Civic Duty: I've been called!

I'm still hoping I will be exempt under mental health grounds by then. It seems the powers of be that choose jurors still will not allow people with a history of mental health problems take part. Which I'm personally fine with, although it seems mental health charities are trying to change the law to make more people with past history take part, under discriminatory grounds. The law (I think) states you have to have a mental health problem that inpairers your judgement, be sectioned or taking treatment for said problem. I don't really come under any of those categories unfortunately and am worried that one day I will be called and they simply won't take no for an answer.

Don't get me wrong it's not like I want to get out of it. I vote and volunteer for charity work just like a good citizen but the idea of sitting still in a court room in silence for several weeks is something I can't do.

 

It sounds scary to me...unless they'd let me take a few seedlings to prick out to keep me out of mischief

 

On that note, I can say this:

• Jury service is usually for two weeks.
• My first case lasted one week and one day. At the end of that case, volunteers were requested for a potential three week case. I volunteered. Seems it's quite difficult to keep jurors for that duration (which is a toughie because the week after the 3-weeker began, a potential 5 week case began!) This second one ran for two weeks and two days.
• Sitting - yes there can be quite a bit of that. But not necessarily in the jury box! There is a lot of going backwards and forwards to the jury assembly rooms and for a whole variety of reasons: technical hitches; points of law to be discussed between the judge and the legals; late arrival of the defendants etc.. Thankfully, there is a canteen in the assembly rooms, plus books, magazines, jigsaw puzzles and ... other jurors to talk to
• You are provided with paper and pencil and one woman kept her focus by writing copious notes!
• Regular breaks are also factored in. For example, the morning session usually begins at 1030hrs and lunch is 1300-1400hrs and the day ends between 1600-1630hrs. Short breaks are giving inbetween. Equally, if you need a "comfort break", just pass a note to the judge and you will be able to slip out for a minute or two (although, the rest of the jury continue sitting - so you might miss out on something).
• All that changes when you go to deliberation: you are all kept in a room and food and drink is brought to you by the Ushers. There is a toilet adjoining the room. If smokers wish to take a break for that, the whole jury have to be kept together and escorted out. The non-smokers didn't object because it was good to get outside for some fresh air!

Also, if you think you may know the defendants, or witnesses or anyone else involved in the trial, you inform the Usher and probably won't have to sit.

Hope that gives you a clearer idea of the process, JJ

 

Thank you for that

Had life time of being put down by people and not being very good at school, I also hate having lots of people around me (give me a nice tidy corner any day )

Thank you "M" makes me feel better about it

 

Jane there is no need to worry. I was called for jury service last year, although I wasn't chosen for the jury itself. I was told that if I had any health issues that would give me problems a letter from my doctor would give me exemption from taking part.