Jury service summons - some advice
Discussion
So I have been summoned to do jury service. My worry is as an agency worker and therefore part time, I cannot know for certain there will be work in the two weeks they say to be ready but normally I do get 3-4 days each week.
The expenses they offer seem cryptic and typically bureaucratic in how to get.
Can someone tell me where I stand, not least as an agency worker? Will they just say as I cannot get evidence of guaranteed work only possible work, I am only going to get what appears to be 30 odd quid a day - and only that if I need a care worker for my child?
I have no objections to doing the service but no way do I want it costing me two week's wages, even if in theory.
The expenses they offer seem cryptic and typically bureaucratic in how to get.
Can someone tell me where I stand, not least as an agency worker? Will they just say as I cannot get evidence of guaranteed work only possible work, I am only going to get what appears to be 30 odd quid a day - and only that if I need a care worker for my child?
I have no objections to doing the service but no way do I want it costing me two week's wages, even if in theory.
Even if you are a self-employed person losing 10k a day, for being there, it's 30 odd pounds a day plus incidentals.
If you haven't previously deferred I think they usually are pretty accommodating, they were with me. I had to do it the second time despite telling them it was pointless, which it turned out to be and I was only there 2 days.
If you do end up going - have something booked for week 3 to cover off being even worse off with a long trial.
If you haven't previously deferred I think they usually are pretty accommodating, they were with me. I had to do it the second time despite telling them it was pointless, which it turned out to be and I was only there 2 days.
If you do end up going - have something booked for week 3 to cover off being even worse off with a long trial.
Grahamdub said:
You don't have to do it. Just give them a valid excuse.
I don't think that's the whole story. As I understand it, you can defer once without any real problem, but you get called again in the following months. To get out of it completely, you've got to show compelling personal or financial reasons.
It's a civic duty. If it was as easy to avoid it as you suggest, everyone would be at it and there'd be no-one to actually form juries....
Lurking Lawyer said:
I don't think that's the whole story.
As I understand it, you can defer once without any real problem, but you get called again in the following months. To get out of it completely, you've got to show compelling personal or financial reasons.
It's a civic duty. If it was as easy to avoid it as you suggest, everyone would be at it and there'd be no-one to actually form juries....
It was the short story As I understand it, you can defer once without any real problem, but you get called again in the following months. To get out of it completely, you've got to show compelling personal or financial reasons.
It's a civic duty. If it was as easy to avoid it as you suggest, everyone would be at it and there'd be no-one to actually form juries....
A chap in the office used illness as an excuse, another said we were too busy at work. I did it a few years ago and just spent 3 days in a waiting room getting bored to tears.I'm self-employed as over 10 years ago I was called for jury service. I can't remember the remuneration they offered but it was dismal.
Twice in 3 years, they called me, twice I refused, twice they sent threatening letters and twice there was no follow-up.
Both times the trials were "expected" to last 4-weeks minimum!
If I was employed, and it was a few weeks "off" with full pay, I'd consider it.
Twice in 3 years, they called me, twice I refused, twice they sent threatening letters and twice there was no follow-up.
Both times the trials were "expected" to last 4-weeks minimum!
If I was employed, and it was a few weeks "off" with full pay, I'd consider it.
jondude said:
Thanks as always for the speedy replies.
I think I had best try to defer not least as I am duty bound to get in touch within 7 days.
I deferred it over 15yrs ago, phoned the court (or some number, can't remember now), and had some clerk insisting it was my duty and I HAD to do it!! Wrote a letter, signed by work, stating it was our busy period just before Christmas and they replied with 'No Problem, we'll be in touch'I think I had best try to defer not least as I am duty bound to get in touch within 7 days.
Never been asked since. Wouldn't mind to be honest, quite interested in what goes on!
I was summoned last August, replied on the 7th day saying was too busy at work and no one else in the company could cover but they rejected that but could appeal.
They didn't state a time limit on the appeal, so left it last minute again and got the company director to write a supporting letter saying the same thing, that it would cause massive issues if I wasn't there for 4 weeks which worked.
Got a letter saying I was excused about 3 days before I was supposed to be there.
I wonder if I would have been better off not replying in the first place and claiming I never got the letter..
They didn't state a time limit on the appeal, so left it last minute again and got the company director to write a supporting letter saying the same thing, that it would cause massive issues if I wasn't there for 4 weeks which worked.
Got a letter saying I was excused about 3 days before I was supposed to be there.
I wonder if I would have been better off not replying in the first place and claiming I never got the letter..
Short Grain said:
jondude said:
Thanks as always for the speedy replies.
I think I had best try to defer not least as I am duty bound to get in touch within 7 days.
I deferred it over 15yrs ago, phoned the court (or some number, can't remember now), and had some clerk insisting it was my duty and I HAD to do it!! Wrote a letter, signed by work, stating it was our busy period just before Christmas and they replied with 'No Problem, we'll be in touch'I think I had best try to defer not least as I am duty bound to get in touch within 7 days.
Never been asked since. Wouldn't mind to be honest, quite interested in what goes on!
I was called and did jury service 5 years ago. The worst bit (apart from loss of earnings) was the waiting, and I was pleased when eventually put on the jury after 3 days. There was also a case on the 2nd day which was likely to take several weeks, and they asked us all to state our circumstances, so I had to state my situation as self -employed and hope I avoided that one. The one I was on the jury was an interesting experience, but quite a low-ranking case, and I don't think I'd relish being on a murder case or similar. One guy (newly returned from living in Spain for several years) was 69 (so wouldn't be called again), but had been called 5 times in his life, with the first when he was 18 - They obviously liked him 
LosingGrip said:
Is it just random when you get called? I'd love to do it (assuming i got paid!).
The letter you get is scary as the first word you see is SUMMONS, then that it is a JURY SUMMONS. It then says I was chosen at random from the electoral register and makes it clear the state owns me on this and that I can only ask, not demand, to be free of this - no matter the personal cost.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff