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Jury Service
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[Deleted User]
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My girlfriend had a letter today asking her to do some jury service.
I have just started a new job, she is on maternity leave. Is having nobody to look after the baby a good enough reason to be excused?
I know they take it seriously and you need a good reason. What if they decide this isn't good enough?
I have just started a new job, she is on maternity leave. Is having nobody to look after the baby a good enough reason to be excused?
I know they take it seriously and you need a good reason. What if they decide this isn't good enough?
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when i got my request i just said that i had annual leave booked for that time and i didn't want to miss taking them, they accepted and cancelled the request.
To sum up.
Some people have a genuine reason for not going.
Some people just ignore the summons request and hopefully it will go away.
Some people don't want to do it because of potential financial losses, for example from loss of work.
Some people just don't care about the legal system. Meh in other words.
Some people actually found the experience rewarding. Me being one of them.
no, as you can claim expenses to cover childcare
Childcare? They expect everyone to be ok with leaving their 4 month old with a stranger?
I was excused from the last one which was a big murder case because I knew the victim and the accused and had already decided guilt.
The catering arrangements leave a lot to be desired.
If she asks to be excused they will probably be ok with it but they WILL call her again and she will NOT be excused again. Next time might be even more inconvenient. So if I were her, I would try to find a way to do it and get it over with.
Do not ignore it, you can be fined up to £1k.
When you’re sent a ‘jury summons’, you must complete and return it within 7 days.
Once your jury service is confirmed, you must turn up on the agreed start date. If you don’t, you could be fined £1,000.
There are some situations when you can’t be on a jury - eg if you’ve been in prison in the last 10 years. These are listed in the summons.
Source
We are just not comfortable leaving our baby with someone other than a close family member.
I don't think any parent should be put under that pressure.
if you feel that way try explaining that to the jury service people
although as said it will happen again, but I guess it could be when the child is older, would you be comfortable then?
they wont let parents off it for being parents or half the people they called wouldnt go!
It would still be hard to leave her with a stranger, but yeah if she was a few years older then it would be much easier.
Just not happy with it at 4/5 months old as she is now.
i would say thats reasonable if you explain it like that (well it is to me anyway.)
Ignore it as it isn't sent by registered post. I can't believe how everyone folds over and replies to these letters. There is NO proof you ever received it. That's your get out if you want it?
I know someone who has done this twice and with no come back. Sheep rolling over. £1000 fines when they can't prove you ever received the letter. I mean really think about it!
Just stick it in the bin. Job done!
I fail to see why. Jury service is a civic duty, not something to be 'got out of'. You would normally get a fair amount of notice so you can sort out any arrangements in good time. I am sure two weeks won't kill.
One strange thing about thejury service is that they tend to go to particualr areas to find there victims .
My ex has done it twice because she lived in such a area and they prefer women as they are more likely to be at home rather than men ...
I know people includeing my father (age 88) who have never been asked to do it they simply do not live in the catchment area the jury service wants..
I will never do it (thank god) this is because the type of job i do forbids me in doing it ever.. Horray for sanity !!
Kind of assumed i'd have had the call by now.
But as I said, we are not comfortable with leaving our 4 month old daughter with a stranger. Only really leave her with our parents. I can't get out of work, my gfs mum cant get out of work and mine wouldn't be able to get off on the particular time mentioned in the letter as it's a busy time and she's the manager.
It's not about wanting to get out of it as she wants to do it, but for the reasons above it can't be done.
Either accept that and deal with it, or find a way of getting out of it, such as finding a corrupt GP who will sign you off with stress.
No one here can magic away the law for you.