Jury Service...HELP! (Urchin??)

[LucyBee]

I've been called up for Jury Service on 3rd November.
Has anyone else been called up? Urchin, I've got a feeling you were at some point?????
I CAN'T GO!!! It would mean me having to find a nursery or childcare for Tom and I don't know how long it will last for. I've made a decision not to go back to work so I can look after Tom and I don't want to be forced in to putting him in to nursery because of sodding jury service.
Any ideas anyone? Help! I'm all of a panic!

 

[kimmumof2]

im not sure but i thik they will only delay you doing it and only for what they see as a viable reason. but im not completely certain on what you have to do

xxx

 

[tuck]

The best thing to do is contact the courts to speak to them, however if your reason is childcare they may not defer as they will say you have reasonable time to arrange this. Most jury service is for 2 weeks unless you get a case which is expected to take longer and you would be advised of this when you first attend. also there is every chance you'll attend, not be called and sent home.

 

[leckershell]

When you call them ask if they'll repay the additional childcare expenses if you did...

 

[charlie84]

My OH has been called up too.
I would give them a ring and explain the situation and then maybe you can defer.

 

[Urchin]

Yes it was me.

I still have to do it, they allowed me to defer it (which you can only do once) they defered it, sent me the date and it's Riley's 1st Birthday!! I now have to change it again, but bring it forward as I can't delay it any more.

If you think you'll have a nightmare, think about me! I have to find someone to take Mason to school every day, and then I need someone to pick him up and take him somewhere else! Brody will have to be looked after by someone, Riley will be about 11 months old and I have no one to have him for 2 weeks either! My mum wouldn't be able to cope I will have to put them all into nursery or something I'm dreading it. They say they will pay for it but I don't know if a nursery would take them on for just 2 weeks anyway....plus you have to pay for it first then claim it back!

I want to get out of it but you just can't

 

[Jade89]

Whats jury service and why do you get called for it?

 

[LucyBee]

Yes it was me.

I still have to do it, they allowed me to defer it (which you can only do once) they defered it, sent me the date and it's Riley's 1st Birthday!! I now have to change it again, but bring it forward as I can't delay it any more.

If you think you'll have a nightmare, think about me! I have to find someone to take Mason to school every day, and then I need someone to pick him up and take him somewhere else! Brody will have to be looked after by someone, Riley will be about 11 months old and I have no one to have him for 2 weeks either! My mum wouldn't be able to cope I will have to put them all into nursery or something I'm dreading it. They say they will pay for it but I don't know if a nursery would take them on for just 2 weeks anyway....plus you have to pay for it first then claim it back!

I want to get out of it but you just can't

Urchin, that's a NIGHTMARE.
I feel really annoyed about it. I made a decision to stay at home and look after Tom. I don't want him to go in to nursery until he is 2 and a half. That's a decision that Ali and I made and feel is important. I'm just not prepared to put him in to childcare for even a day, let alone 2 weeks. I'm happy to 'do my bit' but not at the expense of Tom's happiness and welfare. I CAN'T DO IT. I'm going to stamp my feet.
I think I could try and get out of it on the grounds that I have PND and am still on medication for it????
Oh God, I feel sick just thinking about it.
I've bloody well worked for 20 years and they could've called me any time then. Grrrrr.

 

[Urchin]

Whats jury service and why do you get called for it?

You get randomly called to go and sit on a jury in a trial at the court.

It could be for anything, eg burglary, shoplifting, GBH etc most of it is reeeeeally boring, they say it takes around 2 weeks but it could go on for months.

In my case I live 30 mins away for the city centre, where the court is, and you have to be there and ready for 9am everyday, so I would need to leave the house at at least 8am, but I have no idea who is going to have my kids then!

Actually when I say that I actually feel like a nanny or someone that could do it in my house would be best.

Argh I hate the idea of it. I need to write to the jury officer soon anyway about me being told to go on Riley 1st birthday, I might beg and plead then that I can't do it. If i can't afford the childcare in the first place what would I do?

Lucy I reckon PND might be a good way to get out of it

 

[LucyBee]

Seriously Urchin, having three kids and no childcare has GOT to be 'extenuating circumstances' hasn't it????
Also, if we're not working, how the hell are we supposed to foot the bill for childcare?? I know you said they reimburse you but I bet they won't cover the overdraft fees from the bank.
Grrrrr. It's seriously making me angry. I thought the government were supposed to be supporting SAHMs and encouraging it???

 

[kalia]

With childcare they only reimburse if it's with a registered childminder, or something like that, so make sure you check with the courts about what you would be reimbursed.
I really feel for you guys! If I lived near you I'd take your kids

 

[skairdykat]

I had to do it before Macaulay was born.
Can't imagine what a pain it would be though having to do it with kids to think about

 

[kazzie-bo]

luce....i'll have him!!

you dozy mare!!

 

[MissSara]

I got called up in july, but it was so close to my due date that i sent the letter back saying i was unable to make the date and the reason why.
They have sent me another date for next year, sometime in June but ive lost the letter so im hoping they send me another one has it gets closer to the date

 

[mrs_metal]

One of the guys I work with was called up, started last week and was put on a 3 month case! BUT all of the jurers got a chance to tell the judge why they couldn't do a trial that was over two weeks, unfortunatly it was then up to the judges discression (sp?), he was pretty fair apparantly and if you had a holiday booked or it would put you in financial distress he let people off.

 

[beanie]

Urchin is right, there are only a few situations which would get you out of jury service such as you are a lawyer, journalist, work in the CJS etc, other reasons mean that it is deferred so you would have to do it in the future. You may get a sympathetic judge but I wouldn't put money on it. You can explain the childcare concerns but there is no obligation for the Courts to excuse you on that basis. It is very rare though that cases take longer then 2 weeks (it can happen though) so might it be worth seeing if your partner, family etc could take some holidays to look after Tom. I know its not ideal but unfortunetly I can't think of ayhting else you could do.

I was exempt from jury service but now I have resiged I might be eligible again. Its quite interesting, but thats not much consolatio I guess.

 

[Urchin]

I've just written a letter to the jury selector at the court to explain about Riley's birthday.
I've added about the childcare and asked to not be selected but I'm not gonna hold my breath.
I've also asked if they reimburse partners money instead of paying childcare costs in case OH can take the time off work.
He won't have any holiday left as we're away for 3 weeks in January.

 

[Urchin]

Oh they rang me yesterday ( it took me that long to write and post the letter LOL)

In my letter I explained that not only was the first day Riley's birthday, but with 3 young children I would find it impossible to get childcare for them, with the added expense etc.

So they rang, and basically, although I was told to send it to the Birmingham Jury officer, they will only get my details through one week before I am due to start my service, so I have to send the same letter to the London people.
The guy did say if I was turned down just to write to the Birmingham people one week before my date and they will let me off He could see my point and said if was up to him now he would just say I don't have to do it, but I just have to write to london first in case they will let me off now rather than waiting till April

PHEW!!!