Jury Service

[Ian Johnston]

write a letter, stating that in the current climate you are very fortunate to be very very busy and are booked up for the next 12 months with contact work, you are unable to take on any more new work sooner than in 5 months time never mind drop all to do jury service, state that your head of your company there is no one qualified or the system’s aren’t in place to replace you, therefore if they don’t want another failed company and more on the dole queue defer it for the time being,

I did this two years ago and it worked, i asked a solicitor to write a letter for me but he refused, saying it was everyone duty, I’ll not tell you what i said to him.

[Jill Marie Welsh]

I went in.
Went through the rigamarole, it took all morning.
But the case was not brought to trial so we all got sent home.
About two weeks later I got a check in the mail for $8!
Woo Hoo!
I do think you are offered the option not to go if you can prove that it is a hardship.
Love….Jill

[John Childs]

I’ve never been called up but, to be honest, I wouldn’t mind doing it. It could be a nice easy couple of weeks doing something different. The problems arise if you get involved in a complicated trial that goes on for months and months.

It used to be fairly easy to get out of, and the standard joke about being a defendant was that you were being judged by twelve people who were too stupid to get off jury duty. However, I seem to recall reading that the rules had been tightened up recently, and that it is now a lot more difficult to escape.

I shouldn’t worry about it Phill. Your company will probably run a lot smoother with you out of the way. 😀

That’s what Alison told me anyway.

[Shane Drew]

Never been called up Phill, but its pretty hard to get out of it in oz from what I’ve been told.

A mate got called up once. When he was ushered into the room and the opposing solicitors asked him questions about his views, he made sure he gave controversial answers.

Q What is your views in regards to the aboriginal community.
A They are the reason for crime in our area

Q What are your views on juvenile crime
A They should bring back hanging.

It went on for a while longer and he was excused. The solicitors gave him a lecture about his radical views, telling him he should be more tolerant. But he’s never been called up again. 🙂

Reminds me when I was called as the main witness to a car accident I witnesses 9 years previous where the old man in the accident died of his injuries.

They’d spent several years looking for me, eventually employing a PI to find my sister in the hope she would tell them where I was.

The PI eventually caught up with me, handed me a summons to appear in court the next day.

My boss wasn’t happy as I was a manager and it was our busiest time of year.

He said to the PI that he expected to be compensated. The PI said he would.

So, next day I’m there at 8am being interviewed by the Barrister before the case was called. I was eventually called up just before lunch to give evidence.

Half way through, the judge suggested he adjourn for lunch, and I was reminded I was still under oath.. I was forbidden to talk to anyone.

Eventually we went back to court and I was put back on the stand to be told I was no longer required.

I went to the court office and asked what was required to get compensation for my boss. By this stage it was nearly 2pm.

He looked at a sheet of paper and says, you were on the stand for 30 minutes in total, so thats all your entitled too. 👿

I wasted a whole day basically, and was only offered compensation for the time I was on the stand. What a joke.

My boss was livid.

I can understand why most people I know shudder at the thought of being away from work for several weeks. It would be damaging to my business to take time off without any notice.

[Hugh Potter]

i did it about ten years ago, i wasn’t keen but didn’t mind because i was employed, although as i knew the company i worked for weren’t big enough to swallow two weeks + pay an agency driver i took half of it as paid holiday.

anyways, to get there with bus / train would not have got me to court in time, i used the company truck (big tipper) for getting to and fro work so that was out the question, the only car i had was one of my modified yank cars, they paid the expenses daily and soon decided (after 3 days) that i wasn’t needed when i was putting in for fuel for a 7.2ltr V8 chrysler drinking at the rate of about 6 miles per (uk) gallon ! i was about 30 miles from the court but no direct public transport routes so there wasn’t much they could say really,

i spent most of my time in the common room, we got there for 8:30am, had coffee, sat about, i wasn’t called first day so was home by 11am, same the next day, thirsd day i was one of 15 called in a manslaughter charge but wasn’t one of the final 12. again home by midday, so in all, most of my paid week was mine anyways, and i got about £75 for my troubles

personally i wouldn’t have wanted to do it, they summarised before selecting the final 12 and the guy was up for running over a pedestrian who later died, the pedestrian had run across in front of the guys truck (who’s tacho said he wasn’t speeding) not even giving the trucker time to brake,

i think it was an early civil case brought by the family of some dimwitted pedestrian who didn’t look before crossing, in my opinion the were trying to get someone convicted of manslaughter on the grounds of lack of due care and attention (or similar), the guy has an open map on the dash but an oncoming witness said he’d’ve had no time to avoid regardless of whether he may or may not have been glancing at the map!

