Case rules

Tell the story. Don't identify the people.

Internet Jury settles everyday arguments. It is not a place to name, shame or expose anyone.

What makes a good case

• An ordinary dispute where reasonable people could disagree: chores, money, lateness, plans, etiquette, family expectations.
• Your side, told honestly, and a fair summary of the other person's view. Cases with both sides get better verdicts.
• Roles instead of names: "me", "my flatmate", "the neighbour", "my sister-in-law".

What to remove

Before a case goes live we check it for details that could identify the people involved, and highlight anything we find. Please remove:

• Names (first names, surnames, nicknames) and social media handles
• Addresses, postcodes, street names and number plates
• Workplaces, schools, clubs and other organisations
• Phone numbers, email addresses and links
• Photos, screenshots and very distinctive details (a unique job title, a local news story)

Contact details, addresses, handles and full names must be removed before a case can be published. If we spot something that might be a name or a workplace and you confirm it is not a real identifying detail, a moderator checks the case before it goes live.

No allegations of serious crimes

Cases cannot accuse people of serious criminal conduct, such as assault, sexual offences, abuse, stalking, theft or fraud. Those situations deserve proper help, not a public vote. If something like that has happened to you, contact the police (999 in an emergency, 101 otherwise), Citizens Advice or Victim Support. Cases that use this kind of language are held for a moderator.

Jury room rules

• Deliver a verdict before you comment. It keeps drive-by abuse down.
• Comment on the dispute, not the people. Disagreement is fine. Insults, slurs and threats are not.
• Do not guess who anyone is, or post anything that could identify them.
• Report anything that breaks these rules. A comment reported by two different people is hidden until a moderator has checked it.

If you recognise yourself

Cases should never be identifiable, but people do sometimes recognise their own argument. If you believe a case is about you and it identifies you, or it is unfair in a way that matters, tell us with a link and we will review it quickly. The submitter can also delete their own case at any time.

What a verdict means

A verdict is the opinion of the people who voted, based on one side's account. It is not a legal ruling, it is not advice, and the majority is not necessarily right.