Can an ASD diagnosis get me out of jury service

[almondswirl19]

I have ASD, I've never been called for Jury service so far however like with everyone there is a possibility that I will one day. I don't want this to come across wrong in any way but could my ASD diagnosis be a way for me not be forced to do it. The reason why is I just wouldn't want to do it so I just wonder whether I could get out of doing it.

My son who has asd was called for jury service and he enjoyed it. Ended up foreman - I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall listening to him forensically 'discussing' the point with the rest of the jury, poor things. He doesn't miss a trick!

His case went on for 4 weeks and involved multiple defendants. I think he felt he'd made a valuable contribution to society.

@LadyWithLapdog

I’d had thought it depends how it affects you. You wouldn’t want a blanket discrimination from certain jobs or activities because you have autism.

It's not a job or an activity though. It's a huge responsibility and if you meet the diagnostic criteria then you certainly meet any criteria for being exempt from dury duty. Autism isn't something that differs in people. How they present and of course any specific traits will differ, but the basis is the same as defined by the diagnostic criteria.

Driving a car, being a parent, holding down a job are all huge responsibilities not denied to a person with ASD.

Why should meeting the diagnostic criteria for autism therefore preclude you from jury service? Are you suggesting blanket exclusion given that you claim -questionably - that autism doesn't fundamentally differ in people?

Just the sensory processing difficulties alone would be overwhelming and extremely tiring. It's something I dread.

I'm quite uncomfortable as an autistic person with the idea that autism in itself precludes one from serving on a jury.
It means nobody autistic will ever have a jury of their peers, apart from anything else.
I would find it tiring and possibly distressing but I also think citizenship is important and I assume many neurotypical people might also find it tiring and distressing.

I've given evidence to parliament and analysed policy so I'm confident I could manage to retain and analyse information during a trial.

I wonder if there are accommodations for disabled people like the ability to take breaks when overwhelmed. If not, that would be a shame.

I would not want to do it this minute because my anxiety is bad just now, so I would ask for an exemption on that basis.

DH has ASD, pretty severe anxiety to the point of attempting suicide during lockdown and he was called for duty duty 6 weeks later

They would only allow him to defer by a maximum of 1 year and then no more deferring so we’re waiting now for his date to do service

I think you would need a very strong letter from a psychiatrist to get out of it TBH

@campion

Driving a car, being a parent, holding down a job are all huge responsibilities not denied to a person with ASD.

Why should meeting the diagnostic criteria for autism therefore preclude you from jury service? Are you suggesting blanket exclusion given that you claim -questionably - that autism doesn't fundamentally differ in people?

I'm not sure there has been any suggestion that's it should be denied?

Driving etc are all choices

Sorry posted too soon. No I am absolutely not suggesting blanket exclusion and I'm not sure where you took that from.

you claim -questionably - that autism doesn't fundamentally differ in people?

Well you see we all have to meet the very same criteria to reach diagnosis. I'm not sure why you think that is questionable. It actually is fundamental.

Traits and how people present and are affected by their autism? Huge variations there, but to be diagnosed we all need to meet the same criteria which mean that if we want to be excused form jury duty, we can be. Because those criteria are the things that show deficits.

Yes nobody is suggesting that autistic people should be excluded from jury service. My dp is autistic and was the foreman on a jury when he was called. However, autism is a very valid reason in itself to be excused, if you choose to be. Without having to have a doctor's letter, or make intrusive explanations about how your disability personally affects you.

OP many, many people here (not all) do not understand autism without learning difficulties in adults and further, have a very low opinion of us. They don’t understand that for a proper diagnosis, a qualified professional needs to ascertain that as a result of your autism you need to suffer “significant clinical impairments in everyday life”. As has been correctly pointed out, how this manifests itself in the way the individual reacts to the world around them absolutely can vary from person to person.

I would seek to be exempted from jury duty because of the way my autism affects me. And it wouldn’t surprise me if many autistic people found the process incredibly hard and also sought exemption.

Because of the lack of understanding (and, ironically, empathy) many neurotypical people will condemn autistic people for doing so. But I really couldn’t give a fuck as I know that’s their prejudice and ignorance about my disability.

ASD could well be seen as a valid medical reason for an exemption so definitely put it forward.💐

I do want to point out that jury duty is a privilege of being a British citizen, so we should really value being asked to serve, rather than view it as an unpleasant chore. It’s one of our rights, like being able to vote. So those of us who can do it, should, even though it’s inconvenient!

My DH has no diagnosis but probably ADHD. He said he felt he would not be able to do a good and fair job as a juror and was excused.

Hugely depends on how it affects you. If you feel it affects you enough not to do it you'll probably have to show evidence - doctors note or similar.

Saying this, I'm not even sure they can make anyone do it atm. Dp did it in May. They were very grateful of for the jurors as they said they are struggling to fill the jury due to covid and lack of people wanting to do it.

Would your ASD affect your ability to be a juror?

If so, completely fair enough.

If, though, you just don’t want to, don’t think that’s fair. Lots of people don’t want to but if everyone managed to “get out of it”, the system wouldn’t work.

Fwiw, I didn’t want to, either but it turned out to be really interesting and worthwhile.

@Kales29 you do not have to provide evidence.

"The reason why is I just wouldn't want to do it"

I wonder if that would work with my taxes?

"I just don't want to pay them"

It wouldn't automatically stop you having to do it, no, and perhaps this is an unpopular opinion, but using it as an excuse simply because you don't want to doesn't sit right with me at all. Fair enough if you thought it would impact on your ability to be a juror, but I wouldn't use it simply as an excuse.

I have autism amongst other mental health issues and enjoyed sitting on a jury, it was very interesting. If the only reason is you don't want to do it, you may well end up enjoying it. If you think your autism will affect your ability to be a juror, then by all means let them know and they may excuse you.

@Kales29

You don't have to provide evidence. Which is basically the whole point of the thread.

I would be willing to place money on OP autism affecting their ability to do this. The 'I don't want to' only further evidences communication issues.

If you think your ASD would impact your ability then that's all you need to know. It doesnt matter if some one else would ASD would love it and excell. It's not about them. It's about you. Your not stopping the next person from going if you decline are you?

@Gilead

I did jury service at 22. I’m 63 now and can still remember every detail. I was distressed for months. Those of us with Autism can relive things and it can be grim.

As can those without autism. The NT among us are not immune to stress, emotions and anxiety.

I have social and wider ranging general anxiety. Jury service would terrify me.

Gilead Actually to suggest that non-autistic people do not “relive” stuff to an extreme is actually quite offensive.