Jury Duty

[norwegianwoood]

Just looking more for advice than anything else

ive been called up for jury duty starting end of June.

I am also waiting on a contract coming through for a new job. I have to give 8 weeks notice int he job I’m in so would probably start new job mid to late July time. I have this fear that I’ll end up on a jury that’ll sit for weeks/months and go over my start date with new emploeyr. can my new employer rescind my contract on this basis?

totally unsure where I stand with this, never mind the kids will be on their summer holidays from school and I have no childcare 🙁

it’s weighing heavy on my mind

Pretty certain you can decline jury duty in these circumstances if there is a good enough reason. You can only decline once but you need to ask and explain why.

You’ll have to tell your new employer. If they won’t let you have the time, you can defer for up to 12 months.

www.gov.uk/jury-service/delaying-or-being-excused-from-jury-service

All the info is on the gov.uk website.

If you get picked, they’ll tell you how long the case is likely to last and ask whether you’re able to do x weeks. If not, they’ll pick someone else. No need to worry - they’re very reasonable.

I only had 2days should have been 3. On what would have been day 3 dc1 threw up and had to come home from school so i was very lucky

Ask for deferral. You can only ask once (Well, I think it's actually be deferred once).

I've done jury service 4 times-if the case lasts more than two weeks they will tell you and you can (or at least could) decline a long trial.

Everyone always tries to out of jury service. I don’t know how they find enough people!

I think you should ask to defer, this should be acceptable given the circumstances.

You'd be really unlucky for your trial to go past 6 months

No need to panic or defer yet

I think if the trial is going to last longer than 2 weeks they have to ask you if you're okay with that. So actually doing jury service whilst working your notice could be fairly convenient (as long as your job don't want you to finish off loads of things during your notice period).

And yet some people are never invited to take part - DM, now too old to be asked; DH and DBIL (50s) have never been asked; I've only done it once.

If it's going to be a long trial you are asked if you are able to do it for that long and if you can't you just don't get out on it.

Weird isn’t it? Both my DPs are in their 70s and have never been asked. I worked with someone who’d done it three times by the time she was 22!

I'm not surprised though, the process is daft and it ends up costing people money!

This is the second time I’ve been called and I’m 30!

apparently it’s a random selection yet my DH got a letter last week citing him for jury duty. The last time I lived with my parents and my dad was called a couple of weeks after me.

Random my arse!

I've done it twice. Both cases done and dusted in 3 days. If it's going to be a long trial, they ask which jury members can commit to that and let others who can't go

I was excused jury service twice , first time because of childcare and second because I lived so far from the court it was impossible to get there for the required start time.

They were really professional about accepting the reasons (I provided proofs)

True but it’s not really in the spirit is it? It’s one of the very few things asked of us as citizens, and is essential to a functioning justice system, yet we all roll our eyes and try to get out of it.

I was on a long case 6/7 years ago (so things may have changed since then).

We were told of the expected time and asked if we had surgery/inpatient stays booked, holiday booked (and paid for in full), carer obligations or childcare issues. If anyone said yes, proof was required and the judge would decide if they could be let go.

In my experience, we were told that our employers would be written to and our obligation explained. There was no "but my employer..." allowed.

I had been off sick for the 2 weeks prior as I'd had emergency keyhole surgery. Was due back to work the day my jury service started. So i wanted an easy ride tbh. I remained a juror but was allowed to attend an outpatient appointment and the court worked around my availability on that day. Again, with proof of the appointment.

This case involved a high court judge in a normal crown court, if it makes a difference.

So if you can defer, I would. Because there's no guarantee that if you're dragged in to a long case that you will be able to get out if doing it. X

You can't decline but you can ask for a deferral

I've never been called for Jury duty at 55! And I'd love to do it!

The court officials are very nice. Explaim your circumstances and they will defer duty to a later date. Honestly, there:s nothing to worry about.

Late forties and I don't know a single person who has ever been called up for jury duty! Wonder if location is a factor?

I’d happily do jury duty but have been called only twice and I am in my mid 40s. First time, I went to court but wasn’t selected. Second time, I had to decline as daughter was only a few weeks old. She is now almost 10 and I haven’t been called again!

Called for jury service twice - both times babies very young and breast fed. Was "allowed" to be excused but told this would not be permitted a third time. Never been called since and I'd love to do it now! Both DC adults not at home and I'm retired. If only you could put your name on a list of available and willing jury participants. It seems odd that some people have done it 2 or 3 times and others not at all. Maybe after the second time, you should be excused for a certain period of time, say 10 years, thus making it more likely that those who've never been asked, are.