Did jury service for the first time a couple months back at Woolwich. Really didn't want to do it but actually found it a really interesting experience. Seeing how the process works and our judicial system. Also hearing life stories from those involved and seeing how it's shaped their choices since then.
Didn't come away with the greatest faith in our judicial system. State appointed lawyers were sub par. Felt like accent and how well spoken someone was had a big impact on how they were perceived.
The bloke who was rightly found guilty in the case I was on had a really difficult upbringing. In care all of his life bounced around from place to place. Moved from London to Liverpool. Victim of racist attacks. Attacked and hit in the back with a sledgehammer at 13 had to have his spine reconstructed. Ever since then he's been fighting. I think he genuinely believes that getting the first punch in is self defence. Been in and out of prison since 17 for violent crimes. Was absolutely right that he was sent down this time but can't help feeling that he has been failed by the care system, the justice system and society as a whole. Just felt sad about it all to be honest.
Mr Tatters has been called up to Maidstone - he’s not looking forward to it.
I did two weeks at Maidstone last year, never got picked for the first case so sent home on standby. Got called back three days later and did four days. The judge didn’t like to start before 10am, insisted on a two hour lunch between 12.30 and 2.30 and didn’t like working past 3.30. No wonder there is a backlog in the system. Get these lazy fekkers to start early, 30 minutes for lunch and finish late and the backlog will disappear.
Mr Tatters has been called up to Maidstone - he’s not looking forward to it.
I did two weeks at Maidstone last year, never got picked for the first case so sent home on standby. Got called back three days later and did four days. The judge didn’t like to start before 10am, insisted on a two hour lunch between 12.30 and 2.30 and didn’t like working past 3.30. No wonder there is a backlog in the system. Get these lazy fekkers to start early, 30 minutes for lunch and finish late and the backlog will disappear.
Not really the case is it though. Or certainly wasn't when I did it at Woolwich recently. The judge and lawyers all started at 9 sometimes before. They scheduled in the points of law discussions for those times as much as possible to enable the Jury to not have to sit around for the bits they aren't allowed to be there for. When I did the the judge was always very clear with us how he arrived at the start time for the next day, it depended on how manybpoints of law had been raised and would need to be discussed before starting the next morning. Same with lunches and finish times. It's designed to be as little waiting around for the jury as possible (there was still some but much better than horror stories from pre covid times).
It's not 100% efficient and it never will be but to only count the time the jury is in the room as when the judge and lawyers are working is just wrong. Generally jury are in the room for 65-75% of the time of the case. The rest is legal discussions.
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Gutted tbh.
Didn't come away with the greatest faith in our judicial system. State appointed lawyers were sub par. Felt like accent and how well spoken someone was had a big impact on how they were perceived.
The bloke who was rightly found guilty in the case I was on had a really difficult upbringing. In care all of his life bounced around from place to place. Moved from London to Liverpool. Victim of racist attacks. Attacked and hit in the back with a sledgehammer at 13 had to have his spine reconstructed. Ever since then he's been fighting. I think he genuinely believes that getting the first punch in is self defence. Been in and out of prison since 17 for violent crimes. Was absolutely right that he was sent down this time but can't help feeling that he has been failed by the care system, the justice system and society as a whole. Just felt sad about it all to be honest.
Get these lazy fekkers to start early, 30 minutes for lunch and finish late and the backlog will disappear.
It's not 100% efficient and it never will be but to only count the time the jury is in the room as when the judge and lawyers are working is just wrong. Generally jury are in the room for 65-75% of the time of the case. The rest is legal discussions.