will I be excused from Jury Duty on grounds of having 2 preschool children?

[mrsravelstein]

Just that, really.

Received jury duty summons today, would actually love to do it, but have 3dc age 1, 3 and 9, and there's nobody who can look after them all day for up to 2 weeks, so I have asked to be excused.

Just wondered if anyone else has done so - it says they only excuse you in exceptional circumstances, and I'm not sure if this counts?

[MavisEnderby]

Am sure it will,they won't want to shell out for cc.I was excused for having dd and bf.Second time i had been called.Enjoyed it the first time when was child free.

[mrsravelstein]

the accompanying bumpf says they pay 32.47 per day for any childcare costs incurred... round here that would just about pay for 3 hours worth of babysitting...

[MavisEnderby]

I sent them a letter.I would do same highlighting your cc costs.Unless you really have a yen to be a juror

[mrsravelstein]

will do, thanks! (i think it would be really interesting, but would rather do it in 5 years time when it's a bit easier with childcare...)

[iskra]

DP got out of jury service pleading childcare responsibilities.

[jcscot]

I just completed eight days of jury service (in Scotland) and, despite having three pre-schoolers, I was not excused.

[Resolution]

I got out pleading not getting paid at work meant I'd not have enough money for the bills that month.

Depends on how many people they usually have turn up I suppose.

[mrsravelstein]

jcscot - that's a pain... i wonder what they expect you to do about childcare though? i can't exactly leave all 3 kids with a stranger from a nanny agency for 2 weeks, can i?

[SandStorm]

I was excused. Maybe it's different in Scotland.

[jcscot]

I was lucky that my mother could help but I was simply told to organise the childcare and turn up. Childcare was not a reasonable excuse.

Perhaps it differs depending on the circumstances (number of trials per jury sitting, number of jurors cited etc)?

[mrsravelstein]

that's terrible - leaving aside the issue of how my younger 2 children would feel at being left with a stranger from 8am to 6pm for a fortnight, the daily £32 childcare rate they offer wouldn't go anywhere near covering it, so it would end up costing me personally well over £1000. ho hum, anyway obviously i won't be doing that!

[ineedagoodsolicitor]

God, I would just love to be called up for Jury duty in the hope that a change is as good as a rest.

[freshmint]

if you have nobody who can help and cannot afford the childcare costs and say you would love to do it in a few years but can't manage it now the likelihood is that they will excuse you this time. Unless they are desperate.

The last thing they want is for you to disappear half way through a 2 week indecent assault case because your kid is sick/childcare has collapsed.

[hocuspontas]

I got a letter today. Am trying to think up a good reason why I can't do it. It's 40 miles away and the financial reimbursement won't cover loss of income. I got excused 15 years ago on the pre-school/non-driving ticket. Haven't got that excuse now though unfortunately...

[Aimsmum]

I have got out of doing it twice (in Scotland) due to lack of childcare, I would actually really like to do it, hopefully in a few tears time!

[Aimsmum]

few years even!

[mrsravelstein]

aims, yes me too, have always thought it would be an interesting experience, but it really couldn't have come at a more difficult time childcare wise!

[freshmint]

public service hocuspontas?

not great to have juries comprised of unemployed men (which is often the case)

[Meglet]

£32.47 a day? My 2 cost £80 a day for nursery.

[mrsravelstein]

meglet, exactly, i'd have to go to local nanny agency, which i think is around 15 quid an hour...

[hocuspontas]

It's sod's law though. All the people who are desperate to do it (dp for one) never get picked. Reluctant types like me get picked twice.

If it was 5 mins down the road and I wouldn't be out of pocket then I would be quite happy to do it. Well, maybe not happy, but I would do my duty. Spending an hour motoring up and down the M11 twice a day and being paid peanuts in recompense isn't on when you're broke.

[mrsravelstein]

yeh, my mum is 67 and has ALWAYS desperately wanted to do it. my dad has been called up i think 3 times, and each time has written them a polite (and genuine) letter saying he's an anarchist and doesn't believe in any form of organised police/court system and therefore can't participate. each time they've said that's not a valid reason, so he tells them (again genuinely) that he's self employed and can't afford to take the time off, and they excuse him.

[Ballarat]

What's the situation if you're self-employed and need your salary to cover the mortgage?
Are you supposed to have a set of savings just for jury service?

[Ballarat]

Oh ok, x posts.

[lovemydog]

Trouble about jury service is you can't even be sure you'll be picked to go on a trial. I arrived for mine last Tuesday, spent the whole morning sitting around and was sent home at lunchtime. Wednesday I was put into a pool for a case which might last 3 - 4 weeks! - but at lunchtime we were told the defendant had entered a plea which was acceptable to the court and we were sent home. I then had to phone every afternoon to find out whether I was needed or not. On Tuesday I called in and was told I had been discharged . . . No real problems for me, my employers continue to pay in full and I didn't need child care.