Jury Service...your experiences and a few Qs

[Bluebabe75]

I did it last year and basically went in on the first day, sat around until mid-afternoon and then was sent home. After that, I had to call in every day to see if they needed me, but didn't have to go back until the next Monday. I didn't get selected for a jury so got released after lunch and that was it. So I was only there for two days, didn't miss any work (as I don't work Mondays) and it was all a bit of a non-event really.

[sersha]

I enjoyed it - did it for four days, although was warned it could have gone on longer. Was a fair amount of sitting about but was a strange thing spending four whole days with 11 complete strangers, funny to watch the groups forming and the leaders developing within the group!

Was interesting (if frustrating) from a legal point of view, and an insight into how some people live which was a bit shocking for me!

Childcare was a big issue for a few of my fellow jurors. You basically don't get a choice - it's your duty to do it if asked, and if you put it off they will just wait and then ask you again at a later date.

[*Marti*]

I did it last year and basically went in on the first day, sat around until mid-afternoon and then was sent home. After that, I had to call in every day to see if they needed me, but didn't have to go back until the next Monday. I didn't get selected for a jury so got released after lunch and that was it. So I was only there for two days, didn't miss any work (as I don't work Mondays) and it was all a bit of a non-event really.

Think this is best case scenario really. I seem to remember my mum only going for two days and getting let off.

I accepted and then later realised the impact it would have on DS suspected ASD and the obsession he has with routine fully expecting a bad March now and we have only just recovered from holidaying on 1st feb. Should have tried to defer but Im hoping it will all turn out ok.

Keep the experiences coming

[Mrs Flowers]

I was soooo COLD when I did Jury Service. I was told it was kept cold to keep you awake LOL! So wrap up warm!! It was mildy interesting at 1st but became quite repetitive after a while (plus I was 12 weeks preg and knackered). In the 2 weeks I was there I got both fridays off. If you weren't starting a new trial by late Thurs, you were told to return Monday morning (lucky as I was moving house on the 1st friday and it'd have been a nightmare if I hadn't have been off).

Weird thing happened on 1 trial - 1 of our jurors was keen on a drink (we thought of an evening, hence a bit beery smelling 1st thing in the morning in the lift - yuck!) but was caught falling up the court steps after lunch by security who judged him as intoxicated and he was chucked off the trial. We carried on 1 juror down as it was near the end of the trial.