Jury Service, clinically vulnerable and Covid ~ thoughts please

unforeseen

In this situation it isn't the person being called for jury service that is vulnerable. He is the son who happens to live at the same address. 

TBagpuss

OP, your son can request to be excused or to have his service deferred until after your partner has had his Covid vaccine.

He can also ask specifically about what specific measures are in place at the court he would be attending (e.g. in waiting areas, in the court room and in the jury room)

Unfortunately although courts are (at least in some courts) doing quite a lot to keep jurors safe they seem to be very bad at providing information,, although your son could request the risk assessment for the court in question .For instance, some courts have installed Perspex screens in jury boxes to separate the jurors from each other and from the others in the court, having the jurors in a separate room viewing the trial by CCTV,  having jurors meet in difference, larger rooms  than usual to allow for social distancing etc .

It' s certainly the case that lawyers have expressed concerns about the safety of the courts but a lot of this is focused on areas such as the cells and the meting rooms, which tents to be small and unventilated ./ poorly ventilated, and of course those meeting with defendants who have been in custody have expressed concerns about the risks in prisons / prison transport and of defendants passing on the virus. 
Those risks would be lower for someone doing jury service as typically they will  not be using those areas of the court or be subject to those particular risks

Mickey666

unforeseen said:

In this situation it isn't the person being called for jury service that is vulnerable. He is the son who happens to live at the same address. 

I know . . . . which puts vulnerable persons in the same house at risk.  How will the son feels if he contracts the virus, passes it to his Mother who then dies?  If I were the son I'd be requesting a deferral.

unforeseen

I would agree to some extent if the person was EXTREMELY vulnerable but they are not.
If you believe that will happen then I suggest that nobody leave the house or accept anything into the house for at least the next 3 months. The son is probably safer doing that than going to the shops or work. 
You cannot suspend normal life because of somebody else is vulnerable, that is why the advice differs between the 2 groups. Even with somebody who is shielding you don't have to lock down the whole household tighter than a duck's ####. My wife has carried on working in a care home throughout this (I'm CEV) . You take the necessary precautions at home. 

Malthusian

In the son's place I would ask for a deferral, because why not?

But if you don't get one the solution is to take extra care with washing and social distancing both in the courts and at home, not to try to dodge jury service.

TBagpuss

Mickey666 said:

unforeseen said:

In this situation it isn't the person being called for jury service that is vulnerable. He is the son who happens to live at the same address. 

I know . . . . which puts vulnerable persons in the same house at risk.  How will the son feels if he contracts the virus, passes it to his Mother who then dies?  If I were the son I'd be requesting a deferral.

I think there is a difference - son could take extra precautions (e.g. isolating himself as much as possible at home, during the period he was doing jury service and for 10 days afterwards, extra cleaning and ventilation of areas like hallways, even wearing a mask when not in his own room, - basically  following the guidance about sharing a house that's given to someone who has tested positive but is living with others. Obviously this doesn't completely  eliminate risk but could significantly reduce it. 

Of course, this doesn't stop him taking the other steps such as requesting a deferment until the vulnerable family member has had their vaccine, but if they are refused then they can do a lot to help keep that person safe.