Carl Fletcher in jury duty rant

[Vince Hilaire's Afro]

Originally Posted by Psychokiller

You should have the right to choose IMHO. Fortunately I've managed to avoid it thusfar but I want no part in the pathetic, corrupt farce that is this country's legal system

Judge: Could the foreman for the jury please read out the verdict?
PK: Judge, you're a ****.

[spike]

Originally Posted by Psychokiller

You should have the right to choose IMHO. Fortunately I've managed to avoid it thusfar but I want no part in the pathetic, corrupt farce that is this country's legal system

So, if you were to be on trial for a crime you didn't commit, you'd be happy that the jury consisted of the flog 'em and hang 'em brigade who would be the main volunteers under your scheme?

[SA Eagle]

Originally Posted by Vince Hilaire's Afro

Judge: Could the foreman for the jury please read out the verdict?
PK: Judge, you're a ****.

Good effort, points deducted though for no use of the word nonce

[jamie12]

Originally Posted by Vince Hilaire's Afro

Judge: Could the foreman for the jury please read out the verdict?
PK: Judge, you're a ****.

[Hedgehog]

For want of a better place to put this, I have to report for Jury Duty tomorrow.

My 3rd or 4th attempt. First time I went to the court house but never made the jury. Second and maybe 3rd time I never even got called into the court house. So tomorrow will be interesting to see if I make the jury or not.

I've heard they (the lawyers) are not keen on retired people or engineers being on a jury, so that is two strikes against me.

I'm probably one of those rare people that actually want to do it.

[big bad John]

[QUOTE=Hedgehog;17076747.

I've heard they (the lawyers) are not keen on retired people or engineers being on a jury, so that is two strikes against me.

I'm probably one of those rare people that actually want to do it.[/QUOTE]

Yes because those two categories are too smart. A jury is usually made up of twelve idiots who weren't clever enough to figure out how to get out of it.

[cad]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog

For want of a better place to put this, I have to report for Jury Duty tomorrow.

My 3rd or 4th attempt. First time I went to the court house but never made the jury. Second and maybe 3rd time I never even got called into the court house. So tomorrow will be interesting to see if I make the jury or not.

I've heard they (the lawyers) are not keen on retired people or engineers being on a jury, so that is two strikes against me.

I'm probably one of those rare people that actually want to do it.

Five times I've been called!

1st time: Old Bailey, but shifted to Central Criminal Court. Not called for three days. On fourth day told that there was one case left, it could be a long one and so some of us might like to seek release (yes, me!) but we could be called again within a year.

2nd time: One year later. Croydon. Spent time organising cover for my work to get a call on the Friday saying I was no longer required.

3rd time: Forget where. Was talking to one of the Palace coaching staff at the time (early 90s) and I asked him how the club got the players out of it? He said "we just tell them they can't do it." You could do that then, so I did.

4th time: Old Bailey. Again, not called for three days. On the fourth day, all the remaining jurors were called down to the judge. A murder case – a long one. We could only get out of it for exceptional circumstances like childcare or a booked holiday. I had a holiday booked for Cyprus, 10 days hence. Turned up on the Friday. Still not called. On the Friday evening my Dad was taken seriously ill and placed in intensive care. My Mum could only get to see him if I took her. They let me off the rest of the jury service.

5th time: Croydon. This time I was self-employed, so a major ball ache. Spent days trying to reorganise and rearrange work, to again get a call, just a few days before the jury service was due to commence, saying they didn't need me.

I feel I have now done my service, even though I haven't.

[Hedgehog]

Just got home, didn't make the cut again.

54 people in the pool, and by the time the lawyers had done all their cutting and replacing there were about 10/15 of us left uncalled.

Pretty frustrating as so many in the pool can't even comprehend English, many others make it so obvious they don't want to be there.

Might have been a pretty interesting case, as the defendant was charged with discharging a firearm injuring a person, aggravated assault, etc.. But judging by the lawyers questions there was mitigating circumstances involving a drunken driver (who got shot) and self defense, although the full details were not disclosed to us during Jury selection.

I suspect that is me done... never to get on a jury.

[StonePenge]

Originally Posted by big bad John

Welcome to the real world Fletch. As someone who had successfully avoided jury duty for about 6 years before a final letter told me I faced 20 years in jail if I didn't appear, ( the yanks love talking about double digit sentences for trivial shit) I'm sure if Fletcher had filled in the paperwork on time he could have received a stay of execution until the season ended. Then on the day of selection he could have mentioned the fact that he is well known in the hood and would more than likely be dismissed from the case.
I don't know about England, but in NY it is a lot more difficult to avoid being selected as a juror than it used to be. You hear people say, " oh just tell 'em you're a racist or a drug addict," and they'll let you go home. Doesn't work. As they tell you after you have filled the forms in, 'their is no right or wrong answer.'

