawyers, judges etc who get paid £5000+ per annum who are paid to do this type of things in life and yet still they ask 'ordinary' people to make the final conclusion.

on the other hand it is nice to have your say i suppose even if your faced with a murderer etc 5 days a week

i dunno, marmite

the briefs are there to present the "evidence" (a term which is used pretty loosely on this particular case) and nothing else.

there would be no sense in making them decide the verdict, the jury is to pass the verdict as it's apparently fairer than one judge presiding over it.

The jury is supposed to reflect the opinion of the society (well sort of!) and that’s why ordinary people randomly gets picked for jury duty. Even though in Sweden I’m quite certain that none can force you into it.

I wouldn’t feel as comfortable if the jury was a bunch of lawyers, since we all know how path-dependent people tend to be within their professions. It’s in line with a democratic society.

I think it's a good system, and I wish I could do it. We don't have a jury system in Finland, and I'm not on the Electoral Register here (although I probably should be), so I can't expect to be called here either.

I've always been interested in the way that works, and would really like to take part. If called, my company pay the full salary on the days that you attend the jury. I'm not sure if that's by law?

There's always the opportunity to appeal, but I think the jury system is much more reliable than relying on one judge to rule a verdict - it's easier to corrupt a judge that you know the name of, than 15 random people you don't even know the names of.

i was called up too do it a while ago but i got out of it by bringing it to my uni! 2 much hassel really!

I've gotten called in a few times over the years. All I have to do is show up and tell them what I do and I get dismissed. Apparently engineers are well known for not being swayed by lawyers opinions (we want facts lol) and neither side wants us on a jury.

As an engineer I have been an expert witness for several civil lawsuits but nothing criminal.

Kathleen

"Getting out of jury duty is easy. The trick is to say you're prejudiced against all races" - Homer Simpson