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Author Topic: Jury Service  (Read 8184 times)

Mark T

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Jury Service
« on: August 12, 2019, 07:02:32 pm »

So I've been chosen to do Jury Service for the next two weeks, which on the face of it seems like a great service to do for the community.  I guess everyone has to do it at some point but boy oh boy does it cost you money  {:-{


My company doesn't pay me anything whilst I'm on it and the compensation you get is between £30 and £60 per day from the court.  Now I don't mind doing my civic duty but so far I haven't even been to court.  They told me on Friday that I wasn't needed on Monday, and today I've found out that I'm not needed at court tomorrow (Tuesday) either. 


So my jury service is being carried out at home without pay.  I can't go to work as my job takes me away all week and if I popped in for one day there is no guarantee that I'll get home.  So thats a non starter for me and the bills still need paying.


Now I knew that I would lose 2 weeks money but I thought that I would be doing some good for my local town.  Not sat at home doing nothing waiting to see if I'm actually needed or not.  Has anyone else had a similar experience??

Taranis

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2019, 07:08:25 pm »

Yes over 40 yrs ago. I was on apprentice wages and still out of pocket. They kept us until at least dinner time before telling us not needed today. Service is rubbish!
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ANDY
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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2019, 07:24:14 pm »

I was on a jury duty mailing list a few years ago.  At the time I worked offshore, the letters always arrived a week before mobilising.  I eventually found out I could get a 5 year opt-out if I went to the local court office in Dingwall and signed some forms and took proof of employment.  It wasn't that I didn't want to do it as a "duty", but as one of only 2 people on the rotation for my vessel, the upheaval would have been significant, and my employer didn't have to pay me for that time either.  And yes -you only get what you said in compensation, actually from memory you can claim travel also, but only by the cheapest form of public transport (bit like signing on).  So if you take a train at say £5, when the bus costs £3 they'll only compensate you for the bus IF you have the tickets.

My father did it years ago, at least if I remember correctly, he went to court about 6 times but sat on a bench outside, never even got inside the courtroom.  He was retired, but even that was a faff.

Luckily I haven't been sent any letters since.  Just as well because I'm self employed now and have to travel outside the UK for work and the loss of earnings would be enormous.  Good luck with it, even if you do get called to the court building I don't think there's even a guarantee you'll get inside the actual door when you get there.  It all seems a bit fickled, like tax returns, once they've got your name, you're on their radar for a long time.

Rich
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Mark T

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2019, 07:40:45 pm »

Crikey so its not just me then!  I've no one else to bounce off really over this jury service which is why I put it on here.


Rich - Funnily enough my employer was not too chuffed about me being on this as what we do is quite specialised but not rare like offshore working.  His £250k truck is parked up going nowhere as he just can't get agency car transporter drivers.  I've not told my firm that I've been sat in doors for 2 days not needed as I think that information would just wind them up.  Its a need to know basis and they don't need to know!


It seems to me that the system is really inefficient and everyone's expense and time.  You certainly couldn't run as business like this.


Hopefully I might be needed on Wednesday

Taranis

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2019, 07:43:18 pm »

The court employees get paid by the tax payer so I don't see why the public should lose money as jurors
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ANDY
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Mark T

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2019, 07:47:42 pm »

The court employees get paid by the tax payer so I don't see why the public should lose money as jurors


Yea I agree with this - however because I knew that my service was coming this week I've saved 2 weeks wages ( I still get paid weekly)  {-)   I really saw these 2 weeks as my time to do my civic duty and I am fine with that.  But why I'm sat at home doing nothing.....I'm sorry but I can't square that in my own mind.  Mind you I'm getting some boat building done  :-))

tobyker

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2019, 08:12:38 pm »

I got pinged for jury duty some years ago but then white van man knocked me off my bike so I wrote a letter from my hospital bed, countersigned by the ward sister and never heard any more. Now I'm too old. I did sit on a coroner's jury forty years ago, which was interesting.
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RST

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #7 on: August 12, 2019, 08:31:12 pm »


Yea I agree with this - however because I knew that my service was coming this week I've saved 2 weeks wages ( I still get paid weekly)  {-)   I really saw these 2 weeks as my time to do my civic duty and I am fine with that.  But why I'm sat at home doing nothing.....I'm sorry but I can't square that in my own mind.  Mind you I'm getting some boat building done  :-))

...I could have done duty then the court choppered me out to the field and vice-versa, not sure that would have been value for money for the tax payer!  If you've ever flown offshore I'm not sure I'd have been in the best mood anyway!
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SJG001

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #8 on: August 12, 2019, 08:34:28 pm »

Luckily my company covers us for Jury Duty so we don't lose out on pay.
Only been called once, had to wait five days before the trial started (one of the defendants did a runner and it took till Thursday before he was caught) and had to stay at court between 9 and 12 each day.
On the Friday the jurors were chosen - Freedom I thought- till some realized they had been talking to one of the defendants when smoking and then another three said (claimed ;) ) they knew the one that did the runners.
Spent the next hour watching in horror as each of the replacements either knew or had spoken to the defendants.
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Mark T

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2019, 08:41:15 pm »

Luckily my company covers us for Jury Duty so we don't loose out on pay.
Only been called once, had to wait five days before the trial started (one of the defendants did a runner and it took till Thursday before he was caught) and had to stay at court between 9 and 12 each day.
On the Friday the jurors were chosen - Freedom I thought- till some realized they had been talking to one of the defendants when smoking and then another three said (claimed ;) ) they knew the one that did the runners.
Spent the next hour watching in horror as each of the replacements either knew or had spoken to the defendants.


