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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to want to be excused from Jury Service due to Covid?

159 replies

MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 10:01

As 2020 is the year that keeps on giving, jury summons arrived this morning for february.

I am going to ask to be excused on the basis of 4 primary aged DC for who I am sole carer outside of school hours (DH works long hours). They could also be required to isolate at any given time and clearly you can't outsource childcare for self isolating DC!

I am also asthmatic and fat, my risk of complications from Covid is high and the thought of spending time in the city centre and then inside buildings with strangers terrifies me (I live rurally and bar the kids going to school and my weekly shop delivery I have seen no-one for months.).

Will this be enough to get me excused? I just can't deal with this right now!!

OP posts:
hamblebamble · 22/12/2020 10:23

Honestly, I would just call in on the day and tell them I had Covid symptoms and need to isolate.

Jangle33 · 22/12/2020 10:32

You can usually delay once. I think your DH might need to step up here and do some childcare. You can also get it reimbursed.

snugglepuff · 22/12/2020 10:41

Do any of your children have special needs? My son has autism and an SEN statement, I was excused on that basis.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 22/12/2020 10:42

Tell them you’re a racist and believe anyone of [insert race or religion of your choice] would definitely be guilty as they’re known to be a shifty lot.

Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 10:47

This isn't about DH 'stepping up' - you can't seriously be expecting him to take two weeks off work (unpaid as he has no holiday left) for this? I don't work outside the home so there is no income from me.

No special needs. I'm a SAHP so my DC have never been left with any other childcare other than my parents and Covid means thats not an option at the moment.

OP posts:
Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 10:48

Plus my parents are not in a position to do 2 sets of school runs (one DC is at a different primary to the others and they are 20 mins apart).

I can't delay as there is no point in the next 12 months this would change!

OP posts:
Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 10:49

hamble that will have to be what i'll do if they refuse to excuse me I think.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 22/12/2020 10:51

I was excused a good few years ago because of childcare issues. I said that these wouldn't change in the near future. I've not been called back.

Soontobe60 · 22/12/2020 10:51

They often excuse you in your circumstances. Just contact them and explain.

ilovesooty · 22/12/2020 10:53

@hamblebamble

Honestly, I would just call in on the day and tell them I had Covid symptoms and need to isolate.
I think that's really irresponsible. Suppose everyone did that?
Highfivemum · 22/12/2020 10:58

I was called up a few years ago. Similar situation to yours. I was excused without question when I told them about childcare issues. My DH cannot take time off easily. You will be excused from servie

Jangle33 · 22/12/2020 10:59

I really don’t think being a SAHP is sufficient. Being in breakfast/after school club for two weeks, if DH really can’t have any flex in their job is going to kill them. Many of us have no choice but to do so every day of the year. I’d expect the court service would expect a written note from school to confirm that there is no space but I think most would accommodate.

Many people I know who who jury service then have to go home and do a full job after the day in court plus arranging extra childcare. I think you don’t realise how fortunate you are!

lazylump72 · 22/12/2020 11:00

Just go do it ...I had Jury service in june ..it was really quite interesting and although in the midst of covid the courts did everything possible to keep us safe and secure and you do meet some lovely ,different interesting people and you can claim for childcare so thats not an issue. You might be able to defer it but not get out of it all together!

halcyondays · 22/12/2020 11:01

Plenty of schools don’t even have after school clubs.

Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 11:03

Quite simply I do not want to have to put my children in a childcare setting that they have never been in, in the midst of a pandemic while I have to sit inside a building in a city centre with a whole load of people, in the middle of a pandemic, when I am at risk of complications if I contract covid.

One DC's school does not run a breakfast/after school club in any case.

It's not that I dont want to do jury service, its just that i dont want to do it now! ask me in 10 years time and i'd be happy to do it!!

Reassuring that others have been excused for childcare reasons.

OP posts:
Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 11:06

Jangle and if my kids were already in childcare all day through the week this would be a lot easier to organise. as it is they are not and have never been. even if there was space in the breakfast club at the one school who runs one I still wouldn't get to the court in time, i'm 45 mins away, plus time to park and get there etc it would be at least an hour.

OP posts:
DivGirl · 22/12/2020 11:07

It’ll depend on the courts. My terminally ill DH was called up, his doctor sent in a letter saying he’s terminally ill and on a transplant list so there is no way he’ll be able to do it at any point in the near future. They accepted that but then called him up again within 3 months, same rigmarole. Eventually after the third time rather than send a letter he just went, explained in person, and wasn’t called up again.

xmas20 · 22/12/2020 11:07

I understand it being a faff, but you sound very privileged. What you describe is most peoples day to day.

Children in childcare early morning then off to work. I don't think you'll get that much sympathy here, OP.

Contact them if you don't want to do it, see what they say.

MonsterChopz · 22/12/2020 11:08

I have 2 kids with SEN and my husband is a pole officer (can't get time off easily outwith assigned holiday periods). I have been excused twice for these reason but whenever I have been excused I have always only been excused for a 12 month period and then put back into to "pot" of potential jurors. The 3rd time I was called I managed to get some childcare organised as both were in school so only needed help after school. Thankfully I wasn't selected so it was only 1 at court.

MonsterChopz · 22/12/2020 11:09

*police officer

xmas20 · 22/12/2020 11:09

@DivGirl gosh how awful for him, just not what you need at such a difficult time. Thanks

Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 11:11

xmas i get that it's 'most people's day to day' but it isn't my day to day and never has been. Expecting 4 and 6 year olds to suddenly go off to childcare when they've never been in that situation? assuming i could even find childcare with space for 4 DC who can drop at their various schools and collect!! DC who are already struggling with the mental affects of lockdowns.

And i am genuinely worried that i will be very unwell should I contract covid.

OP posts:
Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 11:12

div thats awful!

OP posts:
morekidsthanhands · 22/12/2020 11:14

I had it in March. I work from home usually and have three young children one with SEN. My partner works in a children's home so not available for school runs.
I didn't get excused for those reasons and had to use a combination of partners holidays, after and before school clubs, extended nursery hours and my mum picked the kids up when she finished work.
It was a nightmare. On the second week schools closed and my mum had to isolate and there was no way I could continue so got off it for that. They weren't pleased though!

Apandemicyousay · 22/12/2020 11:15

Childcare isn’t usually regarded as an excuse in itself, esp if you have partner and schools. If you’re higher risk for covid, that might be a better reason, and assume if your asthma is a real issue you’d be on shielding list and that would serve as proof.