Jury duty, why should I?

RagingGoose

Went to a load of hassle to retrieve a letter sent to me by recorded delivery which I could not sign for as I was at work. I won't go into it but when I finally get it I find it is a citation for jury duty.

Now I think I would be quite interesting to do. But I don't want to for the following reasons:

1. I've been trying to claim back a tax overpayment for nearly a year. At a cost of a great deal of my time and almost £30 of phone calls. Not having this money has caused me to have to sell most of my possessions for a pittance to make ends meet.

2. I recently got and lost a job, as such I have about 1.3 billion forms from various government departments to compete and return (1.2 billion of which are requiring from me nothing more than information which was sent to me by the government, so why am I exactly being asked to compete them?) So I really don't have the time.

3. I am looking for work, and this is likely to put off a potential employer.

Now in reality I'm probably not going to be excused and I'm not really trying to, but I would like to express the point I think this country is a joke and I have no loyalty for it at all. Am I permitted to make this point on my form?

Also if I were to say on the form I do not believe I am capable of being impartial and making rational judgements how would this be taken?

(mods feel free to move this if there is a better forum for it)

GlynD

Because you are breaking the law if you do not answer a summons for Jury Duty. We've all had to do it.

arcon5

RagingGoose wrote: »

3. I am looking for work, and this is likely to put off a potential employer.

Why would it put off a potential employer?

RagingGoose

GlynD wrote: »

Because you are breaking the law if you do not answer a summons for Jury Duty. We've all had to do it.

I am well aware of that, but I am trying to figure out my best "special reason" why I feel I should be exempt.

In Australia you must turn up to vote, but you don't have to write anything on the ballot paper. Is there any legal reason why I have to pay attention whilst a juror? If not I will happily tell them I won't pay attention.

RagingGoose

arcon5 wrote: »

Why would it put off a potential employer?

"Hey I'd like to work for you but I can't turn up for work for most of next month."

There are 300 other applicants who can.

GlynD

RagingGoose wrote: »

I am well aware of that, but I am trying to figure out my best "special reason" why I feel I should be exempt.

In Australia you must turn up to vote, but you don't have to write anything on the ballot paper. Is there any legal reason why I have to pay attention whilst a juror? If not I will happily tell them I won't pay attention.

May I suggest you put yourself in the place of the defendant who may be innocent of the crime which he/she/they are accused of?

eranou

I done jury duty once it was great, just like watching law and order!

& I got paid!

RagingGoose

GlynD wrote: »

May I suggest you put yourself in the place of the defendant who may be innocent of the crime which he/she/they are accused of?

Innocent until proven guilty, if I heard no evidence then they are clearly innocent. :rotfl:

Mrs_Arcanum

You will get a food & travel allowance so will not be out of pocket.

The notice to do Jury Service is usually pretty good so if you do get a job before hand this cannot be held against you.

Can be boring and often you may not even need to turn up after the first day for a while so can still job hunt.

Once completed it may be a minor selling point to new employers as you will be less likely to be called again (unless you move).

You might meet a fellow juror who is looking for staff.

You can defer once with good reason.

It can be an interesting experience.

RagingGoose

eranou wrote: »

I done jury duty once it was great, just like watching law and order! & I got paid!

I know, I'd really like to do it I just want to make a point on my form.

GlynD

RagingGoose wrote: »

Innocent until proven guilty, if I heard no evidence then they are clearly innocent. :rotfl:

That's kind of the point of the court old chap. The defendant(s) wouldn't be there unless the Crown felt they had evidence. It's up to you, the jury, to decide who's got it right.