I think its great if your company covers your service.  One of my mates did service last year and was on a trial for 7 weeks.  He got full pay from his company and enjoyed the whole experience. 

LJ Crew

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2019, 10:45:25 pm »

Many years ago my boss was called for jury service in Aylesbury. 12 of those called were chosen for one case and another 12 for another case. He spent a week on a series of trials, mainly shoplifting and the like. The other 12 spent 6 months on a case that involved loads of used bank notes and a train!
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derekwarner

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2019, 11:15:21 pm »

Called up once when with the D of D at Garden Island.....however then found that persons [Civilian or Enlisted] and covered under the Australian Defence Force Act were exempt from Commonwealth or State empanelment [Jury Duty]


I found this was a blessing in disguise, as Federal Case Jury daily duty rates were set at the National Basic Wage + 1/2 a sandwich at noon


The National Basic Wage in 1968 was approx 25% lower than the Poverty Rate       
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Derek Warner

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #12 on: August 12, 2019, 11:27:19 pm »

I did mine about thirty years ago. I was called three times in the first week but I wasn’t selected, probably thought that I was hang ‘em flog ‘em sort of person; which is true of course. I was eventually select in the second week; apparently there was a big cheer in the jury waiting room when I failed to re-appear.

During those two weeks one person was fined £50 for falling asleep and those either side were also fined the same amount for not keeping him awake.  A more serious situation occurred when one person who had been unemployed for some time was offered a position aboard.  Apparently he decided that as he was so short of money he was going to take it and damm the consequences. This of course through the trial into turmoil, so the Judge ordered that his wife should be arrested for contempt as an accessory; she was held until the husband returned home to face the Judge.

So be warned.

LB

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derekwarner

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #13 on: August 12, 2019, 11:46:05 pm »

....hang ‘em flog ‘em !!!!......that's the spirit RST ...... :-))

E
ye for an eye & all that stuff was good enough for all of those covered by Laws in the Olde Testement

All this new nonsense about rehabilitation & mercy was only invented to keep the pockets of the Judicial system & the grubs that feed off it deeply lined with silver and gold

Handing out pamphlets in Court to this effect when appearing as a prospective Juror would certainly ensure you were not selected {-)
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Derek Warner

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Howard

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #14 on: August 13, 2019, 12:05:38 am »

Sorry Lads I cant do it as am deaf {-)
             Regards Howard.
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RST

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #15 on: August 13, 2019, 01:14:38 am »

Derek, I never said hangem flogem!!! Actually I had some good contracts but I don't think any covered me doing jury duty.  I did once get called by a lawyer out of the blue many years ago. My girlfriend at the time had her car broken into and our bags were stolen.  About 2 years later the case came to court. I was asked to go as one of the victims, but as I was not I town the lawyer went, pff, forget it we have about 15 others who can stand. Apparently the toerag went down just about every car in that street that night, 25 cars or summit. I was just annoyed at the time the police were uninterested apart from taking a name and number.  I've had less interest  from the police before.
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Mark T

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #16 on: August 13, 2019, 05:26:09 pm »

Well I'm not needed tomorrow either  {-)   You just couldn't make this stuff up!


So instead I'm going to do a bit of planking on my boat and then go and visit Jerry C in his canal boat "Angelica" at the Black Country Museum moorings.  Every cloud and all that  :-))

gingyer

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #17 on: August 13, 2019, 07:27:12 pm »

My wife got jury duty in a month or so ago, she wasn’t best pleased so.....
She sent them a nice letter saying that she would be happy to go and attend as she was
Wanting to help her community. However as she was going to be making any judgement on people
As she is Hungarian and English is her second language, could they ensure a translator is available Because she didn’t want to make any decisions without checking her understanding of any unusual words.


She got a call to tell her that she was now exempt for jury service as it costs too much for a translator... she was pretty happy with that result  :-))
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Mark T

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #18 on: August 13, 2019, 09:19:51 pm »

I'm a cockney - we need translators sometimes too  :}

JimG

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #19 on: August 14, 2019, 01:08:54 pm »


As she is Hungarian and English is her second language, could they ensure a translator is available Because she didn’t want to make any decisions without checking her understanding of any unusual words.


She got a call to tell her that she was now exempt for jury service as it costs too much for a translator... she was pretty happy with that result  :-))
Not easy getting Glaswegian to Hungarian translators. (Even English speakers can find it difficult enough {-) {-) )
Jim
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gingyer

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #20 on: August 14, 2019, 06:49:01 pm »

Not easy getting Glaswegian to Hungarian translators. (Even English speakers can find it difficult enough {-) {-) )
Jim


I know but she works in the offshore industry monday to friday... in Aberdeen


she finds that worse, especially when people keep asking about furry boots and she doesn't own any  ok2 {-) {-) {-)
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Mark T

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #21 on: August 14, 2019, 07:07:30 pm »

Hey guess what - they've told me I'm not needed tomorrow.........4 days with no pay and no civic duty either  >>:-(

DaveM

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #22 on: August 14, 2019, 07:30:14 pm »

Hey guess what - they've told me I'm not needed tomorrow.........4 days with no pay and no civic duty either  >>:-(
Never mind, Mark. You'll be exempted forever after.
DaveM
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Mark T

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #23 on: August 14, 2019, 07:35:09 pm »

Never mind, Mark. You'll be exempted forever after.
DaveM


 {-)   I hope so Dave.......I feel like I'm in semi retirement without the pension  {-)

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Re: Jury Service
« Reply #24 on: August 14, 2019, 10:45:11 pm »


.... so house the home chores coming along then Mark?!   %)
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