Jury service

[Sophiestree]

Having lived in my house for 33 years I have only just received notice to attend Jury serivce in two months time.

I cut back all of my work because I couldn't work back to back and can't imagine how I would manage every day (being there for 9.00am) for two weeks!

But I don't know what the criteria is for them accepting you are exempt.

Anyone had a similar situation? And what was the outcome.

I feel bad trying to get out of it, and normally it might have been absolutely fine, but I have limits and being ready in the morning for 8.00 am to leave is not one of them.

[MrsNails]

This explains what to do x

gov.uk/jury-service/delayin...

[Sophiestree in reply to MrsNails]

If I put LVV would they class that as a serious illness?So hard to know

[MrsNails in reply to Sophiestree]

You need to explain that you don’t know from day to day how you feel - that you’ve cut back on work & if necessary get a letter from your GP - Give it a try…..

[Sophiestree in reply to MrsNails]

Yes, thanks

[jinasc in reply to Sophiestree]

I would the LVV .............but add to that explanation, that it is an auto immune illness and you don't know how are are day to day..........so one day you might be able to attend and the next not due to the illness.

Take a look at this link - nhs.uk/conditions/vasculitis/

Then you can perhaps add something to give them an idea what you are going through.

[Sophiestree in reply to jinasc]

I am trying to compose something in my head! thanks

[Lauterbach in reply to Sophiestree]

A friend of has severe ME/CFS and wrote to them saying she she would like to do her jury service but would need to have an afternoon sleep each day otherwise she couldn't get through the day. I don't know whether this was supported by a doctors note or note but they just said thanks very much and excused her

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You may need a declaration from your doctor. And being on pred alone was enough for one lady to get out of jury service - affects judgement.

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

Oh that's interesting. Yes, I am assuming they will want a letter from the doctor.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

One GP was refusing to provide the statement on the grounds autoimmune illness wasn't severe enough grounds. One is left to ask how she knew ... They all make it difficult to sit for long and brain fog ...

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

I might ring the Rheumy nurse tomorrow and see what they say. I do have a nice GP who always responds to any letters I write, so I might write to her rather than ringing and getting anyone!

[Sharitone]

I once had to get out of jury service because would have had childcare problems, and it was so easy! I doubt they would want to hang on to someone who is likely to go off sick!

[Sophiestree in reply to Sharitone]

Good point re the going off sick bit, might add that too

[123-go]

Don't forget you need to rest/sleep in the afternoons 😉. The early starts would compound that.

[Sophiestree in reply to 123-go]

You're not kidding!

[Highlandtiger]

I’ve sent a PM.

[Sophiestree in reply to Highlandtiger]

Thank you

[SheffieldJane]

If you let them know of your chronic health problems you will be excused. I worked at Crown Court for 6 years.

[Sophiestree in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you . I am going to ring them this morning and see what they say

[Knip]

When I was called my GP wrote a letter to say that I would not be able to do Jury Service because of my health. I then received a letter excusing me. I suggest you contact your GP or your consultant and ask them to write on your behalf. ❤️

[Sophiestree in reply to Knip]

Yes, I have filled in the online form and will now contact my GP

[B00Radley]

I was in the same position last year. I explained that I had PMR and would struggle getting to court and stay awake and because of this I asked to be excused - which I was. Please don't put yourself through the stress of trying to do the right thing - you need to look after yourself.

[Sophiestree in reply to B00Radley]

Thank you. Did you need a letter to confirm the same? Or did they take what you wrote as enough to excuse you.

[B00Radley in reply to Sophiestree]

I got a sick certificate from my Doctor which was enough. Good luck

[Sophiestree in reply to B00Radley]

thanks

[Tiggy70]

I was called up for Jury Service in May 2020. Because of the risks of Covid I put in a request to delay this to May 2021. In August 2020 I was diagnosed with PMR. I put in a request by email for excusal of jury service outlining my reasons to be excused, ie. brain fog, needing to move around, mood swings, difficulty remembering and recalling facts, tiredness, lack of concentration etc. This was accepted and I was no longer required to do Jury Service.

