A QC on jury service at the Old Bailey was discharged from serving for a third successive time yesterday after explaining that he knew lawyers involved in the case.
The barrister was in the jury panel for a burglary trial but said he could not serve because he knew several people in the courtroom.
Barristers were exempt from jury service, along with other professionals such as doctors or members of the Armed Forces, until April this year.
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Under the Criminal Justice Act aimed at preventing the middle class from opting out of jury service, they now have to sit although they can seek a deferral.
In six days of jury service the QC has been ineligible to serve on three separate trials. Last week, he was discharged from a murder trial because he knew the prosecutor. Yesterday he was discharged from a sex trial because he knew the judge. Then he was asked to serve on a burglary trial — but was ruled ineligible again.
One of the judges said: “I don’t know how this legislation is going to work intelligently.” The trial went ahead without a replacement juror.