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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:
Shiverywinterbottom · 23/12/2020 18:09

I would write to them and tell them you’re unable to attend due to childcare. If they refuse, I would turn up to the court on the day with all 4 kids in tow!!
My dad is a police officer and was called up, it was completely pointless. Every case that came up he knew either the police officers involved, the defendants themselves.. even some of the solicitors.
He got excused in the end.

KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 23/12/2020 19:13

OP I work in the criminal justice system, tell them what you've told us; you are a SAHP with 4 under 11 and no access to childcare, given Covid you can't ask parents due to vulnerability, and that you yourself are medicated for anxiety and will find this impossible (and can provide a doctor's note if required). You will be given a deferment and are incredibly unlikely to be called up again and if you are it won't be for a good while.

KarlKennedysDurianFruit · 23/12/2020 19:14

@Shiverywinterbottom I'm not police but similar and the same happened to me, I've worked in this field for more than a decade. My grandpa got called to the old Bailey which I would love

Divebar · 23/12/2020 19:20

Wow. You’re not coming across incredibly well. I was called up for Jury service and didn’t actually have to be there until 10. I think I deferred once but was given a second date. I dare say there are childminders who could help.

Canwecancel2020 · 23/12/2020 19:25

@Jangle33

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.
I was called for jury service... You’re only compensated up to £43/day to cover travel and childcare... so it doesn’t cover it at all.
SadderThanEeyore · 23/12/2020 19:34

@MiaThermopolis check your messages

squiddybear · 23/12/2020 19:36

I'm surprised your breakfast club starts at 8:45 to be honest.
The question of having to isolate is the same for anyone so not really an excuse

Canwecancel2020 · 23/12/2020 19:38

I was excused being main carer for 3 kids (2 primary one infant)

Lemmeout · 23/12/2020 19:51

Having children doesn’t mean your life should be on hold or that you and they can’t exist outside of your comfort zone. A lot of things in a life are a faff but people adapt.

Splodgetastic · 23/12/2020 19:59

I deferred due to an exam but I definitely was called up after the deferral plus I had moved house - this was only after six months. DF has had to do it twice! After three times you can be excused completely. It is a faff if you are not a parent too, as your work doesn’t stop and if you are self employed you lose money compared to what you might earn but might be given a bit of a pass if the trial is going to be long. Old Bailey trial is not necessarily fun. It might be interesting but it could be disturbing, e.g., terrorism or gangs. Beware if your court is Southwark. This is a specialist fraud court although there is other stuff like drugs and gangs. The trials can be long!

Lemmeout · 23/12/2020 20:02

The justice system is based on fair trial by ones peers , the jury. Be an active citizen.

Parker231 · 23/12/2020 20:16

From Gov.uk

Ask to change the date or be excused

If you cannot do jury service on the dates in your summons letter, you can ask to change the date or be excused.

Ask to change the date of your jury service
You might be able to change the date of your jury service to another date within the next 12 months. You’ll need a good reason, for example:

a booked holiday
an operation
an exam
your employer will not give you time off work

You can only ask to change the date once.

To change the date, reply to your jury summons giving your reason. When you reply you can suggest 3 possible dates in the next 12 months that work for you.

Ask to be excused from jury service

If it’s not possible for you to do jury service in the next 12 months, you can ask to be excused. You’ll need a good reason, for example:

you have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from doing jury service
you’re a full time carer of someone with an illness or disability

You can also ask to be excused from jury service if you’ve done it in the last 2 years.

If you do not do jury service this time, you could still receive a summons in the future.

Haenow · 23/12/2020 20:20

I think deferring due to Covid concerns is reasonable but why be excused? None of your DV are babies, they’re all school aged! You seem to have an excuse list that’s never ending and every suggestion is apparently unworkable.

MrDarcyismines · 23/12/2020 20:38

You sound anxious to me about having to fulfill the role of jury, so you're coming up with a lot of reasons why you can't. Am I right?

LexMitior · 23/12/2020 20:43

You know, juries are important. Would you like to be tried by people who couldn’t find a reasonable excuse, or would you like them to take care and consider your case?

