Bloody jury service

[fussychica]

In all my years at work, where I would have been paid by my employer, I was never called for jury service. I'm now retired and I've been called right in the middle of the summer. Although I don't mind doing the actual thing getting there will be a nightmare, (I dont drive) and the subsistance doesnt even cover 2 drinks let alone lunch. I dont have an actual holiday booked but had quite a few plans for this part of the summer. I know its my civic duty but Im a bit pissed off about it as if you couldnt tell

decent people cba - no it's not CBA...... It's scared absolutely and utterly shitless, having to juggle childcare, put jobs on the line, risk mental health getting worse...... The worry of having to do a certain date if I get called up gives me sleepless nights even without the situation ever arising - I need routine - cancelling things I've booked stresses me out - Jury service would mean lots of my mental health 'triggers' coming at once, especially with the 'you msy turn up then not be needed' thing - that would be enough to cause me a breakdown then and there, especially if I had cancelled other plans or refused invitations to be at the court!
However I refuse to have continuous treatment at the doctors just to avoid this. Would rather continue not seeing doc (as have got to a level where every day life is ok) and pay the fine.

As for the OP I understand why they're pissed off - it's not a good system at all..... I'm sure if it was easier to 'opt out' you would get a full jury of people who want to do their jury service and trials would be better. It's the system at fault!

Jury service almost caused us to lose our home many years ago. We had not long graduated and DH was working on a contract basis. Hadn't had enough time to build up savings to cover periods of illness yet. He had already deferred 2 yrs previously as it was right before his finals. He ended up doing 9wks and we ended up in massive debt and missing a mortgage payment. It took us 2yrs to get back on track. It was hideously stressful and another week and we were heading towards losing the house.

To be honest I can see why people don't register to vote as registering and being in the electoral role means you can get called up, not being on the role means you won't get called up - if voting wasn't so important....

Exactly itsnotas - the system is a shambles!

It's more likely that people will vote guilty to get it over and done with quickly Justuse. That was certainly the impression I got. In general people do listen during the trials though.

In my experience, it's the sheer inefficiency of the system and poor facilties that put people off. If they would say 'don't come tomorrow' that would be fine, but they will literally have you sitting their waiting for two weeks for very little to happen. I don't know where the idea for 'generous expenses' comes from. I got less than a fiver a day and the hideous machine coffee was about £1.50 a cup.

There was nowhere you could leave your belongings, nowhere you could keep food cold or reheat food and the canteen was the cheapest inedible mass catering available sold at about a fiver or more a portion.

Fgs! The OP and anyone really is allowed to vent about how inconvenient it is. That doesn't mean they sit there waiting for their chance to let guilty people walk free!

YANBU, that is annoying
why they don't keep a database of people who actually want to do it, I don't know. Can you defer to a more convenient time? Also, ask re costs, you should not be out of pocket for this.

I wouldn't want someone trying a case if they didn't want to be there either.

I'm losing all faith. I don't want innocent people to be found guilty just so people can get home quickly. Ffs what a situation

HYW, no need for the face, maybe consider yourself lucky you're not in the position TBR is in, which is more worrying than someones who is just wanting to complain that someone is very upset about a possible situation.

I would hate to get a murder, rape or child cases.

My dp has had jury service and he didn't mind it but he hated the waiting around.

So sorry this has come in the middle of doing nothing for the rest of your life.

Dh and I both did jury service when we were in our twenties. I'd be very happy to be called up again.

doing something she finds a bit dull - maybe, or maybe she could be involved in a harrowing case that will mentally scar her. I wouldn't call a murder or child abuse trial (if she got one) 'a bit dull'.
Yes I get that the op doesn't come across too well, but the system is still rubbish!

Just looked at the expenses paid - doesn't cover DH's wages or the ammount we'd need for childcare if I got called up at all on '4 hours and under' (as would take at least an hour either way by train so would need wrap round childcare) and doesn't quite cover it in the next bracket either! Rubbish!!

www.gov.uk/jury-service/what-you-can-claim

A good point that if you're a witness, or on trial you don't get to defer or time back. FIL had to wait years for a trial and couldn't work during that period until the not guilty verdict came in. Now that messes you up financially a lot more than 2 weeks does.

Also, you can present a letter to the judge to get exempted off longer trials if you have a good reason and they'll usually consider it. I did this as I was on a 4 week trial, however after speaking with the judge I stayed on that trial as there was a few being picked that day that were expected to be getting on for a year. I thought I'd stick rather than gamble as it depends on the judge and everyone has a letter for a year long trial!

Can I clarify that even though I wouldn't want to do jury service (no childcare for the preschooler and there is no breakfast/after school provision here and childminders are full so gawd only knows what I'd do with my 8yo), I'd never let it affect my response to the actual trial process if I was required to do it. You can be pissed off with the system without abusing the people at the mercy of it.

It's really not about decent people CBA. I reckon there are thousands of decent people who would volunteer to do it in a heartbeat but never get called as well as thousands of decent people for whom it's not convenient right now. They could sort that out tbh.

I'm not sure I want people who volunteer either, to be honest. I'd be suspicious of their motives - doing it for the money (ha!) or to validate their own prejudices. At least a random ballot has a chance of finding the honest and fair from the population.

Fwiw - if I did get called up and didn't gave the mental probs I have is be mega pissed off at the system but certainly wouldbt give a 'guilty' verdict just to get home. I sincerely hope no one would actually do that! I'd be fair.

It's not the case here but as you can see from my post, it can be financially catastrophic for those who are self employed esp if they've just recently entered self employment. But then the system wasn't designed to allow for people who only earn if they actually work. Not was it designed to be able to cope with complex childcare issues. It def needs reform because the right to be tried by a jury of your peers is crucial for justice IMO.

Thanks for the link DramaQueen. I'd be ok in term time but significantly out of pocket in the holidays. I wonder if that could be taken into account?

MrRinky did jury service just before Christmas and only had to go in for 3 days of the fortnight stint. The court he was at had a system where he had to call a number each evening to confirm whether he was required the next day. Was good for him, and his work were very happy that he only had to miss a few days rather than the whole fortnight planned, but would be a PITA if you'd arranged childcare.

I do think it is an important civic duty that everyone who is able should participate in though.

Very good point about witnesses/victims though - but at least they [kinda] have a choice as I understand it and can give written or video or whatever if they want to ..... But again it's the shit system. Can't see how it could be changed much to help them to be fair, and that's a shame.
People awaiting trial or acting as witnesses should get financial help during and before the trial/verdict as loss of earnings is not fair. The system is rubbish but.....how do we fix it? To be fair I don't think any 'solution' would be ideal.

I don't want innocent people to be found guilty just so people can get home quickly. Ffs what a situation

Who said they would do that?