being a driver at the time i think i woulda been very biased anyways!

I couldn’t afford to do it now though. 😀

[Phill Fenton]

The other thing is my Citation is for the week commencing 20th April. If I don’t get excused and end up on the Jury for a case lasting more than a couple weeks I’ll miss the sign show.

And I’ve already paid for my accommodation, meal, flights an everything 😕

[Peter Normington]

quote Phill:

The other thing is my Citation is for the week commencing 20th April. If I don’t get excused and end up on the Jury for a case lasting more than a couple weeks I’ll miss the sign show.

And I’ve already paid for my accommodation, meal, flights an everything 😕

That alone should help you defer Phill
Anything pre-booked is a good reason to give. you will not be excused, but should get deferred, and may not be asked again.

Also tell them you wont do it unless they bring back hanging,

Peter

[Chris Dowd]

Should you have to do it Phil, you can get (I believe) something like £100 per day from the FSB (I’m sure you’ve said before your a member). I know it doesn’t cover a days loss of business but better than nothing!!

[Nigel Hindley]

quote Phill:

I have been called up for Jury Service.

I last did this about 20 years ago when I was an employee in a large company so getting time off wasn’t much of a problem. This time around I cannot afford to lose business being absent from work for any length of time. I intend to write and request that I be excused from attending because I’m self employed – I’m sure it will not be a problem. I just wondered what others did under these circumstances?

Hey Phil,

I was called up last year in total 3 times each time I tried to cancel – they wouldn’t let me. I had to cancel various appointments and a training course etc only each time for the case to be canceled itself – very annoying – – Im waiting just now for them to try again, and will explain that I just aint going to do it unless they are prepared to pay for me canceling anything in anticipation.

You do not get paid what you earn either you get a set hourly rate which is a pittance.

I have always fancied doing it but these days just too busy and it would cost too much money!

Id like to hear if you succesfully avoid it!

[Peter Normington]

Phill, just found out the best way for you to avoid jury service,
see paragraph #6 😉

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cour … e_0404.pdf
Peter

[Phill Fenton]

I have taken on board all your advice and have drafted the following letter.

"Dear Sor.
Thankyou very much for givin moi the opportunity to ensure some toe rag is put in der klink.
Is it cos I is black dat you has summonsed me?
Anyroadup – I would prefers not to come to the corte as I is very very busy wiv me buziness n dat. So me and me bitches is selling spliffs on dat day

Aber Ich vill send in my guilty verdict by post if dats awright?

Sank you vonce agin fur das opportunity to put some scumbag down.. aber on dis occasion I cannot come.

Yours sincerely

Heinz Fiftyseven" (puppy-eyes)

It’s a plan 😕

[Gareth.Lewis]

You’ll be first in!

[John Harding]

phil your one past Upney 😀 😀 😀

[Nigel Hindley]

quote Phill:

I have taken on board all your advice and have drafted the following letter.

“Dear Sor.
Thankyou very much for givin moi the opportunity to ensure some toe rag is put in der klink.
Is it cos I is black dat you has summonsed me?
Anyroadup – I would prefers not to come to the corte as I is very very busy wiv me buziness n dat. So me and me bitches is selling spliffs on dat day

Aber Ich vill send in my guilty verdict by post if dats awright?

Sank you vonce agin fur das opportunity to put some scumbag down.. aber on dis occasion I cannot come.

Yours sincerely

Heinz Fiftyseven” (puppy-eyes)

It’s a plan 😕

Wow sounds like you could be doing jury service for your own case Phil?

