https://insidehmcts.blog.gov.uk/from-summons-to-service-your-complete-guide-to-jury-duty-podcast-transcript/
From Summons to Service: Your Complete Guide to Jury Duty - podcast transcript
[English] - [Cymraeg]
Aaron Wilson:
Hello and welcome back to another episode of Inside HMCTS with me, Aaron Wilson. It seems a bit strange to be wishing you all a Happy New Year in February, but this is officially our first episode of 2025.
This time around we’re going to be talking jury service, something that thousands and thousands of randomly selected people partake in every single year.
Many of you will have seen various court dramas on the TV involving juries, but what’s it actually like to be part of a jury, how are you selected, and how does the process work?
Today, I’m going to be joined by Deputy Director of Crime (Live Services) at HMCTS Craig Robb who has agreed to come and explain the ins and outs of serving and answer some of our most frequent questions.
So Craig, welcome to the podcast, thanks for agreeing to come on. Do you want to start with telling us what your day job is here at HMCTS?
Craig Robb:
My name is Craig Robb, and my day job is deputy director for crime, in HMCTS. So I kind of oversee the working of the Crown Court and the magistrates' courts.
Aaron Wilson:
Craig, so can you tell me what is jury service, what is the point of it, and how does it work?
Craig Robb:
Yep. Absolutely. It's a really important public duty. Anybody who stands trial, charged with criminal offence, is put on trial in a court, and those trials in the Crown Court are heard in front of a jury. You and normally 11 of your fellow peers listen to the evidence put before a court and decide on the basis of that evidence, on the guilt, or otherwise of the defendant.
Aaron Wilson:
Can everyone do jury service or are there any sorts of people that are ineligible to serve on a jury?
Craig Robb:
So, the point is anybody can be called that random to serve on a jury. There are certain limited exemptions. First of all, age, if you're under 18, so a child, or if you're over, 75 to 76 years and older, on the first day of your jury service, then you're ineligible.
You must have been resident in the UK, for a period of at least 5 years since the age 13, and you must be a registered elector, so you must appear on the electoral roll.
If you're detained for mental health reasons, if, you've ever been imprisoned for a certain period of time, etcetera, but the exceptions are relatively few. So basically, it's any person resident in the country.
Aaron Wilson:
And why is it such an important part of the justice system to have juries sitting on trials?
Craig Robb:
It goes back to Magna Carta and the fundamental right of anybody charged by the state with an offence being able to elect a trial by jury. There are some limitations to that.
So there are some lower level offences that are tried in the magistrate's courts by, essentially the same process, but it's not a panel of jurors like you get in a Crown Court, but a panel of lay justices which is kind of the same concept. But for the more serious offences, it's perceived as a basic right of anybody in the country if charged with an offence to stand and be tried by a panel of their peers.
Aaron Wilson:
I think a lot of people probably listening to this podcast will know someone who's done jury service but might not have been called themselves, who might be sort of sitting there wondering “why have I not been called?” – how does the jury selection process work, can you explain that a little bit?
Craig Robb:
Yeah. So, like I said, you have to be resident in the country to be called, for jury service, and the way they do it is the, they pick people at random from the electoral roll. It is as simple as that, and so some people may well get calls, you know, a few times. Some people may well not. I've been interested in working in the criminal justice system, working in the justice system for my whole life, and I've been quite miffed that I haven't, but, earlier, last year I was.
So random thing, I work in the court service and was called for jury service. It's luck of a draw.
Aaron Wilson:
When someone is called for jury service, what is the process for that? Because, obviously, I know you probably get summons in the post, what's the process after that?
Craig Robb:
Exactly right. Postman sticks the envelope through the door, you open it up, It says, you're being called for jury service at this court center, at this date. That normally comes through, at least a couple of months, my recollection is that it was, I don't know, three months or so, it was a good chunk of time before you have to serve, and you need to read the information that you've given and make a response. And it is as simple as that.
Once you go through that process, ultimately, unless there are reasons why you can't do it, you'll turn up and you'll do your jury service.
Aaron Wilson:
Lovely. You've touched on it just there about sort of deferrals and, and that sort of thing, but what happens if people can't serve on a jury? What happens there?
Craig Robb:
So there's a range of reasons. I mean, there are classes of people who, are not eligible to serve on a jury as we were talking about, and, and, if mistakenly you get called, then you can, write back and explain why you shouldn't. But more commonly, it's, people have got booked holidays. They've got other circumstances which make it extremely difficult for them to sit at the time that they've been requested to sit and serve as juror, and, there's a great degree of flexibility.
You can write back, give your reasons, explain the hardship or whatever reason there is to seek the deferral, and, ordinarily, the system looks at that pretty favourably.
If you've got a good reason, you put that reason, and you'll be listened to.
Aaron Wilson:
Lovely. And one of the questions we've had, sort of a quite common question, is if someone has a disability, can they still serve on the jury?
Craig Robb:
Yeah. Absolutely.
We've had blind jurors, we have had a deaf juror, anybody as long as they are not exempt has the right to serve on a jury and that's what we uphold.
Aaron Wilson:
And what about if people don't know anything about criminal law? Because obviously I know you're working within the sector, but if they're if they're worried about that, do they need to know anything before they go in there?
Craig Robb:
No. The point is you're not supposed to be a lawyer. If they if they needed criminal law experts, they'd fish from a different pool. We're asking when we call jurors for random people from civil society. You can have firemen, you can have, teachers, you can have ministers, there is no requirement for any particular knowledge. The jury will be given the information in the course of the trial that they need to sift away and come to a collective decision on you do not need to be a lawyer.
