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Thread ID: 126414	2012-08-26 00:18:00	Sub-par juries 'devalue' justice	SKT174 (1319)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1297014	2012-08-26 00:18:00	Juries of the unemployed and retired are "devaluing" the system and leading the public to believe not-guilty verdicts like those in the Ewen Macdonald case are wrong, a prominent barrister says. More than 56% of Kiwis summonsed for jury duty in the last financial year excused or deferred themselves from service, Ministry of Justice figures show. More (tvnz.co.nz) The thing is employer is not l liable to pay you during your 7 days or longer trials. You only get that measly $31 a day. That totally upsets a lot of people's budget, and it's probably why a lot of people finding excuse not to attend.	SKT174 (1319)
1297015	2012-08-26 00:28:00	I attended the call for jury service ONCE, and was totally disgusted at how the 'system' wasted hours of the time of close to 100 people in order to select 12 people to be the indirect victims (victims in terms of their own time and income) of our archaic system. I've avoided it with a passion ever since. If I'm not at work (and not replaced) then the business grinds down to doing anywhere from 50% to 90% less work. Meanwhile there's the rest of the crew that are still at work and expecting to be paid. Lets get professional juries and be done with all this legal posturing BS that the current system brings with it. Lets also impose significant penalties to laywers who fail to arrive adequately prepared and on time, and waste the time of everybody in the process. It's a system that has fed off it's inefficiencies, and it needs to change.	Paul.Cov (425)
1297016	2012-08-26 00:59:00	I have done jury service twice as an employee, with my employer *not* deducting my wages - but my jury fee was expected to be given back to my employer (which seemed fair). Having been self-employed for the last 12 years, whenever I receive a notice, I write to excuse myself (self-employed, sole income earner). Always accepted by the courts and I have no qualms about not serving again while I am self-employed. Like Paul.Cov says, the system is archaic and inefficient and the juries when I served (several different trials) were not populated by peers of the accused, nor by particularly insightful, informed, intelligent people. I don't know whether that's an indictment of the jury system or society as a whole, but it does provide some context around why there are stupid decisions made by juries (although, to be fair, some of these decisions are made on the basis of insufficient information being provided to juries in the first place)...	johcar (6283)
1297017	2012-08-26 01:03:00	I would hate having a jury trial me after comments made by some of my work mates. It seems their can convict someone on what their believe is morally wrong and not legally wrong.	plod (107)
1297018	2012-08-26 01:06:00	Does anyone have any stats relating to percentage of jury trials where the accused gets off? I think the best way to avoid being found guilty is to opt for a jury trial - reasonable doubt is pretty easy to achieve...	johcar (6283)
1297019	2012-08-26 01:53:00	Does anyone have any stats relating to percentage of jury trials where the accused gets off? I think the best way to avoid being found guilty is to opt for a jury trial - reasonable doubt is pretty easy to achieve... It is an even better idea to not on trial at all.	CliveM (6007)
1297020	2012-08-26 05:45:00	Lets do it like Brazil, the judge decides who is guilty and not guilty. No jury involved. :)	Trev (427)
1297021	2012-08-26 06:08:00	The judges are devaluing the justice system already.....	Metla (12)
1297022	2012-08-26 06:36:00	Been on a Jury Trial a few times and make an effort to attend jury duty even though I could say stuff it and say my occupation precludes me from attending Have to remember you can only form a Decision on the evidence precedented even though you might want to ask a few questions yourself,remembering the Ewen McDonald Trial	Lawrence (2987)
1297023	2012-08-26 07:12:00	If I had more faith in a lot of our judges I'd opt for the system of three judges on a panel. BTW most 'retired' people were once gainfully employed and often held very responsible positions. Not everyone loses their marbles when they retire:). That may be hard to believe if you are under 30. I used to think the same at that age. I understand the mandatory retiring age for a judge in New Zealand is 70. I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong. I never wanted to be part of the elected jury. I was 'challenged' just as I walked up to take my seat. I was the last challenge allowed for that particular trial. It didn't take them long to send me a jury duty summons again. I would have thought with computerisation they could easily spread the load.	Marnie (4574)
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