Jury Service

[Hibster]

Been called up to do jury service on Tuesday at the Sheriff Court.

any general advice/tips from people who have done it before?

a few things I was wondering about, what kind of clothes are you meant to wear? In the booklet they sent me it mentions wearing smart clothes, does that mean I should wear a suit? also I'm also having to travel up from Newcastle to get there, will they pay for my travel expenses?

what kind of crimes go on trial at the sheriff court, is it just speeding fines and that kind of thing? (in which case I'm guessing the trials don't last very long?)

[NYHibby]

Do you get paid for jury service?

[Hibster]

Do you get paid for jury service?

No. They pay you if you have any loss of earnings for the time you have to spend in court though.

hope the trial doesn't last long, I'm a student so will be missing out on valuable lounging about and playing football time

[MSK]

Been called up to do jury service on Tuesday at the Sheriff Court.

any general advice/tips from people who have done it before?

a few things I was wondering about, what kind of clothes are you meant to wear? In the booklet they sent me it mentions wearing smart clothes, does that mean I should wear a suit? also I'm also having to travel up from Newcastle to get there, will they pay for my travel expenses?

what kind of crimes go on trial at the sheriff court, is it just speeding fines and that kind of thing? (in which case I'm guessing the trials don't last very long?)

1/Wear something comfortable as you could be in there a long time, doesnt have to be a suit...dont wear anything too bright ...it will only attract attention ..

2/ Take all proof of expenses ie bus or rail tickets ..your booklet explains how to claim these back ..

3/ Trials vary ..could be assault..carrying weapons..theft ..etc ..

I was on Jury service twice at the Sheriff Court ...the first many years ago involved an incident at the hibs club & various surrounding pubs ..made it a very interesting case with me being a hibbie ...:greengrin

Lastly ..its a selection process...although you may be required to attend court you may not be selected for that particular trial ..however you may be sent away for an hour or so & told to return where you may be selected for another trial later that day ..thats a pain ...:agree:

Good luck ..

[sg7nil]

I was on a jury at the Sheriff Court... the trial was supposed to be "Attempted Murder" !!!! but it should never have come to trial in the first place. Lasted two and a half days though. Lots of it was very boring!! very easy to start yawning and almost falling asleep which would make you very unpopular!

[Jack]

Last I heard was that you were not allowed out for a smoke. However the accused is allowed to leave the building and have a smoke under police escort.

Now that sounds good and fair :bitchy:, after all its not like the law abiding public to be discriminated against while those under suspicion get the perks!

[ArabHibee]

I'm been on jury duty twice and enjoyed it thoroughly. Just really interesting to see how the judical system works. I got all togged up the first day only to find out when I got there that I was a bit over-dressed. Wore jeans for the rest of the trial (much to my mother's disgust). Wear something comfy as there's a lot of sitting about.

[steakbake]

i got my papers through at the same time i was working on something else at the high court. obviously, i couldn't be two places at once - though in this case, strangely, i could. a kind lady in the court office struck me off the list and i was free to continue with the day job.

as a jury member, you might not get selected. you should have travel covered as part of your expenses. you won't get paid for it and im not sure how the justice system might recompense you missing out on all that lounging and football time - perhaps a spell in the nick?? haha

for anyone, i would highly recommend sitting in on a trial if you are ever at a loose end in the old town. plenty of interesting cases on the go and it gives you an idea of how it all works.

providing that the case isn't too sensitive (some cases aren't open for public enjoyment, i mean, information) you will be allowed in the public gallery.

i remember watching one where a guy was being done with intent to supply and the prosecution was going through the evidence. he flatly denied any knowledge of the several hundred ecstasy tablets found in the divan drawer of a bed, but was man enough to own up that the half smoked spliff in his ashtray was his. he eventually got 3 years.

another guy i saw smuggled cocaine up to aberdeen in a holdall and was caught out when he checked it in to left luggage at the railway station in edinburgh so he could go and have a few pints with his chums. he got totally spannered and ended up getting into a fight in the pub. he was arrested for this other misdemeanour and the cops happened upon the drugs when parts of his story seemed a bit shifty and they investigated further. he got 4 years.

all human life is there to be witnessed!

[Houchy]

I have and found it very interesting. It was a murder trial so a bit gory at times. We all got a picture album of the crime scene/ mortuary pics (to show the stab wound angle of entry) as part of the evidence. Pretty gross. bloke got 8 years in the end for culpable homocide.

