What made me happy today?

[Louanne Learning]

I have a feeling the initial high and thrill of victory is going to fade in a few weeks/months and the urge will return.

But your lungs say, "Thank you."

 

[Rath Darkblade]

The power of the dark side is strong.

Come to the Dark Side. We have dark chocolate.

Barrister (non-practising these days) of quite a few years' call here. Seconded.

In the UK, jury trial has been removed from civil cases and remained in the Crown Court. Now we see changes afoot to restrict this further, and it is, quite frankly, the worst idea about justice I've heard in an age. Jury trial is a system of equity within law, and one which must be preserved precisely because most people value it and add value to it. Where there is doubt a jury will exercise it, in my experience. But that only happens where a jury and individual jurors are engaged and treat the system with the respect it deserves. The state asks very little in return for a right to vote; a little time to sit in cases where liberty is at stake is, relatively speaking, a very fair exchange.

That's all very well, but I think some people are skeptical about the jury process because:

a) Jury selection can take a long time. The employed have their own jobs to do, and the unemployed (if they have any sense) are looking for work.

b) Jury duty is important and worthy, but doesn't pay very much. If you're employed, your employer usually pays the difference. But if you're unemployed, you're stuffed.

These two factors are something to consider, especially when the person on jury duty is self-employed ... so every day on jury duty is a day they can't work. :-(

And here's another question to consider: the jury concept itself. When someone is on trial with a jury, it's meant to be "a jury of your peers." Does that mean that if (say) a member of the English nobility is on trial, he can insist that the jury be composed entirely of noblemen?

There's also the fact that the jury can be swayed by several factors, especially the news or their own preconceived ideas. For instance, if a banker is on trial, and some members of the jury lost something (e.g. a home etc.) because a banking scandal, they would probably be prejudiced against this banker before the trial even starts. It's not fair or just, but it happens. *shrug* Is there a way to prevent or limit that?

There have also been numerous miscarriages of justice, and sometimes the jury (or police) can be perceived as being in the wrong - e.g. in the cases of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter or Rodney King.

Having said all that, the jury system is generally sound, and is certainly better than any other alternative. But it has its limits.

 

[Louanne Learning]

According to World Atlas, Canada has been named the "most loved" county in the world.

 

[Naomasa298]

The UK at 15? There are a lot of countries in the world that don't love the UK, including parts of the UK...

 

[Louanne Learning]

The UK at 15? There are a lot of countries in the world that don't love the UK, including parts of the UK...

they must have been thinking about the Midlands

 

[Amontillado]

I was surprised they overlooked Texas. Most everyone within the Texas national border is pretty happy with it.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

That's all very well, but I think some people are skeptical about the jury process because...

Two little words: civic duty.

My favorite badass federal judge was a retired Marine who served a couple of tours in Viet Nam. He was not impressed by any version of "I have more important things to do than sit on a jury." He was, however, very good about granting temporary leave to folks requesting specific periods of time off for things like marrying, burying, and taking that long-paid-for vacation to Ulan Bator.

a jury of your peers." Does that mean that if (say) a member of the English nobility is on trial, he can insist that the jury be composed entirely of noblemen?

Two more little words that might help you grok the origin and meaning of jury by peers: Magna Carta.

There's also the fact that the jury can be swayed by several factors...* Is there a way to prevent or limit that?

That is what voir dire is for and why it can take so long to seat a jury. You'd probably be surprised by the amount of time spent researching potential jurors before the pool even gets called into the courtroom.

I'm talking about US law, of course. I haven't a clue what y'all get up to down under, though I assume the system is based on English common law.

 

[Kiraann]

One time I was called for jury duty, the voir dire completely amused me. The accused was found drunk in a street using the curb as a pillow. Both sides concentrated questions on whether jurors could be fair since the defendant was gay. I could see that as a real concern in Amarillo.

But after the attorneys were all talked out, the judge asked if we could fairly assess punishment across the full penalty range. Now, this was district court, with a judge, bailiffs, clerks, appointed defense attorney and assistants, prosecutor and assistants, cops as witnesses and such. The max penalty was $100 !!

I asked why this wasn’t in municipal court as a misdemeanor. I wasn’t picked.

 

[Amontillado]

Two little words: civic duty.

There's also the matter of perjury if you bend the truth to get out of jury duty.

Prosecution is unlikely, of course, although that shouldn't have any bearing on the question.

 

[Luxuria]

I am going to make an iced caramel latte at home today!

 

[Dogberry's Watch]

Making some Creole lentils for meal prep and my whole house smells amazing.