[Sophiestree in reply to Tiggy70]

That is interesting, thank you. Did you need a letter from your GP?

[Knip in reply to Sophiestree]

It doesn't take long to ask for one and might save having to do so at a later date. I would have hated to have to serve on a jury and make a decision as to whether someone was innocent and guilty. My dear father back in the fifties, served on the jury of quite a few cases iin the Crown Court in Winchester, including a rape case. He found it difficult and they deliberated long and hard, because, as he said, they might have been letting a guilty man go free or condemning an innocent man to spending a longish term in prison. I think the sentences given then were longer then than they are now. I'm sure you'll be excused serving on the jury. Good luck.

[Tiggy70]

No they didn’t require a GP letter. I rang the number at the top of my jury service letter. I was told to send them an email making sure that I included the words ‘excusal from jury service’ in the subject and my juror number. I did as they requested also outlining all my symptoms from the steroids. I got an email back a few days later telling me that they had removed me from their lists 🤗

[Sophiestree in reply to Tiggy70]

Oh that's interesting. I eventually filled in the form online and selected excusal and listed reasons so I will see what happens next.

[Tiggy70]

Fingers crossed it works out for you. It was such a relief for me when it was confirmed I didn’t have to do it. If you do have further issues try to speak to a ‘real’ person.

[Nightingales]

I had no problem getting out if it. I filled out the form stressing my diagnosis and inability to sit for long periods due to pain and extreme fatigue and received a letter saying I was exempt. My GP did write a letter but I didn’t have to use it.

[HeronNS]

I was called for jury duty right after I started pred. I told them that I was taking prednisone and it was affecting my judgement, and also that I had trouble concentrating, or words to that effect. I sent off that form and never thought of it again. My doctor wrote an accompanying note also, I believe (a while ago, don't really remember - blame the brain fog of early pred dosing!). No problem. I didn't even show up on the day of selection because I thought I didn't have to, and fortunately didn't get into trouble, just received a letter saying I was excused from jury duty, I also think once this has happened you are never called again. I was disappointed because I'd always wanted to try it, but never got called until a time when I knew I'd be useless.

[Sophiestree in reply to HeronNS]

So you didn't receive a confirmation you were excused before the date you were due to go? How odd.

I last did jury service in 1976!!!

[HeronNS in reply to Sophiestree]

No. I had never been called for jury duty before and just took care of paperwork to be excused and then forgot all about it! I think evidence of brain fog which would have made me unsuitable for jury duty, donchathink?!

[Lonsdalelass]

I hope you get it sorted and don't have to do it. Incidentally, I completely understand your comment about having to be ready to leave by 8.00 am. When I'm working, I have to get up at 5.30 so I have enough time to be ready to leave by 7.45. Its exhausting. And it's only for two days each week. I wouldn't want to have to do that every day for two weeks.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lonsdalelass]

And there is no guarantee it will only be 2 weeks!!!!!

[Lonsdalelass in reply to PMRpro]

🥴 !!

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

Exactly, that also occurred to me.

[Sophiestree in reply to Lonsdalelass]

Yes! That is exactly it. I'd need to be up at 6.00 each morning... and then a walk to a tube as I guess I wouldn't get parking there. I shall see what they reply.

[Omanain]

As jinasc says, explain how you are affected both physically and mentally. I did this for my son and they could not have been nicer about it. After all, this is important work and needs people who are able to focus on the trial rather than their pain, or the stress it is all causing them.

[Sophiestree]

Quick update. I received an email from HM Courts & Tribunal Services excusing me from Jury Service and no request for confirmation from my GP, which I actually hadn't done yet, so that concern is over. It took a week for them to reply.

[MrsNails in reply to Sophiestree]

That’s good Sophie - well done 👏🏼

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sophiestree]

Result!