Avoiding jury service

[complexsimplicity]

Any tried and tested excuses that can be shared?

Ideally, I’d like to be excused but will make do with deferral if need be. It’s scheduled just before Xmas.

P.S. I’m not a parent...

Why do you want it deferred

Why do you want to be excused? It's an experience - mostly boring tbh, but IME (twice) I only did about 5 days in all (not all in one week).

You have to do it. I have many chronic conditions and still was made to travel to the next town to do it.

Well, it's your duty.

Do your civic duty and step up and do it!

Why can't you do it?

You need a reason. I avoided it because my D.C. had SEN, childcare was an issue and they were undergoing an assessment for a Statement. I was not sure whether my reason was good enough so rang and checked and they said it was a sound reason and it was approved.

So is there a valid reason why you cannot do jury service?

The only time I've been asked I had to say "I don't live there" (I was a student, registered to vote at my parents but living 200 miles away in term-time).

I liked mine. It was interesting and I wouldn't have wanted to avoid it for no good reason - it's a massive cornerstone of our judiciary system. I heard two cases, a week on each. Arson and attempted murder but nothing traumatic in either, mostly just a pretty fascinating experience.

What’s your reason for not wanting to do it?
I was dreading it at first, the travelling and childcare etc.
But in the end I loved it, got to finally finish a book on the commute that I started 8 months previously, listened to my favourite music whenever I wanted, spent time in a different town, met new people and got to experience court from a professional perspective.

I had mine deferred because it was just before exams for my students and I didn't want to miss their last revision lessons.

I'd recommend just doing it. It's fine, if a bit boring. I only spent 5 minutes in a court room and ended up not being picked for the jury. I only spent 2 days there altogether, sitting in the jury room being bored, then I was excused from the rest of it.

I’m really nosey, I’d love to do it lol ... I get why people wouldn’t wand it though. Is there a list of acceptable excuses? What’s your actual reason?

Mental health gets you out of it.

I did but I'm not saying how on a public forum ( nothing illegal or untrue)
I actually always wanted to do it but circumstances meant it was absolutely impossible.

Well if you don't like a legal system based on a jury of your peers... you could just tell them you hate democracy, due legal process and the rule of law. They'd probably let you off for being odd.

I had mine deferred because it was at the start of the academic year and it would have had a negative impact on the school and children that I taught. I had to get a supporting letter to that effect from the head.

I'm envious, I'm in my late 40s and still have never been asked.

Why can't you do it? I certainly wouldn't make up an excuse.
I really found it interesting

Quite a lot of things will secure a deferral.

But for an exemption, you need to join a barred occupation (lawyer and military, there may be others), or be seriously ill (eg some MH diagnoses, cancer requiring active treatment, requirement for regular dialysis) some previous convictions (?) or if formally exempted from ever serving again after previous jury service on particularly long/harrowing trials or inquests.

Booked holidays is the only thing that works ime and quite right too

I did once get a deferral for work purposes but had to get a letter from a senior civil servant to explain why. I was recalled almost immediately.

I've been called, turned up, had serious genuine childcare issues which I explained, and was still told that they weren't good enough for a deferrment - luckily I didn't get selected that time.

(Yes, I do get called a lot!)

I didn't do mine, I just told them I was sick and not registered at a doctors at the time (which was true! my old doctors had unregistered me as I'd not been for over 3 years and just moved to a new area so hasn't registered at the new GP's yet) the woman just huffed and puffed but said it's no problem never heard anything from them since and that was about 2 years ago now.

I said yes I would do it then gave them a list as long as my arm of days/times I was unavailable. Didn’t hear back.