[woodythehibee]

i got my papers through at the same time i was working on something else at the high court. obviously, i couldn't be two places at once - though in this case, strangely, i could. a kind lady in the court office struck me off the list and i was free to continue with the day job.

as a jury member, you might not get selected. you should have travel covered as part of your expenses. you won't get paid for it and im not sure how the justice system might recompense you missing out on all that lounging and football time - perhaps a spell in the nick?? haha

for anyone, i would highly recommend sitting in on a trial if you are ever at a loose end in the old town. plenty of interesting cases on the go and it gives you an idea of how it all works.

providing that the case isn't too sensitive (some cases aren't open for public enjoyment, i mean, information) you will be allowed in the public gallery.

i remember watching one where a guy was being done with intent to supply and the prosecution was going through the evidence. he flatly denied any knowledge of the several hundred ecstasy tablets found in the divan drawer of a bed, but was man enough to own up that the half smoked spliff in his ashtray was his. he eventually got 3 years.

another guy i saw smuggled cocaine up to aberdeen in a holdall and was caught out when he checked it in to left luggage at the railway station in edinburgh so he could go and have a few pints with his chums. he got totally spannered and ended up getting into a fight in the pub. he was arrested for this other misdemeanour and the cops happened upon the drugs when parts of his story seemed a bit shifty and they investigated further. he got 4 years.

all human life is there to be witnessed!

i've always fancied watching a trial in the court uptown. How does it work though? do you just walk through the main entrance? all day?

cheers

[leither17]

i've always fancied watching a trial in the court uptown. How does it work though? do you just walk through the main entrance? all day?

cheers


yes 10am - 4pm

[steakbake]

you should be able to wander in between the main hours of the day.

if you want to, you can ask one of the guys on duty which public galleries are open and normally they will have a look on the rolls to see if there is an interesting case.

not all cases are open to the public as i said, but on any given day you should be able to get a seat in the gallery to watch some action.

[MSK]

you should be able to wander in between the main hours of the day.

if you want to, you can ask one of the guys on duty which public galleries are open and normally they will have a look on the rolls to see if there is an interesting case.

not all cases are open to the public as i said, but on any given day you should be able to get a seat in the gallery to watch some action.The only place ive never been in a court has been the public gallery ...:greengrin

That said ...what is the actual purpose of having public viewing ..is there a purpose ..?

[Scouse Hibee]

Watched some of the Willian Beggs trial from the public gallery, Donald Findlay cross examining the cops who found the knife used in a kitchen drawer was brilliant. Made a big point of them saying they both found it he asked if they both had a hand each on the drawer handle when they opened it!

[MSK]

Watched some of the Willian Beggs trial from the public gallery, Donald Findlay cross examining the cops who found the knife used in a kitchen drawer was brilliant. Made a big point of them saying they both found it he asked if they both had a hand each on the drawer handle when they opened it!Jeezo ...:paranoid:..these guys who defend the "obvious" must have some balls though ...the trial i had at the hibs club when the lad pulled the 12" blade ....defence Lawyer..."he only pulled the knife when confronted by club stewards !!!".....he was actually only being pursued for attempting tae steal handbags ...:blah:

Aye ..we all go to the hibs club carrying blades ..but hey thats alright...were only stealing fekkin handbags ...:crazy:

[givescotlandfreedom]

I'm a student so will be missing out on valuable lounging about and playing football time

I think students are meant to be exempt actually. I had a latter saying I could be called and after telling them I was a student was removed from the list.

[Jack]

The only place ive never been in a court has been the public gallery ...:greengrin

That said ...what is the actual purpose of having public viewing ..is there a purpose ..?

So that members of the public can go and see the judicial system in action. I suppose to give us some assurance that its all open and above board.

[steakbake]

The only place ive never been in a court has been the public gallery ...:greengrin

That said ...what is the actual purpose of having public viewing ..is there a purpose ..?

Its to give hacks an opportunity to fill up the blank columns of the evening news with stories about animal cruelty and conjecture about the latest gadgie activities.

Other than that, I suppose it is partially to do with the affairs of court being seen to be open and above board and to give relatives (of accused and victims) the chance to watch.

It's also good for civil servants on shockingly high wages who have long luxurious lunch hours to fill up, to have somewhere to go for a nap and to be able to go back to the office with stories to tell. *ahem*