tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post4831412656253438582..comments2024-03-29T10:15:32.542+00:00Comments on Ambush Predator: Judges Out Of Touch? Surely Not...JuliaMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-66430034973734026702009-06-11T03:49:34.361+01:002009-06-11T03:49:34.361+01:00There are guidelines agreed by the Council of Circ...There are guidelines agreed by the Council of Circuit Judges about how they should approach releasing people from jury duty, so that things are pretty much the same all over the country rather than just leaving it to individual judges to form their own views. <br /><br />Pre-booked holidays have been taken into account for many years because the financial cost and disruption to family life can be disproportionate when there are plenty more jurors who can hear the case. <br /><br />I don't see why a judge should know what a trip to Glastonbury entails, I haven't the faintest idea and can't imagine why I should be presumed to know. I would guess some people treat it as a pilgrimage and others as a day out; but how much it costs and how many other people are affected must vary from case to case and would need to be explained. <br /><br />Incidentally, I'm biased, I've known David Radford for decades. He's a lovely chap, perhaps sometimes afflicted with a bit of "Judgitis" (on which occasions his friends refer to him as Captain Mainwaring), but you couldn't meet anyone with a greater sense of fairness. The only question I raise about his judgment relates to his support for Manchester City.TheFatBigothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17255526385076528633noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-13368712936305502642009-06-09T19:46:02.037+01:002009-06-09T19:46:02.037+01:00Mr Potarto, no, not confused at all. First, I neve...Mr Potarto, no, not confused at all. First, I never said I agreed with the system, just that I was under the impression that you'd need a better excuse to get out of jury service. Personally I dislike being potentially compelled to do jury service as much as I dislike being compelled to vote - I'd happily do either voluntarily but I object to the compulsory bit. However, my comment was about how things are rather than how I wish they were. Second, there's a big difference between a paid for family holiday and going to Glastonbury. Yes, he'd paid for the ticket but as Anon said he could sell it, or has the UK recession got so bad that you can't get back face value or more on a Glastonbury ticket anymore? If it was a booked and paid for family holiday or anything else that was basically impossible to sell or unreasonable to expect him to transfer then that would have been as good an excuse as bad health etc.Angry Exilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02491082312193274360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-63255027178683714432009-06-09T18:57:56.385+01:002009-06-09T18:57:56.385+01:00Work isn't an excuse for evading jury service,...Work isn't an excuse for evading jury service, so why should fucking Glastonbury?Robnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-86896793413584072482009-06-09T18:08:23.539+01:002009-06-09T18:08:23.539+01:00Actually, I'm warming to judge David Radford, ...Actually, I'm warming to judge David Radford, as this illustration from the recent trial of Mr Amy Winehouse is any indication:<br /><br /><i>"...Jeremy Dein QC, for Fielder-Civil, urged the judge to suspend his sentence or sentence him to the nine months he has already served. He said Fielder-Civil "was of exemplary good character".<br /><br />He went on: "This has been a nightmare scenario, not just for him but for his wife and his family."<br /><br />He was interrupted by Judge David Radford, who said: "No previous convictions rather than exemplary good character, if what I read about him and the use of drugs is true."..."</i> <br /><br />So, he does have some knowledge of the music scene!JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-77564027472378147282009-06-09T17:51:41.480+01:002009-06-09T17:51:41.480+01:00On balance and if that's the choice we get co...On balance and if that's the choice we get concerning occupiers of the bench, I'd prefer judges to be ignorant of Glastonbury (and all that "Glastonbury" entails in respect of over-hyped beat combos) rather than be "down wiv de kids".Umbongonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-78925985245310081882009-06-09T17:10:23.351+01:002009-06-09T17:10:23.351+01:00"It should not be possible to get out of it w...<i>"It should not be possible to get out of it with feeble excuses like holidays and weekend jollies."</i> <br /><br />I think pre-booked holidays would <i>have</i> to be honoured, otherwise the Crown would have to compensate the potential juror, and that would very soon be abused beyond belief! <br /><br />If, on the other hand, he booked it after receiving his callup, well, all bets would be off.JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-65981949458885831112009-06-09T16:54:34.970+01:002009-06-09T16:54:34.970+01:00I think you two are confusing jurors with criminal...I think you two are confusing jurors with criminals. Do you really think a jury system that forces people to cancel paid-for family holidays would be an appropriate part of the justice system?<br /><br />By all means force people to do their duty if they are attempting to avoid it completely, but if they have a long-standing prior engagement, why shouldn't they be excused from a particular trial during jury selection and moved to another which doesn't clash?Mr Potartohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08856169839194743543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-57011426536383369452009-06-09T16:03:23.213+01:002009-06-09T16:03:23.213+01:00I'm with Anon. Since when did a music festival...I'm with Anon. Since when did a music festival excuse you from jury duty? I was under the impression you needed genuine health issues, prior knowledge of the defendant, some personal reason that means you might not give a fair hearing, etc. But a fucking festival? I'm tempted to say that the judge must have balls like raisins but I wouldn't be surprised to find that the hoomanrites Act says he had no choice.Angry Exilehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02491082312193274360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-36676475791653264292009-06-09T14:12:04.352+01:002009-06-09T14:12:04.352+01:00More the point is, surely, that if you're summ...More the point is, surely, that if you're summoned for jury duty, you're <i>summoned</i>.<br /><br />It should not be possible to get out of it with feeble excuses like holidays and weekend jollies. Duty is duty. <br /><br />Sell the tickets, loser, and turn up to do your bit. Or it's the cells for you.<br /><br />I wish.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com