Graeme Hacking

I have recently completed jury service - not ideal timing immediately after launching a national political party, but there we go. Having seen the system from the inside, I can see it needs a fundamental overhaul. The way jurors are treated by the staff and the process is appalling. Decent taxpaying men and women doing their civic duty are not properly compensated and are constantly messed around. Losing time and money. There one day, nothing happens. The next, nothing happens. It’s unclear, confusing and disrespectful to working men and women. I absolutely believe in the jury trial, and voted to defend it in Parliament. But like so much else wrong with the state, the system needs tearing apart and starting again - giving the jurors more respect and compensation. I don’t care, I don’t need the money. It’s the self-employed men and women losing thousands who I worry about. I spoke to several who were going to be significantly out of pocket. That is just wrong. Time wasted, badly planned, and put the accused at the centre of the process. Strong confirmation to me that the law is now half a cut above itself! I will be raising my experience in Parliament in the hope to improve the system. The judge’s name who demanded I attend? Rupert Lowe. You couldn’t make it up.