Aaron Wilson:
Obviously, some cases that jurors will sit on will be quite harrowing for them. What sort of support is in place for them should they need it following the trial?
Craig Robb:
Yeah, there are some really difficult cases across the court system, and in recognition of, of the trend, of cases getting more difficult, more sensitive, the Ministry of Justice has stood up a lot of additional support. In the gravest of cases, and there are, you know, the ones that will be on the news, there are some really harrowing circumstances that jurors are exposed to, and in those cases, there is some quite full on support, offered to jurors.
In the general types of cases, you might not need that, but there is a support wraparound for jurors. Jurors are given information about how to access further support if they need it, and actually looking at my own experience, jurors as a group can kind of provide each other a shoulder to lean on through the process. You rely on your fellow human beings as much as the official support that's offered.
Aaron Wilson:
And what happens with employers when you're called for jury service? I mean, obviously, you're here at HMCTS, how were you supported there, with attending jury service?
Craig Robb:
Well, so I was probably in the easiest position, because HMCTS, my employer, has a vested interest in allowing jurors to sit. In fact, in my own personal situation, the only thing that was, potentially problematic was the location that I did my jury service. Probably not appropriate for me to go to the local court that I work from quite a bit. So I was sent a bit further afield to a court that I wasn't familiar with. But, no generally there are, there's a legal requirement for employers to release employees where the reason is jury service and there are schemes to provide allowances to self-employed people who would be losing out on money from their business for the period sitting.
So, yes, there there's a lot of, guidance that's given depending on your circumstances. The flexibility is there.
Aaron Wilson:
I'm going to come on to allowances in a minute because we actually had a question come in about that. You've obviously been through the jury process yourself as well as what worked alongside that, but what was your experience like when you turned up the court? What happened when you arrived at court on the day?
Craig Robb:
So, like I said, it was an unfamiliar building. I'd been there before. I had to get used to queuing a little bit. There were, I mean, I was in a very large court, and I don't know how many new jurors were called on the Monday morning, but it was way in excess of 100, probably up to 200 people.
First of all, I went through a process to validate my identity. I had to show them some photo ID to show that I was who I said I was and, I was the correct person who'd been called.
We then, all of us, got through that registration process, got into a big room where we're given some induction training, given a basic overview of what the role of a jury is and what we might expect in the time that we were at the court, and then we all waited to be called to a case. And, you know, some of us waited a bit longer than others, some of us were called into a courtroom right at the beginning.
Aaron Wilson:
Okay and I think we sort of covered this one already, but what happens, I know you said it was a couple of months for you when you were selected and then you went to court, is that always the case? Does it tend to sort of move more quickly or can it be slower? What was the score with that?
Craig Robb:
It was a good chunk of time, and ordinarily, yes, they give you a fair chunk of notice, because you know, people have got busy pressured lives. If you try and write to someone and say, please come to court next week, that's not going be the best way of dealing with it.
Aaron Wilson:
And if you're called for jury service, are you guaranteed to sit on a jury?
Craig Robb:
No. I mean you'd probably be particularly unlucky if you didn't, but no actually.
So, the calling of a juror in the first instance is random, but then once you've got the pool of people waiting in the jury lounge there's then a randomization and, from that pool, a random selection is chosen to sit on each and every jury trial that starts and the court knows how many jurors it needs because they know how many courts, how many cases are going to be needing to come on. Sometimes, a case might settle at the doors of the court as the saying goes. A defendant who's pleaded not guilty until a trial has been arranged might, at the very last minute, plead guilty and so you don't need a trial and so that jury won't be necessary. So, there's a bunch of reasons why you might not get called, but generally most people who get called for jury service will sit on a trial, 1 or more trials.
Aaron Wilson:
Perfect. I'll just come in on to a couple of questions we actually had come in for this, and obviously someone really enjoyed themselves being a juror because they've asked, “can I be paid to be a full time juror?” Is that possible?
Craig Robb:
Well, so they can't, and it would rather take away the randomization, wouldn't it? So, no, that's not really the point, but it's great that people do enjoy it, and many people do.
I've heard a lot of people that do, sometimes people don't enjoy it, but the point is it really does have to be random, and that is the kind of bedrock of fairness that the system is built on. So, yes, sometimes people don't enjoy it, but actually more often than not I think people do enjoy the process and people respect the need to serve.
Aaron Wilson:
Again, this is probably from someone who's really enjoyed being a juror, is there a time frame that you can be recalled again for a second term to serve? Is there a time limit that needs to pass before you can be recalled again, or is it sort of…
Craig Robb:
This shows that I'm rusty on my facts. I think it's you can't be or sometimes if you sit on a particularly long trial or there are particularly harrowing circumstances, the judge can discharge you from ever having to sit on a jury again, and often you'll see cases like that reported on the news that often say the judge has said, jurors are excused from all future service. But I think the rule is, where that doesn't happen is you can't be recalled, within 2 years. And if you are, then you've got an absolute right to write back to the (Jury Central) Summoning Bureau and say no.
Aaron Wilson:
Perfect. There's a question around security when you come to court, if they're there every day, are they still expected to go through security, but just could you sort of clarify what checks that they'll face when they come to the court, please?
Craig Robb:
This is a really important thing actually because when anybody gets inside a criminal court, they'll see that actually you get into the building and you're, very close to members of the judiciary, to the professions, to the jury sat in a box.
And so the safety and security of the of the building is basically premised on a pretty tight ring around the perimeter. You don't get weapons, you don't get anything into the building and therefore there's a check going through the, normally single entrance of a building. Security will do a search on entry, make sure that there isn't anything there shouldn't be and then once you're inside, there's a pretty high confidence that the environment you're in is safe, and the process works. Our, incidents are very, very few.
