Called for Jury Service

I am me123

The letter I received only stated my attendence was required on one particular day. (as stated).

Even if summoned for jury service, how does it all work? Is it guaranteed you will be chosen to attend for the entire duration?

Thanks.

cml387

It depends. You will be all gathered in the court and numbers will be called out. If your number comes up you will be on the jury (unless objected to by prosecution or defence). When 12 are selected the process ends but you may be called again the following day and thereafter until the court requirement for juries is satisfied.

witchgirl26

You'll be required to attend for the full week unless discharged while there - that happens if they've filled the jurys for the trials scheduled to start that week. Otherwise it's as cml387 said. Attend, wait for your number to be called, see if you make it on the jury (there's a lot of objections sometimes!). If not selected, it's back out to the jury pool & start the process all over again.

Last time I was there, I was in until midday Monday to Thursday at which point we all got discharged as the trails had their jurys.

I am me123

Thanks all,

How do I know my 'number' ? Is it included in the summons?

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118350220#Comment_118350220

The potential juror can also ask to be excluded from a particular case in certain circumstances, e.g. if you know the parties, lawyers or witnesses or are aware of the details of the case.

Shelflife

Can you volunteer for jury duty ?

Not a specific case, but if you were retired and were interested in law ?

witchgirl26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118353313#Comment_118353313

From what I can remember it is on the summons up on the top right hand corner. Course I was last called about 5 years ago so that could have changed. Bring your summons with you on the day & just ask one of the people there. I found everyone in the courts really nice to deal with.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355185#Comment_118355185

Nope you can't volunteer - it's all completely random selection based off the electoral register. You can (well maybe not during Covid) sit in on a lot of trials if you had an interest in law. I know some students who did that to get a feel for the whole system.

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355185#Comment_118355185

No. The idea is random selection, to prevent juries being loaded for or against defendants by interested parties. You can, of course, attend most trials.

Dempo1

Actually if I may, I'm 54, have never been called for jury service, spent many years abroad, back and fourth, work etc. I'm not on any electoral registers, do own a house etc, how are people called for Jury service, just out of pure curiosity, thanks 😁

Peregrinus

They are drawn from the electoral register. If you're not registered, that would explain why you were never called.

N/A

F1ngers

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355318#Comment_118355318

Question was answered two posts before yours.

Tow

You are picked from the electoral register.

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355318#Comment_118355318

As mentioned in another post "Random selection from the electoral registers".

I assume they would only call people in the general area of the court they are require to attened. For example a resident of Donegal would not be calleed to sit on Jury is a tral in a Limerick court.

Since most Jury trials would tend to be in Dublin, those out side the GDA would not tend to be called.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355301#Comment_118355301

Nope you can't volunteer - it's all completely random selection based off the electoral register.

as i learned recently, it's not. a few months ago, the chap two doors up from me was called. a week later, the woman next door was called. a week later, i was called. a week after that, my wife was called. so it's random in that they may randomly pick a street, but they seem to work their way down the street from what i can see.

both myself and my wife subsequently got a second letter to let us know our presence was no longer required - there were reports in the press about a shortage of judges so i suspect they didn't have the ability to take new cases forward.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355185#Comment_118355185

i suspect wanting to volunteer would automatically disqualify you! the defence (and less to the prosecution) would probably be exceptionally wary of someone like this.

The Mighty Quinn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355349#Comment_118355349

Interesting point.

Does this mean that most 'big' cases are comprised of a jury of Dublin people, or is there a concerted effort to take a selection from a national pool of people?

Not sure it matters particularly, I'm not sure that the views of a person from Dublin vary that wildly from the views of a Clare person in a rape or murder case, but just out of the interests of a jury comprised of a snapshot of a nation rather than locals only.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355338#Comment_118355338

It actually wasn't, how exactly is someone called for service , my point being are people picked from an electoral register etc , we're does the court service get peoples/citizens details .

magicbastarder

yes, it's from the electoral register.

F1ngers

It actually was.

I re-read said post and it answers your question.

Don't believe me, google it.

dubguy45

The selection is not random among all on the electoral register. I called for the third time in early January having had served three and a half years ago. There is victimisation happening in certain areas.

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355857#Comment_118355857

Those called for Jury Duty are not victims.

Nothing in life is truely random. A human designed the method of random selection, and I am sure some form of bias is inherent is any human designed system.

Peregrinus

All they need to call you for service is your citizenship, name and address, all of which is explicitly or implicitly on the electoral register. They don't need, and don't have, any other details.

People talk about "random selection", but in fact the legal requirement in the Juries Act is that registrars should use "a procedure of random or other non-discriminatory selection" to draw up a panel of jurors, so picking a particular street and summoning those living on it would be fine - it's non-discriminatory. The panel are then summoned for jury service, Juries for individual cases are selected "by balloting in open court" - i.e. by drawing numbers from a hat, or similar. Before the balloting, the jury panel are invited to speak up if they think they may be ineligible or disqualified, or if they have an interest in, or connection to the parties in, the case for which a jury is to be drawn.

Dempo1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355822#Comment_118355822

Apologies, missed that, thank you

witchgirl26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356016#Comment_118356016

Actually the numbers are picked before you speak up. I had it in 2 cases when I was on a jury panel. One I had been involved in business that was connected to the parties involved so I could have been seen as prejudiced and the other my mam lived down the road from where it happened. On both occasions I had my number called & we were all escorted into the courtroom where the judge asked if any of us needed to approach them about something that would disqualify us from the trial.

Chris_5339762

Its worthwhile doing, very interesting experience.

brick tamland

I was called and picked recently enough, with Covid protocals theres a much higher chance of you getting picked out as the numbers they call on any given day are much smaller than they were pre covid. If its a busy day with a few cases, you'll do well to avoid being picked.

