Jury Duty

Re: Jury Duty

Peter Ding — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 17:38:21 GMT

IMHO it's just part of one's responsibility as a citizen to act as a juror.

I've done it, so have a couple of my staff.

Our practice bore the cost over and above allowable expenses. Wouldn't dream of objecting on such grounds.

Invaluable personal experience and quite interesting to watch and participate in the process. Black and white photos of bruising presented by prosecution as evidence of ' really serious injury ' in a 'domestic' GBH case made it look worse than it was. Requesting original colour copies altered quite a few juror's perceptions somewhat. No follow up check by medics, just a single visit to casualty ; is that GBH? Fascinating finding out how juries work.

Re: Jury Duty

Sylvia Wilson — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 14:51:28 GMT

The original of the 1966 VSA exempted vets from jury service, but this was repealed by the 1972 Criminal Justice Act.

Still giggling about the Nazi uniform.......

Re: Jury Duty

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 13:17:06 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

If you turn up on day one in full Nazi uniform you will be going home rather quickly............[/quote]

priceless.

Re: Jury Duty

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 12:38:22 GMT

If you turn up on day one in full Nazi uniform you will be going home rather quickly............

Re: Jury Duty

David Shepherd — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 11:28:27 GMT

If you're really keen to go you could of course take the time off as holiday. Whilst I understand and appreciate the principle of being judged by a jury of one's peers it would be very disruptive for a small practice to have a vet away for an indefinite time. I've never been selected for jury duty so far.

David

Re: Jury Duty

Neil Wheadon — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 11:09:01 GMT

One of life's experiences having done Jury service 3 years ago. 2 trials and comng from a quiet backwater called Devon, learning that cutting drugs wasn't opening the packet was an education. I found it fascinating, and gives a real insight into the court process. I had to do 2 weeks.

I seem to recall that I could have played the 'I'm a vet, I'm exempt card' but chose to go (working for the government at the time ddn't mean a loss of salary,)

Neil

Re: Jury Duty

Thomas Johnson — Mon, 02 Sep 2013 08:51:30 GMT

[quote user="Kirsten Simpson"]

I've been sent a letter asking me to send back if I am eligible for Jury Duty (Scotland here). I'd LOVE to do this (guaranteed I'd get a boring case) so I asked my boss about it. He told me to write back saying I couldn't go as I'm a Vet and the compensation they pay you wouldn't cover a locum etc. :( I'm quite sad about this as I'd love to do it! Anyone else have any experience with Jury Duty?

[/quote]

No idea on the situation with regards whether you have to do it. But I have very mixed feelings about whether I'd want to do jury service or not. On the one hand I think I'd find the process fascinating, on the other having to make a judgement that will have a significant impact on the rest of someone's life. When my dad did jury service a number of years ago he was a juror on a GBH case, and I know he found it very stressful.

Re: Jury Duty

Claire Fisher — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 18:47:49 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Check the Scottish situation but in England you have no choice. Unless you have a specific prior commitment and then you may delay your duty.

https://www.gov.uk/jury-service/overview

[/quote]

Vets are on the list of exempt occupations in Scotland - you can do it if you wish but no obligation.

Re: Jury Duty

Noweia — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 15:36:20 GMT

In Scotland too and never been as jury, just as a Witness. Long day, much sitting around shivering (it was winter and the heating was dodgy)!

Re: Jury Duty

Nicola Cole — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 14:44:49 GMT

Ah-Michael must type quicker than me!

Re: Jury Duty

Nicola Cole — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 14:43:27 GMT

I have no actual experience with it so could be completely wrong but I thought that if called for duty you had to do it. I thought you could postpone/say 'no' once but otherwise unless very extreme circumstances you were obliged (hazy memory of an old colleague being called for duty!)

Re: Jury Duty

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 01 Sep 2013 14:40:20 GMT

Check the Scottish situation but in England you have no choice. Unless you have a specific prior commitment and then you may delay your duty.

https://www.gov.uk/jury-service/overview