• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Jury Service

Natalie1974

Well-Known Member
Messages
871
Location
Kent
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I've been following a documentary on Steven Avery recently...fascinating stuff if anyone is interested...but it got me wondering if as a Type 1 or Type 2 on insulin has anyone ever been called for Jury Service...or if it's something that we would even be considered for given the risk of hypo during proceedings.
 
Of course you can be called. When i did it the judge only let us sit for 2 hours at a time because of a members health issues
 
Yes i did it about 6 years ago -- it was fab -- my nickname ( given to me by myself ) was the hangin' juror

i suppose there was a risk of a hypo but the day starts at about 9am and breaks for lunch at 12 noon
restarts again at about 1:30 and wraps up by 5 pm latest

I deliberately took a bit less insulin the 2 weeks( 10 business days ) i was on duty just to be safe but i never came close to a hypo ( normally was at least 4-7 a week )
 
We started at 10 and then also had a 15 min break in the afternoon. My case did go on for 5 months though
 
It's something I've always fancied doing...so really pleased that I wouldn't automatically ruled out. Are you allowed to say what kind of cases you had?
 
No. You may get several cases in your period or like my wife none at all or get selected for a long case.
 

I would of thought the risks of a hypo were minimum (being seated, less active, anxious or stressed of the unknown/being in court ?
I would really like to be on a jury service, it sounds fascinating, but I wouldn't be able to, due to RLS, restless leg syndrome, I can't sit in one place for hours, and I don't take my first lot of RLS medication until 5 pm and the day would be over then !
An interesting thread Natalie
 
I was excused for a conflict of interest, the possibility as a local juror, being aware of a person's criminal background due to my job. Now I'm retired I wonder if it would still be the case, as I still know the usual suspects
 
If i remember correctly you will not get selected once you hit 70. So fingers crossed for you
 
I done it about 9 years ago and hated every minute of it, found it stressful
 
Natalie1974 said:
It's something I've always fancied doing...so really pleased that I wouldn't automatically ruled out.
Click to expand...

I don't know how the selection process works, in my last place of work one of my colleagues had done jury service 3 times yet I've never been called up, my father did jury service but he wasn't allowed to talk about the case until the trial was over.
 
I was called up twice and asked to be excused twice, which was granted (not diabetes related). Just as well because I have absolutely no desire to be part of a jury.
 
I have had letters through 6 times to do it but have never had to and will never have to as I have a criminal record so I'm not allowed

Husband has had 1 letter and didnt have to do it either as he was in Vietnam at the time
 
MH2010 said:
I have had letters through 6 times to do it but have never had to and will never have to as I have a criminal record so I'm not allowed

Husband has had 1 letter and didnt have to do it either as he was in Vietnam at the time
Click to expand...

Seems so very stupid not to allow someone with a criminal record not to serve on a jury..surely some will know how badly wrong a jury can get things...and be all the more focused. Add to that many "innocent" jurors will simply be people who haven't yet been caught (as many people will have broken some law at some point). Juries...our fates in the hands of the public (with varied levels of education and a whole pile of prejudices and attitudes)...look how well the public does in elections...ah democracy in action (one which a judge can overrule anyway). Interestingly, I am 53 with no criminal record and two degrees (one of which is Law) and have never been asked. I have, however, been in court a number of times and observed the process. Frankly, I'd rather eat my own feet.
 
I've attended one for attempted murder ... first to have their name called out, empanelled, voted in as head of the jury and had our decision overruled by the presiding judge. Guy was guilty but we were told to change that to "not guilty by reasons of insanity".

Never again.

I'd lose the letter, refuse to go and deal with it afterwards. They can belt it. Used to work here with an ex London copper who had to attend a trial for real murder ... they tried everything (the jury that is) to get a conviction but couldn't.

It destroyed him and his faith in justice
 
Anyone who still believes in Justice needs to have a good read of Plato's Republic, a quick glance at the news on any given day, a consideration of sentences doled out, a wee think of how huge corporations avoid/evade tax, and a look at who sits on juries (or Jeremy Kyle shows). Emm...or the fact that even good people get diabetes....there - relevant.
 
Yep, you get what you pay for I believe in karma more than I do some idiot sitting behind a bench. Off topic though
 
I've done jury service twice, the last occasion the whole jury was given a 10 year exemption from further jury service due to the length and nature of the trial. I also missed an already booked 2 week trip to America with my girlfriend to see family, as the case hadn't finished, the court refunded my part of holiday costs, at least my GF had a good time.

We were also given numbers and wasn't allowed to use our names except in the jury room or private areas of the court, I guess Number 23 is my unlucky number, we were also told never to return directly home after court due to the possibility of being followed.

Interesting case, but outside of actual court time, there was plenty of downtime so at times it was pretty boring.
 
I am 70 now and never done Jury service so guess I can safely say I wont be doing it at all
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…