Jury service

[Thurlow]

First things first, I 100% agree with how jury service is run and believe everyone should do it.

But seeing another thread today (apologies for the TAAT, I didn't want to hijack) made me think. Lots of people on the thread saying you just have to sort out any problems you have i.e. childcare.

What happens if you really can't just sort something like childcare (or caring for another relative) for two weeks? What if you are a single parent or your OH works in a job that can't give time off, like teaching or the emergency services, and you don't have family or friends to help? Or what if you don't drive and the court isn't served by public transport from your area?

I really do get the logic that you should try and make it work, but what happens if you haven't got the support to go, or going would cost you absolutely £00s?

I've heard of a coulple of people just ignoring a letter that comes through and nothing more coming of it. They might threaten with a fine but I wonder how often these are given out?

Not that I approve of ignoring it as I think the jury system is really important.

To pp with health issues... You can definitely be excused on health grounds, both psyichal and mental health.

I wonder why courts don't have creches onsite? MMight make it easier for parents with young children.

I've always wanted to do it and have never been called. My ex got called up and didn't want to. Someone I knew got called three times. Doesn't seem fair to me - I don't think people should be called more than once.

I've been called twice and on both occasions my employer wrote to say he couldn't manage without me (very small business) and I've never been called since - this would have been 16-20 years ago.

I deferred as I was about to give birth when I got my summons. I said I would be free to do it after my return to work date. They just sent me a date for the next year. Quite looking forward to it actually.

Never been called up. Partner is free lance so I looked in to this recently and now sincerely hope if either of us gets the letter it is me (employee of big company) as the day rate (iirc) is capped at about fifty quid and you need to show evidence of loss of earnings. That's a bit tricky when requests for him to work are only verbal and based on his availability days rather than weeks or months before so he would have nothing to show as evidence. If I recall too only public transport/petrol is paid for so too bad if the public transport from your home is bad. I did look on a free lance forum where self employed folks were discussing this. Apparently you used to be able to defer easily but now that's not the case. Jury service for him would be an expensive do for both of us.

catherine I'd be very surprised if genuinely nothing did come of it. We've had requests in the past from court to get cops to go round to remind jurors who hadn't turned up that they HAD to be there the next day.

I got called up last year when I was EBF small DS. I didn't think to defer, just said I can't do it and that was accepted. Mind you, I did jury service a few years before that (which I deferred for a few months due to staffing levels in my office).

A question to those of you who have been called (especially those of you more than once) - do you live in/close to a major city?

Asking as I live on the outskirts of a small city, our Crown Court only hears 'small/minor' cases, anything major goes to a court the other side of the county. I have only ever know 1 person (ironically he was called twice! albeit 20+ years ago) called to serve for as long as I can remember

Ex h was called recently and got off due to him feeling depressed and our impending divorce

The one I've been called to (twice) is my nearest (about 15 miles away) and is one of the higher ranked ones, several court rooms and hears the most serious types of crime.

I was called once when I was heavily pregnant, explained by letter and they let me off. Called up again when bf, I explained again and again they let me off. The third time I could do it and it lasted three days. My ex boss was also called recently and her lasted three weeks! When you are called up its a bit of a lottery, it's not automatic (or wasn't then), there was a group of about 20 of us and the jury was picked randomly from us. They're far more understanding than you think!

DH was called a couple of years ago. DD2 was in nursery a couple of days a week and DS and DD1 went to after school club a couple of days. We claimed for additional childcare costs for all 3 DC for the days DH would normally do the dhildcare.

I also heard of one parent who had logistical problems with childcare times/bus travel and DTD was given permission to drive and claim mileage/parking.

I have never been called.

I was called up a few years ago when my children were younger, one in school and one in nursery. The court is about an hour away. I wrote back citing childcare issues and loss of earnings (and potentially customer goodwill in the event of a longer trial) and was excused.

I haven't heard back since, and while childcare wouldn't be so much of an issue, I'd still ask to be excused as I am self-employed and cannot afford to take indefinite unpaid leave. While I agree that it our civic duty, I don't think our civic duty should be at the expense of our livelihood.

DH has been called three times. He only did the third one as we were due to move to a different county both times with the first two.
I'm surprised at all the people who haven't been or don't know anyone who has been called.
I've done it, DH has done it. Three people at my work of 50 people are due to or have done it this month alone.

The case I sat on was child abuse of a now adult woman. Before it started we were told the nature of it and they said that if anyone felt they couldn't cope with that then they should say.

Interesting question about locality in relation to likelihood hood of being called. Each time DH has been called, and this time with so many colleagues doing it, I've lived in the county town which has the county court.

arla whether you like the guy right now or not, if there's any shred of truth to it then personally I consider it best not to have people on juries who may be massively distracted or unable to focus on the job.

uncleT nothing to do with liking him.

He just didn't want to do it as it was inconvenient.

I had just started childminding for a pair of CPS solicitors and explained that if I did Jury service, one of them couldn't work...I was excused..but told in no uncertain terms that it was my duty (I fully agree)and I would only be excused the once....then 12 years later on the day I started nannying for a GP another summons..this time for an inquest...a big inquest about a big fire that killed n umerous people...again I explained and got let off...this case went on for weeks.

IAmNotAPrincess

Yes, you can be excused on medical grounds, you need a letter from your GP to add to the form, but it's very straightforward.

I did it when DCs were primary school age, so it was do-able, but did involve some extra hassle with drop off and pick up etc - I asked class mates mums, and in fact some days I was home in time anyway as court hours can vary. It would have been very difficult for me if they had been younger. But it was a great experience and I found a real mix of people in the jury - all ages and professions, including (head) teachers, doctors, solicitors and 'ordinary' workers too. I think (rightly) it is quite hard to get out of it now.