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The best way to get out of jury duty (without risk of doing something obvious that could get you in trouble) is simply to dress quite smartly and look intelligent. The legal representatives for the defence in criminal cases don't wan't people who look like they are able to understand the evidence presented to them and will challenge any juror they think will not go their way.
Hi,
Never got called up while I was working, but would have been happy to do the duty. Not too far from where I worked and would have been a welcome change maybe.
However I got called up a few months ago and did not want the hassle of commuting and commitment to to punctuality, so I declined their kind offer.
Being 70 has its advantages I guess.
Cheers
Hi!Quote:
Originally Posted by Ean Austral
if NT is like ACT, the potential juror can know the accused, but must declare if they know any witnesses, and likely be excused til the next day on that basis. They will be put on oath and interrogated by the judge.
The accused is given a list of names and occupations of jury panel, and need not declare if they know a juror or not.
The accused can reject 12 with no reason, and can reject Unlimited with good reason.
i know a man who was quite keen to get his next door neighbour from panel to jury in a home invasion self defence trial, but the neighbour was not called...
Gumnut
I got out of jury duty twice now giving the reason that my being chosen might prejudice the verdict. I am a hanging judge.
I've only ever been called up once, many years ago - didn't get on the jury, I think the defence were objecting to anyone with tertiary education!
I'm probably beyond their age limit now - do they have an age limit?
Used to be 70yo in NSW, now no longer applies.Quote:
Originally Posted by JDNSW
I had to submit a permanent medical certificate last year which excused me but if I had be able to sit for extended periods of time it would have been an interesting exercise.
A court officer tells me that you only have to turn up in a suit and tie and you will be objected to by the defence team :)
There is a well known anecdote in regard to the trial over the Milperra incident where one jury person said "Hi Pete" to a policemen in court as he was walking past on his way into the witness box (where jury nominees are interviewed in court). He was immediately disqualified from the 12 month trial but all who knew said the policeman's name wasn't "Pete"....
An observation, not just on AULRO but elsewhere, other forums, workplace etc.
There is countless discussion about the law being enforce and more police and so on, but as soon as jury service is brought up nearly every time the discussion leads to how to get out of it.
I have got called up yet, but am interested in who the process works and what happens behind the scenes. Although you have to be lucky or unlucky to get selected on and interesting tough case
Been called up 3 times.
First one, thought it would be interesting. Got to the final weed out, judge said the trial would likely go for 6+ weeks (involved an old biddy with a big nursing home allegedly defrauding the Commonwealth).
The only interesting thing was that some of the other potential jurors had obviously done this many times before and were eager to be selected again.
Was excused because I was the sole operator of a business and 6 weeks would hurt (true).
Next time I used the 'being on a vessel under the command of a master at sea' excuse (which was true, I was measuring crays at the time on a contract), handed the form to the desk sergeant who just screwed it up and threw it in the bin (true!) and said I was excused.
After the second experience I saved the sergeant his valuable time and binned it myself.
That was 20 years ago and I've never heard from them since.
DL
I got the call up a couple of years ago for jury duty. I actually looked forward to it as I've never stepped foot into a court before so it was good to see how the system works. Over here in WA theres probabaly more chance that you wont end up on a case as they have an oversupply of people.
I made it through to a drug import case, even threw up my hand to read out the verdict - done that as they get rid of a couple of jurors at the end and thats the only person that they dont get rid of. I didnt want to sit through a week of a case only to run the risk of not being able to help out with the verdict. I'd happily do it again if I got the call up
Don't get me wrong , I am happy to give it a crack , but the booklet and paperwork they give you say's it could be up to 6 weeks. I just explained to the sheriff that 2 weeks after the summoned date I fly out of the country and supplied all my flight details expecting to be excused because of this, but still they want me to appear which seemed strange considering the info they provide. I fully expect I will get dismissed but see how it rolls I guessQuote:
Originally Posted by weeds
Cheers Ean