Jury service

[LML86]

I've recently received a letter to attend jury service, I suffer with anxiety and depression and struggle to concentrate and to leave the house. Do I just explain this information on the form with my doctors address or shall I ask for a doctors letter.

I think you will need a doctors letter. Jury service is a very serious thing and there are only certain grounds for being excused. I am fairly certain that you will be asked for proof of your condition.

I am sorry that you suffer this way, hopefully you get the outcome you need.

I have autism and anxiety, when I got a letter calling me for jury duty I just wrote back and explained the anxiety aspect mostly and I wouldn’t be able to do it, I was excused and didn’t have to get proof, but this was in 2018/19 so maybe things have changed since then but the gov website says “reply to the summons explaining your reasons in detail and you might need to give proof”

Thank you for your advice

My partner is autistic and asked to be excused, they deferred and he did it in August, he really enjoyed it

I have just received my summons. This will be my third time. I have enjoyed the previous experiences. Have had to postpone it to later in the year due to a pre planned trip.
Am really looking forward to it: because this time it is for the Old Bailey!! Am actually excited.

I had to get a letter from my midwife when I was called on the date of my cesarean. I had phoned them and was told by some total jobsworth that ‘lack of childcare isn’t an excuse’ I mean wtf?! Was I supposed to get stitched up, dump the newborn with her Dad and then hobble along to court?

Yes, you’ll need a letter. If you call your doctor’s surgery, they should be able to help. You do need a specifically phrased letter.

I’ve spoke to a lady earlier today from the jury summons department, She was very helpful and she said just write about your mental health issues and there is no need for a doctors letter.

Were you excused @LML86? And did you have to give any evidence?

Hi atgnat, I have not heard anything at the moment and I’m hoping I don’t need any evidence, but as soon as I hear back from them I will let you know.

That’s so unfair! I’ve always wanted to do it and never been asked.

Chances are you won't have to do anything anyway. I've been called 3 times but never sat on a jury as I wasn't randomly selected in the next rounds. Annoying though as I had to plan for doing it. But I believe they summon 100s of people per court per week and only about 1 in 10 of those summoned actually serve. And they fully expect about half to ask not to do it for one reason for another.

(this is in Scotland. Maybe in England they summon much smaller initial numbers?)

Thank you - I'm in the same position so will also update on the outcome!

The amount of stress and panic I feel right now tells me everything I need to know about how useful I would be on a jury, if my anxiety could even get to the point of sitting in the court.

I totally understand I could not do jury service the way I am I struggle mostly every day my concentration is very poor and I struggle with social environments

😂😂
"Sorry dr, could you speed up these stitches, I've got to get to jury service"

This is what I did and then got a letter saying I was excused x

@BIossomtoes it is really exciting!! I keep telling everyone.

Hi atgnat, Just to let you know I’ve had a letter and been excused from jury service,So you should have a letter saying the same.