I'm in court tomorrow!

[gss03]

...but not for being a naughty boy.
I've been picked to attend for jury service...and I'm bricking it. I don't know what I am in for at all.

I can only guess it's a serious case its the High Court in Edinburgh!

Anyone know the rules and procedures for these things?

[Stewart]

1) Don't arrive for the first day of proceedings in a filthy, ill-fitting clown's suit.

2) Don't shout 'Objection your Honour!' at any point, for a laugh.

3) Don't sit there with your iPod and earphones, and ask the bloke next to you to write the jist of what's happening down, on the back of a packet of 20 Bensons.

4) Don't offer the Forman of the jury 3-1 on, that 'the geezer's guilty as Crippen'.

5) If you order a meal whilst deliberating in the Jury room, don't order Liquorice Allsorts, make a little man out of them, and pretend it's a tiny version of the judge, doing the voice and everything.

Follow these rules and it shall be another victory for British justice!

[TeePee]

Does it work out financially to your advantage? If not, follow instructions above...

[shiato storm]

or live up to true british justice and disagree with any comments made when reviewing the case as a jury...

[Howard]

Just be as awkward as you possibly can, cos after all, we give enough to the government already

[Russ]

ifi got picked im make it last forever, more time fully payed off work

[shiato storm]

ditto

[Saracen]

Despite all the light-hearted comments above, it's actually a VERY onerous duty, and anyone with a conscience finds it very hard to actually determine that they are going to vote guilty (assuming they feel that they should) knowing that the result could be that someone spends years behind bars ..... I mean, am I REALLY sure beyond reasonable doubt??? I'm PRETTY sure, but sure enough??? Lots of soul-searching tends to go on at that point.

gss03, the proceedure will be explained to you. If it's anything like English courts, you'll be in a room with a load of other jurors, and you'll not necessarily even be assigned a case straight away.

So rule number 1 - take a good book! I'm not kidding.

It's possible you could be there hours, maybe even several days, before you do ANYTHING. If a case that was expected to finish the day before you show up overruns, the court will be busy with an existing jury and you get to wait.

You might end up on one long case that lasts most of all of a couple of weeks. You might end up doing several smaller cases. At least as far as English courts are concerned, long cases (that are expected to last significantly longer than two weeks) will only be assigned to people that indicate they can do this without undue hardship.

General admin procedures (times, expenses, what is generally expected of you, etc.) will be explained to you before you go into court. The judge will give you instructions about your behaviour in court, and what is expected of you. Provided you listen and take the job in hand seriously, you won't have any problems. For instance, who you can and cannot discuss the case with, and when, and whether you can discuss the deliberations in the jury room even AFTER the case has finished. Courts tend to take these things pretty seriously, so do listen, to avoid dropping yourself in deep kaka, even unintentionally

[spazman]

Lock em up!!!!

[Punky]

just try and make the best decision possible mate. you're partly in control of someones future and freedom, so try and take it seriously. even if the rest of the jury vote the opposite to you, stick to what you think is right and don't let the majority influence you.
sorry for the rant, i just find the useage of prisons stupid in the modern world and don't want an innocent man/woman sent down and have their life ruined. if they are truly guilty however, heckle em!
peace

[spazman]

It they looked like they might be a right trouble maker id send em down just to make the streets safer, less nutters on the streets can only be a good thing.

[daniel_owen_uk]

Hang on its a court in scotland he/she has to be guilty. (j/k)

LOL just noticed how politically correct I was there (he/she) whilst being completely politically incorrect.

[Zak33]

I'd love Jury Duty

Love it

Good luck......learn about life and other people.....see it from both sides...watch your fellow jurors BUT be your own man.

I'm jealous

[DaBeeeenster]

I did 2 weeks at the Old Bailey a few years back. Totally and utterly fascinating. Saracen is right though - it's a serious duty and ultimately one to be taken very seriously.

I had 2 cases, both of which were pretty nasty rape accusations with lots of violence/crack crime/guns thrown in for good measure. It was a bit of a head twister but extremely interesting.

I am happy to say that I left after 2 weeks with nothing other than complete and utter respect for the British legal system.

[shiato storm]

my dad works just over the road from the law courts at the end of the strand. impressive building, kind of makes you feel a bit small too...

[Tesla]

My mum had jury service a year or two ago, she was in on a grand total of 0 cases.

Definately take a good book!