[Harry Cleary]

quote Phill:

I have been called up for Jury Service.

There’s a gonna be a hanging….yeehah! 😀 😀

[Peter Mindham]

I did service a few years back. Lucky enough to have staff in the shop to look after things. Despite the uproar it inevitably causes, it was something I would do again if at all possible. It enables you to see how things happen in cases. Although the system isn’t perfect, at least we have one and it does work. Over two weeks I sat in on a company fraud, very interesting and a sexual assault on a ten year old, very scary for a parent to be involved in.

Peter

[Phill Fenton]

Thing is I have done Jury service before. Your not allowed to speak about what goes on in the Jury room but I was quite amazed at the lack of integrity shown by some other jurors. I came to my own conclusion (rightly or wrongly) that the average person is probably not fit to serve (and I include myself among them) and a better system would be to have "trained" jurors to arrive at an intelligent conclusion based on what is often complicated evidence.

Look at the OJ Simpson trial – Guilty as sin and all the evidence was presented to prove it – yet still the half wits serving as Jurors managed to find him not guilty 😕 Same thing probably goes on all the time 🙄

[Peter Normington]

Jurors are influenced by actors that call themselves Baristers,
the better the performance the better the chance you will get off, or be convicted, but depends on how much you can afford to pay the actors…
OJ and Jackson?

I would prefer to trust an inquisitorial system, as the French do,
Peter

[Shane Drew]

Never confuse justice with the law.

The legal fraternity are, in its purest form, university trained liars.

A former friend of mine recently murdered his lovely wife. Everyone knew hew was guilty, but his Barrister convinced the court that they didn’t want a jury, and would rather go with a judge only trial.

The police said it was a popular advice by defence lawyers for men that murdered their spouses. Most Jury members are 50% female or more, and they would have sympathised with the dead wife.

With a Judge only trial, the Barrister only has to convince the Judge.

My ex friend broke his neck many years ago, and recovered to walk with a slight limp. He claimed self defence, claiming he was an invalid. In court, his barrister had him trussed up in neck braces, and made him out to be a real basket case.

The judge ruled because of his ‘severe disability’ he would rule that it was self defence as he was clearly not in a state to murder anyone, but was probably fearful of his own demise at the hands of his wife.

When the verdict was handed down, he walked unaided from the courts with a smile from ear to ear. Because of our double jeopardy laws, he can’t be re tried… he got off scott free.

Even though all the neighbours testified that he was a violent man and threatened his wife many times.

One neighbour admitted seeing the wife push her husband over (in self defense for all we know) but the barrister harped on the point that she was seen to be ‘violent’ to him, so if gave his self defense story some credibility. The judge bought it.

Now he has sole custody of his 10yo daughter who saw the whole thing. But, because his barrister had her barred from giving evidence (too young and emotional) the truth was never revealed.

I feel for the poor kids life now.

So, the ‘law’ can be used and abused too. If your Barrister has a good ‘poker face’ you are home and hosed it seems.

Sorry, only seen two solicitors that I’ve ever liked, and they both are too nice for their own good. Haven’t met a barrister yet that I’m truly comfortable with…. and I’ve met a few unfortunately.

[Jill Marie Welsh]

Would you believe that in yesterday’s mail I got a jury survey letter from the next county over?
It uses your info to screen you for potentially being in the state grand jury or something (big court)
You had to fill it in with a #2 pencil just like back in school days.
It did have a check box if your being away from your job would create a hardship so I checked it.
I don’t want to have to travel down to Pittsburgh for jury duty!

[Hugh Potter]

that’s an awful story Shane, but one i fear is all too common.

i think jurors should have to spend the first couple of hours doing not only an intelligence test, but also a common sense test (as we all know very intelligent people that make you wonder how their gene pool has continued for so long). at least then we would have people capable of intellegent thought processes and more of a fair trial.

I also think that barristers of clearly guilty defendents, who ply the court with twisted half truths in order to get the scrote off, should have to share the sentence if they lose, let see them defend the obviously guilty now.