There are plenty of people who would like to curtail it; if you can’t be bothered to serve, why should anyone else?

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 23/12/2020 21:03

It's a shame there's not a list of volunteers who would willingly to do it and who have lives where they have means to without major hardship. I'm sure it would be possible to sort them into categories so that they reflect the genuine make up of society. After they've served once, they could be excluded for a few years do that we don't have the same people volunteering all the time.

Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 23/12/2020 21:28

I have been excused. To my understanding this means I won’t be called again in the next 12 months but my name then goes back ‘into the pot’ after that so I can be called again.

Like I said, without Covid it would be awkward but possible. Covid takes out all my possible childcare options.

It’s not a list of excuses. The facts are I have 4 young DC, I’m over an hour from the court, DH has no leave, school has no space in clubs, other school has no club, I’m high risk for complications and have anxiety. They are facts.

Without Covid I would have been able to find a way.

Anyway, I’ve been excused and they got back to me in a day which is amazing as I don’t have to worry any more. I felt the weight lift as soon as I read the email.

Thanks to those who understood and were supportive, it helped keep me calm.

OP posts:
Haenow · 23/12/2020 21:38

Gosh that was very quick.

I’m glad being excused means only 12 months. Otherwise, it is just a list of excuses. Jury service is inconvenient for many of us. I did jury service a couple of years ago. The people who complained the least were the ones who had to sacrifice the most, like the woman who cared for her severely physically disabled husband and the other woman with young twins.

Original poster
MiaThermopolis · 23/12/2020 22:15

Yes, I was not asking to be made exempt, only to not have to do it this year. If you defer it is still within the next 12 months.

So glad they came back quickly!

OP posts:
MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously · 23/12/2020 23:29

That's a good result. Glad you don't have to stress about it over Christmas.

MadameBlobby · 24/12/2020 00:10

[quote KatieGGGG]@cologne4711 most democracies have juries for serious crimes. Theory being deprivation of Liberty shouldn’t be a decision made by a member of the upper class only.

No single unqualified person should be capable of making such decisions (ala mags) and judges are going to be criticised for being too biased or too “soft” depending on the critic, and further removed laypeople from the justice system. It’s also arguably too heavy a burden for one person to shoulder.

It’s imperfect but the fairest way.[/quote]
It also reduces the risk of corruption

marisacoulter · 24/12/2020 00:56

Wow, surprised you have been excused. It seems really inconsistent. The MP Ellie Reeves has recently highlighted the lack of exemption for mothers of newborn babies issue as she has a constituent who was called to do jury service on her due date and was only able to defer not be excused. Then was called again a few months later when still breastfeeding her young (less than 6 months )baby and they would not let her defer again. twitter.com/elliereeves/status/1336721331816116231?lang=en

It's worked out well for you and good for you that you don't have the worry anymore but seems so unfair that a breastfeeding mother of an infant should be forced to attend while you with much older children who do not have the same level of reliance on you are excused.

I appreciate it is difficult for you at the moment with covid etc but your comment that you wouldn't be happy to do it until you children are much older seems a bit precious as you must be aware so many people have to do it in far worse situations than yours.

squeekums · 24/12/2020 01:21

You know, juries are important. Would you like to be tried by people who couldn’t find a reasonable excuse, or would you like them to take care and consider your case?

Id say its more likely that those who get put out of pocket or feel it's a negative affect on their family are least likely to take care and consider.
Id be saying whatever got me home fastest and I sure as shit wouldn't be paying my fullest attention if I'm wondering if the kids ok or if we will be able to recoup the costs of dealing with jury duty

FreeBettyBoop · 24/12/2020 10:35

I’m a solicitor in Scotland and I’m pretty sure we are still ineligible. Not a job with many perks, but I’ll take that.

Also, what on earth is the point in having a breakfast club that starts at 8.45am?! Ours starts at 7.45am!

Wheresmykimchi · 24/12/2020 10:38

Some very entitled people on this thread. To those of you telling OP to pretend her or her children have symptoms or who just expect anyone with a child to be excused, it's a good job not everyone thought like you for the poor sods who wouldn't be able to get justice.