Would I be unreasonable?

[RudsyFarmer]

To turn up on the first day of jury service with my children in tow?

I asked to be excused based on having no childcare for the duration (could be up to six weeks) and they have said no.

. I can get ad hoc childcare but nothing reliable for a long period of time (although I know some of these cases are just days long). My kids are primary aged and we are a 15 min car journey from school. No family locally.no friends locally. Partner in a medical job that won’t allow him to just take weeks off work. Could possibly get a day off here or there but nothing reliable. my mother lives a distance away and is in her 80’s, my MIL is an hour away and very ill, also in her 80’s.

I’m also due to start a new job around the time they want me to attend with a training day etc. That too is now up in the air. I have asked to defer to at least kick it down the road. Worst case scenario WIBU to just turn up with the kids in tow on the last week of the summer holidays? I honestly feel out of ideas.

Totally unreasonable.

It’s a crown court case by the way, which I think makes it have more potential for serious crimes and I assume longer trials? I have been a juror before and don’t mind doing it, I just can’t see HOW I can do it?

😂 I’m unreasonable? That’s so funny.

Have you asked for the date to be deferred given that it's over the school holidays? They were really reasonable when I contacted them regarding this.

What would you propose instead?

Yes I’ve done this but the situation is still a nightmare to navigate. Wrap around care affiliated with the school is oversubscribed. I don’t know how to make it happen 😔

I’m really interested to know how everyone sorts this in my position. I could take the time but I’m not sure if that will wreck my enhanced DBS. They mention being hauled infront of a judge! I always thought looking after small children was societies number one consideration but this has made me so confused. It’s like the law doesn’t give a shit about my caring responsibilities.

• the fine

I would hate to be called for just service. I'm self-employed and wouldn't have a business to go back to after six weeks away. What happens if people called just say no?

You wouldn't be the first to think about it

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/jury-service-breastfeeding-mother-b1876294.html

You pay for childcare, if its over summer hols then holiday clubs normally let you pay a week at a time or whatever. Your DH needs to take some annual leave ot unpaid time off, childcare is for both of you to sort, not just you

Helpful 😂

That sounds very reasonable. The reality of that is that I need to be available between the hours of 9.15am and up to 8.30pm each weekday. I could possibly find some holiday childcare you are right. I’d probably struggle to find one that would take both children for the needed hours but there’s a possibility I could. Then I’ve got to find somewhere that would take my children around school hours so they could attend school each day. I’d need either a child minder who could pick up my kids in the morning to take them to school and then pick them up and keep
hold of them.

not everyone has partners or husbands who can just drop their work. My partner unfortunately is not flexible, he can’t just take time off when he decides. It has to be booked in advance, he has to be there in person to do his job. We’re not even talking a fixed time period where I can plan. This could be anything from two days to fucking months. Nobody knows! It’s bonkers.

But you do get notice, so you can plan childcare including your dp taking time off if needs be. Ask around for a childminder. How old are the dc?

Dc are six and nine.

You are definitely unreasonable for using an apostrophe in 80s 🤷‍♀️

Thank you for making me smile at a shitty time ♥️

OP what would your DH do if he had jury service? Bet he would have the time off work and then expect you to have sorted any additional childcare?

You get notice, he needs to get some annual leave booked in, he needs to speak to his employer and explain the situation and that he needs dependents leave as well.
And the point i'm trying to make is this isn't just your problem to solve, has he thought about options? Has he asked friends to help? Or is it just you trying to think of options?

Pretty sure everyone has to 'be there to do their work', so not sure what you mean by that?

Have you actually looked into local childcare options? You wouldn't have to have them till 830 I wouldn't imagine. A normal childminder should easily work the hours you might be at court. If you've genuinely exhausted all options then I would call and say what you've said here, that you'll have to bring the kids

I was called up for jury service years ago & was in much the same position as you. I wrote pages & pages of reasons why i couldn't do it & they let me off. i think they probably thought i sounded a bit too much high maintenance. Is it worth arguing the cause?

You are reimbursed any additional childcare costs or loss of earnings. If you've been a juror before you should know this. You should also know you obviously can't take your children with you.

You're given heaps of notice for jury service for this exact reason.

You can put a note to the judge before you're sworn in to ask to be excused for the reasons you've explained.

If your previous jury service was in the last 2 years you have the right to refuse to sit on this trial.

If your trial is due to last beyond 2 weeks (rare) you will be asked to sign a form to commit to the length of trial.

And lastly, yes it's annoying and disruptive to your life but it's also your civic duty as part of a fair judicial system from which we all benefit.

Reasons for being excused jury service

If DP was called up his workplace would be duty bound by law to allow him to go. Sadly that doesn’t apply when it’s me.

Apols - I mean to Google that rather than post it! Heat is getting to my brain!

I have no issue re. my civic duty but I’m afraid my children are my priority and I’m not farming them off right left and centre to lord knows who because someone decided to commit a crime a few months back. When I was called to jury service previously I had no dependents. Life was different.

if they would let me defer there’s a chance I could plead my case with the schools wrap around care and see if I could get them in. If I could do that I’d at least feel like they were on the premises and safe.