Called for jury service (advice required)

MissG_2

Hi Guys,

Need some advice if at all possible???

A freind of mine has just been called for Jury service which is due to start 21.04.08. The problems are they recently started the process of becoming a LTD company & self employed.

They are not due to commence trading until 6th apr (new tax year) and they feel if they complete this it will severly impact on their ability to run their business so soon after starting up. It could potentially put off new clients or affect future bookings not being able to answer queries.

They are willing to complete this in approx 6 months and is willing to provide evidence from accountant confirming it is a new business and provide at least 6 months of clear dates when they are able to fulfill jury duty service after the initial 6 months period.

They have spent quite a lot on advertising and already have a few bookings in for the dates requested.

Do you think the CJS would accept a deferral request?

Has anyone experienced similar? All advice is much appreciated.

Kind regards

Retired_I.F.A.

I know one thing for sure, they'll never get me on jury service again.
4 weeks I spent on it having been told I'd get my normal wages only to find they gave me nothing at all.

Though it was 20 years ago I bet the system is still the same. I was employed but commission only with no salary, I'd averaged £200 plus each week for over 12 months and submitted pay slips proving it. Come the day they paid out, the last day of jury service, there was nothing for me and it took me another week or so and my solicitor to discover they don't make up lost commission if employed but do if self employed. Payslips counted for less than an accountants letter.

If your friend has a start up company as you say and the above still applies being honest could cost him dearly, they could rule he attends, he could be on a long case lasting 6 months or more and could end up with nothing as he has no record of earnings in his new job.

If they say he must attend he could get some plaster of paris and a bandage make a cast, go to the doctors tell the doc he's bust his leg on holiday abroad (just in case the doc wants to check with the hospital) get a sick note and simply send it to the court. Totally illegal and of course I wouldn't do it.:rolleyes:

bestpud

I have known several people postpone jury service because the first dates didn't suit them. It seems they are more leniant if you ask to postpone than if you ask not to do it at all.

The other option (done by one of the lecturers at my uni!) is to turn up looking like the village idiot, because (he says) they select more than they need and some will be sent home anyway! It worked for him!

Basically though, if you contact them and say you need to be working, they will either let you off altogether or postpone it and contact you later in the year, or even next year.

alfiedog_2

I did jury service a few months ago. I spoke to various other people there and it seems you can defer your jury service once but you have you give them some dates in the rest of the year that you will definitely be available to do it and then you will be called again.
You can only defer it the once though and unless you are ill you have to attend. I am sure the blurb that comes with the jury summons gives you info on deferring it.

pinkshoes

My mum (a teacher) got asked to do it in her easter holiday, so she wasn't best pleased, but thankfully she already had a holiday booked, so they gave her a new date during term time! This was the 2nd time in 2 years she'd been called up, and she spent the first 2 days sitting around doing nothing, then was sent back to work, then called in the next week, almost got a case, the guy pleaded guilty, so went back to work.

First time round it was only a week too...

Wear a suit, and have a copy of The Telegraph under your arm, and you're statistically less likely to be selected!

AnnieH

I was called but i was due to be havig Ds around that time, so i defferred and had to do it the year after. if you defer once you HAVe to do it next time you're called.

mookiandco

Deferring or not attending jury service

You can ask for your jury service to be deferred. You can only do this once and for no more than 12 months from the original date.
If you want to be excluded from jury service altogether you need to write to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau setting out your reasons why. However, unless you've already served as a juror within the previous two years, your call-up is likely to be deferred.

taken from here: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10037655

Janepig

bestpud wrote: »

I have known several people postpone jury service because the first dates didn't suit them. It seems they are more leniant if you ask to postpone than if you ask not to do it at all.

The other option (done by one of the lecturers at my uni!) is to turn up looking like the village idiot, because (he says) they select more than they need and some will be sent home anyway! It worked for him!

Basically though, if you contact them and say you need to be working, they will either let you off altogether or postpone it and contact you later in the year, or even next year.

Doesn't always work - when my mum had to give evidence in Court afew years ago after my parents house was burgled, I was gobsmacked at the state of the Jury. Personally I would dress quite smartly for Jury service, but this lot looked like the Clerk of the Court had stood outside the Court and picked the first twelve scruffbags to walk past!!! Having said that, they did find the thieving to$$pot guilty so obviously scruffy juries get the job done!:D

Jxx

PS: Edited to say that I would move heaven and earth to get out of jury service should I ever have the misfortune to be called.

hobo28

Janepig wrote: »

....but this lot looked like the Clerk of the Court had stood outside the Court and picked the first twelve scruffbags to walk past!!!

Reminds me of the old saying that juries are "..are made up of twelve men/women who were too stupid to get out of jury service."

AnnieH

I was chuffed when I was called - I'm dead nosy

LuciferTDark

I had a great time on mine, met a load of brilliant people I still keep in contact with in the 2 juries I was in & I was foreman on the second case & got to say the word that sent the pervert to prison for 10 years.