I think our safety and security record is pretty good, but we have to have that process there at the start and if we didn't, we couldn't assure the safety of people in our buildings.
Aaron Wilson:
So there's another one here about, I think this is assuming that you're sort of sitting around for a while and not being called immediately. Can I bring my laptop to court to work and can what else can I bring with you? Can I bring food and can I bring drinks as well?
Craig Robb:
So you absolutely can. I took my laptop, day 2 of my experience as a juror. I was sat in the jury lounge for almost the entire day, and it was on my birthday, had no jury trial action, I was called actually into a courtroom at the end but, yeah, I sat in the juror lounge. I busied myself with my laptop. Lots of other jurors do that. Lots of other jurors take personal devices, take books, magazines. You can absolutely take your own food, but ordinarily, there are facilities there. The court that I did my jury service at was a fantastic canteen actually and laid on meals at lunchtime. You can go off-site, though, at lunchtime so long as the judge hasn't told you not to. It’s quite important to listen to the judge, so there's a huge degree of flexibility there.
Aaron Wilson:
This came up a little bit earlier when we were talking about sort of what jurors are entitled to, but what allowances do jurors get, while they’re serving?
Craig Robb:
Yeah, so I mean, all of this is online, so anybody can go and check the detail and if you're ever called for jury service, you'll get sent the information, and sometimes it will depend on your particular circumstances. But the basic thing is that, if you're employed or you got childcare responsibilities, you can claim up to a certain limit.
If you suffer financial losses the daily rates is up to £64.95 a day, unless you sit for longer periods, in which case it's higher. There's a food and drink allowance, it basically covers the food and drink that you get provided at the court, or you can take your own in or whatever.
I didn't have any loss of salary. I continued being paid, and lots of employers do that, some don't.
If you're self-employed, obviously, it's more complicated. The only thing I had to claim for was travel, and I attended by train, so I got my train ticket. Like I said, all of the information's available and if you have any questions, you can send them to the court and they'll help you through it.
Aaron Wilson:
And if you need sort of additional support when you come to court, as a juror, do you just get in touch with the court beforehand? Is that how that works? So say you have access needs or something like that?
Craig Robb:
Yeah, absolutely. The contact details for the court are all there. I mean, the information pack they send through is quite, quite full, so you know the facilities and the accessibility of the court. But if you've got any questions, contact details are there and that's who you speak to.
Aaron Wilson:
And a personal question for you because obviously you've served on a jury and seen the other side of it as well. What would you say to someone who's about to go and serve on the jury? What would be your one bit of advice you could give to them?
Craig Robb:
I mean go do it. I thought it was a fantastic experience, one of the most eye opening, and I mean, it was challenging, but it was overall a fantastic experience, and one that I'm actually quite proud of. Don't go in with anxiety. This is not kind of everything on your shoulders. You are part of a cohort of jurors both in the lounge and then when you get into a jury room. The judges, I think, are absolutely brilliant. They will guide you.
If you've got any questions through any of the process, you ask the judge, the judge deals with it. Don't go in with anxiety, I think is the is the is the tip.
Aaron Wilson:
Brilliant, well Craig thank you so much for coming on to the podcast and sharing so many helpful insights about jury service and the selection process and for taking some of the common questions we’ve regularly been asked.
For those listening, now is your chance to get involved with the podcast, if you have a burning question about the justice system that you’re not sure about please do get in touch with us.
There’s a number of different ways you can do that including emailing us at HMCTS.Communications@justice.gov.uk, by leaving a comment on our podcast episode blog page or by sending us a message on our X, Facebook or LinkedIn accounts.
We can’t promise we’ll be able to cover every topic, but do also let us know if you have any feedback or want to see certain episodes in our upcoming schedule.
Thank you again to everyone who’s tuned in today and keep an eye out for the next episode coming very soon.
[English] - [Cymraeg]
O Wŷs i Wasanaeth: Eich Canllaw Llawn i Wasanaethu ar Reithgor - trawsgrifiad podlediad
Aaron Wilson:
Helo a chroeso i bennod arall o Inside HMCTS gyda fi, Aaron Wilson. Mae’n teimlo braidd yn rhyfedd dymuno Blwyddyn Newydd Dda i chi i gyd ym mis Chwefror, ond dyma ein pennod gyntaf yn 2025 yn swyddogol.
Y tro hwn rydyn ni’n mynd i fod yn siarad am wasanaethu ar reithgor, rhywbeth y mae miloedd ar filoedd o bobl a ddewiswyd ar hap yn ei wneud bob blwyddyn.
Bydd llawer ohonoch wedi gweld dramâu llys amrywiol ar y teledu yn ymwneud â rheithgorau, ond sut brofiad yw bod yn rhan o reithgor, sut ydych chi’n cael eich dewis, a sut mae’r broses yn gweithio?
Heddiw, bydd Dirprwy Gyfarwyddwr Trosedd (Gwasanaethau Byw) GLlTEF Craig Robb yn ymuno â mi, ac mae wedi cytuno i ddod i egluro manylion y gwasanaeth ac ateb rhai o’n cwestiynau cyffredin.
Felly Craig, croeso i’r podlediad, diolch am gytuno i ymuno â ni. Ydych chi eisiau dechrau trwy ddweud wrthym ni beth yw eich swydd bob dydd yma yn GLlTEF?
Craig Robb:
Fy enw i yw Craig Robb, a fy swydd bob dydd yw dirprwy gyfarwyddwr trosedd, yn GLlTEF. Felly, dwi’n goruchwylio gwaith Llys y Goron a’r llysoedd ynadon.
