Jury Summons - help please

[pebbles]

Hi

I've just received a Jury Summons to start on 28th May 2013.

I am actually quite excited about one day being on a Jury however I really believe it's going to be very difficult this time due to: that week being half term so having both children at home full time (we also have planned on going to my father in laws cottage for the week and friends have already booked their train tickets down there), but if it fell out of half term I'm a SAH mum looking after both children (eldest is 5 and therefore at school from 9-3 and I pick him up everyday and my youngest is at nursery 5 mornings a week and I pick her up every day).

Has anyone got any experience of writing an Excusal Letter and if so what have you put and is being a mum at home a good enough excuse!!!

I really don't want to get into a debate on whether it is right for me to try and get out of it just some help to do so.

Thanks in advance

Sally

[jollybaby]

Hi Pebbles - you are usually allowed to defer jury service once without too much difficulty. I think the reasons you have given would probably be enough . I did jury service last Autumn and others had managed to defer because of prebooked holidays. They were then asked to provide a list of dates for the next 6 months that they could attend. It was a really interesting experience - though there was a lot of hanging around.

[susyp]

Hi pebbles,

I agree, they are normally pretty fair about these things, the court office would probably be able to advise you

I did it once and it was great as they kept going into recess so i could go home!

Was interesting too, but maybe better when you can enjoy it properly rather than having nightmares with childcare!

susypx

[WorkingMummy]

Hi Pebbles,

The grounds you cite may be enough to justify your excusal from service for the foreseeable future, ie, to get you put back into the pool for random re-selection, rather than deferral for six months or so.

Don't plead the holiday as your primary excuse - they'll just ask you to come another time.

Instead, describe your permanent situation as a S@HM, with the ages of your children. Think about what you would need to do to put in place child care to allow for your absence from the home (allowing for however long it would take you to get to and from a court day where you would be expected to be at the courthouse at 9.45 latest and not leave until sometime between 4.30 and 5). Is it do-able at all? If so, what would it cost financially? And what would the effect be on your children (and therefore vicariously you) emotionally. Don't exaggerate anything, just set it all out nice and factual.

Given what you say about wanting to do jury service one day, I would introduce your "costing-up" by saying, I realise its an important duty, and I'd be very keen to go it, but I've thought really hard about whether I could make it work and ...

FYI, the statutory test for excusal is whether to serve as a juror would cause YOU hardship. (It doesn't have to be severe, but it does need to be significantly more than the average amount of inconvenience and hassle it causes anyone who has to serve.) Hardship can be financial, emotional or physical, but if you mention the effect on your children remember to state how that will effect you as you are what counts for the purpose of the test.

Then at the end ask, if you cannot be excused, to be deferred on grounds of half term + holiday plans. You'll definitely get at least that. You may well get the whole excusal, especially as you have a pre-schooler.

Good luck. WMx

[pebbles]

Wow, thank you everyone so much for your comments and pm's. I have now pencilled something and will send tomorrow. Fingers, toes and everything crossed.

[tiddles]

hi

I had exactly the same thing some years ago and they were fine about it.

[Vik]

It's worth bearing in mind too that if you really do want to do it, the court will pay all of your childcare costs for you.

I've done it 3 times now and really enjoyed it everytime, hope you get the answer you want!

[Mrs TP]

I've always dreaded being asked as a stay at home mum and wondered how we would cope. Did it pre kids whilst working and not such a big drag and near work so could go into the office on the occasional early finish days. Now would need to sort morning, afternoon and evening childcare and if coincided with school hols would be a nightmare. Also plenty of cases that don't last the standard two weeks. Glad there is a lifeline but yes hols no excuses - I saw a judge say tough luck to a co-juror who had a holiday booked and brought his tickets in - harsh!

[ClareC]

I was called up pre children, I deferred once no problem and then the second time cited that I was self employed and contractually obliged to provide services to my clients. Accepted without question - in my experience they are not unreasonable and you should be fine. Good luck x

[Ole]

My husband finished jury service a couple of weeks ago. Although he works full time he does the nursery pick up and although I could also have done the pick up whilst he was on duty that particular week was very inconvenient for me so he wrote an e-mail to them asking explaining and to defer and told them which months would be a good alternative and they came back to him with a revised date that suited us both, so they were very helpful (might just have been lucky).

[ClareC]

I would have liked to do it (its only since the system changed I've been allowed). It's really prohibitive to the self employed unfortunately.

I'm an employee now but work for a small company so I know they would struggle if I were called again.

[GinaG3]

Just be honest, you can call the number and ask advice. I was called to the Old Bailey last year but got excused on medical grounds. I don't think I will ever get called again. I was really excited, I've always had an interest in criminal law but at the same time so glad I didn't have to do it. I have a feeling it was a very high profile case the media flooded for the same 2 weeks I was called. Eek!