Jury Service (Scotland)

dippy-dora_2

Hi just to update, he wasn't chosen after all so he was panicking for nothing in the end. He just had to ring up to see if his number was being called, so anyone who gets the jury letter don't panic.

Also to reiterate - he wasn't shirking jury duty, he was simply trying to find out if he could get there. If it had been 10 days travel that would have been 60 pound, alot for someone who is working to find never mind not working.

Thanks to those who helped

Booked_moss

got a letter last week asking me to go to Leeds Crown court 3rd July (jury service not defendant). Filled the form and sent it in the freepost envelope today. Hope its the same case in England as it is in your case in Scotland and they don't call my number, knowing my luck it will be different down here and i will have to go.

Was going to put something on the form like "do i have to bring my own black hat?" to show i may be predujiced against all defendants in an effort to get out of it.

Oh well time to wait and see.

mclaren_2

dippy-dora wrote:

Hi just to update, he wasn't chosen after all so he was panicking for nothing in the end. He just had to ring up to see if his number was being called, so anyone who gets the jury letter don't panic.

Also to reiterate - he wasn't shirking jury duty, he was simply trying to find out if he could get there. If it had been 10 days travel that would have been 60 pound, alot for someone who is working to find never mind not working.

Thanks to those who helped

thats good

btw - you dont have to reiterate, its just some memebrs who have no manners / brains what ever you want to say lol

alison74

A few things to add to this thread, I am in the know

If you do have to do jury service in Edinburgh and I am sure Glasgow is the same, you get a PER DAY expenses form.

The only initial outlay would be your bus fare there - you literally get paid the cash on your way out of the court, which would help for the next day etc.

As for the 'not answering the letter' theory............. technically the police could come round and serve a citation to attend as a jury member / witness if they were that desperate to have you.

However, although it is not impossible, I would find it EXTREMELY unlikely that the local plod has enough time to follow up non-attending jury members.

Until they start sending these jury forms my registered post, LOTS will get lost in the post.

The police couldn't care one way or the other if you turned up, as jury members are always over subscribed i.e need x amount on jury, but twice as many are called for it as they allow for people not turning up.

Also, if you look in the eye of the accused as he 'disregards' jury members and shake your head at him for his alleged crime, that should have him 'firing' you !!

Looking scarily dressed / scruffy might only appeal to the accused.

foxprorawks

foxprorawks wrote:

Well, my client wrote a letter saying that my absence would be detrimental to the business for the next three months.

The result is that I have been excused from Jury Service until 1st August 2006 - no doubt I'll get a letter at that point asking me to attend.

Update: I got a letter today asking me to attend on 13th November for Jury Service.

This time, I can't defer as you're only allowed to defer once.

I'm an employee these days, so hopefully I won't lose any money (although your employer isn't compelled to pay you during your absence).

ailuro2

could you arrange to take a holiday if you were needed, but still claim the 56 pounds from the court?

foxprorawks

I don't think so - your employer has to fill in a form to state your actual loss of earnings. If you used your annual leave, then you wouldn't have lost any earnings.

pixiep_3

I told them the truth: I'm self employed, getting married in 3 months and moving to another country right after that and I'm already feeling a bit stressed with everything going on!

Not sure which bit of it they liked, but it's all true, so I wrote it all down!

By the way, I've heard (but don't know too much about this) that if you try to say you're sexist/racist/prejudiced or that you know someone involved in the case when you don't, you could be held in contempt of court.

Hope this is useful!