Aaron Wilson:
Craig, allwch chi ddweud wrtha’ i beth yw’r gwasanaeth rheithgor, beth yw ei ddiben, a sut mae’n gweithio?
Craig Robb:
Gallaf. Yn bendant. Mae’n ddyletswydd gyhoeddus wirioneddol bwysig. Mae unrhyw un sydd wedi’i gyhuddo o drosedd yn destun treial mewn llys, ac mae’r treialon hynny yn Llys y Goron yn cael eu gwrando o flaen rheithgor. Fel arfer byddwch chi ac 11 o’ch cyd-gyfoedion yn gwrando ar y dystiolaeth a roddir gerbron y llys ac yn penderfynu ar sail y dystiolaeth honno, p’un a yw’r diffynnydd yn euog ai peidio.
Aaron Wilson:
A all pawb wasanaethu ar reithgor neu a oes unrhyw fath o bobl nad ydyn nhw’n gymwys i wasanaethu ar reithgor?
Craig Robb:
Felly, y pwynt yw y gellir galw unrhyw un ar hap i wasanaethu ar reithgor. Mae rhai eithriadau cyfyngedig. Yn gyntaf oll, oedran, os ydych chi o dan 18, felly yn blentyn, neu os ydych yn 75 i 76 oed a hŷn, ar ddiwrnod cyntaf eich gwasanaeth rheithgor, yna rydych chi’n anghymwys.
Rhaid eich bod wedi bod yn byw yn y DU am gyfnod o 5 mlynedd o leiaf ers yr oeddech chi’n 13 oed, a rhaid i chi fod yn etholwr cofrestredig, felly mae’n rhaid i chi ymddangos ar y gofrestr etholiadol.
Eithriadau eraill yw os ydych chi’n cael eich cadw am resymau iechyd meddwl, os ydych chi erioed wedi cael eich carcharu am gyfnod penodol o amser, ac ati, ond mae’r eithriadau’n gymharol brin. Felly yn y bôn, mae’n cynnwys unrhyw berson sy’n byw yn y wlad hon.
Aaron Wilson:
A pham ei bod hi’n rhan mor bwysig o’r system gyfiawnder i gael rheithgorau i eistedd mewn treialon?
Craig Robb:
Mae’n mynd yn ôl at y Magna Carta a hawl sylfaenol unrhyw un a gyhuddir gan y wladwriaeth o drosedd i allu ddewis treial gan reithgor. Mae rhai cyfyngiadau i hynny.
Felly mae rhai troseddau lefel is yn cael eu rhoi ar brawf yn y llysoedd ynadon gan yr un broses yn ei hanfod, ond nid panel o reithwyr fel y cewch chi yn Llys y Goron mohono, ond panel o ynadon lleyg, felly’r un cysyniad mwy neu lai. Ond ar gyfer y troseddau mwy difrifol, mae’n cael ei weld fel hawl sylfaenol unrhyw un yn y wlad os ydyn nhw’n cael eu cyhuddo o drosedd i sefyll a chael eu rhoi ar brawf gan banel o’u cyfoedion.
Aaron Wilson:
Dwi’n meddwl y bydd llawer o bobl yn ôl pob tebyg sy’n gwrando ar y podlediad hwn yn adnabod rhywun sydd wedi gwasanaethu ar reithgor ond efallai nad ydyn nhw wedi cael eu galw eu hunain, a allai fod yn eistedd yno yn pendroni “pam nad ydw i wedi cael fy ngalw?” – sut mae’r broses o ddewis rheithgor yn gweithio, allwch chi egluro hynny ychydig?
Craig Robb:
Gallaf. Felly, fel y dywedais i, mae’n rhaid i chi fod yn byw yn y wlad hon i gael eich galw ar gyfer gwasanaeth rheithgor, a’r ffordd y maent yn gwneud hyn yw, maen nhw’n dewis pobl ar hap o’r gofrestr etholiadol. Mae mor syml â hynny, ac felly mae’n bosibl iawn y bydd rhai pobl yn cael eu galw ychydig o weithiau. Mae’n ddigon posib na fydd rhai pobl yn cael eu galw o gwbl. Dwi wedi bod â diddordeb mewn gweithio yn y system gyfiawnder troseddol a finnau wedi gweithio yn y system gyfiawnder erioed, a dwi wedi bod yn eithaf siomedig nad ydw i wedi cael fy ngalw, ond, dechrau llynedd, cefais fy ngalw.
Rhywbeth ar hap felly, dwi’n gweithio yn y gwasanaeth llysoedd a chefais fy ngalw i wasanaethu ar reithgor. Mae’n ymwneud â lwc felly.
Aaron Wilson:
Pan fydd rhywun yn cael ei alw i wasanaethu ar reithgor, beth yw’r broses ar gyfer hynny? Oherwydd, yn amlwg, dwi’n gwybod eich bod yn cael gwŷs yn y post yn ôl pob tebyg, beth yw’r broses ar ôl hynny?
Craig Robb:
Mae hynny’n union gywir. Mae’r dyn post yn rhoi’r amlen drwy’r drws, rydych chi’n ei hagor, mae’n dweud, rydych chi’n cael eich galw i wasanaethu ar reithgor yn y ganolfan llys hon, ar y dyddiad hwn. Daw hynny fel arfer, o leiaf cwpl o fisoedd, o be dwi’n ei gofio, tua thri mis ymlaen llaw. Roedd cyfnod hir o amser cyn bod yn rhaid i chi wasanaethu, ac mae angen ichi ddarllen yr wybodaeth yr ydych wedi’i chael ac ymateb i’r llythyr. Mae mor syml â hynny.
