Day 4 of jury service. I was picked for a jury yesterday, which we completed within the day. It was a very short trial, although obviously I'm not going to go into any more detail.

I'm waiting now in the assembly area - basically a holding area for jurors waiting to be chosen for a trial, or waiting for their trial to start. As someone mentioned the other day, it's a bit like sitting in a airport lounge waiting for a delayed flight.

The trial itself was remarkably like what is usually shown on television. It particularly put me in mind of the court scenes shown in 'Judge John Deed' - the judge occasionally directing the lawyers, and asking questions of the witnesses when he wanted to; the harsh cross-examination of the defendant by the prosecution lawyer. The bit that was truly novel was that not normally portrayed in such dramas - discussion in the jury room, which clearly I can't go into any further. Suffice to say that I really felt the responsibility of making what was clearly going to be a life changing decision for the defendant. I was a little shocked by how some didn't seem to feel that responsbility. In particular people just desperate for their next cigarette as there was no smoking in the deliberation room. It was also a surprise (although I don't suppose it should have been) to find ourselves locked in with bailiffs standing at the door.

Still, now I'm sat in the assembly area again waiting to see whether I'll be picked for another trial, and it'll start all over again.