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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:
Scarlettpixie · 22/12/2020 13:27

I wouldn’t be keen either at the moment but the justice system has to keep operating.

Can’t your DH arrange to start late for the two weeks abd then arrange childcare after school until one of you are done? There is likely a local childminder or nursery with space and you have loads of time to plan.

Obviously if any of you are isolating at the last minute I would think you are likely to be excused.

RudolphToldRedNoseNotSymptom · 22/12/2020 13:31

You said your parents couldn't do wraparound for all 4, but they could do so for DC1. Then put the other 3 into wraparound with their school.

It sounds more like having to go into the city is what is stopping you - rather than a childcare issue. Have you received any treatment for your anxiety?

RudolphToldRedNoseNotSymptom · 22/12/2020 13:33

My dc have been in childcare since 6 months old. It's nothing new or extraordinary and the children love it.

RudolphToldRedNoseNotSymptom · 22/12/2020 13:35

If your anxiety is preventing you from living a normal life, I'd strongly suggest that your life is being limited and you should be seeking treatment. You can't hide under the 'I'm a stay at home Mum' all your life. It's an excuse and I know that I make them too, but you should be trying to push yourself to do normal things.

ilovesooty · 22/12/2020 13:35

@Dominicwestsscooter

You shouldn’t do if it you won’t be able to focus on jury duty. It’s an extremely important job. It’s no wonder the jury system of justice is a shambles if people are made to do it when they’re unable to give it their full attention.
Well they call people up who are incapable of following and understanding the evidence...
riddles26 · 22/12/2020 13:36

Anyone with children who are primary school aged can be excused and not called back until the youngest is over 11. (Will be additional criteria for SEN and older children but I cant quote from memory)

Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 13:37

There is no space in the wraparound care and my parents cant do childcare at the moment due to covid, they are over 65 with health conditions.

I am medicated for my anxiety and depression and can handle my normal daily life well on this level. but yes the idea of going to any town/city centre causes me huge worry. i live very rurally and other than the DC attending school (where i can keep a large distance from everyone else) i haven't been out into a public/social setting since the first lockdown. its a risk i have no wish to take.

OP posts:
BethlehemIsInTier1 · 22/12/2020 13:37

Do you think you are the only one in this position @MiaThermopolis ?

If we all thought the same the justice system would not be able to operate.

Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 22/12/2020 13:38

Riddles where do you get that information? I would happily do it after covid and after DC are much older!

OP posts:
MadameBlobby · 22/12/2020 13:42

I would have no hesitation in trying to sack off. What a pain in the arse. But this is mumsnet where you’ve got to inconvenience yourself/your children/family to suit random strangers/the justice system/god knows what at all times or be deemed “selfish” and “irresponsible”.

I am exempt from jury duty thankfully or I’d have no hesitation trying to get out of it, the expenses are shit as well/

emmathedilemma · 22/12/2020 13:43

I got called a couple of months ago. They jury was to sit in a cinema with legal folk screened from the courtroom and you weren't allowed to wear masks during the proceedings. I'm only mildly asthmatic but I said I wasn't willing to put my health at risk and I got excused no way I'm sitting in a room with random strangers for potentially days or weeks (it was high court) when

riddles26 · 22/12/2020 13:45

DH was called a couple of years back and had to defer first dates because we were away (flights already booked). It was in the paperwork we received when he deferred. As he didn't request exemption for childcare, he was called back a month after original date

SofiaMichelle · 22/12/2020 13:46

@MadameBlobby

I would have no hesitation in trying to sack off. What a pain in the arse. But this is mumsnet where you’ve got to inconvenience yourself/your children/family to suit random strangers/the justice system/god knows what at all times or be deemed “selfish” and “irresponsible”.

I am exempt from jury duty thankfully or I’d have no hesitation trying to get out of it, the expenses are shit as well/

Who do you think should do jury service, then?
MadameBlobby · 22/12/2020 13:49

Who do you think should do jury service, then?

If they want people to be willing to do it then they should actually make it practical for people to do so and actually reimburse salaries and childcare costs in full.

I can’t do it anyway so it’s a moot point but would I fuck give up my decent salary to claim less than half that in expenses. Most employers don’t pay staff who are on jury service.

MitziK · 22/12/2020 13:50

@BethlehemIsInTier1

Do you think you are the only one in this position *@MiaThermopolis* ?

If we all thought the same the justice system would not be able to operate.

