I got 'the call up' today.

I have been requested to turn up at the Crown Court at the end of May for a possible two week stint.
I have replied asking for a deferral as I would struggle to get child care sorted for that length of time and bearing in mind that the second week is half term - I would really struggle then.

My questions to you all -

Have you been called up?
Did you do it?
How did it go?
Did you ask for deferral/exemption and did you get it??

Buzz it is my dream to get called up for Jury Service - but I am now exempt. I will never get the call. Being an ex-police officer I would never be deemed as unbiased.

I've never done it - but I would love a really juicy case to get my teeth into :D

I think you need a very good reason to opt out Buzz. I'm not saying needing to care for your child isn't an excellent reason, just that if everyone who was called who also looked after their children some or all of the time was exempt, there'd never be any women on the juries!

Sorry to but a dampner on it, and I wish you luck.

I think you need a very good reason to opt out Buzz. I'm not saying needing to care for your child isn't an excellent reason, just that if everyone who was called who also looked after their children some or all of the time was exempt, there'd never be any women on the juries!

Sorry to but a dampner on it, and I wish you luck.

Very good point foxy noxy, hadn't thought of it like that. Buzz you must go and wave the flag.

Buzz it is my dream to get called up for Jury Service - but I am now exempt. I will never get the call. Being an ex-police officer I would never be deemed as unbiased.

I've never had a call up either Flip.....I'm an ex-Special so maybe the bias side applies to me too!

Buzz.....you could always say when they go through selection that you do not think you would be able to give an un-biased ear to proceedings....or is that being esspecially naughty! :naughty:

I got "called up" in July 2003. Unfortunately I was in Gran Canaria at the time and my mum had to go down to our local Sherrif court with all sorts of papers proving that I wasn't even in the country!

I have had the call twice both times after just having had a baby and didn't do it. Would love to do it now though.

I think you need a very good reason to opt out Buzz. I'm not saying needing to care for your child isn't an excellent reason, just that if everyone who was called who also looked after their children some or all of the time was exempt, there'd never be any women on the juries!

Sorry to but a dampner on it, and I wish you luck.

I take your very valid point on board Nox...however, I do not have any real support system in place to take care of the children, whilst I would be at court and I believe they would be able to find another suitable person to take my place in court....I however, won't be able to find another suitable person to take care of my children for a fortnight.

I have never been called and I am not bothered either way if I am or not. If I am I will do my duty and if I'm not it is not something I will feel I have missed out on.

Maybe if you turn up naked......

or

Admit you know Cat......

You could get off?

Actually you may be able to get off because Cat is the defendant!

Buzz, coincidently my sister is doing Jury Service as we speak :cool:

Never been called up. Used to really want to do it, but so many people have told me how boring it is. Someone I know is still doing it about 4 months down the line, involving forensics and everything - a real corker.

Hi

I was called to do jury service and I didn't like it. The guy was found guilty. Hope I never have to do it again.

Joy :)

I would be very unhappy and apprehensive if I was called for Jury Service. I am easily swayed by good arguments and would find both sides of the story convincing!

I would also be very unhappy to have to make a decision over any kind of violent crime against people (ie. child abuse, rape, racially motivated crime, homophobic crime).

Something like smuggling fags into the country would suit me down to the ground ...if I HAD to do it.

Mr B has been called up twice, I haven't been called up at all. It would depend on what kind of case as my brother in law was called up for a child abuse case. The child was only 4 and it eventually crumbled due to insuffcient evidence, but the people of the jury thought that the guy had abused her even with the little evidence they had. He felt powerless that there was absolutely nothing they could do.

I am with Buzz, if I ever got called up I would struggle with child-care and although they do pay expenses it would not be enough to cover. I don't have any family nearby that could look after the kids and I would have to rely on friends to help out. Although I do see where Nox is coming from - they could set a creche up within the courts but I doubt that will happen.

One of my friends who was a self-employed contractor was called up and he lost a lot of money as he was paid daily rate of about £200/300 and his expenses did not even begin to cover that.

My husband was called up two years ago. He got out of it because we were in Portugal during the trial. BUT he panicked a lot about it because of work.

I know that everyone gets 'expenses' but when your self employed, how do you earn enough money to live ? The trial could of lasted 4 weeks, so we would of been totally skint that month. It was worrying.

Luckily he didnt have to do it, but it said in the letter that if he didnt do it on that occasion, he WOULD be called again at a later date.

