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Original poster

Jury service!

56 replies

hahaboink · 23/01/2021 12:07

I’ve just been told I have to do jury service in March and I can’t postpone because I already postponed last year.
They tell me that I have to send the kids to school as a key worker but my school will not take the kids as my husband isn’t a key worker and they don’t have room for any more kids. And my husband works outside the home (alone but not able to do it at home) Plus to be honest I have copd and asthma and not entirely sure I want my kids at school right now. Also I would have to go on the tube for 30 minutes and then sit in a court room all day where no one is wearing masks. Surely they can’t make me do this. Anyone had any experience in this? I’ve emailed but they told me because I’d postponed once I couldn’t do it again.

OP posts:
LucyLockdown · 23/01/2021 12:10

I think you need to push back. Tell them about the childcare issue again. Say that the idea is giving you severe anxiety and that you don't think you'll be able to sit through a trial. The last thing they want is trials collapsing because jurors call in sick so they might push a bit but I really don't think they'll force you.

OpheliasCrayon · 23/01/2021 12:18

If you have copd and asthma surely you got the shielding letters ? If you've been advised to shield then they surely can't make you, and if you haven't been advised to shield then I don't see what your issue is. I'm a key worker, my husband isnt, school won't let our kids in so he manages at home and works and home schools at the same time. He manages, it's not easy but so do countless other families. We've been at this for a year. This is a few weeks.

OpheliasCrayon · 23/01/2021 12:20

Or if your husband can do nothing at home then he'd have to take leave. Mines done that as well for some periods. Failing that if you can't have your child at school you would be able to get someone to look after them for essential childcare. We've also done that! There are ways and means and many of us have been at this for months now, so unless you're shielding you'll just have to go I think

Lockheart · 23/01/2021 12:22

It's not til March (so almost 2 months away) - schools may be open by then.

Jury duty is a vital service, especially now that there is such a backlog of cases to be heard. Please step up if you can.

Ilovemaisie · 23/01/2021 12:32

Because of Covid your medical reasons should make you exempt I would have thought. You need to contact them to ask. Focus more on your medical side rather than child care side. The child care issue would probably be something you could figure out but your health is a priority. Make sure you tell them you would have to travel by public transport to get there.

RoseMartha · 23/01/2021 12:36

In addition to what has already been added you could put that when you are not required by the government to shield and schools are back you would be happy to fulfil your obligation.

Splodgetastic · 23/01/2021 12:39

Masks are compulsory in court unless you are actually speaking. HTH put your mind at rest on that aspect.

OpheliasCrayon · 23/01/2021 12:40

I feel if OP was needing to sheild she would have a) said so and b) told them that she can't do it as she's supposed to be shielding and c) that would be accepted. So I feel she likely isn't shielding

Splodgetastic · 23/01/2021 12:41

Sorry, missed the bit about COPD, but hopefully that information about masks is useful for anyone else having to attend court soon...

peak2021 · 23/01/2021 13:31

I have been called up and have challenged this. Won't say why as it would be outing. Yet to have a response.

Em777 · 23/01/2021 13:54

It’s madness that jury trials are continuing at the moment. They should switch to judge based decision making as they have in other countries, or use remote juries. In my county you are only required to wear a mask in the corridors not in the courtroom.

Wear a hazmat suit if they make you go, OP. Seriously. They should not be compelling anyone to do this against their will at the moment. There have been numerous outbreaks.

Em777 · 23/01/2021 13:57

@OpheliasCrayon

I feel if OP was needing to sheild she would have a) said so and b) told them that she can't do it as she's supposed to be shielding and c) that would be accepted. So I feel she likely isn't shielding
When my partner received their call up there was nothing in the information pack that indicated that people shielding or at all vulnerable were able to opt out. In practice, if you push back I would hope they would listen, but the lack of an automatic out for the vulnerable pissed me off.
squeaver · 26/01/2021 15:03

I've just finished jury service.