Unwaith y byddwch chi’n mynd drwy’r broses honno, yn y pen draw, oni bai bod rhesymau pam na allwch chi ei wneud, byddwch yn troi i fyny ac yn gwneud eich gwasanaeth rheithgor.
Aaron Wilson:
Hyfryd. Rydych chi wedi sôn am ohiriadau a’r math yna o beth, ond beth sy’n digwydd os na all pobl wasanaethu ar reithgor? Beth sy’n digwydd adeg hynny?
Craig Robb:
Felly mae amrywiaeth o resymau. Hynny yw, mae yna ddosbarthiadau o bobl nad ydyn nhw’n gymwys i wasanaethu ar reithgor fel yr oedden ni’n sôn amdano, ac os cewch eich galw ar gam, yna gallwch ysgrifennu’n ôl ac egluro pam na ddylech gael eich galw. Ond yn fwy cyffredin, mae pobl wedi trefnu gwyliau. Mae amgylchiadau eraill sy’n ei gwneud yn anodd iawn iddyn nhw eistedd ar yr adeg y gofynnwyd iddyn nhw eistedd a gwasanaethu fel rheithiwr, ac, mae llawer iawn o hyblygrwydd.
Gallwch ysgrifennu’n ôl, rhoi eich rhesymau, esbonio’r caledi neu ba bynnag reswm gennych dros wneud cais i ohirio, ac, fel arfer, mae’r system yn edrych ar hynny’n eithaf ffafriol.
Os oes gennych chi reswm da, a rydych chi’n rhoi’r rheswm hwnnw, bydd rhywun yn gwrando arnoch chi.
Aaron Wilson:
Hyfryd. Ac un o’r cwestiynau rydyn ni wedi’u cael, cwestiwn eithaf cyffredin, yw os oes gan rywun anabledd, a allan nhw dal wasanaethu ar reithgor?
Craig Robb:
Gallant. Yn bendant.
Rydyn ni wedi cael rheithwyr dall, rydyn ni wedi cael rheithiwr byddar, mae gan unrhyw un, cyn belled nad ydyn nhw wedi’u heithrio am resymau penodol, yr hawl i wasanaethu ar reithgor a dyna rydyn ni’n ei ategu.
Aaron Wilson:
A beth os nad yw pobl yn gwybod unrhyw beth am gyfraith droseddol? Oherwydd yn amlwg dwi'n gwybod eich bod chi'n gweithio o fewn y sector, ond os ydyn nhw'n poeni am hynny, a oes angen iddyn nhw wybod unrhyw beth cyn iddyn nhw fynd i’r llys?
Craig Robb:
Nac oes. Y pwynt yw nad ydych i fod yn gyfreithiwr. Pe bai angen arbenigwyr cyfraith droseddol arnyn nhw, bydden nhw’n chwilio ymysg carfan wahanol. Pan rydyn ni’n galw rheithwyr rydyn ni’n gofyn am bobl ar hap o gymdeithas sifil. Gallwch gael dynion tân, gallwch gael athrawon, gallwch gael gweinidogion, nid oes gofyniad am unrhyw wybodaeth benodol. Bydd y rheithgor yn cael yr wybodaeth sydd ei hangen arnyn nhw yn ystod y treial er mwyn didoli a dod i benderfyniad ar y cyd. Nid oes angen i chi fod yn gyfreithiwr.
Aaron Wilson:
Yn amlwg, bydd rhai achosion y bydd rheithwyr yn eistedd arnyn nhw yn rhai eithaf dirdynnol. Pa fath o gymorth sydd ar gael iddyn nhw pe bai ei angen yn dilyn y treial?
Craig Robb:
Ie, mae yna rai achosion anodd iawn ar draws y system llysoedd, ac i gydnabod y duedd, o achosion yn mynd yn anoddach, yn fwy sensitif, mae’r Weinyddiaeth Gyfiawnder wedi cyflwyno llawer o gefnogaeth ychwanegol. Yn yr achosion mwyaf difrifol, ac mae yna, wyddoch chi, y rhai a fydd ar y newyddion, mae yna rai amgylchiadau dirdynnol iawn y mae rheithwyr yn agored iddyn nhw, ac yn yr achosion hynny, mae yna gefnogaeth gref yn cael ei chynnig i reithwyr.
Mewn mathau cyffredinol o achosion, efallai na fydd angen hynny arnoch, ond mae cefnogaeth ar gyfer rheithwyr o’r dechrau i’r diwedd. Rhoddir gwybodaeth i reithwyr ynglŷn â sut i gael gafael ar gefnogaeth bellach os oes ei hangen arnyn nhw, ac mewn gwirionedd o edrych ar fy mhrofiad fy hun, gall rheithwyr fel grŵp gefnogi ei gilydd drwy’r broses. Rydych chi’n dibynnu cymaint ar eich cyd-ddyn â’r gefnogaeth swyddogol a gynigir.
Aaron Wilson:
A beth sy’n digwydd i gyflogwyr pan fyddwch chi’n cael eich galw i wasanaethu ar reithgor? Yn amlwg, rydych chi’n gweithio yma yn GLlTEF, sut y cawsoch eich cefnogi yno, o ran mynychu gwasanaeth rheithgor?
