Jury service selectors becoming very aggressive

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#1076085 28-Jun-2014 15:32

Can you just work at night and sleep during the trial?

Maybe raise it with your local MP?

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#1076089 28-Jun-2014 15:47

nolanz: How far away are you when you are on holiday? How soon can you respond to your contract if you are on the other island?

Who says the OP has to be on site?

Friends had two German tourists at their homestay. They slept early and got up around 3am to work remotely back in Germany.

If the Dentist example can't get a deferral even with DHB support it supports the theory that the system is rather arbitrary ie this pile of letters get refused, that pile get accepted or they've read so many lies they just say no to everything.

loceff13

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#1076090 28-Jun-2014 15:49

I thought it was something like updating your details on the local electoral roll made you significantly more likely for selection? As soon as I was 18 I got jury duty and again at 20(but got out of that as I had served within the xx months they allow). Nothing in 5+ years since

DjShadow

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#1076092 28-Jun-2014 15:50

eracode: I would love to know exactly how they select jury candidates. I am 62 and have been summoned once - in 1974. Some much younger people I worked with were summoned several times over the last 5 - 10 years.

Electoral Roll is where they draw names from, they have summoned me 4 times so far I think incl once when I was in the stand-down period from last time I served.

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#1076105 28-Jun-2014 16:03

incapacitation, potential for bias and conflict of interest should get u out.

mattwnz

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#1076111 28-Jun-2014 16:24

I think we need smaller juries, and they need to be paid more.
The other stupid thing is if you are over a certain age, you can decline. I think it is something like 65 which is way too young. Many people are now working well into their 70's, some even into their 80's, so this needs to be looked at. Older people have far more life expericne and I believe are better rounded jurors. I believe in the UK they have raised it to 75 which is better.

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#1076131 28-Jun-2014 16:58

mattwnz: Older people have far more life expericne and I believe are better rounded jurors.

Have you been on a jury? I have and seeing how some arrived at their decision is a good reason to stay out of trouble.

plod

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#1076135 28-Jun-2014 17:13

Find someone unemployed( there are lots) and give them your jury fee for the week

JimmyH

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#1076141 28-Jun-2014 17:32

It's actually a good reason for getting off the electoral roll, and if I could figure out how I would probably do so. I got the letter confirming my roll details a few days ago, and was almost tempted to write "gone - no address" on the envelope and send it back.

I am not, in principal, opposed to being on a jury. But at certain times of the year, for work and family reasons, it just isn't feasible. And I think it's silly if they are no longer being flexible about when you do it (witness the emergency dentist referred to in an earlier post).

In a pinch - I got advised on two, apparently successful, strategies by a lawyer when I was younger:

1. Dress up to the nines. Suit, tie clip, cuff links, smart tie. In a criminal case, you are likely to be challenged by the defence lawyer and off the jury.

2. Turn up in really old rumpled clothes. Don't shave for three days beforehand. Spritz youself with scotch or brandy before going in. Try and appear a bit unfocussed and when asked questions, misunderstand at least one of them badly. Again, almost guarantees you are off the jury.

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#1076170 28-Jun-2014 17:53

JimmyH:

2. Turn up in really old rumpled clothes. Don't shave for three days beforehand. Spritz youself with scotch or brandy before going in. Try and appear a bit unfocussed and when asked questions, misunderstand at least one of them badly.

So I should just be myself then :)

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#1076183 28-Jun-2014 18:23

Personally, as someone who has had actual professional experience related to jury trials, the sooner we follow the European system where all cases are decided by a panel of judges required to give reasons, the better.

I wouldn't have minded being selected for jury service but being admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court excludes me for life, unless I somehow get myself struck off the roll :P

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#1076184 28-Jun-2014 18:29

If you only care about your Party vote and have family living in another town simply register your address as theirs ( like saying you live at home with mum).
When a summons arrives you've got the best defence for not being available as you don't live in the same location, yet you'll never miss the mail!

cr250bromo

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#1076185 28-Jun-2014 18:31

I had dreadlocks for around 12 years - they worked amazingly well for getting off jury service - if the lawyer on one side didn't challenge me the other always did. Ironically I wouldn't have even minded serving on a jury for the life experience...

surfisup1000

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#1076190 28-Jun-2014 18:37

alasta: Can they really throw you in jail just for not attending? I thought the penalty was just a fine.

I haven't had a summons for a long time, but if I were to get one now then I would write a long hysterical letter ranting and raving about corruption, political interference, etc. I figure that if they think I'm a nutter then I've got a better chance of getting off than if I made a perfectly reasonable request as others in this thread have done. This worked for a colleague of mine.

Some guy got sentenced to jail for 10 days last year.

A self employed engineer.

I was considering flying to Australia and working out of a friends house as being out of the country seems to be a valid reason.

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#1076195 28-Jun-2014 18:46

surfisup1000: I was considering flying to Australia and working out of a friends house as being out of the country seems to be a valid reason.

That's actually a good idea. I'll keep that one in my bag of tricks.

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