Jury duty !

Most people react with horror when they receive a letter from the Sheriff giving notice of jury duty. For five thousand Sydney people there will be the added chance of being one of the fifteen selected for the trial of six alleged terrorists - which is expected to run for at least nine months - and more probably a full year.

The Sheriff has cast his net wide in the hope of selecting fifteen impartial people. This case has been widely reported in the media and many people have strong feelings about the war on terror.

Each day a panel of one thousand potential jurors will be examined - and over a five day period the defence and prosecution will agree on the fifteen to serve.

Only twelve jurors will deliberate on a verdict, but there will be three following the proceedings in case illness or other circumstances cause a juror to withdraw - thus aborting the trial.

The fifteen selected will face enormous problems. For a start there is the prospect of the jury being sequestered - put in a secure motel for the length of the trial and denied contact with family or friends.

Then there are work and family obligations. By law, an employer must release an employee for jury duty and can face big penalties if that person is sacked or misses promotion because of the absence. Jurors are also paid for their attendance, but in many cases this pay is less than their usual renumeration.

There is also an element of risk. The trial accuses these six men of " conspiring to do acts in preparation for a terrorist attack ".

The jurors names are supposedly secret, but leaks do occur and there is always the prospect of terrorist sympathisers trying to influence a favourable verdict by threatening either the juror or his or her family.

Serving on that jury would be a nightmare for most people, but obviously it has to be done - and fifteen people are going to be stuck with the job !

The only plus is that when the trial is finished a grateful judge will most likely excuse them from further jury duty for the rest of their lives !