Juries - how are they made up?

[Mom]

As the title says. I read something just before that has set a light bulb off in my mind. I love/hate it when that happens. It gets me thinking!

How are juries made up?

How do you get off juries when called up?

Should we be able to "get out of" jury duty?

Should the pay be better? Obviously we should get the same money on a jury as we would when working.

Should we even care? I think we should!

Apologies for the cross quote but...

There is a real concern among those who study such things (jurisprudence) that modern juries are no longer representative of society because as you say, those who serve tend not to be full time workers.

However from a defence point of view this is all good - these are also the people who are likely to acquit.

How do you think we can address this? There are more of us working than not surely? I have never given this too much thought, but of course! How blindingly obvious! This needs discussion.

I have never been on a jury, despite living here for the last 53 years. How do you even get selected to appear?

This should be fun!

[wickle]

why is it twelve members?

[Mom]

why is it twelve members?

Good question!

[awa355]

why is it twelve members?

eight to agree, four to go along with the first eight, on account of it getting late and do not want to have to come back the next day.

[phill-k]

How do you get off juries when called up?

You will have to attend but if selected and the case doesn't look like its going to be entertaining, as you walk up to the jury box, say something to the prosecutor like "Good BBQ Friday mate say thanks to the wife" loud enough that the defence council hear it, guaranteed to have you challenged.

Me all I have to do is walk towards the jury box and I'm challenged by the prosecutor anyway has something to do with my occupation apparently.

[husaberg]

Jury's are drawn at off the electoral role they are usually drawn from a drawn from a pool at each election and then drawn again as required.
So that one way to get out of service. Get off the electoral role
You can get out of it if it is a hardship for you or your employer to attend ie special skills small team or self employed.
you can get out of it if you have a disability that affects your ability to serve ie deaf blind etc.
you can get out of it if you live to far away.30 or was it 50km
you can get out of it if you eyeball the accused and do a slit throat gesture.(make sure the accused lawyer sees but not the prosecution or the judge)
You can get out of it if you know the defendants or the witnesses and that way affect your judgement.

The money for jury service is also crap.........

No you shouldn't get out of service cause they tend to end up stacked with the unemployed and pensioners etc.
what jury's need is middle aged rednecks not afraid to hang em high....(assuming they are guilty i guess)

[skippa1]

As the title says. I read something just before that has set a light bulb off in my mind. I love/hate it when that happens. It gets me thinking!

How are juries made up?

How do you get off juries when called up?

Should we be able to "get out of" jury duty?

Should the pay be better? Obviously we should get the same money on a jury as we would when working.

Should we even care? I think we should!

Apologies for the cross quote but...





How do you think we can address this? There are more of us working than not surely? I have never given this too much thought, but of course! How blindingly obvious! This needs discussion.

I have never been on a jury, despite living here for the last 53 years. How do you even get selected to appear?

This should be fun!

I got off jury duty, had an accident on my bike the day before and could hardly walk. I arrived they asked if I was alright and then sent me home instead. I would rather have done jury duty instead of dropping the bike.....it is a way out though

[BigAl]

Easy to get off a jury simply wear your FTP or KKK tee.

[Gremlin]

How are juries made up?

Husaberg has covered this quite well, randomly drawn from the electoral role. A larger pool than required is summoned, some people can be challenged etc, if you're not required you can go home, and you usually have to attend for a couple of days in a row. Bad luck if you get drawn for a multi-week murder case.

How do you get off juries when called up?

From memory, the details of how to be excused are noted in the documents you receive. You have to write in, and they consider case by case. The letter confirming you're excused basically says, you're excused, but you could be summoned in the future.

Should we be able to "get out of" jury duty?

Yes, but I actually don't believe we should have a jury system in the first place. I don't ask my clients to fix technical problems, so why are the public expected to be able to rule on a case? A panel of judges (3 or 5, 7 in major cases) would suffice, they aren't swayed by emotion etc. It's also highly predictable that those being excused are the ones the courts actually want, and yes, the jury can end up being a panel of unemployeds or pensioners etc. Another reason why judges should simply deal with it.

I've only been summoned once, but was excused. As the only network engineer (my boss is also technical), we have SLA's with clients, and their downtime cost is eye watering, so getting excused is pretty easy in my case (and the backup plan is pitching up in leathers - surely they'd object to a biker?). The penalty on us would be ridiculous if we had to sit in court. My phone is on 24/7 for good reason.

Should the pay be better? Obviously we should get the same money on a jury as we would when working.

The system is costing a lot already, plus jury service is considered a service to a community. I don't think businesses can refuse to release you, and I don't think they can count it on your days off?

Should we even care? I think we should!

Again, it should be left to judges.

[1billyboy]

I will be going to check it out on the 2nd of December.

[Virago]

How are juries made up?

Juries are selected from a random draw of the electoral role. It's like a lottery, some get called every few years, others never get called.

A large number of prospective jurors are called. At the time of jury selection names are randomly called. As you walk to the jury box you can be "challenged" by either defence or prosecution, if this happens you return to the jury pool.

How do you get off juries when called up?

If you can show that jury service will cause extreme hardship or problems, you will be excused. For example, a self-employed person whose business will suffer.

Should we be able to "get out of" jury duty?

As above. You need to show genuine hardship.

Should the pay be better? Obviously we should get the same money on a jury as we would when working.

Most employers will make up the difference between the jury daily allowance, and normal daily pay.

[BMWST?]

the pool of jurors is quite large.You turn up on monday morning and a panel of say 40 is called out at random(ballot),if your name is not called then you go but you may be asked to come again on wednesday or whatever.The panel of 40 is called into the courtroom where you are all seated.When your name is called you stand up and walk towards the jury box.The defence or prosecution can challenge you,if they do you are out.If your bum hits the seat before they challenge you are in.

[Virago]

...The defence or prosecution can challenge you,if they do you are out.If your bum hits the seat before they challenge you are in.

A mate did service a few years back. The defence and prosecution were playing silly buggers, waiting until people were in the act of sitting down before challenging. The judge eventually over-ruled a challenge, and told them to stop pissing about. All part of the farce.

[caspernz]

How do you get off juries when called up?

Display an attitude that is considered non PC. Turn up in your leathers with a freshly shaven head, get challenged and go home

[BMWST?]

A mate did service a few years back. The defence and prosecution were playing silly buggers, waiting until people were in the act of sitting down before challenging. The judge eventually over-ruled a challenge, and told them to stop pissing about. All part of the farce.

i was on a jury panel once where multiple defendants were all facing the same charge.Dont know how the work but he defendants had so many challenges it was ridiculous