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356157#Comment_118356157

They are supposed to tell you before they call the numbers that, if your number is called, and you think you may be disqualified, etc, you should speak up. But so long as they tell you at some point, and give you the chance to speak up, it doesn't greatly matter.

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118356695#Comment_118356695

CCC might call 500 people a day. There is a video link from the room that has the jurors. The case and parties are introduced and the first 12 potential jurors are brought up to the court room, where all sides can express reservations. Selected jurors are then kept in the jury box, while the rest are returned to the pool. Repeat until required number of jurors selected.

I am me123

Hi all,

Hypothetical question here,

What should you do if you or a family member are experiencing COVID symptoms?

How should you communicate this regarding your summons?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355489#Comment_118355489

It’s irrelevant surely how you feel about the case one way or the other anyway?

your job as a juror is to look at the facts presented and make an informed verdict whether the accused is guilty or not. I don’t imagine your personal feelings have much bearing (well they shouldn’t anyway)

@I am me123

@I am me123 i’d nearly imagine there’s a phone number or email on the summons? I’ve never gotten one so I can’t say for sure but failing that contact the courthouse you’re due to attend and let them know.

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118386823#Comment_118386823

Book a PCR test and stay home.

Phone the number on your jury summons letter and let them know.

I am me123

Hi all,

Just spotted this online from Courts.ie.

📢 Jury Notice

Criminal trials due to commence in the Central and Circuit Courts will not start before 24 January 2022. Please note that if you have received a summons for dates between 10 and 21 January 2022 you need not attend.

More information here:  https://bit.ly/32Y2Y2z

The summons I received had the Circuit court as the title. My jury service is on Friday, 14th January, next.

I have not received any official correspondence about the above in regard to my summons. Does this mean my jury service is postponed?

What should I do?

sbs2010

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440361#Comment_118440361

Good find !!

I'm in same situation - summons for thurs 13th.

I guess we're off the hook but I'm gonna email them to make sure.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355489#Comment_118355489

Depends what you.consider local. I live in Dublin and am on the electoral register, but I'm not a dub!

my mother lives in the country and has been called twice, both times she couldn't sit, as she knew the parties involved. Far less chance of that happening in Dublin

Phoenix3

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118355185#Comment_118355185

You can volunteer for jury service in the Coroners Court. It can be very interesting and sometimes traumatising. Just ring them and express your interest. They are always short of jury members.

It is very interesting because as a jury member, you can directly question any witness.

PM me for more information

I am me123

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118440582#Comment_118440582

Thank you!

I'm gonna pop them an email on Monday myself to make sure..

Hopefully, they should get in contact before then to let me know either way.

Could you post here if you are told you don't have to attend?

Thank you.

gercoral

Can someone who works in retail be regarded as an essential worker and therefore be excused from jury service? Or put it on their form as "excused of right"?

gercoral

Victor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118491100#Comment_118491100

Potentially, but they would actually need to be essential - as defined by the jury rules, not other rules. So, If the shop has 1 manager and 4 assistants, then the manager could likely claim exemption. It would be harder for the assistants to do so. Similarly, if it was a jewellers, a repair person where all the other staff are sales only they could likely claim exemption. If It's Tesco and there are 10 managers and 100 staff, then not a hope.

SupaCat95

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118491233#Comment_118491233

Anyone can get off Jury duty if you read the fine print. Get your Boss to write you a letter. You are suffering from depression. You had a close relative who was involved in a similar case as the victim. A mild learning disability. I have Aspergers, the court clerk immediately signed me off without any paperwork.

There is loads of reasons not to do jury duty, if you are not interested.

Psychiatrics' nurses, Pharmacists, Members of the defence forces, people with mental health problem with medication..... loads to pick from.

TaurenDruid

Get yourself a t-shirt printed: "Hang them all and let God decide!"

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118531408#Comment_118531408

Turn up like this they’ll never ask you again

JTMan

If you are called for Jury Service on a Tuesday (in the Central Criminal Court), does that mean that you are obliged to attend (if required) until the Friday of that week or the Monday of the following week?

GerardKeating

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120231878#Comment_120231878

Depends, you might get a trial on the Tuesday, that runs for a week or more.

gmisk

I was called recently enough.

I had been pretty ill last year and stress wouldn't be great for me...doctor cert provided and no issue getting out of it.

JTMan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120235071#Comment_120235071

Understood but if I'm not called to trial, will I be finished on the Thursday/Friday?

TaurenDruid

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120235280#Comment_120235280

I've been called twice and both times it was just until the Friday of that week (well - it would have been on the second one but I got selected for a jury that time, two week case).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120235280#Comment_120235280

Not necessarily, my own experience was this - They'll call in more people than they're going to need for any one specific trial, but if your name isn't pulled out of the hat for the first trial then you're required to return for the second lottery to serve on the second trial. Now, you might only be waiting 20 minutes between the various draws, and you mightn't be drawn for the second trial either. I suppose it's probably different from courthouse to courthouse, but you'd still be obliged to make yourself available.

In my own case there must have been a good 60 or 70 jurors summonsed. If your name wasn't drawn for the first trial they'd excuse you, but you had to come back for the second trial/lottery an hour later and go again. Rinse and repeat. Once they got sufficient numbers for the trials they needed, the rest of you can go home.

coylemj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120235280#Comment_120235280

It's going to depend on the backlog of cases and the availability of judges and courtrooms with jury seats. When you show up on the first day and before they start to empanel a jury, it's all relatively informal (compared to when a trial is in progress) with the court registrar in charge. They won't start the roll call bang on time, they usually leave a little leeway for late arrivals so arrive on time, go to the front of the court and ask one of the officials when you'd be no longer required if you're not called to serve on a jury.