Craig Robb:
Wel, felly mae’n debyg fy mod yn y sefyllfa rwyddaf, oherwydd mae gan GLlTEF, fy nghyflogwr, ddiddordeb personol mewn caniatáu i reithwyr eistedd. Mewn gwirionedd, yn fy sefyllfa bersonol fy hun, yr unig beth a allai fod yn broblemus oedd y lleoliad y gwnes i fy ngwasanaeth rheithgor. Ni fyddai’n briodol i mi fynd i’r llys lleol dwi’n gweithio ynddo cryn dipyn. Felly, cefais fy anfon ychydig ymhellach i lys nad oeddwn i’n gyfarwydd ag ef. Ond, yn gyffredinol, mae gofyniad cyfreithiol i gyflogwyr ryddhau gweithwyr ar gyfer gwasanaethu ar reithgor ac mae cynlluniau i ddarparu lwfansau i bobl hunangyflogedig a fyddai’n colli arian o’u busnes yn ystod y cyfnod eistedd.
Felly, oes, mae yna lawer o ganllawiau sy’n cael eu rhoi ichi yn dibynnu ar eich amgylchiadau. Mae’r hyblygrwydd yno.
Aaron Wilson:
Dw i’n mynd i symud ymlaen at lwfansau mewn munud oherwydd cawsom gwestiwn am hynny. Rydych chi’n amlwg wedi bod trwy’r broses rheithgor eich hun yn ogystal â’r hyn a weithiodd ochr yn ochr â hynny, ond sut brofiad gawsoch chi pan ddaethoch chi i’r llys? Beth ddigwyddodd pan gyrhaeddoch chi'r llys ar y diwrnod?
Craig Robb:
Felly, fel y dywedais, roedd yn adeilad anghyfarwydd. Roeddwn i wedi bod yno o’r blaen. Roedd yn rhaid i mi ddod i arfer â chiwio ychydig. Roeddwn i mewn llys mawr iawn, ac nid wyf yn gwybod faint o reithwyr newydd a alwyd ar y bore Llun, ond roedd yn llawer mwy na 100, yn ôl pob tebyg, hyd at 200 o bobl.
Yn gyntaf oll, es i trwy broses i ddilysu fy hunaniaeth. Roedd yn rhaid i mi ddangos ID llun iddyn nhw i ddangos mai fi oedd pwy oeddwn i’n dweud oeddwn i ac mai fi oedd y person cywir a oedd wedi cael ei alw.
Yna, aethom ni i gyd drwy’r broses gofrestru honno, cyn mynd i ystafell fawr lle cawsom ni rywfaint o hyfforddiant sefydlu, a throsolwg sylfaenol o beth yw rôl rheithgor a’r hyn y gallem ni ei ddisgwyl yn yr amser yr oeddem yn y llys, ac yna roeddem i gyd yn aros i gael ein galw i achos. Ac, roedd rhai ohonom ni’n disgwyl ychydig yn hirach nag eraill, cafodd rhai ohonom ein galw i mewn i ystafell llys ar y dechrau un.
Aaron Wilson:
Iawn a dwi’n meddwl ein bod ni wedi trafod hyn yn barod, ond beth sy’n digwydd. Rwy’n gwybod eich bod wedi dweud bod rhai misoedd rhwng pan gawsoch chi eich dewis ac yna pan aethoch i'r llys, a yw hynny'n wir bob amser? A yw’n tueddu i symud yn gyflymach neu a all fod yn arafach? Beth oedd y drefn gyda hynny?
Craig Robb:
Roedd yn gyfnod hir o amser, ac fel arfer, ydyn, maen nhw’n rhoi cryn dipyn o rybudd ichi, oherwydd wyddoch chi, mae gan bobl fywydau prysur ac maen nhw dan bwysau. Os ydych chi’n ceisio ysgrifennu at rywun a dweud, dewch i’r llys yr wythnos nesaf, nid dyna’r ffordd orau o ddelio ag ef.
Aaron Wilson:
Ac os cewch eich galw i wasanaethu ar reithgor, a ydych chi’n sicr o eistedd ar reithgor?
Craig Robb:
Nac ydych. Byddech yn fwy na thebyg yn arbennig o anlwcus pe na baech yn gwneud hynny, ond nac ydych mewn gwirionedd.
Felly, mae galw rheithiwr yn y lle cyntaf yn digwydd ar hap, ond yna unwaith y bydd gennych y garfan o bobl yn aros yn lolfa’r rheithgor, o’r gronfa honno, dewisir pobl ar hap i eistedd ar bob treial rheithgor sy’n dechrau ac mae’r llys yn gwybod faint o reithwyr sydd eu hangen arno oherwydd eu bod yn gwybod faint o lysoedd, faint o achosion y bydd angen rheithgor. Weithiau, gall achos setlo’n syth. Gall diffynnydd sydd wedi pledio’n ddieuog nes bod treial wedi’i drefnu, ar y funud olaf un, bledio’n euog ac felly nid oes angen treial arnoch ac felly ni fydd angen rheithgor. Felly, mae yna lawer o resymau pam efallai na fyddwch chi’n cael eich galw, ond yn gyffredinol bydd y rhan fwyaf o bobl sy’n cael eu galw am wasanaeth rheithgor yn eistedd ar dreial, un treial neu fwy.
Aaron Wilson:
Perffaith. Mi wna i fynd ymlaen at gwpl o gwestiynau oedd wedi dod i mewn ar gyfer hyn, ac yn amlwg fe wnaeth rhywun fwynhau bod yn rheithiwr yn fawr oherwydd eu bod wedi gofyn, “a allaf gael fy nhalu i fod yn rheithiwr llawn amser?” A yw hynny’n bosibl?
