Well I've spent two days sitting around in Southwark Crown Court waiting to hear my name be called out. It's a bit like playing the lottery, you're so bored that you really want to hear your name and at the same time you're hoping that it doesn't get called lest you end up on some boring trial which involves you leaving the court all the time because they want to discuss a point of law.
Then this afternoon, having been sent home early yesterday they call my name out and I know it means I am going home early.. great I think, but oh no, not this time. This time they say "give me your smartcard for the canteen and your time sheet. You need to be at the Old Bailey tomorrow at 9.30am sharp."
Fanbloodytastic! John Grisham novel next though.
21 comments:
Fancy meeting for lunch? I am a pupil barrister and I could do with someone to share a sandwich x
Dizzy - that's far better in a way. It means you'll get something much more juicy. I'd be unfortunate if you got lumbered with a 3-year fraud case or something, but murder trials take 2-3 weeks in general, and are fascinating experiences.
Word of advice though - don't take phones, iPods, Blackberry's or anything electronic. It used to be the case that you weren't even allowed those things in the building (unless you were a lawyer, oddly). I have been told that since I was there there's now a sort of valet for those items, but it's less of an annoyance not to take them at all, if possible of course.
Sounds like I have a proposition! You can happily email me but as a pupil barrister I guess you know the drill for us lowly jurors. I will probably end up sitting there for hours bored witless.
Unless you are deliberating over lunch, you'll get a break. Are you single?
x
maybe you will get the Harman, Hain, watt, alexander, abrahams case!
I shared a common experience:
I wore a jacket and tie for the first couple of days of jury service.
I was rejected by defence lawyers.
I came back casually dressed and I got the nod.
That should be OK then dizzy... you can bore Gemma witless too.
Dizzy,
Public service and all that but I bet at the end of it all you will think it a waste of time. Especially if it comes to sentencing.
I believe I am right in saying that people charged with murder, plea bargained to manslaughter to save the cost of a trial end up with an average sentence of 7 years.
Fifty percent off for good behaviour.
Murder in Britain now has a 3.5 year tariff of time in nick.
No doubt the pupil barrister can confirm.
Perhaps you are being tied up cos some juicy story is coming along and gordon wants you locked away in court.
Not trying to make you paranoid at all....
Enjoy it Dizzy.
I was on Jury service at Middlesex Crown Court. It was a rape. We went with 'not guilty'. You won't be surprised to learn I'm a Namby Pamby Libertarian Conservative Bastard.
Gemma, I'm married with a three year old son. Does that disqualify me then? Be aware that you will make me cry if you say yes.
Ah, memories of my four month's jury service at Croydon Crown Court - two weeks? Amateur!
Not at all, if you're still keen to share a sandwich and a chat. I think your mind is very interesting and would like to see the face that goes with it. And, of course, so long as your wife is agreeable...
Communication being what it is, texting and approving posts is easily done by our gracious host, but commenting is not.
Anyway, I have been asked to post that Dizz regrets that he is sequestered in the bowels of the Old Bailey without hope of parole, so lunch will not be possible today.
I always thought no good would come of you...
Jury service, you say?
Sorry, I must have got the wrong end of the stick...
This scandal should henceforth be known as 'Dizzy-Date'.
I'm so sad that he wasn't able to come. If he wants to meet another day, I am often around the area, and will check this post. Maybe you, Croydonian, could onpass this information?
Far easier to just email me
So you'd like to keep it private? That's fine.
Hah! no.. it;s just more practical that's all. Having a conversation in thread with moderation and one where I cannot reply from my phone is just a little convoluted. Having left the court now I doubt whether I will be able to get out much over the coming weeks anyway but who knows.
I enjoyed the Dizzy-Date scandal comment btw. Lightened the day whilst sitting around doing bugger all.
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