Day 2

Day 2 at The Old Bailey and the prospect of being selected . On the one hand the thought of 4 weeks away from work and the loss of income. On the other a sense of duty. I decide if it is meant to be then it will be a once in a lifetime experience and a privilege. Hopefully my various employers will be understanding.

I decide to upgrade myself in terms of what I am wearing. Yesterday I wore smart -caz black trousers and a black jumper- safe bet. Today, I dig out the navy Armani trouser suit - I was once told that if you dress supersmart the Defence may object to you -(as is their right) -(go figure that one )- so I decide to load the odds in my favour. I feel a twinge of guilt that I am more concerned about my bank balance when this is about people's lives.

10.00 call. Usual queue to get in and up to Jury Assembly. Spot one or two from my 20 and sit down with a cuppa for a chat. It's fascinating to talk to people you wouldn't normally meet. I talk to a would be novelist, a child protection officer and the barrister who is still in the pool despite his best endeavours. He's sorted himself out and happy to do it now if chosen. He asked why I hadn't approached the Judge - told him his treatment had put me off!

I am amazed to discover from him that following a change of law in 2003 members of the legal profession, the court service itself and the police can be called for jury service aswell. I would have thought that being 'in the biz' they would have been exempt.
So we sit ...........and we wait and..... wait.... and wait. The tannoy is constantly calling for the various courts but we don't move unless told to by our court clerks.

At midday our court usher dismisses us for 2 hours, telling us to return at 2.
The judge isn't ready for us yet. ( or we for him I think!)

Go for a long walk around the area. St Pauls is just up the road and I had forgotten how gorgeously impressive it is close up. All cleaned up, it's like a delicious wedding cake. I have moaned alot about London in the last few years but this part of the city is really interesting (and clean!). Resolve to explore it more if I get the chance.

Head back after an hour for a splurge on my swipe card. Lunch is passable -like school dinners used to be before the advent of fast food. Mushroom stroganoff and because I can't resist comfort food , peach sponge and hot custard.

More waiting, more chat. Jury assembly is fairly empty after lunch as those who are now on cases have disappeared -leaving us, the last remaining 20, wondering what is happening. The barrister ventures that there is alot of legal setting up and horse trading going on. Who knows.

Just as I am convinced the day is a write off, at 3.15 we are summoned. 20 of us head back to Court 16 to await the random selection of 12....(we've been waiting for this since 10.00)
Infront of the Court one of the clerks starts reading out names. If called we are to step forward and take a place in the Jury Box. (It crosses my mind that it feels like the elimination process in a TV reality show then kick myself for being so vacuous- this is serious stuff)
The barrister and the child protection officer I have been chatting with get chosen ......one by one the names get read out....we get to the 12th name and......it's not me !

We remaining 8 are instructed to wait as the defendants and their counsel may now exercise their right of objection. We are the possible candidates on the 'subs bench' now. One query only , no substitutions ...and the 12 are sworn in. Each raising a bible in their right hand and taking the oath. I am struck by the enormity of it all. The Judge dismisses the rest of us and we head back to an empty Jury Assembly, leaving the new Jury to find out what the case actually is.

The Jury manager meets us and tells us that all cases from Monday/Tuesday are now assigned. Next jury selection will start Friday. We are to ring in Thursday and find out what our Friday call time will be.

I have a chat with him about the prospect of my service extending another week and my fear of being on a long case. He assures me that that the Bailey does have short cases too and tells me I must put my concerns forward if I am preselected for a big one. After seeing one judge in action I am dubious to say the least! But the Jury manager tells me that self employment is a factor they will consider. Resolve to not be such a wimp if it happens again.

There is a real biggie starting next week -you will hear about it on the news no doubt - I wonder if some wierd pre-destiny is at work...and try and shake the feeling off before I freak myself out. It's one I've followed and I wonder if that would rule me out. How do you avoid high profile cases in the media and not form an opinion?

Time to head home. Bump into the barrister and child protection officer on the ground floor - the case will kick off for them on Wednesday morning. It's a murder. I wish them well.

I have a head full of 2 days of not alot happening but alot learned. Must remember to fill in my timesheet. It's for claiming travel, expenses , etc .

It costs the public purse £120 a minute to run a court. (There are 18 courts in the Bailey alone.) It's costing you an awful lot to subsidise me sitting around drinking tea and chatting! But the process of the law is subject to its own timescale. Just aswell really. If it was you in the dock you wouldn't want a rush job now would you?