[Shane Drew]

quote Hugh Potter:

I also think that barristers of clearly guilty defendents, who ply the court with twisted half truths in order to get the scrote off, should have to share the sentence if they lose, let see them defend the obviously guilty now.

I feel that if the crim gets off as a result of the lies told by his legal counsel, then re offends, like a murderer or pedophile, then the barrister should be accountable too.

Unfortunately if that were the case, no barrister would take a case and we’d have mayhem. Not to mention the insurance costs just to get to court.

Should go back to the school days and settle it behind the boys toilets
(hot) (:)

[John Childs]

I think that jury duty should be confined to pensioners.

1. They have the time.
2. Being older, and hopefully a bit wiser, we should get better verdicts.
3. They can do something useful to earn their state pension.

There is a case for making the unemployed do it, and thereby make a contribution to the society that keeps them, but I would worry about the quality of verdict we would get from a lot of them.

[Phill Fenton]

I got a letter back today stating that they had declined my request to be excused from Jury Service. However, if I phone in 24hrs before being due to sit they would re-consider the position then.

Straightaway, I phoned the sheriff clerks office and pleaded my case explaining that I need to be able to plan my week ahead and not knowing if I would be required to attend for an unspecified period of time ahead means that I will inevitable have to turn down business. This got me nowhere and I have written a long letter stating my position and asking them to reconsider.

I really think it’s incredible that they will not allow someone who has a genuine reason not to attend (and there must be many employees of larger companies and public sector that would welcome a break from work). I also pointed out that I have flights and hotel accommodation booked for my trip to the sign show on the 28th 29th of April.

During my phonecall I asked what would happen if I didn’t turn up. I was told I could be arrested and face a possible 3 months jail term 😕 😕

[Peter Normington]

Cant Hank go in your place?

Peter

[Ian Jenkin]

Phill, my brother in law (who incidently lives in Glasgow) suffered the same problem as you!

The UK’s laws are crazy sometimes! (hot)

[Derek Heron]

During my phone call I asked what would happen if I didn’t turn up. I was told I could be arrested and face a possible 3 months jail term 😕 :-?[/quote]

Do not worry Phil they will never get a jury together. and we will all volunteer

Check out some of the clips here i love the first audio addressing the court

http://www.porridge.org.uk/clips.html

derek

[Shane Drew]

quote Phill:

During my phonecall I asked what would happen if I didn’t turn up. I was told I could be arrested and face a possible 3 months jail term 😕 😕

Its simply scare tactics mate. ‘you could be arrested?’ is not you ‘would‘ be arrested. I’d take my chances then get a solicitor to defend you if it ended up in court. The fact that you’ve booked a flight and accommodation that is non refundable is a pretty good argument. You can prove the bookings were made before the jury service was advised. You’ve notified them of the fact, and offered to have it deferred.

I’d write a letter back to the sheriff and state that very fact.

Make sure you diarise all conversations. Who and when you spoke to someone.

Failing that, the file will be in the chocolate cake. 😛

[David Rowland]

wow… so that does affect ur plans sign uk too! Deferral me thinks

[Phill Fenton]

quote John Childs:

It used to be fairly easy to get out of, and the standard joke about being a defendant was that you were being judged by twelve people who were too stupid to get off jury duty.

😕

My Citation is for the 20th April – and I think the mere fact that I have already booked (prior to receiving the citation) to go to the sign show on the 28th 29th is good enough reason in itself to be excused.

When I first received the citation there was a section to return with a form to fill in if you believed you should be excused. I wrote that I was self employed expecting this to be sufficient. My letter back yesterday was 2 pages long explaining I had already booked to go away for two days on the 28th 29th, going on about the economy, difficult trading conditions, fighting to keep my business afloat, struggling to make a living to feed my family etc. etc. – It even brought a lump to my throat when I read it back to myself, and I confidently expect them to reconsider in my favour (and possibly even give me some sort of award for being such an upstanding pillar of the community). 😀

[Martin Cole]

quote Phill:

It even brought a lump to my throat when I read it back to myself, and I confidently expect them to reconsider in my favour (and possibly even give me some sort of award for being such an upstanding pillar of the community). 😀

:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

your mad Phill

[George Elsmore]

quote Phill:

quote John Childs:

It used to be fairly easy to get out of, and the standard joke about being a defendant was that you were being judged by twelve people who were too stupid to get off jury duty.