My mother got out of it three or four times because she had a young child each time the letter arose. To my knowledge, the English Legal system did not collapse at any point between 1957 and 1984 because of her not wanting to do it. I would imagine that if she received another call up in the years since the last child left home, she'd have sacked it off on the grounds of being Disabled or old.
ftm202020 · 22/12/2020 13:54

They will excuse you don't panic. My dh asked to be deferred as he is self employed and would lose his £500 a day contractor rate if made to do jury service and they excused him. I am a SAHM and when it was my turn said if my husband had to take over the children for 2 weeks it would cost us £500 a day as he is self employed and they excused me too. They really aren't there to make people do jury services regardless of the personal cost to them. We would be happy to do jury service if he wasn't on a contract at the time but we aren't going to be out of pocket thousands of pounds to do it.

MadameBlobby · 22/12/2020 13:57

@BethlehemIsInTier1

Do you think you are the only one in this position *@MiaThermopolis* ?

If we all thought the same the justice system would not be able to operate.

Well given we all don’t think the same on anything else that is unlikely to happen. People on low wages and/or don’t have caring responsibilities are a lot less likely to find it an inconvenience.
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 22/12/2020 13:59

OP it sounds from your most recent post like you have since checked with your wraparound care (or what would be your wraparound care) and they are full, right?

Also that you are on meds for anxiety and this would exacerbate it?

Why don't you ring them now and say that following filling in the online form, you've had some further relevant info - on the childcare, I mean - and could they take it into acct? Also, would a note from your GP re your anxiety help?

When you have that info from them you know if it would help to get medical evidence for your condition. Also, they have all the info to help them make a decision.

That is probably your best chance. You should probably also say that you're happy to do it in future, just not now.

Jangle33 · 22/12/2020 13:59

@riddles26 that’s simply incorrect. The rules changed several years ago. Even solicitors and police officers are no longer exempt.

OP this really sounds more about your anxiety than anything else. It sounds crippling.

Have you actually checked that the reimbursement doesn’t cover all the childcare? And if not, I think it’s one of the minimal costs of choosing to have 4 children and not work you need to suck up.

People have to sit on juries and lose out on paid work and/or go and do a full time job as soon as court has finished for the day.

You can defer for up to 12 months but if it’s at a more inconvenient time there’s little you can do. And if it’s only at your local court I’d be there like a shot as opposed to getting called for a 6 month trial at a major court which might have been the other option.

We have a duty to do this, not just when we are retired! Juries must be representative.

riddles26 · 22/12/2020 14:03

@jangle33 it was in the paperwork we received 2 years ago, if it's changed since then I am incorrect. We didn't Google or look elsewhere at the time so its not possible to have read it from an incorrect source.

Saying that I also know of people who have submitted evidence to show it would result in financial difficulty due to self employment etc and been excused

SofiaMichelle · 22/12/2020 14:04

@ftm202020

They will excuse you don't panic. My dh asked to be deferred as he is self employed and would lose his £500 a day contractor rate if made to do jury service and they excused him. I am a SAHM and when it was my turn said if my husband had to take over the children for 2 weeks it would cost us £500 a day as he is self employed and they excused me too. They really aren't there to make people do jury services regardless of the personal cost to them. We would be happy to do jury service if he wasn't on a contract at the time but we aren't going to be out of pocket thousands of pounds to do it.
You say all this as if it's normal to be able to 'get off' jury service if it's going to cost you money.

You can get specific cover on your hone insurance for losses due to jury service, so no, it's not that you just get get off doing it if you're a high earner.

I did it in 2016 (3 weeks) and there was someone there who was not being paid as he'd just started a new job. He wasn't excused on those grounds even though he'd asked for a deferral.

riddles26 · 22/12/2020 14:09

@Jangle33, DH was called to Old Bailey so maybe that had something to do with why it was listed as possible exemption for school aged children? That is all I can imagine as I am absolutely certain it was listed. In his case, he said he was abroad, gave 3 possible dates in the next 12 months he could attend and was called for one of them.

In light of current circumstances with COVID, limited/no wraparound childcare plus age of children, I imagine they will be fair and flexible

yahyahs22 · 22/12/2020 14:18

@stillcaughingandlaughing hahahahaha

MadameBlobby · 22/12/2020 14:19

Even solicitors and police officers are no longer exempt.

I am a solicitor and hence ineligible for jury service.

Jangle33 · 22/12/2020 14:20

@riddles26 the OP could defer to a more convenient date within 12 months as your DH did. I think unfortunately for her cancelling entirely due to her circumstances is unlikely. However perhaps she may get a medical exemption.

Frankly though (subject to how bad this anxiety is) I think it’s much appropriate for her to do it than someone who will lose £1000s as they are self employed. Agree entirely though that you should self insure but appreciate not everyone can afford/has foresight.

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