UK Jury Service question?

Question

OK so I've recently received a Jury Summons from Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS) and whilst I am kind of excited I do know that it is a serious and not meant to be 'fun' matter.

I was just wondering about the whole process and stuff. I've visited the websites that they include the addresses of within the details but I'd love to hear from you lot here on Yahoo! Answers. I'd especially love it if you've done it before and you could detail it as good as possible.

I'm excited because this is something that I've wanted to do ever since I heard about it. Funny thing was when I got it in the post, it comes in a brown paper envelope with a pink background behind the address details, flipped it over to see it saying that it's from Her Majesty's Court Service and thought to my self "Oh F**k, what's this going to be? What have I done wrong?". LoL.

The most useful/detailed answer (selected by me) will result in that user receiving a wonder 10 points!

Thanks in advance!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

The most important thing to note is that you turn up where and when they tell you, no ifs or buts. If you don't turn up or are late without the very best of reasons, boy, you're in trouble! Take a BIG book to read, because cases or not, you'll be sitting around being bored to tears for hours on end if you're unlucky, and some courts don't even have a refreshment facility so a flask might not come amiss either.
What you wear has nothing to do with whether or not you'll be picked or picked and rejected for a case - it's purely random. If you're lucky you mights get a couple of quick cases, but if your luck's out and you get a long case, you'll sit there for hours listening to evidence which you won't understand anyway, be bored out of your pants, and wish to God you'd pleaded the headaches! And when it's all over, they'll give you your travel expenses and the statutory (low) amount of money "to cover your loss of earnings" - and it's tough t*ts dolores if you're self employed and have lost hundreds of pounds-worth of work or your employers won't pay you whilst you're there - you still only get that tiny amount.
And you say you're looking forwards to it? All I can say is Good Luck to you! I did it once and each time after that they sent for me I told them I was housebound and couldn't get out!

Answer 2

You would have been selected along with about 100 others, you will probably be asked to phone in the day before to find out what selected jurors are to go in, then if your number is up you'll go into the court room where they will give you a quick brief of the case and ask anyone who has any bias toward the particular case to leave ie drug dealing, GBH, theft.

Then the draw the numbers for the 12 jurors, once they are selected they give you more details on the particular case, again they will ask if you know someone involved or have a bias and so on until 12 suitable jurors are selected. And a Head Juror is then selected

Once the case starts you will hear the case, each day the judge/JP will tell you you can only use the evidence you have heard.

The time i went i was selected and was on the jury for 3 days i was only 18 and felt so out of place, the case got dropped and we were all sent home. Only ggod thing is you cant be up for another 5 years, so if that brown envelope arrives again within that time you can drop out, they must have my number cos ive been called 3 times and only on the jury once

Answer 3

I did jury service last year. It was awful. Everyone that is picked turns up at the court There are around 50. The solicitor chooese 10 to be on the jury.
OK, my experience - I was chosen. But the case was postponed, so we had to go back and start again. I was chosen again (You all get a number and the number is pulled out of a hat. Purely random)
The case was one of stabbing. It took 3 days to hear the evidence. The defendant was sitting smirking at the jury the whole time. In the end, we dabated for several hours. We ALL agreed he did it, there was a tiny irregularity that meant we couldn't convict. So he was released. I saw him down the street a couple of weeks later and he thanked me for letting him off. I felt sick, knowing he'd done it and knowing he knew who I was.
He's now in prison for murder.
I'm sorry to put you off. Maybe youre will be a happier story. I hope so

Answer 4

Quite a few of you would have been selected. When you go they'll give you a breif outline detailing the case. They'll ask if any of you know the defendent/s or any of the people involved or if you have an issue with being a juror on such a case ( remember you could be dealing with Rape, murder child pornograrhy etc).
When your all selected you'll listen to the case....and at the end of it give a unaimous verdict with the other jurors. Thats it really.

Answer 5

What a privilege it is to be able to do jury service. Until very recently, my job disqualified me from doing so.

Whilst still in my job, I did, several years ago receive a jury summons, but had to send it back, with the reason why I was unable to participate. I was gutted!!

I now await my chance with anticipation however.

Answer 6

you do not want to do jury service, if you can get out of it. phone them and tell them you need excused you have a job interview. or theres a death in the family. if your number is called and you go to the jury box, the judge will explain the situation of the accused who are in front of you. in my eyes they were guilty. then the barristers will pick who they want for the next selection stage. if you have any sort of prejudice in you, no matter how small you should get yourself excused. as soon as i seen the accused i already had a guilty verdict in my head. luckily i was told to stand down or whatever the defence barrister calls it and i wasnt picked for service in the end.

Answer 7

If you watch only one conspiracy documentary ever, make it this one. This just might be the best introductory video out there. Understand that every claim made in this is fact, not opinion, no matter how wild it sounds. It's all easily verifiable through mainstream news archives and public documents.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7048572757566726569&q=Alex+Jones

Answer 8

Don't get too excited! Jury service involves long periods listening to tedious evidence over and over.

Answer 9

Just roll up and announce your intention of dispensing some pretty nasty medicine to whatever crooks come before you - and bingo - off you go, home and free, instead of wasting lots of time dishing out smacked hands etc.

Answer 10

it was the longest waste of time i have ever spent, i went in everyday, was never selected but had to hang round just in case,its not that exciting and unless you will be chosen for a london court then take a big book