[Bob Allen]

I have been summonsed to attend Jury service at the end of March.
I havn't read through the paper work yet but how does this effect me being self employed?

[Neil Williams]

I think they pay £150 a day which is a bonus for some people but obviously not those earning far more than that.
On that basis (and you may need to prove it) you can get out of it should it have adverse effects on you or your business.

[Craigp]

I did it two years ago, it's a bit less than that I think Neil, and as you say only if you earn it you'll have to prove that.

You only get paid for the days you go in, eg, it's two weeks service, but some days I had to call in the morning and they would say don't come in, as they was arguing legal points on the case that day, which does not have a jury present.

I believe I got 650 for the two weeks, I never went in for about 3 days, I know I got the max which was about 90 a day, but if you only earn 60 (profit) that's all your get.

It's staggered though so if your on a case that goes unto six months or more it gets more and more, and you can end up on pretty good money. You could get on some big case and have to do it for two years or more you have no choice!

[Craigp]

Oh Bob, I should add it was very interested and actually dare i say it enjoyable!

You'll become friends with your fellow jury members.

[AshWhite]

I hear the best thing to do is to have a chat with your fellow jury members on the first day and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not (you can normally tell just by the look of 'em!), that way you save time when it comes to delibaration etc.

You can have that one for free

[Craigp]

Lol

Yeah then when you go in that room to deliberate you can play cards!

They bring you tea and food when your in there too

[james roffey]

I hear the best thing to do is to have a chat with your fellow jury members on the first day and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not (you can normally tell just by the look of 'em!), that way you save time when it comes to delibaration etc.

You can have that one for free

Our ancient legal system handed down through the centuries from the Magna carta at Runnymead in 1215, the envy of the world, many fought and died to protect those laws enshrined in the very fabric of our nation, and it comes down to "he's guilty just look at im" makes you feel proud ; to be English   

[Steve Rothwell]

The convict accused is guilty until he/she/it can prove otherwise....

Never listen the barristers..... they lie........

So does the accused....

But if our fine police service say that he/she/it is guilty............ then so it must be 

Would save time in the end if everyone on jury thought that way..



 

[Jim_77]

Can't believe you've been called up Bob.  I didn't think they picked people off the "register"

[JandS]

I did it at Leeds Crown Court.
It was quite interesting, about 150 people sat
in a big lounge waiting to be called up.
Did 4 days first week including a rape case, he
was not guilty which was fairly obvious from the
start.
4 days 2nd week as well though but with 2 early
finishes. Armed robbery was one case this time
guilty, which again was quite obvious from the
get go.
Money was ok, can't remember what it was though
as it was about 10 years ago.

[mike roberts]

In the past I have been a witness at Crown court (Murder trial) - cost me a small fortune !

Interesting experience ... 

[Len Gribble]

So far done it twice you cant get out of it and I’ve tried , when you do it you will get total p*ssed off with point of law! in out, out in, it appears we don’t need to know the law, hope you get Sir John Deed


Never claimed

[wynne jones]

You can only be picked if you are on the electoral role. Which is also used to sell your details to marketing companies. In return you get to vote. 

[PaulKing]

I hear the best thing to do is to have a chat with your fellow jury members on the first day and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not (you can normally tell just by the look of 'em!), that way you save time when it comes to delibaration etc.

You can have that one for free

GOODNESS GRIEF THAS TERRIBLE...

just get out your iPhone google the defendant if he done anything before tell the judge you know he's a wrong un, and can we just get on with sending hime down.

However  "if you have reasons for you to be excused or disqualified such examples include where, because of business commitments, childcare responsibilities, or religious beliefs, you would suffer serious inconvenience or hardship.
So off to open up my one man band, Christian, far right, anti capitalist cleaning company, oh and I'm a public figure as well my face is on the side of my van ( is now) so I can be traced easily. worth a shot who wants to sit about listing to the underbelly of the world, and a load of pompous legal bods*.

* That Porscher del rossi and lucy liu off alley mc beal obviously excluded but they are not real so not really a legal case there, which still doesn't mean its not a point of law and well worth mentioning, but the mention of the fact need to be made along with a disclose that the character is a work of fiction that may be or may not be based on a similar person but for legal matters is legally distant from any know person living or dead in perpetuity in the know and unknown universe till the end of time.

[JandS]

You don't have to do it twice.
I got the letter 2 years ago, told them
I'd done it once so they gave me the
option to refuse.

[james roffey]

A 19 year old guy was recently sent to jail for claiming he was ill while doing jury service, he had tickets to a west end show and while he was at the show the court phoned his home and were told he was seeing Chicago the musical in the west end, he was done and received 14 days the trial had to be halted because of it.another women  was done for contempt of court because she discussed the case with her husband who told her details of the case that was in the press, she told the others that he was guilty because of stuff that was not disclosed in the courtroom but in the newspapers.

[Craigp]

I was told while I was on it, if you think you can think up a little reason that you shouldn't do it, think again!

You would need a very REAL very GOOD reason not to do it, You can put your reasons forward, but they will only be refused. They are strict because otherwise everybody would be finding excuses.

Also I would set peoples mind at rest. In reaching a verdict, opinion does not come into it, you can only find them guilty if there is evidence, you are guided by the judge.

In my one case there where 3 charges against a 49 year old man, by his ex of 20 years, whom he had a child with, we only found him guilty of one charge which was the only one there was evidence of, and he admited doing it (throwing a sauce bottle at her and cutting her head) the other of rape there was no evidence for, and infact there was evidence that she had fabricated the story, she had said to a witness "il get him locked up" - nice women!

@JandS I think it's you can't do it twice within ten years, unless you want to of course.

[derek west]

i was summoned, told them i was self employed one man retailer and couldn't get anyone to cover for me, etc...etc... and they said fine, no problem what so ever. maybe i got lucky.

[JandS]

Maybe. The second summons came about
4 years after the first.

[Martin_Bignell]

Bob,
Are you going to Chichester? if so I was called there some years ago and I phoned in because i had a holiday booked. They said it was ok and i didn't have to attend and never been called since.
Any way I'm up before them about the end of march and i don't want u on the Jury.
Regards, Martin.