If it's any use to you, I was really impressed with the way they handled social distancing and hygiene. You could opt to remove your mask once in court - we were spaced out and had screens between and in front of/behind us - but no one did.

Original poster
hahaboink · 26/01/2021 18:32

Oh thank you this is helpful. In the deliberation room was this the same?

OP posts:
GoldGreen · 26/01/2021 18:34

@Em777 the right to be judged by jury in criminal matters is considered sacrosanct by most of those at the criminal Bar. There were protests when there was a suggestion to reduce the numbers to aid SD. HMCTS has put in very good measure to keep jurors safe.

GoldGreen · 26/01/2021 18:36

@hahaboink deliberation rooms have similar measures. Or juries are being put in bigger rooms (unused court rooms) so they are spaced out.

GoldGreen · 26/01/2021 18:38

OP they may also pay for you to have a taxi to avoid public transport. Ring the court and check.

FourTeaFallOut · 26/01/2021 18:43

Can you ring and tell them you have recently, as of this week, become an extreme right, xenophobic, homophobic misogynist who is just waiting on their Freeman on the Land membership card and therefore cannot make a fair judgement?

Original poster
hahaboink · 26/01/2021 18:51

@FourTeaFallOut

Can you ring and tell them you have recently, as of this week, become an extreme right, xenophobic, homophobic misogynist who is just waiting on their Freeman on the Land membership card and therefore cannot make a fair judgement?
Ha! Maybe Wink
OP posts:
MyHeartIsNeverOnTime · 26/01/2021 18:57

[quote GoldGreen]@Em777 the right to be judged by jury in criminal matters is considered sacrosanct by most of those at the criminal Bar. There were protests when there was a suggestion to reduce the numbers to aid SD. HMCTS has put in very good measure to keep jurors safe.[/quote]
There is no way to adequately protect people in indoors with standard ventilation. This is an airborne disease. The choice to retain juries in this environment has surely led to deaths. I’ve read of multiple outbreaks in my county, and these are just the ones that make the news.

No one should die for the sake of the criminal justice system. Australia paused jury trials during their outbreak, and continue to allow people to opt out of jury service at will during these times.

GoldGreen · 26/01/2021 19:06

@MyHeartIsNeverOnTime the problem with pausing jury trials is that it impacts on both the accused and victims.

I suppose it all comes down to what risk is acceptable versus what is loss of not taken.
The country can’t be shut totally shut down. There is risk to people working in factories to produce food, but we all need to eat. Same for hospitals, prisons etc.

The Criminal bar has been vocal that courts must be safe, screens etc, but they would also not support actions that undermine the justice system.

Enidblyton1 · 26/01/2021 19:16

I thought schools were obliged to take children if they meet the criteria?
Wish I’d get called for Jury service! I’d love to do it - would happily swap with you OP.

Original poster
hahaboink · 26/01/2021 19:31

In my council they are sticking to two key worker parents only plus vulnerable kids. In my school if they didn’t the class would have about 22 kids out of 30 in. So I’m fine with that, it just doesn’t give me school as an option. I’m now discussing with them if I can claim for childcare because they are saying I can’t claim it because the kids could go to school but the school is saying the kids can’t. Getting someone in to look after them will cost me around £500 a week that I can’t afford, especially as my company won’t pay for jury service! Just feels too complicated and if there are people who want to do it, not sure why there can’t be an ‘opt in’ option. I’m happy to do it when my kids are back at school and the rate is back down so I don’t run as great a risk of catching it.

OP posts:
Sparklfairy · 26/01/2021 19:35

My friend just did it. No children but has self employed and the business couldn't run without him; they still made him do it. Was supposed to be three days plus on call an extra two. As it happened after much admin faffing on day 1 the defendant decided to plead guilty after all so he got to go home at lunchtime, so only missed a morning of work.

I think they're possibly being even stricter than usual because people are using covid as an easy excuse to wriggle out of it (not saying that's what you're doing!)