Summoned as a juror at wrong address..

Moominfish

Someone on Facebook who I know (who lives in the house I used to rent) has said a letter has come for me there saying I've been summoned to appear before a court (they don't say which one) on the 16th of January next year.

Thing is I need to know which court so I can contact them about it as them sending it to an address I no longer live at makes no sense.. I've found out (this hasn't been confirmed) that the courts get names from the local council tax register.

If that's so it makes no sense they wrote to the wrong address as I've lived at my current address for the last 10 months and the council have sent my council tax bill to my new address months ago.

Anyone any ideas who I can contact to find out which court I'd have been summoned to appear as a juror for? As all I know is magistrates courts don't have jurors do they? County courts also don't (as far as I know) so that would leave Crown Court or Coroners court (if such a thing exists?) my dad told me it did anyway.

Thing is if I hadn't known this person who lives at my old address I'd have never known about this jury service! So what would have happened if I didn't know and failed to appear? I don't even know which court it is as I said.

I've mssaged this person I know back but am yet to receive a response.

Thank you.

Mikazaru

I would have thought they would use the most up to date council tax registers but I don't think they do, they sent my summons to my old address but luckily my parents still live there.

You can contact them here 0845 803 8003 or jurysummoning@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk

You should be able to transfer it to your closest court but they may not need you at the same time.

Moominfish

Ok thanks for the info Mikazaru.

I still live in the same town just 8 miles away from where I used to live so I'd assume it would still be the same court?? I'll E-Mail them and see if they respond. Failing that I'll ring them instead.

What does jury service entail anyway?

The reason I ask is I'm currently unemployed and on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday I look after my 2 children when my partners at work. But I don't suppose the courts would care about that. They'll probably just tell me to find someone to look after them even if there is no one.

MrsManda

Are you still registered to vote at your previous address?
As you have to be on the electoral register in order to be eligible for jury service I presume they use the address you're registered to vote at.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/Juryservice/DG_072707

Moominfish

MrsManda,

As far as I know I probably am still eligible to vote at my old address, which is odd as I received a letter here (well the occupants did) that being me and my other half saying that they needed to know who was living at our address by such and such a date, I think it was sometime in October? Anyway there was a code which stated if I entered that on the website then I could register us online. I tried that and it said NO ONE was eligible to register at this address, which I thought was strange.

CIS

I've found out (this hasn't been confirmed) that the courts get names from the local council tax register.

Its not the council tax 'registers' they use its the electoral list.

Mikazaru

They normally get back to you pretty quick when you email, you can claim for costs you incur including travel to and from the court and childcare costs but I'm not sure what the limits are, all the information is here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CrimeJusticeAndTheLaw/Juryservice/DG_072707

Moominfish

It appears I've been summoned by a Coroner, the person just E-Mailed copies of the letter. It says I've to appear before the Coroner as a Juror. What does that mean?

Presumably if it's before a Coroner it's not a trial then is it?

It's also given me the dates I'm to appear. So it sounds like the jurors are already picked then?

It's given 8 days I've to appear which are from the 16th January to 19th January and from the 30th of January to the 2nd of February.

Mikazaru

It sounds like it will jury service for an inquest then and not a trial, I'm sure direct gov will have some information about it.

Moominfish

So the jury is already picked then? They haven't summoned people to choose who is part of the jury for the inquest? They've already made there mind up?

Presumably I have to attend regardless of having to find someone to look after the children when I'm there (which will no doubt be my parents) I don't think I can claim costs of them having to look after them though.

Carl31

My oh had this exact sceanrio earlier this year. This was for jury service. We hadnt updated our electoral roll details after we moved. We got the letter the friday before the monday she was due in court. She rang the court and explained. Youre allowed to defer once, then you have to attend