Jury Duty while pregnant or when on maternity Leave

[19annie86]

I got a letter yesterday saying my name may be added to list for Jury Duty. Their year starts July 2022. My baby is due 30th March 2022, my question is, is there anyone way of getting out of Jury Duty if you are off on Maternity Leave, I know I might never be selected but I'm worrying about it already which isn't good for me

I got out of it 17 years ago, but the fare was only 2 weeks after my due date. I actually would have found it really difficult for the first 15 months or so with DD as she was a bottle refuser so had to bf for 15 months - I'm not sure if that would have been a valid reason for deferring, but don't know how I could have done it.

I was excused while on maternity leave as my baby was exclusively breastfed.

I would imagine that should be a reasonable reason to be exempt!

Just get in touch and explain your circumstances and you will be taken off the list.

@ZoeTheThornyDevil

I was excused while on maternity leave as my baby was exclusively breastfed.

I would think it’s also fine to be excused if your baby is formula fed.

Having a small baby to look after and being on maternity leave are not the right circumstances in which to do jury duty.

You won't be exempted, but you can be deferred for a year. They usually say 'yes' to all deferral requests when pregnancy and very small babies are the reason

Are you in the UK?

When I got my JD letter it didn't say I might be called or might be added to a list, it just "you have been selected for Jury Duty for X dates"

Seems odd to do it this way!

Northern Ireland, it doesn't give any dates etc, it just says I may be selected and have to fill I a small form and return it

Use the form to defer for a year. Trying to combine jury duty with caring for such a tiny baby won't be good for you or the baby but you'll be fine a year later.