Has anyone been asked to do jury service while shielding? Or am I the only lucky one!?

[Deminem]

Hi guys and dolls!

So imagine my surprise(not the good kind)when this letter landed on my doormat. I didn't touch it for 2 days as I sorta quarantine all my post, and having a court summons for jury service was the last thing I was expecting to come my way. Opened it today to see I've been summons to court as part of a face to face jury case in early August.

Any other year I would not have any issue with it, but as so many of us here I am shielding religiously, and not taken any chances as I'm immune-deficient and on biologics. My husband and I haven't seen another soul for nearly 3 months, not been on any walks, not stepped into a shop or pharmacy, nothing except going to Doctors surgery for my 3-month routine blood test.

This letter brought me out in hives as it causes me a number of issues apart from the obv, not least how to get there and back, as I don't drive anymore and don't feel comfortable taking any form of public transport for a long long time. I don't want to spend extended periods of the day in the company of people even if we are 2 meters away. Apparently the courts have made changes to "keep all safe"but I still feel very twitchy about it.

What to do? Any advice would be golden. Have any of you been in this or a similar situation?

Thanksy

D

[Rashford20]

I’m pretty sure if you contacted them and explained your situation you would be exempt. There are lots of reasons to get out of jury service (being a student at university for example) so you would have a better reason than that.

[Donpablo in reply to Rashford20]

Your allowed to ask for a years grace . They will postpone the jury service attendance date to that date next year. I had the same. Just call them.

[Lolabridge]

Yes do try to get exemption. I'm sure your GP would be willing to write a letter to whoever needs be to say you should not attend at this time.

NRAS may have some suggestions too so you could ask them for advice.

[happytulip]

You can turn down jury service on health grounds.

I know someone who had to do this. They were chronically unwell with MS and the jury service would have been detrimental to her health.

[RosieA]

I agree with all the others. I'm sure you have a justifiable reason. Apart from the fact that you would (understandably) be so anxious that the last thing you'd be able to do is concentrate on the trial, so no respecting lawyer would want you (no offence). If it's any consolation, my mother was asked to serve and is profoundly deaf on many frequencies, therefore quite reliant on lip reading. They didn't pursue it when it was explained. All the best.

[AgedCrone]

You just phone the number on the Jury Summons & they will sort it out for you.

Worst case scenario.... they will ask for a letter from your doctor,

[helixhelix]

I doubt it would be a problem to be exempted...just call them

Chris Philp The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department:

“At this time, the Government does not expect frontline emergency services staff, including those in the NHS, Police and Fire Service to be serving on juries.

Anyone in these groups, or any Key Worker working in education, the food supply chain or in any other frontline role who is summoned for jury service should contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau (JCSB). While by law we cannot automatically defer jurors, HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has issued guidance to help staff deal sympathetically with all requests from the public who wish to be released or deferred from jury service as a result of COVID-19. This also includes jurors who are in self-isolation, household isolation or those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Each application for deferral/excusal is considered on its own merit, that is both fair to the individual and consistent with the needs of the court in providing a representative jury.

We have published further details here: gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus...

[Deminem]

Hi all,

Thank you for all of your helpful replies.

I just called the phone number on the letter, and the very understanding jury officer said I need to fill out the online form explaining my situation and ask to defer for 12 months. Or ask to be excused full stop. You only get to defer one time with each summons so that would be just buying time i guess.

Not feeling like the virus is going anywhere in a year tbh, especially after the chief medical officer said that they all agree the virus will gain ground in the winter.

Past text sent to me directly from the NHS saying things like "Ask family or friends to take your rubbish out to the bins"doesn't help make you feel reassured that your not under constant threat even in everyday life.

D

[Deminem]

Hia helixhelix, I think we were cross messaging then. That is very reassuring thank you for looking into that for me, so kind

It didn't seem as though the jury officer on the phone could alter anything for me from there. So I guess it's an online form i need to navigate next. It's all a bit much for me at this point, but needs must.

[helixhelix in reply to Deminem]

These things are worrying, but we have to believe that we will get some normal life back. Scary tho’ it is right now we can’t spend the rest of our lives not taking public transport, not going in to any building that has more than two people in it and so on.

Numbers of cases are coming down, and if the track and trace system gets up and running then the chances of even encountering someone with the virus will be very, very low - let alone them transmitting it to you. So I’m being positive.

[Deminem in reply to helixhelix]

Agreed

[allanah]

You can contact them and tell them you are shielding . X I would guess they would understand

[BoneyC]

You should have received a copy of this Guide to Jury Service available on Gov.uk

assets.publishing.service.g...

[Tiverland]

You have to write write to them in detail explaining your health issues. With medical support if you can. They are reasonable I didn’t do mine due to job commitments at the time. Had a nice letter back

[Deminem in reply to Tiverland]

Thanks Tiverland, will do that ,and hopefully get a good a result as you did.

[Hybrid9]

Hi - I had this happen to me just before the lockdown. I filled the box in on the form asking to be excused. I kept my explanation to the point - just stating the facts about my condition and how jury service would exacerbate these issues. I received a letter from them a couple of weeks later granting a full excusal. They didn’t request further evidence etc.

[Deminem in reply to Hybrid9]

Fabulous, thanks for sharing your experience.

I was debating with my OH as to whether I could do jury service at all, even before C19, as the letter mentioned an average of 10 days attendance for service.

My health i is so up and down, that I haven't been reliable to do anything lasting that long. Haven't even had a holiday for more than 4 days in 10 years , which has to be booked at last minute bcz of being up and down. I feel bad not doing it to be honest bcz if everybody opts out then where would we be. I'd love to do it actually also bcz I'm nosy and like true crime shows on tv, but don't think I'm up to the task.

[JFlay in reply to Deminem]

One of my friends was called for jury service a few years ago. She turned up at court everyday but wasn't actually used on a jury! complete waste of her time really but at least her work still paid her.

[allanah in reply to Deminem]

Ye I dont think I could sit still enough for that length of time without being sore, or falling asleep.with pain meds, or getting there on time early!!!

[AgedCrone]

I have just noticed this is EIGHT MONTHS old I don’t know how I got on this page!😟

[Deminem in reply to AgedCrone]

No matter, it's all good advice for next time anyone including me needs it

[AgedCrone]

Did you get off OK?

[Deminem in reply to AgedCrone]

Yes I did, I wrote my legit reasons in a letter and they excused me.

[AgedCrone]

Never mind..maybe next time you are called you will get a really interesting case.I read somewhere they are using Zoom for juries!!!