Jury service

[FredericaPotter]

Does anyone know if you will be excused jury service if you are looking after a baby? I have a 4 month old and have been called up in 6 weeks time. I know you can defer for up to 12 months but I am not sure if I am returning to work next summer and might therefore have no childcare in place then anyway(and even then it would be 3 days a week or less so would have no childcare the other days and no family nearby to help). If I just say I'm the primary carer for a baby will that suffice?

I was called in when my son was 4 months old and had to do it or defer but as it was the summer hols and dh is teacher, he would be around to look after ds, so didn't defer for 12 months. There was a leaflet to explain stuff about childcare costs etc. Phone up and ask.

Its not so much that I'm worried about childcare costs, I'm just not prepared to leave my small child in whatever random childcare I could find at short notice for 5 days a week for an indeterminate number of weeks...

I was called for jury service when DS2 was a pre-schooler and was exempted on the basis of being unable to make alternative arrangements.

alternative arrangements for his care. I didn't have to defer.

You can defer for up to 12 months. You could well be excused all together if you are unlikely to be available in that period. Especially if you are breastfeeding

I was called up at 5 months pg. I replied stating that I was pg and so could not sit for long periods of time (and who knows how long the case could go on for? It could be months) and that I would be breastfeeding my baby once delivered. I requested to be excused.

They excused me so now I can't be called up for 2 years. It was all straightforward. There should be a link to a website in your letter - I looked on there before replying.

I know it's not the point of this discussion but I'd love to do jury service again. I was about a day past 18 when I was called up and it was totally wasted on me. I'd love a go at it now as a grown up!

EyeballsintheSky I would actually like to do it, so it is quite annoying it has come now! Would have jumped at the chnce a year or so ago.

Thanks for all the posts. I just rang the central summoning bureau. All I said was "I have a small baby and am his sole carer Mon-Fri and will be for the next 12 months" and they said I will be excused. I guess they make it sound like it is really difficult to be excused ("exceptional circumstances") so people only apply for it if they have a genuine reason.