A purple shirt and a turquoise paisley tie has always worked wonders for me….!

[Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by StonePenge

A purple shirt and a turquoise paisley tie has always worked wonders for me….!

I didn’t really know what to wear today, so I basically put on my old (casual) work clothes.

Talk about over dressed! I felt way out of place. No respect here for the system.

[cpfc4evandeva]

I only know of one bloke who's ever been called up for it, a couple of years ago now. I would like to give it a go.

[Olympian2]

Originally Posted by cad

Five times I've been called!

1st time: Old Bailey, but shifted to Central Criminal Court. Not called for three days. On fourth day told that there was one case left, it could be a long one and so some of us might like to seek release (yes, me!) but we could be called again within a year.

2nd time: One year later. Croydon. Spent time organising cover for my work to get a call on the Friday saying I was no longer required.

3rd time: Forget where. Was talking to one of the Palace coaching staff at the time (early 90s) and I asked him how the club got the players out of it? He said "we just tell them they can't do it." You could do that then, so I did.

4th time: Old Bailey. Again, not called for three days. On the fourth day, all the remaining jurors were called down to the judge. A murder case – a long one. We could only get out of it for exceptional circumstances like childcare or a booked holiday. I had a holiday booked for Cyprus, 10 days hence. Turned up on the Friday. Still not called. On the Friday evening my Dad was taken seriously ill and placed in intensive care. My Mum could only get to see him if I took her. They let me off the rest of the jury service.

5th time: Croydon. This time I was self-employed, so a major ball ache. Spent days trying to reorganise and rearrange work, to again get a call, just a few days before the jury service was due to commence, saying they didn't need me.

I feel I have now done my service, even though I haven't.

I've been called up a couple of times & have done it both times.

1st time when I was about 18 at Elephant & Castle.
2nd time about 10 years ago in Cambridge.

Bloody love it. I'd do it for a job if I could.

[Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by Olympian2

I've been called up a couple of times & have done it both times.

1st time when I was about 18 at Elephant & Castle.
2nd time about 10 years ago in Cambridge.

Bloody love it. I'd do it for a job if I could.

My wife and I were talking about this last night... after my two experiences in a jury pool I'm thinking there might be a case for "professional" juries.

[Olympian2]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog

My wife and I were talking about this last night... after my two experiences in a jury pool I'm thinking there might be a case for "professional" juries.

From my experience of two sets of jury service, it is indeed scary how unsuitable most people are for jury service.

[Gooders]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog

Pretty frustrating as so many in the pool can't even comprehend English, many others make it so obvious they don't want to be there.

Having watched American lawyers in action in that live Gwyneth Paltrow case from earlier in the year, I can easily understand why they'd prefer jurors that don't comprehend English.

[Hedgehog]

Something I did notice during the selection process with both the defense and prosecution lawyers asking for people to be removed, was that anyone who showed any type of desire to expand on questions beyond yes/no ultimately were removed. Whether specific to this case, or the normal, they pretty much ended up with 12 pretty boring people with little or no personality. There was one lady that I was surprised made the cut, but maybe they saw her as a leader that could sway the other 11 one way or another with her stronger personality than the rest.

[Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by Gooders

Having watched American lawyers in action in that live Gwyneth Paltrow case from earlier in the year, I can easily understand why they'd prefer jurors that don't comprehend English.

To be fair, my whole understanding of the US trial process is based on watching the OJ Simpson trial all those years ago, and reading Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) books.

[Hedgehog]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog

I've heard they (the lawyers) are not keen on retired people or engineers being on a jury, so that is two strikes against me.

Looking back on my experience this week, I realized that although I didn't make the bench (or the team), watching the whole selection process pretty much confirmed the retired and engineers myth.

3 out of 3 guys that stated they were retired all got removed after being selected, as did 3 guys who stated they were software engineers or software writers.

I could see no other reason why they were removed.

[strawberry mivi]

I did 2 weeks @ Derby Crown Court in the early 90's.
Sat on 3 cases and found 2 people guilty (phoned bomb threat & number plate/MOT rigging) and 1 not guilty (GBH).
All 3 were the correct decision.
We didn't hear the sentencing unfortunately but it was a very interesting fortnight.

I don't know anyone else who has ever been called, which is odd.