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Original poster

Jury service

25 replies

Rolypoly2961 · 02/09/2023 09:37

I have been called for Jury Service. I changed the date once, but now will struggle to do the dates given due to work commitments. Is there any way of changing it a second time?

OP posts:
Overthebow · 02/09/2023 09:39

Depends what the commitments are I think. You can try but would need a good reason if you’ve already deferred once.

stbrandonsboat · 02/09/2023 09:48

Write to them and tell them you have mental health issues. You'll never hear from them again.

pilates · 02/09/2023 09:50

Tell them you have mental health issues - and that is what is wrong with the world we live in!

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Legal issues
stbrandonsboat · 02/09/2023 09:59

pilates · 02/09/2023 09:50

Tell them you have mental health issues - and that is what is wrong with the world we live in!

Many people do have mental health issues though.

Iliketulips · 02/09/2023 11:19

Are you self employed? If not, work have to accommodate jury service and allow you to attend.

Doggymummar · 02/09/2023 11:21

No I think you get one deferral, that's all. There's still a chance you won't get picked though. I've done it twice, it's really interesting. Being self employed I did lose a lot of money though, but it's our civic duty so I didn't mind.

Malteasersarered · 02/09/2023 12:35

stbrandonsboat · 02/09/2023 09:48

Write to them and tell them you have mental health issues. You'll never hear from them again.

Wow! Wrong on so many levels. It would be despicable to do this if someone is capable of jury duty.

It's an inconvenience for a short period of time. It has to be done.

Original poster
Rolypoly2961 · 02/09/2023 14:12

Iliketulips · 02/09/2023 11:19

Are you self employed? If not, work have to accommodate jury service and allow you to attend.

My work will allow me to attend but my work is not covered when I am absent and I won’t get paid. I am going to come back to a huge backlog of work plus I will struggle financially because I will only get the minimum allowance which won’t cover my outgoings. I would prefer to take holiday to do the jury service but can’t do that in the time period I am scheduled for (I didn’t think about taking a holiday when I originally deferred).

OP posts:
Doggymummar · 03/09/2023 22:14

Yes it was the same for me £65 a day is the current pay plus food and travel. Your work should top you up though.

jallopeno · 03/09/2023 22:15

Are you not meant to do jury service if you have mental health issues?

Guiltyfeethavegotnorhythm0 · 03/09/2023 22:19

pilates · 02/09/2023 09:50

Tell them you have mental health issues - and that is what is wrong with the world we live in!

Won't get far without a letter from your gp though will she/he . Even saying you're a carer for someone ill/vulnerable still needs a letter from a gp .
OP will just have to suck it up .

TheDogsMother · 03/09/2023 22:23

I have deferred three times. I'm not proud of this and I absolutely understand the need for a good mix of people on a jury however I'm self employed and the allowance would just not allow me to pay my bills.

Mindovermatter247 · 03/09/2023 22:33

I would actually love to be picked… no one in my family has ever done it. I find all of that stuff super interested. My only hope would be if I’m losing money from work I’d like it to be a more interesting case.

Original poster
Rolypoly2961 · 03/09/2023 22:34

TheDogsMother · 03/09/2023 22:23

I have deferred three times. I'm not proud of this and I absolutely understand the need for a good mix of people on a jury however I'm self employed and the allowance would just not allow me to pay my bills.

How did you manage to defer after the first time?

OP posts:
Sporkle99 · 03/09/2023 22:39

I deferred twice, both times because I am a lone mother who works full time and wouldn't have been able to get across the city in time for school pick up from the court. They were fine with it.

TheDogsMother · 03/09/2023 22:40

@Rolypoly2961 This was in the 90s and early 20s. First time I was in a commission paid job and the other two times I was self employed so no work no pay. I stated this and was allowed not to do it. Not great I know but the system just doesn't favour self employed people. I had self employed friend who was called up and she was a juror for eight weeks !

Shinyandnew1 · 03/09/2023 22:43

I would love to do jury service! Nobody in my family has ever been called, I don’t think. DH did it years ago when he was a student-way before I met him but I think I’m he’s the only person I know well who has done it.

GhostOrchid · 03/09/2023 22:56

I did it and found it super interesting. Think I missed about a week and a half of work.

There’s a lot of waiting around and IIRC if they didn’t need you for the day or the half day you can go back to work.

Tilllly · 03/09/2023 23:43

My friend got out of it years ago, by saying she wasn't very intelligent and wouldn't understand what was going on.... 🤣
To be fair, she's rather ashamed of herself now

I would hate to go on jury service, what if it was something that went on for months and months

HugoDarracott · 04/09/2023 02:27

I deferred it but gave specific dates that suited me. They accepted this and my new dates were when I'd asked for.

Original poster
Rolypoly2961 · 04/09/2023 06:41

I would like to do it if I was being paid but I will only get £65 per day. This is considerably less than I earn and will mean I can’t pay my bills.

OP posts:
OhBeAFineGuyKissMe · 04/09/2023 06:48

Your work should either top you up and expect you to catch up.

It is totally unreasonable to not pay you and expect you to cover the missed work.

Passthecake30 · 04/09/2023 06:51

myself and a colleague easily deferred to a bit later in the year, just explain and provide a window (we provided a month) that would suit you.

Doidontimmm · 04/09/2023 06:52

My husband just got called, but we have a weekend away booked 2 days after and he is a self employed contractor who earns £££ a day and without this we can’t pay the mortgage (he saves a huge amount too as not guaranteed work throughout the year). We are hoping he can defer.

jallopeno · 04/09/2023 07:10

Shinyandnew1 · 03/09/2023 22:43

I would love to do jury service! Nobody in my family has ever been called, I don’t think. DH did it years ago when he was a student-way before I met him but I think I’m he’s the only person I know well who has done it.

I thought like you. Then I ended up on a case that haunts me to this day

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