Jury service

I was called while I was caring for my sick husband. There was no problem in getting it deferred. Unfortunately, I am now too old to be called. I would like to have had the experience

I think volunteering would be quite wrong for jury service... just imagine some people being regularly on a jury!
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I agree with annepl, the whole system is wrong and needs looking at!

I don't see the point of 'bullying' reluctant or unavailable people into doing jury service t.b.h. (and yes I know not everyone is eventually picked) My mother really didn't want to do it but was picked. It terrified her. She was afraid of speaking up, afraid of the consequences of getting it wrong, caused her so much unnecessary stress which was quite separate from the money issue. She just didn't want to do it!

I have deferred jury service twice (for genuine reasons) I am now in a position I would like to volunteer but they don't take volunteers as far as I am aware anyway (not sure where Lancslass phoned)

I think it would be better to have a 'bank' of volunteers from all sectors, maybe an opt in/opt out choice? Obviously has to be varied but is it beneficial to have people who are either scared or who don't take it seriously?

As I've said before witnesses are not treated any better. The system is all wrong. Why should you be out of pocket for being a good citizen?

Actually my home was 200 miles away not years away!

Not only can one defer ,it is also possible to change the venue.
I owned a small flat in Cheshire as some years ago and I was called for Jury Service in that area.
I telephoned them and said that my actual home was 200 years ago and I was asked where and when I would like to do Jury Service.
Just give them a ring.

Yes my friend deferred as she was the carer for her gc and I was called up but wrote in that due to a medical condition I suffered from fatigue and would probably fall asleep. They et me off

When I did jury service the letter I received said I could defer (I didn’t) but you have to be careful because you have to let them know dates you won’t be available in the future because they’ll contact you again and you can’t defer a second time.

You cannot claim childcare costs and lost wages newnanny I have checked for a family member and the maximum allowed is under £65 per day, bearing in mind that this could be halved if you are sent home. This person works continental shifts (3 from 7 and 12 hours per day so would end up with 3 x £64.50) . They have a mortgage and a family to provide for. I have wrote a letter and they have been fully excused.

I have recently been a prosecution witness in a High Court case - had travel expenses reimbursed, hotel paid (2 nights), plus a subsistence payment. I am assuming from previous posts that the financial recompense for jurors is not the same, or is there a variation between Scotland and England in the way witnesses and/or jurors are treated?

I was called years ago when I was at University and two weeks before my final exams. I felt very stressed. I got my tutor to write me a letter and got deferred. I had to do it about three months later shortly after I started my first job which did not go down well as complicated fraud case and I had to do the whole week. Personally I do believe that it is everyone's duty to do jury service if requested because we would all like the option of trial by jury. I also think each person should be allowed to defer once with good reason or have a longer term medical exemption if necessary. There are plenty of child minders around and many will take a child for an odd week. You can claim those child care cost back with a receipt.

I think any working person should have their full wages covered for the days they are doing jury service, plus the cost of travelling, a meal etc. Anyone with children should have their childcare expenses covered too. Anyone not working/retired etc. should have their travel/food expenses paid. This is the only way to ensure a fair jury.

I understand that because of “valid reasons” not to serve that jurys are already unbalanced and tend to have more representation from the elderly and the unemployed.
Such a pity we can’t resolve this better as Jane10 says.

I requested a taxi to get me to the Jury Service and later had a call to say they no longer needed me!

Hardly surprising that there isn't the money to compensate further, what with CPS barristers only being paid £46.50 for a day in court!

I have avoided that due to health issues.

I was summoned to that in Redbridge just after we had a moved home up to Cheshire in 1987.

It's been the same for a long time. They know its unfair. No intention of changing it.

I totally agree with you Jane10 they need to look at the system for recompense in order to enable everyone to do their duty without financial hardship . As it stands most working people would be out of pocket .

I know. However, jury service is a civic duty. If its left only to those who can afford it or who have time to spare then justice is not served. Its important that juries are made up of a wide cross section of the public.
The issue seems to be the financial recompense for lost work hours or child care costs. Increase/modernise these rather than have people actively avoid jury service.

I agree that her comments didn’t help, but surely someone with an ounce of sense in the courts service could see that a young couple with children should be excused. I recently wrote a letter to get someone completely excused (not deferred) from jury service and the reasons given were fully excepted.

I totally agree that not every young couple can find satisfactory child care if they are called to serve when summoned I think what didn't help the young lady concerned was her comment that there are "plenty of retired people doing nothing all day" who could be called according to media reports.

Mr absent got a deferment on serious health grounds – not least because the condition from which he was suffering, plus the medication caused sudden and serious diarrhoea – and when he was called again we presented the same reason for deferment. He was then freed from any further jury service. I suspect that childcare issues don't fall into the same category.

I looked after the grandchildren when absentdaughter did jury service, but not everyone has an available granny. Maybe they need to revisit their criteria.

My friend was tidying up and came across an unopened letter which was the call for jury service. She had completely missed it but has heard nothing since!
Many years ago, when I was called, it was half term. I missed my holiday and DH took the week off to look after the children. He took them away to stay with DM.
It was a trial in the high court. I found it interesting and such a contrast from caring for children. Every night, alone in the house, unable to discuss the case, I felt scared.
I was given travel expenses.

Gillybob is correct. And rhe system is totally wrong. Even the amount allowed for food is not enough imo.

An employer does not need to make up the difference in loss of wages Humbertbear It is purely voluntary. Fine if you are “public sector” as they tend to pay the shortfall (it’s all tax payers money anyway) but private employers rarely do.