Jury Service during pregnancy?

[Steelgoddess]

I could REALLY use some advice here ladies...

I have been called to Jury service in May at the Crown court (Old Bailey) but i really do NOT want to go,

I hate HATE travelling to london and am fortunate enough to be able to drive to kent to work every day the last thing i want to do is go up there without a seat on the train!

What are my rights for excusal? Does anyone know??

 

[Princess_Puddles]

Sorry I don't know but just wanted to ask, How do you get called? do you have to sign up for it?

 

[elaine22]

not sure about rights during pregnancy but you can get it deferred once to a later date for after you've had the baby. I'm not sure if you could get out of it by saying you have a small baby and no childcare or something?

princess puddles - if you are on the electoral register you can be picked randomly at any time (unless over 70, in prison, have mental problems, drug addiction, etc)

it's quite interesting, i did it 3 years ago, but I wouldn't want to do it again.

 

[Steelgoddess]

No just got a letter in the post, nearly crapped myself cause on the back it said court, and i thought oh no is it a driving penalty or something lol!

You can have it if u like i really dont wanna go, me or my tot don't wanna hear about some murderer and what its a paedo case or something

 

[elaine22]

found this. hope it helps!

http://www.cjsonline.gov.uk/juror/walkt ... .html#2059

 

[NickyB]

Oooh, I wanna do jury duty! I know it won't be nice, commuting in the summer heat, but I have overexaggerated imaginations of courtroom dramas!! lol

 

[Princess_Puddles]

princess puddles - if you are on the electoral register you can be picked randomly at any time (unless over 70, in prison, have mental problems, drug addiction, etc)

it's quite interesting, i did it 3 years ago, but I wouldn't want to do it again.

Oh right cool, I hope I don't get called!

 

[Tadpole]

princess puddles - if you are on the electoral register you can be picked randomly at any time (...have mental problems...etc)

How would they know?? I have had a few issues in this area but am pretty sure it doesn't have me on the electoral roll as "Becky - a little bit nuts". (Well, I don't think they do!)

 

[elaine22]

haha well i guess if you're currently in a psychiatric unit or something? not sure! it was a while ago i read all the info lol

edit: found this

"You don't qualify for jury service:

if you suffer from or have suffered from a mental disorder/mental health problem and because of that condition: you are currently a resident in a hospital or other similar institution or you regularly visit a medical practitioner for treatment
if you are in guardianship under section 7 of the Mental Health Act 1983
if a judge has decided that you are not capable of managing and administering your property or affairs because of mental disorder/mental health problem"

 

[Xena]

My DH did jury duty in Dec 06. He wasn't too happy as the pay they gave him was less than he would have been earning. He said once they were in court and doing stuff relating to cases it was interesting, but there was a hell of a lot of just sitting about and waiting, so mostly he was bored stiff.

 

[Princess_Puddles]

I didn't think you got paid for it? supose thats good if you do though

 

[kirlykird]

You don't get paid for it but I think they are supposed to make up for what yu miss at work

 

[Tadpole]

haha well i guess if you're currently in a psychiatric unit or something? not sure! it was a while ago i read all the info lol

edit: found this

"You don't qualify for jury service:

if you suffer from or have suffered from a mental disorder/mental health problem and because of that condition: you are currently a resident in a hospital or other similar institution or you regularly visit a medical practitioner for treatment
if you are in guardianship under section 7 of the Mental Health Act 1983
if a judge has decided that you are not capable of managing and administering your property or affairs because of mental disorder/mental health problem"

Ahh! I think I'd be alright then. Cool, I've always quite fancied Jury service.

Steelgoddess: would you be able to get excempted by your doctor if you were heavily pregnant at the time?? Plead extreme sickness? Surely they don't want projectile vomiting in the courtroom.

 

[Sarah&Braydon]

one of the residents at work was called up for it thinking that he has severe brain damage there was no way he could do it, but it was really hard to get him out of it he had to see 2 diffo docs etc to prove he couldnt do it i mean u can tell by just looking at the poor bloke but still needed the 2 docs to certify him

 

[lfc_sarah]

Id LOVE to be called for jury service

 

[Sarah&Braydon]

Id LOVE to be called for jury service

so would i lol, someone at work did it the other week, she just sat there for 1.5 weeks got a case and then he pleaded guilty so she never actually did anything lol

wot would u happen if you have kids would they pay for them to go into full time nursery or summit???

 

[heles7]

I'm sure your pregnancy will be enough to allow you defer doing your service but you won't be able to just get out of it all together.

I did jury service a couple of years ago. My employer a sort of gov. organiation carried on paying me as normal which most wont but then you can claim money back to cover your losses although not necessarily as much as you earn.

The first few days were dull whilst sitting around doing nothing until I was chosen for a case. After that it was bit horrific. I would not have wanted to go through that whilst pregnant but I am glad that I have done it.

As it's crown court, surely the cases are more likely to be high profile and possibly stressful so sure your doctor will help you get out of it. Let us know how you get on!

 

[Xena]

You don't get paid for it but I think they are supposed to make up for what yu miss at work

yeh that's what I mean - compensation for lost earnings.

 

[elaine22]

when i did it i spent the first couple of days just sitting around until they called me up for a case. it was quite horrid cos it was a child abuse case - the worst bit was hearing evidence from the kids. but a lot of it was just sitting around because there were always hold ups for some reason or other.

 

[Moofa]

May be you could ask for deferral as you could say that you need to keep pottering around due to back ache in pregnancy and get support from your GP?

Mx