😕

My Citation is for the 20th April – and I think the mere fact that I have already booked (prior to receiving the citation) to go to the sign show on the 28th 29th is good enough reason in itself to be excused.

When I first received the citation there was a section to return with a form to fill in if you believed you should be excused. I wrote that I was self employed expecting this to be sufficient. My letter back yesterday was 2 pages long explaining I had already booked to go away for two days on the 28th 29th, going on about the economy, difficult trading conditions, fighting to keep my business afloat, struggling to make a living to feed my family etc. etc. – It even brought a lump to my throat when I read it back to myself, and I confidently expect them to reconsider in my favour (and possibly even give me some sort of award for being such an upstanding pillar of the community). 😀

can i have your pudding 🙄 ………wot!

[Phill Fenton]

No you can’t – you can put all my food in a doggy bag and send it to the jail were I will be languishing in for contempt of court 😕

[George Elsmore]

No Problem

---

Attachments:

[David Lowery]

Remember Phil

---

Attachments:

[Phill Fenton]

quote George Elsmore:

No Problem

:lol1: :lol1: :lol1:

Reminds of "Deidrie" the "weatherield One"

And thanks for the helpful advice Dave 😕

[Phill Fenton]

Got home this evening to find a reply to my letter of a few days ago.

It said:- "As previously discussed you are not eligible for exemption. 😕 …"However, in the exceptional circumstances we will give you leave from attending for up to one year, but please be advised if you are called after that date you will be unable to be excused on the same grounds"

:yeeha:

[David Rowland]

what non-sense!
well im pleased ur coming Phill.

So with that, I am pleased to announce that the first round is on you.
😀

[Ian Johnston]

so your not going to the sign show next year?

[Graeme Harrold]

quote Phill:

Got home this evening to find a reply to my letter of a few days ago.

It said:- “As previously discussed you are not eligible for exemption. 😕 …”However, in the exceptional circumstances we will give you leave from attending for up to one year, but please be advised if you are called after that date you will be unable to be excused on the same grounds”

:yeeha:

Woohoo you now have a whole 12 months to dream up another excuse!!! :lol1: :lol1:

[Peter Normington]

Good news Phil,
Amazing how the powers that be back down, just by mentioning a night out with uksg

Peter

[Shane Drew]

Thats great news…. I couldn’t work out how to get that damned file in the cake anyway….

[David Rowland]

quote Shane Drew:

Thats great news…. I couldn’t work out how to get that damned file in the cake anyway….

you be amazed at how small/compressed you can get files these days 🙄

[David Lowery]

quote :

Woohoo you now have a whole 12 months to dream up another excuse!!! :lol1: :lol1:

Canoe??? Beach???? Panama???? 😀

[David Lowery]

ooopps – double posty thingy

[Phill Fenton]

I do not believe it!!

12 months later and I get a recorded delivery letter with a citation to attend Jury Service on the 10th May. (hot)

Any ideas how to wriggle out of it again 😕

[Glenn Sharp]

😀 …hehe…I bet the registrar was chuckling when they posted that one out

[David Rowland]

haha….

Looks like Alisons going to be busy 😀

[Ian Johnston]

quote Ian Johnston:

so your not going to the sign show next year?

I was nearly right

[John Childs]

A nice juicy fraud case.

Six months should cover it. 😀

[Shane Drew]

quote Phill:

Any ideas how to wriggle out of it again 😕

tell them you can’t leave the house coz your trapped by the volcano dust…. might work

[John Childs]

I can’t help but think that Phill is getting an easy ride here.

Can some of you give Shane and I a hand please. :rofl:

[Graeme Harrold]

quote John Childs:

A nice juicy fraud case.

Six months should cover it. 😀

Now that would be nice as think they would then pay you for 5 months and 2 weeks :lol1:

[Phill Fenton]

I have a plan.

