I received a letter back in October about doing jury service. I duly signed the form and sent it back and forgot about it.
Tonight I came home to a citation. I was quite surprised to find that it's a civil case and not, as I had assumed it would be, a criminal case.
I think because I expected, that if I were called for jury service, then it would be for a criminal trial rather than a civil one. I was also quite surprised that both parties involved are named on the citation. I just assumed that would be confidential until you were actually picked to sit on a jury. It's a long time since I've worked in litigation and I've never served on a jury so I'm not aware of the procedure other than what it says in the little booklet that came with the citation. I've resisted the urge to google the people involved but it seems a little odd to me that jurors would be given information of the case in question prior to it being heard in court.
Anyway, has anyone done jury service before? Any thoughts? I thought it might be a good topic for discussion. :mrgreen:
I didn't do it... no matter what google says!
lp
I did do Jury Service once.
It wasn't a very pleasant experience.
I found peoples prejudices to run amok and firmly inform thier opinions before all evidence presented.
The nature of the presentation of the evidence, and the manner in which both Defence & Prosecution appeared to being playing a game of one-upmanship left with very little faith in the system
This was of course just one case. I'd like to think the system is fair.
lp
I did jury service a couple of years ago and to be honest it completely destroyed my faith in the system. It was a criminal case so I can't be of any help with you regarding your civil case.
I think there was a thread about jury service not too long ago.
I did jury service a couple of years ago and to be honest it completely destroyed my faith in the system. It was a criminal case so I can't be of any help with you regarding your civil case.
I think there was a thread about jury service not too long ago.
I have been called for jury service twice and at both times it was within the court I was called on a jury.
One was a criminal case the other was a civil case, I was told at that time that generally civil cases don’t have a jury, but this one did as it was a claim case against the police.
I think that is odd that any information is given to people before they have arrived at court, would be interesting to see if it is the norm.
My experience was similar to randoms. I hope im never accused of a crime.
i did jury service a long time ago ,it was a criminal case which happened right in front of a cctv which was very clear . so based on that and the wittness statement we didnt take long to find him guilty.
i spent 2 days waiting to be called but once i was i found the whole thing very interesting.
here is the position as I see it..in England and Wales at least. DG, You live in Scotland i think.. where I think the system is similar.
It is normal to post the names of parties in cases on court lists... It is a matter of public record that parties to proceedings are "on the record".
In Criminal cases too... you can find online lists of persons who are appearing in the Magistrates and Crown Courts.
There are times when some anonimity is required and in those cases sometimes just an initial is used.
Sometimes the initial is used for speed of reference.
It is practice for Judges to warn jurors only to consider the evidence, and if a Juror is intent on discharging his/her duty correctly then they will do that and forget any pre-conceptions they might have... unless they are releavant to the case.
IMO I am not against this process.
If the parties to the proceedings in which the juror is deciding are well -known, then surely some knowledge of them could be important, and this could, infact, make their job a little less difficult. If you take the time to do some homework then this should be a matter for you and your inquisitive and oportunistic mind and character. Who knows, you might just be helping justice to really be served.
Im sure that this openness also plays a part in considering if parties would wish the case to proceed all the way to trial ( the idea is for cases to settle before that point).
i hope this helps.
I also did jury service several years back.
I didn't what I was going to be called for until I got there, then had to sit & wait in jury room canteen and wait to be allocated a case. Until then I knew nothing of their nature etc...
I did find it all fascinating though and made sure I put ALL my comments and questions to everyone upon delberation, even though some snotty geezer, who had elected himself forman, just kept repeating "Its obvious he's guilty, lets just vote the guilty vote so we can all go home". I was just appalled at his attitude expecting everyone else to side with him so HE could leave.. So I made sure I made his reign a long one by asking so many questions :twisted:
At the end of the day.. We had someone's future in our hands, I had to make sure I got it right!
Minxie :rascal: xx
Thanks for all your input... I came home tonight to a letter saying the case has been cancelled and I'm not required to attend but will be called again at a later date.
but after spending nearly 20 years in that profession I'd hate to be called now that I don't work there, I'd find the whole thing extremely boring having sat through oodles of cases over the years.
