Jury Service

Replies

By Tricia

Re: Jury Service
Wed 20 Feb 2008 15:04

Sorry Minx I have ain't been called and I am not sure if I can be as I did a work placement at the CPS a long time ago and was told then that becaue of the work placement I would not be called for jury service. But you know how things change over the years so would ain't be surprised if that has changed.

I would contact the place who sent the letter out to you and ask what the criteria is for excempt from duty as I do know in certain cases you are excempt from duty. Hope they sort it out for you as it would be very stressful for you if you were to be placed into jury service and that would have a knock on effect with your caring role towards your chidren.

take care

tricia

By loopy

Re: Jury Service
Wed 20 Feb 2008 16:41

i have been called on twice to do jury service. each time i wrote back to them and explained my situation with my daughter being autistic and all the caring problems that i have with her. I also explained that i was not in the best of mental health (i wasnt at the time) and that i only get a few hours sleep with her at nighttime. I also include a docters letter for myself because i was suffering with depression at the time due to my caring role. i also sent a docters letter about my daughters condition, and i asked her special school to draft me a letter too. I also put in my letter back to them that i would have no one too look after her whilst i did jury service and i would therefore have to bring her with me!! I was excused with no other questions asked.I also asked if i could be excused from jury service permanently. I was excused both times. hope this helps. get as many back up letters as you can!

By Lynn

Re: Jury Service
Wed 20 Feb 2008 16:41

Hello Minx, I just wrote back and told them I was a carer with a very brief description of what that entailed. They accepted it without question.

Lynn

By Greebo

Re: Jury Service
Wed 5 Mar 2008 00:11

Hello Minx, Got a letter like yours the first working day in January - EEK!

Carers aren't automatically exempt, but you have a good chance of being allowed to defer or (better still) get excused if you spell out in full all the things you do, as a carer, between the hours of say 8am and 5pm (to allow for getting to & from the court), and write in full exactly what help and facilities would be needed if you had to attend (and bring your caree with you if they couldn't be left at home as the expenses won't cover the cost of a sitter, let alone careworkers coming in). If this needs an extra sheet of paper, all the better - just make sure it's got the reference number and your name at the top of it.

In my case, I said that if I had to attend, the following would have to be provided for my caree:
At least a minicab there & back every day;
Disabled toliet and step free access;
An orthopadic armchair;
A day bed (can't sit up for long);
Somebody to administer & supervise several (strictly timed) intervals of painkillers and other medication, which is dangerous if taken wrongly or not taken at all;
Somebody to make sure that food and drink were taken as required with the medication.

Also said that while I felt honoured to be asked to do jury service, I was asking to be deferred becuase this was what they were likely to grant the first time, my caree's condition was unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future.

I got excused, but the letter arrived 4 days before the jury service was due to start. So hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

BTW sorry this reply is too late to be much help to you if your letter said (as mine did) that a reply had to be sent within 7 days - been too busy to get on the net for the last fortnight.

I hope you get excused, or at least deferred

By morello

Re: Jury Service
Wed 5 Mar 2008 08:04

My doctor wrote a letter saying I couldnt do it as I was so stressed caring and all the services they would have to provide to look after my caree. Exempt no problem, like everyone else they dont need the hassle we give. Dont worry about it. There are plenty of people to do it and a lot who never enter themselves on an electoral roll who will never get called. I just panicked and would have been no good anyway, worrying all day(or probably sent to the cells for sleeping) all that warmth and peace and respite , maybe I should have gone. LOL
Mo

By MINX

Re: Jury Service
Wed 5 Mar 2008 09:06

Thanks for all the help. I have heard that I am exempt from jury service. It only took a week. I just gave a brief note about my committments and it was no problem- in case anyone else is called.

Minx

By SarahD

Re: Jury Service
Wed 5 Mar 2008 09:42

Hi All

For anyone going through the same scenario in the future there are a couple of websites that might help:
www.direct.gov.uk
www.cjsonline.gov.uk

Hope they're useful!
Sarah