I will write and ask to be excused on psychiatric grounds… 😕

I’ll explain that I am extremely bigoted in my attitude towards law breakers. As far as I’m concerned, it’s difficult enough for the police to get a scumbag to go to court never mind secure a conviction. If there’s enough evidence for the bastard to be charged, then I have no doubt whatsoever that he is guilty.

Given my extreme views – I am hardly a likely candidate to provide anyone with a fair trial 😕

It’s a plan – it might work :lol1:

[Peter Normington]

Yes it would work Phil,
has been done many times before, the problem is you still have to turn up to be chosen or rejected as a juror.
look at it as your duty, rather than complaining about how unfair it is for you to comply with what most of the rest of society has to do once in a lifetime,
You often complain about how unjust laws and regulations are, being a juror is one way you could contribute to changing things.
dont just leave it to others,

Peter

[Phill Fenton]

But I have served on a jury before – and I was dismayed at the lack of integrity displayed by other jurors. Read this entire thread again and you will get my meaning.

[Jill Marie Welsh]

I was just checking the dates on this topic.
Would you believe I was also called back for jury duty?
It was the Federal Courts though not county, and I would have had to drive to Pittsburgh and be on call for two straight weeks.
I called and talked to someone on the jury commission, he said I would have to send in a letter saying it would be a hardship, and I did.
Haven’t heard back….yet.
Phill I think they are in cahoots.

[Peter Normington]

quote Phill:

But I have served on a jury before – and I was dismayed at the lack of integrity displayed by other jurors. Read this entire thread again and you will get my meaning.

cant be bothered to read it all Phill
I hear what say,
Bureaucracy can be a pita cant it?

Peter

[Marcella Ross]

:lol1: :lol1: :lol1: you tempted fate Phill!
I served on a jury only once before, about 24 years ago when I was just 17! I was in the high court for 6 weeks for a fraud trial ……. boring as hell. But got paid for not being at work!

[Phill Fenton]

My son got a letter today advising him that he is now eligible for Jury service and his name will remain on the register for the next two years meaning he could get called up any time with only 3 weeks notice.

Is this pick on the Fentons week 😕

[Shane Drew]

sounds like a conspiracy to me phill 😛

[John Childs]

quote Phill:

Is this pick on the Fentons week 😕

Sh!t. Are you still here?

Get down the courthouse. 😕

[Phill Fenton]

Result :thumbup2:

Turned up at 10.15 this morning along with a whole lot of other shifty looking characters who were there as potential jurors 😕

After much hanging about and waiting I eventually got sent away having not been selected. I was told I was now excused and wouldn’t be called again.

What troubles me is why wasn’t I picked, is there something wrong with me (puppy-eyes)

[Hugh Potter]

quote Phill:

Result :thumbup2:

What troubles me is why wasn’t I picked, is there something wrong with me (puppy-eyes)

i’m sure JC would have had an answer ready and waiting for this eventuality!

Lucky escape or divine intervention? either way you’re now excused!

[David Rowland]

Phill, did you build yourself up tho ready for it? a change from sign making after all the hassles

[Shane Drew]

quote Phill:

Result :thumbup2:

What troubles me is why wasn’t I picked, is there something wrong with me (puppy-eyes)

You probably looked shiftier than all the others mate… or it could have been the ‘I’ve not been to a good hangin’ for years’ T Shirt you were wearing. 🙄

[John Singh]

quote Phill:

Result :thumbup2:

Turned up at 10.15 this morning along with a whole lot of other shifty looking characters who were there as potential jurors 😕

After much hanging about and waiting I eventually got sent away having not been selected. I was told I was now excused and wouldn’t be called again.

What troubles me is why wasn’t I picked, is there something wrong with me (puppy-eyes)

Not so much hanging then Phill :hung:

[Phill Fenton]

Would you believe it? Another year on and today Alison got a letter in the post telling her she was selected for jury service this year 🙄

[David Rowland]

quote Phill Fenton:

Would you believe it? Another year on and today Alison got a letter in the post telling her she was selected for jury service this year 🙄

they are insistent lol