To think that 14 days is not enough notice for jury service.

[NotMrsTumble]

I won't go into the boring details of why this is impossible for me, but it got me wondering quite how many people would be able to drop everything and reorganise their responsibilities (for an unspecifiedlength of time) with just two weeks notice.

I couldn't. As a self employed person, I live in fear of jury service.

Luckily I think I could get out of it

And how the hell are people supposed to pay their bills if the trial is lengthy??

Depended on circumstances.

I'm self employed and insured to cover jury service but this is not really enough notice to get cover in..

I believe beyond 2 weeks they ask who is available. I could do any longer than that.

For self employed people it is really difficult but for most employed people I don't think it's unreasonable. I do think it's something that we all have a responsibility to do if we possibly can.

The standard jury service serving period is two weeks, if there is a chance it will be longer than this (eg. long trial scheduled) they will warn you so you can get your excuses prepared (holiday, caring responsibilties etc).

Two weeks notice does seem quite short though. When I got my notification, I thought it was more like two months.

Can you defer if the period in question is inconvenient?

That is very short notice. When I was called for Jury service I had 2 months notice. I deferred mine as at the time I could not have time off work (I worked on a hospital ward and due to maternity leave, and long term sickness there were very few of us left that were IV and Epidural competent. They were very understanding that I needed to defer as they could not leave a hospital ward short of the most qualified staff.)They said I would probably be called in the future, but I have not been called since.
TBH I dread getting called again, as my health is very poor (waiting for major operations etc) and I would need to defer again, but not sure they would let me.
I did want to do jury service though. I did an A - level in law and went on a visit to the court, and found it fascinating. That said I would hate to be on a jury for a murder trial, but for us to have a functioning justice system someone has to.

I did jury service and put in a form claiming loss of earnings etc and got all my money back

Both DH and I would be stuffed with 2 week's notice. And DH is self-employed so it would bugger up contracts etc - we live in perpetual fear of being called to do it.

But despite that, I do think it would be fascinating. If I could make all the annoying practicalities go away I'd love to do jury service.

My job pays you to attend jury service. All you have to do is show proof that you've been called up (a letter, basically) and they'll pay you for all your missed shifts in full. I know you can also apply for loss of earnings and travel time/costs in some places too.

I can see it's different if you're self-employed or a SAHP parent, though.

I have 2 children who have SN. One can't be left, the other I would struggle to find childcare for. I dread jury service.

I couldn't do it with only 2 weeks notice - my clinics are booked 3 weeks in advance. It would also be unlikely that my childminder could accommodate my 2 after school every day for 2 weeks.

Given enough notice it could be organised though.

I just rang up and explained I was about to start a college course - I got out of it and the following year I was called up and again I was excused. Now I'm off the register/list thingy as you can only defer once.

Ellie - given your circumstances I doubt you would be made to attend.

You could put that as your Reason to decline ellie and they would accept that, I did when my own son who has ASD was a toddler.

I have been excused also. They say you have to but tbh many people can't. Ie if I didn't turn up for work it would have knock on effects of 4 other people not being able to work either. I was excused indefinitely because of this

elliejjtiny

They do have a discretion to defer or excuse people because of issues like care responsibilities.
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/228867/9780108508400.pdf

Thanks. I thought I could only defer for a year if I was called.

I was excused a couple of years ago as a pregnant sahm with a toddler. They were lovely about it, it must happen a lot. It was for an inquest into a fire in a block of flats, very gruesome and sad so I was glad not to have to attend.

I wish there was a way to volunteer for jury service. This is the absolute perfect time for me to do it.