To not understand what they expect me to do?

[bloodypublicservice]

I was called up for jury service starting in less than two weeks from now. I work Saturdays only as I otherwise do all of the childcare whilst my partner works full time. Originally I stated I was available as my MIL was going to have our daughter, however MIL has experienced a significant and unexpected health issue resulting in being hospitalised for the foreseeable. I've contacted the relevant department to have received a response stating that my request to be excused from this call for service has been refused and that I must still attend at the stated day/time. It mentions appealing but that a hearing is likely to be called, and given the start date is so soon, it's realistically not going to be resolved before starting.

WIBU to show up on my start date with my child and ask what else they expected me to do? We have no other local family and no provision for external childcare.

That's the most stretched logic I've ever heard.

The op could have been hit by a bus on the morning of jury service resulting in the same thing.

Life isn't perfect, no one has a crystal ball, and systems need to have flexibility to deal with it.

It might not even be two weeks! Plenty of cases go on for much longer! 😬 People seem to be overlooking that.

This is one of the things im being tested for . Its shit having to have your life revolve around..........shit

Yes, I realise my mistake now.

Yes, I realise my mistake now.

Rubbish ! more people than needed are called for jury service so there is always a full set of jury by law for each case from the people called up , of course the op missing service will not make a difference .

Quite.

Worth a try. When I did jury service, one woman turned up with her dogs in the car and told them she couldn't leave them at home and couldn't leave them in the car all day, so they sent her home. Not sure if she had to come in every day and do the same though, I only saw her the first day.

That would be a great Aibu thread though ‘My CF neighbour asked me to babysit her toddler for two week, maybe longer’.

A case finished not that long ago in Glasgow that lasted for two years imagine trying to get back to normal after that, imagine choosing to be a SAHM then losing two years of your DC’s childhood because of the luck of the draw at getting picked for jury duty that week!

How does having a child to look after not count for anything?

I think that unfortunately Op has "muddled" it somehow by accepting & then trying to refuse.

It's ridiculous.

Op thought she could do it & perhaps get it done & out of the way so accepted rather than excuse/defer straight away.

Honestly-no good deed!

Do they not realise that not everyone lives near family anymore, knows all of their neighbours, have friends, family, neighbours who don't work, could help out indefinitely and on & on!

2yrs!

Just highlighting this post as I don't think anyone has commented on it and it seems to be the single most useful one in the whole thread.

Covid taught me that the state does not see us as human and the way jury service is run has not disabused me of this notion.

People are human. People get ill Like the OPs MIL.

She’s got a 14 month old child and a MIL who needs care.

OP, give the courts another call and explain. Follow up in writing if they say they won’t budge. Just a short email to say, “I spoke to Bob Smith on whatever date and explained my situation why I cannot attend.” They probably won’t read the email for months but it’s for your records.

Then on the day, take a print out of the letter, tell DC you are going on an exciting day trip together and front up to court, baby and all. I think at worst you and DC will be waiting a few hours until one of the prosecutors or other lawyers will realise how insane it all is and will sort it out fast.

When you are there they ask people to volunteer for the longer cases. You have to say why you can't do it- I'm self employed and that was reason enough.

I do wonder what sort of life/job you’d have left, after a two year case??

Yes, it's hard to imagine. Do these people get any support?

Here is a link to the story, apologies if it doesn’t work also it was 20 months not a full two years before someone comes on and nit picks on that fact!

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-40946653.amp

But what is she meant to do with her child?! How are people not getting it?

She needs to ask a friend to look after her child for a couple of hours on day 1, and she needs to ask to be excused when she’s there.

Absolutely and you can claim expenses.

This is what I worry about, if I am still supposed to do Jury service with AuDHD, OCD and anxiety w/ panic attacks, etc.
Am also BF a 9.m.o.

I think that OP should be allowed to defer until youngest child is school age.
I also agree to try to appeal and if you are still expected to turn up, then bring your baby, as I've seen in other comments that they apparently call in more people than they need and then choose 12 and send the rest home. They can definitely see that you cannot attend with your 14 m.o. and no-one to look after them for you.
But to apply for the deferral appeal in the meantime.
Hoping that they allow you to defer until children have started school.
xx

How are you going to get a temporary place at short notice?

I cannot give advice, but I would love to be called for jury service. How do they actually decide who to call?

People get notice, she clearly doesn’t want to do it, so many people don’t these days! I wonder how they’d feel if it was a family member the courts were defending! They’d want a jury to listen to their case then!