What A Brave Judge . . .

[Canary42]

. . . bullying a 70-year-old man.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-49069826

[Mamyalynne]

Barry Grimes had ample opportunity to back up his excuses and didn't.

[Spicerack]

Never knew jury service is compulsory. We live and learn.

[Canary42]

I chaired a jury many years ago, and an elderly gentleman (in his 70s) was extremely uncomfortable as a juryman.

What made it worse IMHO is that he stuttered so badly on the oath that the judge made him repeat it - most inconsiderate since it's only a silly ritual to open the door to perjury prosecutions, a ritual the unfortunate guy had already performed to the best of his ability.

[Peter Pedant]

not bullying at all - been there done that

I was in the miggle of radiotherapy to my right eye for you know eye-cancer sort of, and you are invited to write to the High Ct judgy baby saying you cant attend

and he took the view that really the rest of me could attend since I was an out patient. I turned out looking a bit like quasimodo ( Chas Laugton)
and even the court staff said christ can you do it?

and it was as boring as you think - 14 d actually.

[JF85]

My jury service coincided with the due date of my first child. I rang the court and they could not have been more helpful. I was offered a choice of how long I wanted to postpone it for. My son was then born prematurely and I was able to rearrange the date again.

Another juror was out of work. During his first two weeks he had not been called to take part in a trial, so they arranged for him to do a further two weeks at his request. This enabled him to claim refunds for his food for the fortnight, while filling a gap left by selfish people who didn't turn up for whatever reason.

Neither of us had any complaints whatsoever.

[vetuste_ennemi]

I wonder why he didn't want to be a juror, especially as at his age he is almpost certainly retired.

It's one of the many regrets of my life that I never had the opportunity to serve on a jury.

[Peter Pedant]

.// most inconsiderate since it's only a silly ritual to open the door to perjury prosecutions,//
something wrong here - a juror committing perjury?
Has this ever occurred? Penn of pennsylvania was involved in the famous case which resulted in immunity from most things whilst on a jury ( besides yapping to the press)

The members of the jury, fighting their case from prison in what became known as Bushel's Case, managed to win the right for all English juries to be free from the control of judges (1670)

[Peter Pedant]

// The upper age limit for jurors in England and Wales is to be raised from 70 to 75,// 2013

there may still be time

[Canary42]

/// something wrong here - a juror committing perjury? ///

Probably my mistake, it's not perjury, but committing some offence like speaking to the accused, not owning up to knowing same, discussing the case outside the jury room, etc etc etc. I don't know the name for it.

[nailit]

From the link
//You cannot be on a jury if you've been in prison in the last 10 years//
I thought you couldn't be on a jury at all if you've been in prison?
I was once called for jury service but had to tell them that I had a criminal record so was disqualified from service. Shame that, would have loved to do it for the experience.
Can anyone qualify that 10 yr thing?

[andres]

You can choose to Affirm instead of taking the Oath .

[Peter Pedant]

contempt of court
see Tommy Robinson threads ( all of them, it will take you all night )
and my stopped fred on the MP - the rules I admit are quite strict

and I am not sure if an oath is required - see Tarmy

I thought it was more of a ritual to make sure that the jurors take it seriously
( they do - in both our cases the jurors were aware that the lucky winner might go to prizz)

[nailit]

BTW, agree Canary, it does seem a bit bullying behaviour to me as well.

[Peter Pedant]

// You can choose to Affirm instead of taking the Oath .//

or choose your book - sikhs will choose the writings of guru Nanak. and the fol de rol does work The Sikh admitted yes he had kissed her (!)
and we thought his muslim accuser had pumped up a few of his actions

[Peter Pedant]

he wasnt there for chrissakes
a judge cant bully or harass someone who isnt there - can he?

[wolf63]

I got called up for jury duty, I supplied a letter from my GP and was excused on health grounds.

[Canary42]

/// You can choose to Affirm instead of taking the Oath .///

Yes, I did. On both occasions I was the only one to do so.

[Old_Geezer]

"as boring as you think - 14 d"
Shouldn't that be in crosswords & quizzes ?