I've been on the jury roll four times and have been called up over the years but have never actually been empanelled.
Sometimes I asked to be excused for various reasons, and was never refused. One was because I had a compulsory university residential course to attend, another time I was really needed at work and a third time we were booked on a holiday to China and the case was going to be a long one. Other times I was not needed because they always call too many jurors. Once the accused did not turn up.
The last time I was summonsed they were asking if any of the potential jurors could make themselves available for a rather long trial - eight to ten weeks. Since I was no longer working I put up my hand and was asked to return in a week's time. When I did I finally got to observe the jury selection process.
First we all had to sit through the reading of the charges while the accused men were sitting in the court room. They were four of the most evil looking crims you could ever imagine, notwithstanding their scrubbed faces and shiny suits. They were confined in a secure area behind thick glass and each had a prison guard sitting behind him. Pretty sure they weren't out on bail. In various combinations they were charged with multiple offences relating to about six armed robberies of banks and armoured vans. Any juror that was associated with any of the robberies or knew people who were, were asked to excuse themselves. Then the list of witnesses for each set of charges was read out. Again, if we recognised any of the names, we were to speak up and be excused. During this process I came to doubt my capacity to sit through something that was going to last for about three months. I found myself nodding off and fighting to stay awake.
I did watch the selection process until the quota of 14 was achieved. For a long trial, they have a couple of spares. We all had a jury identification number and these numbers were called out at random. However my number didn't come up. As each number was called, the person simply stood up and walked over to the jury box. They did not speak and were not asked any questions. There were five senior counsel, each with an assistant beside them and each senior counsel could challenge four potential jurors. They didn't have to give any reason at all. I noticed that the defence counsel routinely challenged the men and older women. In the end the jury was tipped towards younger women. I thought that this was a deliberate ploy to acquire a jury that might be intimidated by sitting facing four very scary thugs day after day.
When that jury was full we then moved to another court where a man was charged with a home invasion where he terrified two young women with a replica gun and stole money and jewellery. This time the few young women still in the pool were challenged by the defence and this jury was top heavy with middle aged men. So, even without knowing anything about the potential jurors, the jury does get shaped in favour of the defendant.
I recently had notice that I was being put on the list again, but having turned 70 I was allowed to be excused on grounds of age. I won't have to worry about dozing off ever again.
