Are you fit to serve on a jury?

[Uncle C]

I have waited too many years to serve on a jury, but have finally decided I am too intolerant to make sound judgments.

For instance, anyone wearing a hoody up over their head would immediately be sent down for at least 2 years.

Any other intolerant souls on here?

 

[Marshy]

Maybe, I too have always looked forward to being asked for some reason, probably watching films like "My Cousin Vinny" are not a real reflection of what I would come accross.

 

[Return of the Rev]

GUILTY! next

 

[Uncle Buck]

Clerk, pass me that black cap, we will be needing that later.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

If you have actually been "waiting" to be on jury, it sounds like you've already made up your mind to "hang 'em" regardless - let's hope if you get there it's not a shoplifting case.

 

[Bevendean Hillbilly]

Thou shalt not judge seth the Lord.

Lest ye be judged yourself.

 

[Gwylan]

Thou shalt not judge seth the Lord.

Lest ye be judged yourself.

No, it's: "Judge not, that ye be not judged" - Matthew 7.1


When I served on a jury, there was one bloke who refused to believe that an Asian man had been beaten up despite the detailed medical evidence from the hospital doctor. When this was pointed out to him, he said that the doctor was a black too and as they were all liars, we couldn't believe a word he said.

The defendant was found guilty by an 11-1 majority.

 

[SULLY COULDNT SHOOT]

As Im abroad unlikely ot ever be asked now but not sure I would want to be on a jury...I know that everything I will hear will be tainted so unlikely to get the whole story...lawyers are about as reliable as drug sales executives..... they have too much vested interest.

 

[Simster]

I pissed myself at a story my brother (benreb) told about a mate of his who was called up to do jury service.

His mate couldn't be arsed to do it, so in the form he had to send back, he wrote a letter expressing his hope that it was a black man in the dock.

Oddly enough, he received a reply saying he wouldn't be needed on the jury afterall.

 

[Icy Gull]

Definitely, I'd go with my 1st instinct on sight of the defendant, stuff the evidence

 

[Billy the Fish]

GUILTY

GUILTY

GUILTY

He looks like a nice old man - INNOCENT

 

[KZNSeagull]

Served on a Jury about 20 years ago at Lewes. Was rather boring actually - lots of hanging around in the Jury room waiting for something to happen, twice we went into court to be told that the defendants had pleaded guilty and our services were not required (one case was a murder in a nightclub in Crowborough of all places).

Eventually sat on the case of a chap who had stolen a lorry of scrap metal and tried to sell it. Was guilty as charged. Case lasted about 45 minutes, we deliberated for 20 minutes, 10 of which were waiting for the Judge to come back from Tiffin. Most disconcerting thing was that you have to walk back to the Jury room through the public areas past the family of the person you have just found guilty (he got 2 years, suspended for 2 years).

Other than that it was a 2 week borefest - most days they would let you home early if they knew you would not be needed, or occasionally you had to phone court in the morning to see if you needed to come in at all. Being in court was interesting though, even though we were not in there for very long. Would I do it again? Yes, definately - you could end up on the trial of the Century. Would the hoodies go down? Who knows. Of course I would be impartial. Crusty Jugglers on the other hand....

 

[Simster]

GUILTY

GUILTY

GUILTY

He looks like a nice old man - INNOCENT

 

[Gwylan]

Definitely, I'd go with my 1st instinct on sight of the defendant, stuff the evidence

The first case we heard when I was a juror was burglary. All 12 of us were convinced the bloke was as guilty as hell but we acquitted him because the police had been really lazy in their evidence gathering and had left loads of holes in the case. He was dismissed and went straight back to prison where he was already doing time (we weren't told that of course).

It showed to me that most jurors really do pay attention to the evidence put in front of them.

 

[Giraffe]

The police would hardly have arrested them if they're not guilty. Send them down every time.

 

[happypig]

Having done quite a few trials, it soon becomes clear as the evidence is being given what actually went on. Defendants, if guilty, tend to have a story that just doesn't quite hang together and one tends to think "if I were in his position, might I do that" and come up with the answer "probably not".
I can only think of one case where we found the defendant not guilty and that wasn't clear cut but more that we couldn't say he was guilty "beyond reasonable doubt"

 

[bhadebenhams]

Oooh.........I don't like darkies

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sstrj15XpWQ

 

[bhaexpress]

Frankly I am dubious of the whole judicial system. Far too many judges with their own agenda, a bit of consistency wouldn't be a bad thing. The fact that the barristers are more concerned with winning than just also concerns me. I used to be on a pub quiz team which was made up mainly of barristers and solicitors. One of them was a CPS barrister and he regularly came up against other members of the team which to me seems to be a bit of a conflict of interest.

I also know from personal experience that the Police are about as honest as they can get away with, I am highly dubious of what a member of the constabulary will say.

Don't think I'll get asked anyway.

 

[Nibble]

I did Jury service about 8 years ago. The guy who was up in our case was clearly up to something dodgy to do with buying cars abroad and I would guess some kind of tax evasion or money laundering. His story didn't add up but the prosecution couldn't produce enough evidence to say without doubt that he was guilty so we had to returna Not Guilty verdict. The good thing about the time I spentthere was that my work had said they don't want me on call for the 2 weeks so allowed me the 2 weeks off to be paid by the courts. Spent 6 hours in the court over 2 half days, never got called to court again and spent 2 weeks off work being paid my normal wage but it was tax free. Not a bad experience!

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Only Guardian readers should be allowed to serve on a jury.