Craig Robb:
Wel, na allant, a byddai’n cael gwared ar y broses o ddewis ar hap, yn byddai? Felly, na, nid dyna’r pwynt mewn gwirionedd, ond mae’n wych bod pobl yn ei fwynhau, ac mae llawer o bobl yn ei fwynhau.
Dwi wedi clywed am lawer o bobl sydd yn ei fwynhau, weithiau nid yw pobl yn ei fwynhau, ond y pwynt yw bod yn rhaid iddo fod ar hap mewn gwirionedd, a dyna'r math o sylfaen o degwch y mae'r system wedi'i hadeiladu arni. Felly, ie, weithiau nid yw pobl yn ei fwynhau, ond mewn gwirionedd yn amlach na pheidio dwi’n meddwl bod pobl yn mwynhau’r broses ac mae pobl yn parchu’r angen i wasanaethu ar reithgor.
Aaron Wilson:
Unwaith eto, mae’n debyg bod hwn gan rywun sydd wedi mwynhau bod yn rheithiwr yn fawr, a oes yna amserlen ar gyfer pryd y gallwch chi gael eich galw yn ôl eto i wasanaethu ar reithgor am ail dymor? A oes terfyn amser y mae angen iddo fynd heibio cyn y gellir eich galw yn ôl eto?
Craig Robb:
Mae hyn yn dangos nad ydw i’n cofio fy ffeithiau. Dwi ddim yn meddwl y gallwch gael eich galw’n ôl neu weithiau os byddwch yn eistedd ar dreial arbennig o hir neu os oes amgylchiadau arbennig o ddirdynnol, gall y barnwr eich rhyddhau rhag gorfod eistedd ar reithgor byth eto, ac yn aml fe welwch achosion o’r fath yn cael eu hadrodd ar y newyddion sy’n aml yn dweud bod y barnwr wedi dweud, bod rheithwyr yn cael eu hesgusodi o wasanaethu ar reithgor yn y dyfodol. Ond dwi’n meddwl mai’r rheol yw, lle nad yw hynny’n digwydd, na allwch gael eich galw’n ôl, o fewn 2 flynedd. Ac os ydych yn cael eich galw’n ôl, yna mae gennych bendant hawl i ysgrifennu’n ôl at y Swyddfa Ganolog Gwysio Rheithgorau a dweud na.
Aaron Wilson:
Perffaith. Mae yna gwestiwn ynghylch diogelwch pan fyddwch chi’n dod i’r llys, os ydyn nhw yno bob dydd, a oes disgwyl iddyn nhw fynd drwy’r system ddiogelwch bob dydd, ond a allech chi egluro pa wiriadau y byddan nhw’n eu hwynebu pan ddônt i’r llys, os gwelwch yn dda?
Craig Robb:
Mae hyn yn beth pwysig iawn mewn gwirionedd oherwydd pan fydd unrhyw un yn mynd i mewn i lys troseddol, byddan nhw’n gweld eich bod yn mynd i mewn i’r adeilad a’ch bod yn agos iawn at aelodau’r farnwriaeth, at y proffesiynau, at y rheithgor yn eistedd mewn blwch.
Ac felly mae diogelwch yr adeilad yn seiliedig yn y bôn ar gylch eithaf tynn o amgylch y perimedr. Nid ydych yn cael cario arfau, nid ydych yn cael dod ag unrhyw beth i mewn i’r adeilad ac felly cynhelir gwiriadau diogelwch wrth fynd trwy unig fynedfa adeilad fel arfer. Bydd swyddogion diogelwch yn eich chwilio wrth ddod i mewn, yn gwneud yn siŵr nad oes unrhyw beth na ddylai fod gennych ac yna unwaith y byddwch y tu mewn, mae hyder eithaf uchel bod yr amgylchedd yr ydych ynddo yn ddiogel, a bod y broses yn gweithio. Ychydig iawn, iawn o ddigwyddiadau ydyn ni’n eu cael.
Rwy’n meddwl bod ein hanes diogelwch yn eithaf da, ond mae’n rhaid inni gael y broses honno yno ar y dechrau ac os na fyddwn ni, ni allem ni sicrhau diogelwch pobl yn ein hadeiladau.
Aaron Wilson:
Felly mae un arall yma, dwi’n meddwl bod hwn yn cymryd yn ganiataol eich bod yn eistedd o gwmpas am dipyn ac nad ydych yn cael eich galw ar unwaith. A alla i ddod â fy ngliniadur i’r llys i weithio a beth arall allech chi ddod gyda chi? A alla i ddod â bwyd ac a alla i dod â diodydd hefyd?
Craig Robb:
Gallwch, yn sicr. Mi es i â fy ngliniadur, ar ail ddiwrnod fy mhrofiad fel rheithiwr. Roeddwn i’n eistedd yn lolfa’r rheithgor am y diwrnod cyfan bron, ac roedd hi ar fy mhen-blwydd, heb achos llys rheithgor, cefais fy ngalw i mewn i ystafell llys ar y diwedd ond, ie, eisteddais yn lolfa’r rheithwyr. Fe wnes i gadw fy hun yn brysur gyda fy ngliniadur. Mae llawer o reithwyr eraill yn gwneud hynny. Mae llawer o reithwyr eraill yn dod â dyfeisiau personol, llyfrau, cylchgronau gyda nhw. Gallwch chi fynd â’ch bwyd eich hun yn sicr, ond fel arfer, mae yna gyfleusterau yno. Roedd gan y llys lle gwnes i fy ngwasanaeth rheithgor ffreutur ffantastig a dweud y gwir ac roedden nhw’n darparu prydau amser cinio. Fodd bynnag, gallwch fynd oddi ar y safle amser cinio cyn belled nad yw'r barnwr wedi dweud wrthych am beidio. Mae’n eithaf pwysig gwrando ar y barnwr, felly mae yna rywfaint o hyblygrwydd yno.
