Jury Service question

[Zetec-S]

Just after a quick bit of advice from any PH'ers who've had (or known someone who has had) a Jury Service summons.

The wife has had one come through for a couple of months time, and whilst she's not looking to wriggle out of it the timing isn't brilliant. It's right at the end of the period end at work (she's an accountant) and as she's the only person who can do her job it would cause issues and delay a lot of the management reporting. We've also booked to go away the final Friday of her 2 week "stint" (and have the hotel booking confirmation to prove it).

The form suggests it can be deferred (once) to some time in the next 12 months, she was going to request this and give a long list of suitable dates next year. Has anyone had to do this, and what are the chances of her deferral being accepted? I guess their attitude towards work might be "tough luck", but would they make us cancel our weekend away?

The other point is that she is partially deaf and so wears 2 hearing aids. On a day to day basis you wouldn't know any different and she copes like any other person, but can sometimes struggle with strong accents or when someone talks quietly/mumbles. Would this impact her ability (or eligibility) to do it?

Thanks

[PorkInsider]

She'll be fine deferring, given the work situation.

I think she may need to send in a letter from her employer but it's not uncommon to defer so maybe no evidence needed - I can't remember what it says.

Other than that, regarding hearing etc, the Jury Officer was very helpful when I did JS and I'm sure they would have been more than happy to advise on that if she was to call them.

[theplayingmantis]

Just say your prejudices against all races

[croyde]

I'm freelance so Jury service would really affect me financially.

I have had to duck out twice now but as I have just started a full-time job it wouldn't be a problem to have to do it.

I did explain not only the loss of wages but also the fact that I would be letting clients down thus the ramifications could be bad for me as a business.

[Paul Dishman]

When I was called for jury service, I had a phone call a couple of weeks before the date asking if I'd defer as they had too many potential jurors. They said they'd recall me later in the year, but were unable to tell me exactly when, so I refused as I'd already booked locum cover.

[Doofus]

I deferred many years ago because my business partner was due to be on holiday. It wasn't a problem at all. I just told them whenI wouldn't be available, and I was recalled about two months later.

[anonymous-user]

I did Jury service a couple of years ago and I deferred the first time due to work stuff, but I got the impression it was very much a case of writing to them and asking to be excused (and providing supporting evidence such as an additional letter from your employer) rather than being allowed to defer once.

[jondude]

Having just completed jury service I would say unless she desperately wants to give it a try - defer. I was told to allow two weeks and in that time was sent home at mid day all but one day and never got to be picked for the actual case(s).

I would 100% defer if asked again but was still glad to have given it a go to be honest.

[AlexiusG55]

I deferred because my original summons was during my university exams. Sent in a polite handwritten letter asking to defer until the summer vacation, request was granted (I did end up serving, that July).

From what I hear previously-booked holidays are also considered a valid reason to defer.

[Doofus]

jondude said:

Having just completed jury service I would say unless she desperately wants to give it a try - defer. I was told to allow two weeks and in that time was sent home at mid day all but one day and never got to be picked for the actual case(s).

I would 100% defer if asked again but was still glad to have given it a go to be honest.

After I deferred, I got one rape case and one child sexual abuse

[chunder27]

I deferred once as it was not convenient at the time. (I was wrong)

Then was summoned again a year or so later, just as I got another job in another part of the country.

I was not able to defer despite my protestation, so had to take the jury service in my first weeks of the new job, took 3 weeks.

Job did not last, but not because of this, but hardly ideal. Be careful about deferring, it might hit you at a worse moment later.

[schmalex]

jondude said:

Having just completed jury service I would say unless she desperately wants to give it a try - defer. I was told to allow two weeks and in that time was sent home at mid day all but one day and never got to be picked for the actual case(s).

I would 100% defer if asked again but was still glad to have given it a go to be honest.

I did mine at Winchester Crown Court and had completely the opposite experience. In the two weeks I was originally scheduled to serve, I was selected to two murder trials; the second of which dragged the total service out to about 2.5 weeks. It was absolutely fascinating and an experience I’d love to repeat.

[jondude]

schmalex said:

I did mine at Winchester Crown Court and had completely the opposite experience. In the two weeks I was originally scheduled to serve, I was selected to two murder trials; the second of which dragged the total service out to about 2.5 weeks. It was absolutely fascinating and an experience I’d love to repeat.

Yep, can go either way, also as Doofus found out!

I think the problem for us was the trials kept collapsing, the accused bottling it when confronted with a trial about to start and so admitting guilt.

[CanAm]

Paul Dishman said:

When I was called for jury service, I had a phone call a couple of weeks before the date asking if I'd defer as they had too many potential jurors. They said they'd recall me later in the year, but were unable to tell me exactly when, so I refused as I'd already booked locum cover.

This happened to my wife last October and she's heard nothing since. She would have been happy to do it.

However, a friend is a teacher and was called for duty in the same court at the same time. It was the two weeks of half-term hols, but he had nothing booked, so he was lumbered and not happy!

[ScoobyChris]

It’s called up a couple of years ago and was surprised how accommodating the court tried to be helping people fit it around their everyday life. My first week was pretty much sat around waiting to be called (got through a few books that week!) but the second week was far more interesting and I was selected for 3 cases.

Chris

[dhutch]

I'm 32,. never done it, don't really know anyone who has.

[Ilovejapcrap]

dhutch said:

I'm 32,. never done it, don't really know anyone who has.

I’m 38 only know one person who did it my twin sister. To this day she still won’t tell me about the case !

I always wonder if they look at things before you get added to a list.

[vitesse2000]

Both my wife and I were called, a short time apart about 10 years ago - she deferred for work reasons but I went. Spent most of my days going home at 12, but had a nice, almost funny drug mule case mid way through week 2. On the last day they were empanelling for a fraud case expected to last at least a couple of months, but I managed to plead work problems, but one of my intake, a John Lewis manager got lumbered as they said John Lewis would stand for it.

My wife however has never been called again, but I would love to give it another go and I’m told some get called multiple times...

[caiss4]

I was called for jury service in 1984. Deferred it based on having to be overseas on business. Never been called since.

I know of just one person in my family/friend circle that has been called (and served).

[m3jappa]

Ilovejapcrap said:

dhutch said:

I'm 32,. never done it, don't really know anyone who has.

I’m 38 only know one person who did it my twin sister. To this day she still won’t tell me about the case !

I always wonder if they look at things before you get added to a list.

Same here, im 39 and never been called and don't know a single person who has either.