To ask to change dates for jury service

[Soymochq]

Received a summons for jury service. The period coincides with the last two weeks of school term so it's the busiest. If I attend, it means missing my daughter's leaving ceremony at her junior school. It also means missing the welcome day for her high school where she'll meet her new form mates, form teacher etc and it's a key opportunity for new parents to meet and coordinate travel (as the girls will be travelling by train to school together). None of this falls under the valid reasons given by the court for changing dates. I feel sad if I miss her leaving ceremony especially! AIBU to attempt to change dates anyway? Also I know you can only change dates once. So I also worry that next time it will land during a school holiday. I'm effectively the only parent - my partner isn't able to take any time off - so worry that next time it will fall during school holidays. The compensation for childcare would only cover a fraction of all day camps during school holidays and I'd still have the logistical problem of getting them to/from clubs if I'm on jury service. Term time is easier as I can use morning and after school club plus other parents are generally around and happy to help out if needed. Any advice? I'm trying not to stress at the logistical nightmare jury service for 2+ weeks will cause. I have no objections to jury service otherwise!

YANBU

Its all very well expecting people to do their civic duty but it shouldnt cost them money to do so.

When you defer you get to tell them the dates that you can attend. Just tell them September because of child care.

Bare in mind you may not ACTUALLY end up going in.
You just have to be available to go in if needed and check in everyday if they need you

How many days do you need to miss? If it's only 2 days you could consider calling in sick on those days. It's also possible you'll be released early but no guarantees unfortunately

I just moved my dates. I didn't need to give a reason.

@Tropicalsunshine my understanding is that I can't just put the school holiday dates down as dates I can't do next time as they will also for proof of flights booked. Is childcare a valid enough reason during school holidays? I'm worried deferring now will land me in a more problematic situation next time when I absolutely won't be able to defer again. If it wasn't for my daughter's leaving ceremony and welcome afternoon at her new school, I can move absolutely everything else around!

@TheOpenRoad yes it's only those two days. I do have other events and commitments on those two weeks but I can make it work. I'm minded to chance it and hope I'm not called in on those two days as I'm told you find out the night before. However, I worry they'll ask for a doctor's note.

you can defer for any reason. When I deferred I was allowed to give dates which I could make. I only gave 3 possible dates I could make in the next 13 months and I was called up for the first date I had provided

I'm sure you knmy hive a reason if you are trying to refuse altogether? I just gave alternative dates and was given them.

Only give a reason! Typos...

Either defer or don’t - but don’t call in sick. If you’re on a trial they’ll have to either put it on hold or start again with a new jury. Either way you’d be causing a great deal of expense and inconvenience.

Don't call in sick unless you are actually sick- if you are on the jury it could disrupt the trial.

You could aim to ask for from September to not get the summer hols.

Do you have younger children as well?

What job does your partner do that he is unable to take any time off? Surely he gets at least the statutory minimum days of annual leave?

@Trysbutfails yes I've just concluded the same. I really don't want to be found to be in contempt of court as well.

@Notanotherone5 @Piggywaspushed ah ok. This is super helpful to know. I thought it was the opposite: that you could only give those dates you definitely can't make due to pre-booked holiday, exams etc but the court will assume you can make all other dates. If I can specify dates, that will massively help and ease the burden on my side. I am genuinely happy to be a jury - I've always wondered what it would be like - but the reality of juggling childcare makes it so hard.

@Piggywaspushed the website says I need to outline my reasons for changing the dates. It cites pre booked holiday, and exams as examples of what will be accepted. So I was worried the court wouldn't be sympathetic to me not wanting to miss my daughter's leaving ceremony and her missing her welcome afternoon (if I can't take her, she can't go and she's already nervous about starting a new school as it is).

I had a summons letter. Filled it in, posted it back . It may be there are no reasons needed on hard copy.

If you try and reject it altogether, without giving alternative dates, then you give reasons. That's my recollection anyway!

@Piggywaspushed correct. The online form makes you give a reason but the hard copy doesn't. I will complete the hard copy form but the statement that if they don't hear from me in 7 days of receipt means I may be subject to a fine put the frighteners in me especially as Royal Mail is quite slow these days! I'll keep the proof of posting just in case!

Good plan! I had no problems by the way and got the dates I asked for. Good Luck!

I agree!

The daily allowance is a joke, luckily my new employer agreed to pay me (and I only went in one morning) but had they refused and ended up doing 2weeks+ I would have been MASSIVELY out of pocket.

I deferred and requested a date range six months ahead. They'll ask you for alternative dates. The court sent through a new summons for the new dates I'd specified but then nearer the time they called me and asked if I'd like to drop out as they'd over-booked jurors, so I've still never done it.

Thanks all. Turns out the paper response also requires me to include a detailed explanation explaining why I'd like the dates deferred. I've proposed some new date. Hopefully, the court will be empathetic and allow me to defer! Thanks for the advice!