Aaron Wilson:
Cafodd hyn ei godi’n gynharach pan oeddem ni’n sôn am yr hyn y mae gan reithwyr hawl iddo, ond pa lwfansau y mae rheithwyr yn eu cael, tra byddan nhw’n gwasanaethu ar reithgor?
Craig Robb:
Ie, mae hyn i gyd ar-lein, felly gall unrhyw un fynd i wirio’r manylion ac os byddwch byth yn cael eich galw i wasanaethu ar reithgor, bydd yr wybodaeth yn cael ei hanfon atoch, ac weithiau bydd yn dibynnu ar eich amgylchiadau penodol. Ond y peth sylfaenol yw, os ydych yn cael eich cyflogi neu os oes gennych gyfrifoldebau gofal plant, gallwch hawlio hyd at swm penodol.
Os byddwch yn dioddef colledion ariannol mae’r cyfraddau dyddiol hyd at £64.95 y dydd, oni bai eich bod yn eistedd am gyfnodau hirach, ac os felly mae’n uwch. Mae lwfans bwyd a diod, yn y bôn mae’n cynnwys y bwyd a’r diod a ddarperir i chi yn y llys, neu gallwch fynd a’ch bwyd a diod eich hun i mewn neu beth bynnag.
Doeddwn i ddim yn colli cyflog. Fe wnes i barhau i gael fy nhalu, ac mae llawer o gyflogwyr yn gwneud hynny, ond nid yw pob un yn gwneud hyn.
Os ydych chi’n hunangyflogedig, yn amlwg, mae pethau’n fwy cymhleth. Yr unig beth yr oedd yn rhaid i mi hawlio amdano oedd teithio, a mynychais ar y trên, felly cefais arian am fy nhocyn trên. Fel y dywedais, mae’r holl wybodaeth ar gael ac os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau, gallwch eu hanfon i’r llys a byddant yn eich helpu.
Aaron Wilson:
Ac os oes angen math o gymorth ychwanegol arnoch pan fyddwch yn dod i’r llys, fel rheithiwr, a ydych chi’n cysylltu â’r llys ymlaen llaw? Ai dyna sut mae hynny’n gweithio? Felly dywedwch fod gennych chi anghenion mynediad neu rywbeth felly?
Craig Robb:
Ie, yn hollol. Mae manylion cyswllt y llys i gyd yno. Hynny yw, mae’r pecyn gwybodaeth y maen nhw’n ei anfon drwodd yn llawn iawn, felly rydych chi’n gwybod am gyfleusterau a pha mor hygyrch yw’r llys. Ond os oes gennych chi unrhyw gwestiynau, mae’r manylion cyswllt yno a dyna pwy rydych chi’n siarad â nhw.
Aaron Wilson:
A chwestiwn personol i chi oherwydd yn amlwg rydych chi wedi gwasanaethu ar reithgor a gweld yr ochr arall iddo hefyd. Beth fyddech chi’n ei ddweud wrth rywun sydd ar fin mynd i wasanaethu ar reithgor? Beth fyddai eich un darn o gyngor y gallech ei roi iddyn nhw?
Craig Robb:
Ewch i wasanaethu. Roeddwn i’n meddwl ei fod yn brofiad ffantastig, yn agoriad llygaid mawr, ac roedd yn heriol, ond ar y cyfan roedd yn brofiad gwych, ac yn un rwy’n eithaf balch ohono. Peidiwch â mynd i mewn iddo yn teimlo’n bryderus. Nid yw’n rhywbeth lle mae pwysau mawr arnoch chi. Rydych chi’n rhan o garfan o reithwyr yn y lolfa ac yna pan fyddwch chi’n mynd i mewn i ystafell rheithgor. Mae’r barnwyr, yn fy marn i, yn hollol wych. Byddan nhw’n eich arwain.
Os oes gennych unrhyw gwestiynau trwy unrhyw ran o’r broses, rydych yn gofyn i’r barnwr, a bydd y barnwr yn delio ag ef. Peidiwch â mynd i mewn i mewn iddo yn teimlo’n bryderus, dwi’n meddwl mai dyma’r cyngor byddaf yn ei roi.
Aaron Wilson:
Gwych, wel Craig diolch yn fawr i chi am ddod i’r podlediad a rhannu cymaint o fewnwelediadau defnyddiol am y gwasanaeth rheithgor a’r broses ddethol ac am ateb rhai o’r cwestiynau cyffredin a ofynnir i ni’n rheolaidd.
I’r rhai sy’n gwrando, nawr yw eich cyfle i ymwneud â’r podlediad, os oes gennych gwestiwn mawr am y system gyfiawnder nad ydych yn siŵr amdano, cysylltwch â ni.
Mae yna nifer o wahanol ffyrdd y gallwch chi wneud hynny gan gynnwys anfon e-bost atom yn HMCTS.Communications@justice.gov.uk, trwy adael sylw ar ein tudalen blog penodau podlediad neu drwy anfon neges atom ar ein cyfrifon X, Facebook neu LinkedIn.
Ni allwn addo y byddwn yn gallu ymdrin â phob pwnc ond rhowch wybod i ni hefyd os oes gennych unrhyw adborth neu os hoffech weld rhai penodau yn ein hamserlen sydd i ddod.
Diolch eto i bawb sydd wedi gwrando heddiw a chadwch olwg am y bennod nesaf a fydd yn dod yn fuan iawn.