Another silly thing was that the trial was in London, and we lived in Essex. I mean, why was he called to London ? He should of gone to Chelmsford or somewhere in Essex surely ? My husband (bless him) has never been to London, and the thought of travelling by train to the 'big smoke' filled him with more dread than the trial itself :laugh:

Quick update: Got the letter back from the court service today...I have been excused the service in May :w00t:
but have to attend in January instead :sad:
Same problems will arise...just have longer to try and sort something out...

Buzzm when I did jury service, I spent most of the fortnight at home, after turning up in the morning and getting sent home again as I wasn't needed.

Did spend two days on a case though, which got slung out on the second day so we all went home early again :cool2:

Quick update: Got the letter back from the court service today...I have been excused the service in May :w00t:
but have to attend in January instead :sad:
Same problems will arise...just have longer to try and sort something out...

To be honest I am not surprised Buzz, a few years ago a friend of mine was called and she had 3 children under 4 at the time and she was not excused. I don't think they class finding child care difficult/impossible as a reason for not doing it.

How about the fact that it's SOMEONE'S birthday and you'll need the first part of the year to recover?

They'll understand, they know her. :wink2:

I know someone who was called up for jury service. It involved a violent gang and she found the whole experience very unpleasant. Most of the jury members including her, felt intimidated by the yobs in the public gallery. Although she was never directly threatened, she didn't leave the house on her own for a while.

I think this is unusual, most of the time people complain that it's just boring. My biggest fear would be of falling asleep in the middle of a dull as dishwater case.

Glad you got out of it on this occassion Buzz. When you're called up, do they give you any indication at all of how long the case might last?

I know someone who was called up for jury service. It involved a violent gang and she found the whole experience very unpleasant. Most of the jury members including her, felt intimidated by the yobs in the public gallery. Although she was never directly threatened, she didn't leave the house on her own for a while.

I think this is unusual, most of the time people complain that it's just boring. My biggest fear would be of falling asleep in the middle of a dull as dishwater case.

Glad you got out of it on this occassion Buzz. When you're called up, do they give you any indication at all of how long the case might last?

Nox..you have to make yourself available for 2 weeks, which is great in theory, but finding 2 weeks of someone to have the boys from around 8 in the morning, take them to school and pick them up is not as easy as people think......
I have decided not to think about it til December at the earliest....can't be doing with it...

Buzz, J's experience was the same as Floops...the first week she was there for half a day in room then told to go home, she had to ring in everynight to see if her number was called, but it wasnt' It was very frustrating.

Dont' worry...I'm not going to have a party next year so you are excused.

Dont' worry...I'm not going to have a party next year so you are excused.[/QUOTE]
:ohmy: :sad:

i have been called, i was late for the first day and when you arrive the lady crosses you off but coz i was late i dont think i was crossed off and my number never got put in the hat so i didnt have to do that case. had to come back the second day and my number again never got picked so that was my civil duty done and dusted.

I would be very unhappy and apprehensive if I was called for Jury Service

I'm sure if you just mentioned your bowels you'd be excused post haste.

I'm sure if you just mentioned your bowels you'd be excused post haste.

very funny! actually that would be by main worry! but i'm sure i could persuade my doctor (who has to listen to all my bowel stories), that he should write a letter. Otherwise the over active bowels may well return with a vengenance and he'd have to get his marigolds on again!

my doctor (who has to listen to all my bowel stories),

Listened to them? He's got a book coming out very soon.

Excuse me I am about to get very upset soon.

This thread was started with the intention of sharing MY woes about jury service.....not a bloody thread about Dol's a rse.........you'll be telling me about your bloody carpets next.... :shutup:

Excuse me I am about to get very upset soon.

This thread was started with the intention of sharing MY woes about jury service.....not a bloody thread about Dol's a rse.........you'll be telling me about your bloody carpets next.... :shutup:

Apologies. You're right - dol's **** deserves it's own thread.

Stop it!! talking about my ***** as though it's not here!


my carpets, btw Buzz, are not bloody but one of them is very wet at the moment due to earlier leakage problems.

Sorry I forgot this thread was all about you and something that's going to happen in JANUARY 2006!!!

Please people can we get back to discussing Buzz's jury service .... you never know who she might be judging!

my carpets, btw Buzz, are not bloody but one of them is very wet at the moment due to earlier leakage problems.
May I suggest Tena Lady Dolores, I have heard they are quite effective...not as absorbant as the carpet, but more discreet I would think..... :laugh:

Also....you'd don't have to discuss my jury service if it bores you. the point was you ambushed MY thread about ME and took it as your own....and I was upset that's all......

Also....you'd don't have to discuss my jury service if it bores you. the point was you ambushed MY thread about ME and took it as your own....and I was upset that's all......

touchy! :bag: