Can you get out of doing jury service?

[thewalrus]

Got called up for jury service. Filled in the form asked to be excused and the request was granted.

my grounds for seeking to be excused where that I had milking to do and animals to feed and care for. Mentioned animal welfare concern.

 

[som farmer]

I actually did service, found it very interesting

 

[holywell farmer]

I actually did service, found it very interesting

How long did the case last for?

 

[Hilly]

called years ago didn’t want to go but went , absulotly fantastic lol ? funniest most brilliant case ever !! Can’t wait for next one

 

[som farmer]

How long did the case last for?

2 weeks, 3 cases, fascinating seeing justice in action, a word of warning, we knew someone, a farmer, that was on a particularly nasty child abuse case, 8 weeks, it affected him deeply, and I don't really think he ever got over it. You have no say in what 'trial' you are going to 'judge', I was lucky, and enjoyed it, expenses were quite good as well !

 

[jimred]

I found it was easy to get out of it the first time but it gets progressively more difficult to avoid. The time between calls gets shorter and they become less amenable to reasons for non attendance so gave in eventually. If you turn up looking really smart (suit and tie) you are unlikely to get put on a case as defence are allowed to object to a couple of jurors and they don't like anyone that looks strong on law and order. You'll end up waiting around a lot and get sent home after a couple of hours most days.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Tell em you’re lambing

 

[Bogweevil]

So many people get excused jury service those who do go tend to be rather lacking. First time round the foreman had limited command of English, which was interesting, second time round I made sure I was foreman, the jury were a rum !ot, but I think justice was done.

Step up if you can, don't leave it to second rate people

 

[e3120]

What's the form on some subtle TFF'ing in the dull bits?

 

[Northernlights]

Did it about 20 years ago .It was pure theatre.After watching watching all the tooing and froing between the lawyers on both sides and finishing early on a Friday so all could get home before 5 I will never feel guilty about taking a single subsidy payment.However interesting case and correct verdict in my opinion

 

[down n'dirty]

Have been called twice and excused twice after explaining in a letter that I had sheep to lamb and cows to calve etc. Wouldn’t have minded a juicy court case this winter to relieve the boredom!

 

[ollie989898]

I would be loathe to do it asI have minimal faith in our justice system.

 

[Dry Rot]

Never served on a jury but have been called as a witness at a fatal accident inquiry.

Summoned to court so I had to attend regardless. My car had broken down, so a 2 mile walk to court. Then I found the jury room was locked so I had to sit on the stairs. No heating and it was bloody cold!

The case involved stock straying onto the road. A young motorcyclist had been killed when he hit a black cow at night. The cow's owner was a serial offender and several similar incidents were related, no deaths but damage to vehicles. The cow's owner got off more or less with a slap on the wrist although it was well known locally that he did not maintain his fences. After the hearing, the boy's parents, who I did not know, picked me up after I had walked about half a mile and took me home. That has left me with an indelible impression of the Scottish justice system as it was obvious a serious accident was waiting to happen.

The only good thing to come out of it was that the procurator fiscal had done nothing about complaints he had received about straying stock because he was friends with the owner. He left soon after to go into private practice. "The measure of civilisation is the people's laws and how they are administered".

 

[Lazy Sod]

I've never done it. I don't understand why it takes the jurors so long to come to a decision. When they enter the jury room for the first time, they elect a foreman, they have heard all the evidence and they have a show of hands. I suppose that the problem comes with the people who can't make up their minds.

 

[som farmer]

the case I did, 2 chaps carved a mate up pretty well 100+ stitches, 1 pleaded guilty, the other not, evidence pretty damning, so, on day 2, pleaded guilty to being there, but didn't use a knife. on deciding, a nurse from A & E, said he sounded honest, she didn't think he was guilty, another agreed, so 10 to 2, back in court 3 times, to seek further clarification, judge basically said, English law, states, if you are present, and do not try and stop it, you are aiding, and abetting, which means guilty, 1 down, the nurse took another 30mins, and still not happy, asked to see the knife that was removed from chap by police, still blood stains on it., with lunch break, plastic tea, 4 1/2 hours, the following case, had had to clear the courtroom 3 times, for us to go back in. Later learnt chap got 4 yrs, reduced to 3 on appeal.

 

[pgk]

I've never done it. I don't understand why it takes the jurors so long to come to a decision. When they enter the jury room for the first time, they elect a foreman, they have heard all the evidence and they have a show of hands. I suppose that the problem comes with the people who can't make up their minds.

Possibly because there are a number of charges to consider. Fraud cases can be particularly convoluted to follow and good jurors will often be seen making notes and no doubt going back to check evidence bundles. Maybe a combination of multiple defendants not all answering all the charges. There are an infinite number of reasons why juries need time to conclude their verdict. One case I recall, two defendants, first pleaded on day one, second ran the gauntlet on his 5 indictments, jury found him guilty on 3 indictments after a day and a half of deliberations, on judges direction were directed judge would take a 10 to 2 majority verdict on remaining 2. Took another day to conclude those 2 one guilty and one not guilty. Prosecuting barrister advised me that was often the case where getting bored they halved the baby so to speak. The one who pleaded got 2 years suspended, his mate got 4 years for each indictment to serve concurrently and no suspension. Not simple to arrive at a conclusion following judges summing up unless case is really obvious.

 

[JCMaloney]

I`ve been called up three times, and then been selected 3 times and then got through the 15 down to 12 three times !
Last one was a historical child sex abuse case that lasted 3 weeks....... wouldn`t ever want to go through that again.
Deliberations took 3 days, mostly because one juror got very picky over a witnesses recall of dates 20+ years down the line.

 

[Cowlife]

I got called up and then selected. I told judge I knew defendant in passing and was excused with no further questions. Was surprised myself that they didn't ask for any more details.
Had a quick breakfast in town and then back to work

 

[BBC]

Did it a few years ago after putting it off a few times. As others above was very interesting.

However was disappointed when the character who pleaded not guilty of theft when found walking down the street in the early hours with a rolled up carpet over his shoulder, having left behind various electrical items, decided to change his plea. I would love to have heard his defence.

One of the other cases was a member of a notorious local family of no fixed abode who we found guilty of grievous body harm. However, there was a reception committee of his family who has been in the public gallery and made it obvious they were not happy with the jury’s decision and were waiting outside to ‘discuss’ it.

The court officials ended up escorting us out through the back of Gloucester court, well away from them and basically told us to get back to our cars and get out of town as quickly as possible.

 

[Longlowdog]

I was called up once and was actually about to start lambing and I was released from attending after returning the letter with a short explanation why I could not just have someone else assume responsibility for my flock at that time.