First time was right before Easter so the two weeks were cut to two days (because they were closing for the Holidays)... Sat on my arse for those two days, got called for the one case yet the bloke pleaded guilty so we werent required and so released back to work.
Did it again a few years later... Got a case but the second day we were in session to decide the case I went down with food poisoning for two days, because of that the case was delayed until I was better the following week because I'd been there for the whole time so my input was needed
Someone I used to work with years ago said that one of his mates went on a spree with a stolen credit card and got caught when he tried to buy something expensive and the shop tried to authorise the payment with the card company. My mate went to court with him and the prosecution read out a long list of stuff the guy had nicked. When he got to the end of the list one of his other mates said "didn't he do well" in Bruce Forsyth voice. The court erupted and even the judge/magistrate had to stifle a laugh.
Done it once (after getting a deferral the previous time I was called up due to work issues)
Even then, I "got off" the case I should have been on, which would have lasted at least 6 weeks (work sent a letter saying I was too valuable to be away that long!)
My case was short, so I was only there for a couple of days.
My old man would have LOVED to have been called up, but never was and he is too old now (over 70)...
I'd always been interested in doing it, got called up maybe 5-years ago so did it, got a murder case, expected all sorts of interesting stuff but no, most boring 2-weeks of my life, i've never read so many books and sat in so many small rooms with so many people i didnt want to talk to..... Bloke got off and then left the country .....
a relative of a freind got called up a few years ago and was a major drug case, due to the severity of it, ended up being on the case for 8 weeks and had a plain clothed police officer at all times, including at his old mans 60th was strange to just have 2 police officers sat in the corner of a garden party watching, was pretty serious though had to have names of all that were attending the party etc.
I done it 4 times 2 at the Old Bailey 1 at Southwark and 1 at Belmarsh just after it opened, the one at Belmarsh we listened to the case for 4 days we were going to be sent out to reach a verdict on the fifth day and over night the accused who was on bail done a runner
a relative of a freind got called up a few years ago and was a major drug case, due to the severity of it, ended up being on the case for 8 weeks and had a plain clothed police officer at all times, including at his old mans 60th was strange to just have 2 police officers sat in the corner of a garden party watching, was pretty serious though had to have names of all that were attending the party etc.
My mum had 24 hour police protection and I used to get sent out to the car on a weekend with a takeaway menu to take their order!
I done it 4 times 2 at the Old Bailey 1 at Southwark and 1 at Belmarsh just after it opened, the one at Belmarsh we listened to the case for 4 days we were going to be sent out to reach a verdict on the fifth day and over night the accused who was on bail done a runner
Did it for the full two weeks last year (my second time) at Woolwich Crown Court.
Interesting but very disturbing case. Girl and boy (15 and 13 respectively at time of incidents). Boy up for four charges of sexual assault and two of rape.
The whole process restored a bit of faith in the justice system from my point of view in the way the judge, lawyers and fellow jurors acted.
I had the opposite experience, hence me suggesting professional, retained juries. One said he'd just vote with the majority, another couple kept asking others to make their minds up because they wanted to go home. Luckily there were a few of us on there to ensure they eventually realised we were not going to reach a quick decision to appease them and that they needed to take their duties seriously.
I too had a rape case, young boy met a guy on line, then in person at a park where he agreed to go back to the guy's house and was then subjected to an assault leading to rape. Was satisfying to send him down.
Had the same thing at the Old Bailey, two oldish women who obviously hadn't been listening to evidence cause they kept saying it's obvious he's guilty, lets get it over & done with & one of them said i've got to go as i have to cook my husbands tea we eventually found him not guilty (the next day I think). Disgraceful behaviour from the two of them.
1 a normal stabbing in rotherhithe. T'other a guy 'found' 25 bags of heroin in a squirrels mouth in a park . Judge laughed at him and sent away for a 10 stretch.
Done two at Belmarsh and one at Southwark. Latest one was Belmarsh last November. Never seen such a waste of time as the British legal system.
Monday: Sat around for 3 hours before getting on a trial. Sworn in and heard a summary of the charges before lunch. Short piece of evidence after lunch then off home. Tuesday: Sat around for 3 hours before being told by the Judge that there were some legal issues to sort out and that we won't be needed until Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday: Schedule to start at 2.00, finishing at 4.00 Thursday: Judge doing something else so not needed.
So by Friday morning I would have been in court a grand total of ~4 hours except the trial collapsed on the Wednesday and needed to be rescheduled for this year sometime (at further expense).
Got on another trial that was due to last 1-2 days and ended up taking 6 so that at least took me nicely to the end of my 2 weeks as they released me after that finished.
And they wonder why the court system is strained...
Done it 3 times now, the first when Soho was soho of old. A tourist new to England was quoted £500 for a BJ opening his wallet she explained he didn't have enough cash but was prepared to escort him to the cashpoint. Using a card he drew out the cash, with that she gave him directions to a nearby hotel saying she would be there in 20 minutes. You can guess the rest. On retiring we were told to elect a foreman and as we all sat down a well spoken private school headmistress stood and said she was used to public speaking and would like be the foreman on the understanding someone explained what a 'BlowJob" was!
Done it 3 times now, the first when Soho was soho of old. A tourist new to England was quoted £500 for a BJ opening his wallet she explained he didn't have enough cash but was prepared to escort him to the cashpoint. Using a card he drew out the cash, with that she gave him directions to a nearby hotel saying she would be there in 20 minutes. You can guess the rest. On retiring we were told to elect a foreman and as we all sat down a well spoken private school headmistress stood and said she was used to public speaking and would like be the foreman on the understanding someone explained what a 'BlowJob" was!
Comments
First time was right before Easter so the two weeks were cut to two days (because they were closing for the Holidays)... Sat on my arse for those two days, got called for the one case yet the bloke pleaded guilty so we werent required and so released back to work.
Did it again a few years later... Got a case but the second day we were in session to decide the case I went down with food poisoning for two days, because of that the case was delayed until I was better the following week because I'd been there for the whole time so my input was needed
I've always hoped for a major financial case up at the Old Bailey, but not so much of a sniff.
Really disappointed as I've read every John Grisham book and feel I've something to add
Very impressed with how seriously the jurors took it, restored my faith in that part of the judicial system.
Even then, I "got off" the case I should have been on, which would have lasted at least 6 weeks (work sent a letter saying I was too valuable to be away that long!)
My case was short, so I was only there for a couple of days.
My old man would have LOVED to have been called up, but never was and he is too old now (over 70)...
a lot of sitting around, but did get 2 cases, both very interesting
1 a normal stabbing in rotherhithe.
T'other a guy 'found' 25 bags of heroin in a squirrels mouth in a park . Judge laughed at him and sent away for a 10 stretch.
Monday: Sat around for 3 hours before getting on a trial. Sworn in and heard a summary of the charges before lunch. Short piece of evidence after lunch then off home.
Tuesday: Sat around for 3 hours before being told by the Judge that there were some legal issues to sort out and that we won't be needed until Wednesday afternoon.
Wednesday: Schedule to start at 2.00, finishing at 4.00
Thursday: Judge doing something else so not needed.
So by Friday morning I would have been in court a grand total of ~4 hours except the trial collapsed on the Wednesday and needed to be rescheduled for this year sometime (at further expense).
Got on another trial that was due to last 1-2 days and ended up taking 6 so that at least took me nicely to the end of my 2 weeks as they released me after that finished.
And they wonder why the court system is strained...
She must have been stunning.