Bit random - jury service at 30 ish weeks?

[seriouslynonames]

Just received a summons to do jury service in late July when I'll be around 30 weeks. They say usually 2 weeks, but could be more could be less.

I would have to reschedule an anti-d injection and possibly a scan if it goes on two or more weeks. Which might be fine.

But also have no clue about court etiquette - whether I'd be able to excuse myself to pee (which I obviously need to do frequently!) or whether I could bring snacks into the court (can't go too long without eating or the nausea returns).

Anyone done jury service, pregnant or not, and any advice as to whether I should try to defer or just go and do it....?

Am interested in doing it and had to decline about 10 years ago when I received a summons when living abroad. But at the same time, don't want to agree and then regret it!

thanks...

[Thurlow]

I got a summons for when I would have been about 25w, I think. I phoned them up and said I was pregnant and they just deferred with no comment or questions at all. I was all prepared to explain I might be throwing up or peeing all the time, but I suppose its something they regularly excuse people for

[Whatabout]

Better to do it now before baby than defer. You may not get selected anyway so I wouldn't worry too much. I'm not sure on leaving to go to the loo, there must be someone here or on the legal board that knows.

[Sid77]

I'd defer if I were you. You might need to wee a lot, be hot, be cold, be starving, uncomfortable in one position for any length of time etc. it's not like work where you can nip to the loo or for a walk round the office. It's accepable to defer because of pregnancy so I would.

[Sid77]

Oh and if you defer you may not get called again for years - it's not like you defer for 6 months. And if you get called while you have a small baby/childcare issues, you can defer!

[Glomerulus]

I did it in early pregnancy and would say there's no reason not to do it at 30 weeks. A few things to bear in mind:

• you might not get selected for a case (they over-allocate by a LOT). They're also pretty sympathetic to personal circumstances, so in the unlikely event there's a long trial, you probably won't be asked to do it;
  
• you can ask for a comfort break at any time, there are ushers to help you, and when I sat on a trial it was uncommon to be sat in court for longer than an hour and a half at a time (they don't like to overload you with information);
  
• hours are pretty reasonable (10-4ish) with decent lunch breaks, so if it's local to ante natal appointments, you may be able to fit these in around court. Again, if you tell the court in advance, they'll make sure to accommodate you (I sat on a trial where we had a morning off when a juror had a family emergency).
  

Like a pp said, better to do it now than defer it and have to organise childcare! I actually found it pretty rewarding, so hopefully you'll find it a good experience

[seriouslynonames]

thanks for all the quick replies!
I actually already have one DC so will have to sort childcare anyway for two days per week (I work 3 days a week so have childcare for those days anyway).

Hmm. will have a think tonight, thanks again, and any further views / experience welcome!

[Purpleboa]

I'd say defer. I did jury service a few years ago and it ended up running over three weeks. You're sitting down a lot (which I find uncomfortable generally) and you have to ask for permission to go for a wee - and that means the whole court has to wait on you, which is a little embarrassing! Plus the room can be warm and legal proceedings get boring - I actually fell asleep one afternoon and had to be woken by the judge! And I wasn't pregnant at the time. At 30 ish weeks with this pregnancy, my sciatica and spd had both kicked in, and even sitting for ten minutes was painful. No way could I have sat through it.

That's just my experience of course, but I wanted you to know what you might be getting into.

[Pedestriancrossing]

Hi i have just finished doing 2 weeks jury service. If you defer you will usually be recalled within the next 12 months as you are still on the "selected" list. Personally I would turn up on day one of your current summons and have a chat with court officer who is there to look after jurors. You may be released straight away or if selected to a jury, if you then feel unwell they would be very likely to release you and bring in a replacement juror. Once released you have "done" your jury service and won't be called again for at least 2 years. You spend most time in the waiting jurors room where you can walk about / go for a wee / have a drink whenever you want. Also get get to read / watch crap tv/ chat / go on mumsnet so not too much of a hardship! As long as yet feel ok I would just do it.

[Thisismyfirsttime]

I was in the same situation (I think it was for when I was 32 weeks) and I wrote back to them and they excused me which means I won't be called up for 3 (or maybe 2 or 5? A set number anyway) of years whereas if you get deferred because of a booked holiday or work etc you can be called up again in a much shorter space of time. I was so relieved, I was worrying about leaving a small baby, BFing etc but they're used to it!

[Cherryblossomsinspring]

Nightmare for me. I was breastfeeding my ds when I got called (only moved to the bloody country 6mts before!) But I deferred. They then called me for a week after dd was due, incidentally she was a week late and born on that day so another deferral. I've had a letter saying ill be called next Sept again and I'll be 30 wks pregnant then. Sigh. I doubt they'll defer me a 3rd time unless I have a doc note or something. It's a bloody pain in the ass as I am self employed too and to take 2 weeks off loses me nearly 3k.