Can pregnancy make you exempt from attending Jury service?

[Syd35]

Just got the summons through for mid-April when I will be nearly 35 weeks pregnant. I would imagine at that point the last thing I will feel like doing is sitting through a trial in a hot stuff court house.

I read through the exemption notes and nowhere does it state anything about being pregnant, so I wrote in the "other" section stating I will be pregnant and enclosed a copy of my MAT B1 form as proof.

Has anyone else managed to get out of attending due to pregnancy or will I still be expected to attend?

I should expect at 35 weeks you wouldn't be able to commit long term to jury service. I can't remember how long they ask you to be able to commit for but I once got out of jury service because I couldn't commit past 3 weeks because of prior arrangements. Be aware though that you are likely to be call on again soonish, that's what happened to me and there are only so many times you are allowed to be exempt (I was told).

You should have gone for it and got it over with. If you weren't well they would have released you. Now you'll get called again with a young baby.

You'll probably find they'll defer you for a year or so.

They couldn't take the risk of starting a trial and it running several weeks or you going into labour early.

I wouldn't have been bothered to do that at 35 weeks. It's pretty sedentary. I'd just do it and get your service over with.

I am not certain but would imagine you may still be expected to turn up but then would be unlikely to be selected as obv you couldn't guarantee being there for the length of a trial.Sometimes they still require you to present at the courts the first day but will then send you home (although not sure if different outside of NI) alternatively I would expect they will write to you about the option of deferring your jury duty instead.

I would speak to the jury officer. There was a lady who was really quite pregnant whilst I was doing jury service, but I don't think she was a far gone as you. The jury officer we had was the most pleasant person and really tried to help everyone who had a query. If you're having any discomfort or anything that will impede your ability to sit in a court & listen to evidence for an hour/ hour and a half at a time I'd mention it to them. Days are usually 10 - 3ish (well, in manchester anyway) That said I really enjoyed doing it and would love to do it again.

Basically you have to serve 2 weeks.

Whilst you're there if a longer trial comes up they will ask for those who can't do it to fill a form in and state their reasons. I doubt any judge will not accept your reasons.

I was excused at about 8 weeks. Rang up and said I was newly pregnant and not feeling great and they were very understanding. I made it clear that I was more than happy to do my bit another time but I believe I was excused rather than deferred. Also, i had a toddler starting nursery that same week and I wasn't about to disappear on him when he needed me.

You can defer, but they will call you back within 12 months (according to the summons form). Once you've deferred once, you can't defer again. Personally, I'd rather do it with a 35 week bump, than do jury service with a 6 or 8 or 10 month old baby and trying to sort out childcare etc.

Thanks ladies, really don't fancy it so hopefully they will excuse me! Will update how I get on for anyone else in the same situation.

Quick update for anyone interested...

Got a quick reply and they have excused me. Letter does state I may be called upon at another time though!

I was called when I will be 37 weeks. There was no way I was going to attend then, as I would be classed as full term. I deferred and advised that I wouldn't be available until January 2016 (when back at work and childcare in place). Got a letter back with new date in January.