Jury Service System

[mrs unhappy]

What are your views on jury service and the way they decide on a persons life.
How can this be fair that anyone over 18 can stand on a jury even if they are thick cannot spell etc at least they could put 12 intelligent people on a jury not people who cannot understand basic concepts. We need to see an end to jury service it is only an expressed opinion regarding the prosecutions theory and it is a know fact that people can be wrong in their opinions.

[maria]

hi mrs unhappy i totaly agree with you altho i must add i have done jury services myself its a very hard thing to do playing guess work either beleieving or disbeleiving on one occassion we were i must add right on convicting someone because he had an armful of convictions of which we found out after the verdict was announced i myself had never done jury service before and would never want to do it again, in the section that was with me there was definitley some unbalanced people, some that didn't care either way and some that thought they could play god, i was astounded by there behaviour.

[Saffron]

I am actually in favour of the theory behind the jury system. But I do firmly believe that there should be a basic intelligence test carried out before someone is allowed to sit on a jury. At the moment, the only criteria are that you are over 18 and on the electoral roll, which is ludicrous. this means that anyone can sit on a jury, even really stupid, bigoted people! The responsibility given to these people is enormous, and their decision is largely irreversible. would you really trust your future to any old idiot?

[Guest]

I have just received another summons for jury service. I don't expect it will be any better than the last miserable experience. Jurors that had decided on their verdict before the prosecution had even finished presenting the case, based on the appearance of the defendant. A juror who stated she would vote with the majority because she wanted to get off early and play golf. A juror that spent her time in the court room studying interior design magazines - for curtains and cushions for her car, to make it more homely. Jurors that stated "they must be guilty, the police wouldn't waste time prosecuting innocent people". A juror who believed the City of London police do not employ black people, therefore the defendant must be a liar and guilty. Jurors who openly stated racist and bigoted opinions and based their verdict on their filthy prejudices. Jurors that could not read. Cretins, morons and vile neo-nazis that shouldn't be allowed to vote, never mind be on a jury.

[mrs unhappy]

Hi Guest,
That is just an absolute joke,
How can certain individuals behave in such a manner,it is beyond me,do these people not realise the consequences and the effect that they can have on peoples lives, this is what were dealing with peoples lives.
Well i hope these people do not effect your judgement and you stick by what you beleive.
You decision could make a difference.
I am glad that you are a leader and not a sheep.

[val lavender]

Hi All

Flawed as it is the jury system is the best means of determining guilt or innocence that civilised socierty has managed to come up with so far.

If paid, professional jurors are mployed instead of members of socierty, chosen at random, there is always the danger corruption or intitutionalised thinking taking over the entire process.

Given that all people have a certain degree of bias, in all matters, hopefull on any panel of twelve people the degrees and types of bias will tend to cancel each other out.

I also feel that some record of juries deliberations, together with an explanation of how and why they have arrived at a verdict, would force jury members to explain their actions and reduce the factors set out in the post that started this discussion.

Regards

Val

[maria]

i totaly agree with that val ... the one thing i should say is that i think the people who do do jury service should not only be vetted but also have a medical certificate from there doctors stating that they are of sound mind not on drugs are not alcholic's etc and don't have a crimmal record most of the jurors that were with me were one or the other of which i have stated the system needs changing but i doubt it ever will

[val lavender]

Hi Maria

the idea that all jurors should have to provide a statement from their doctor as to their fitness to serve on a jury is a good one, and would add little to the expense of operating the jury system. This would hopefully weed out drug and alcerhol dependant people.

I feel that those people with spent convictions should be allowed to serve as jurors, as their conviction has been removed from the record in all other matters.


Regards

Val

[maria]

i think it should depend on what sort of crimal record they have ie.. burglars muggers killers etc some of these kind of people might like to see some other poor soul suffer as they might of done if you get my meaning x

[Towermouse]

It is essential that we get greater openess of the Judicial System as a whole and I believe essential for justice that the deliberations of the jury be recorded. This would a step towards ensuring that bullying, manipulation and corruption cannot invade the jury deliberation process and would help ensure that all jury members take a part in the proceedings and not just opt out and follow the leader.
The only way to get this is to challenge your MP and other officials for change. If you sit back like a lot of jurers do then nothing will get done. Its in your hands.

[mrs unhappy]

Originally posted by Towermouse@20th February 2005 - 12:03 AM
It is essential that we get greater openess of the Judicial System as a whole and I believe essential for justice that the deliberations of the jury be recorded. This would a step towards ensuring that bullying, manipulation and corruption cannot invade the jury deliberation process and would help ensure that all jury members take a part in the proceedings and not just opt out and follow the leader.
The only way to get this is to challenge your MP and other officials for change. If you sit back like a lot of jurers do then nothing will get done. Its in your hands.

Quoted post

Towermouse
I totally agree with you 100%, Wouldnt that be good, we should all come together and go about this..as it is what it needs, without a doubt.

Mrs unhappy

[val lavender]

Hi All

If juries were to be better monitored, and each juror be required to provide a statement of his or her reasoning, against an ID number as opposed to a name, it might cause people to think more about the verdicts they return. The votes could then be counted and a verdict returnred on this basis.

This would remove the effect of "herd instinct" and prevent dominant and opinionated personaliities from taking over. Additionally, the record of a verdict would then be available for an interim appeal process, which could consist of a panel of juges reviewing the reasons given by each juror for their decision.

Such an addition to the current appeals process, where a suitable panel of Judges, togther with the opinion of council for both the prosecution and defence, would allow the use of the "reasonable man" test before the expense and time lag involved in a full appeal.

Regards

Val

[maria]

Originally posted by val lavender@20th February 2005 - 01:16 AM
Hi All

If juries were to be better monitored, and each juror be required to provide a statement of his or her reasoning,

i couldn't agree more .... well said maybe someone should put this forward x

[val lavender]

Hi All & especially Maria

perhaps if we, as a group, agree upon the wording of a letter to be sent to the poweres that be in this area and forward it to the likes of Lord Earl Howe, Vlaire Curtiss-Thomas and others that are sympthetic to such causes progress may be made.

I feel that the assistance and consent of the moderators is imperative for such an enterprise.

Regards


Val

[val lavender]

Hi Maria [and all]

I am happy to prepare the outline of such a letter, with the intention that such a document should be commented on by all interested prior to submission, provided that the webmaster and moderators are comfortable with such a course of action.

I have a number of contacts in the media and judiciary that would be interested in such a proposal provided the broadcaster community is agreed upon such a course of action.

Regards


Val