 

[DLC]

It occurred to me I've never seen the actual inside of a courthouse. Wasn't for Tv wouldn't be able to harzard a guess what's there. Maybe if crops harvested themselves and sheep and cattle moved themselves about I could have. Primary producers are indeed exempt but this requires and 40 minute drive each way to fill out a form in front of them so it's easier and cheaper to write on the back I Sick since we arrive at the same conclusion.

 

[TrevorD]

I retired from Anesthesia today. Just finished my last shift. Now TO FINISH THAT BOOK!

 

[Naomasa298]

I retired from Anesthesia today.

That just sends me to sleep.

 

[CatrionaGrace]

It occurred to me I've never seen the actual inside of a courthouse. Wasn't for Tv wouldn't be able to harzard a guess what's there. Maybe if crops harvested themselves and sheep and cattle moved themselves about I could have. Primary producers are indeed exempt but this requires and 40 minute drive each way to fill out a form in front of them so it's easier and cheaper to write on the back I Sick since we arrive at the same conclusion.

I'm the wrong person to sing this song to. This is ranch country. It's hard to pull a jury in this area without seating a rancher or three. My son and family are gen-yoo-ine ranch people. Both sets of my grandparents raised cattle. As a young woman, I grew cotton, alfalfa, and smalls grains for years before going to work as a range con. Agriculture is demanding. I get it.

Well, peace be on you, and with luck, the course of your life will never rest on the decision of twelve people who suited up and showed up in court despite thinking they had better places to be.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

Two little words: civic duty.

My favorite badass federal judge was a retired Marine who served a couple of tours in Viet Nam. He was not impressed by any version of "I have more important things to do than sit on a jury." He was, however, very good about granting temporary leave to folks requesting specific periods of time off for things like marrying, burying, and taking that long-paid-for vacation to Ulan Bator.



Two more little words that might help you grok the origin and meaning of jury by peers: Magna Carta.



That is what voir dire is for and why it can take so long to seat a jury. You'd probably be surprised by the amount of time spent researching potential jurors before the pool even gets called into the courtroom.

I'm talking about US law, of course. I haven't a clue what y'all get up to down under, though I assume the system is based on English common law.

All very fair points, and I agree with you. I'm not questioning the law, and I agree that assisting the legal process is an important and worthy pursuit. I was simply playing Devil's advocate, and imagining reasons why someone might not wish to serve.

As an aside, I've always tried to obey the law, and have never seen the inside of a court-room or been called up for jury duty. I also hope I never shall.

But last year, I received a letter from a lawyer who offered me the chance to join a class action against a major insurer, because they were suspected of shady dealings. (The only reason he sent me that letter, I imagine, was because a former employer signed me up for their insurance, about 15-16 years ago). On the other hand, I closed my account with that insurer and transferred the funds to another one a few years back.

So I never replied to the lawyer. But I reckon that even if I had, I probably wouldn't have gotten much. Was I right? I'm curious.

 

[defaux]

I have been invited a couple of times to join class actions. One was against Facebook and was for iirc $10. The other I can't even recall who it was against and was maybe $8. Not sure if that's before or after the lawyers cut. I'm not a fan of how litigious society has become.

 

[Tallyfire]

I’ve found a writer whose methods speak to me. Reading his book on writing is like a long, hot bubble bath with champgne for the brain.

 

[Iain Aschendale]

I have been invited a couple of times to join class actions. One was against Facebook and was for iirc $10. The other I can't even recall who it was against and was maybe $8. Not sure if that's before or after the lawyers cut. I'm not a fan of how litigious society has become.

i was invited to join a class action against a shoe company once. I assumed it was on the same level as my win in the Irish Sweepstakes, all of which I was going to forward to that Nigerian prince.

Turns out it was a real suit and the plaintiffs won. Don't think I would have gotten much, but I was just flabbergasted that there was something on the internet that wasn't a scam.

 

[Set2Stun]

I always join consumer class actions. Usually takes like 2 minutes to register for them, and here in the great white north, they're mentioned on our communist public news corporation's website, so the links are always legit.

I think the bread price-fixing suit got me the most - a $25 gift card, but further awards are still in the works. Then there was a chocolate price-fixing one, a disc-reading laser thing, and an energy drink suit. Now that I'm remembering this stuff, I think one of them might've paid out ~$50, though I don't recall which.

If it was all done via the post like back in the day, I wouldn't bother. But online? Yes please, I will take the free money, even if it's just a few bucks.