Jury Service?

foreign_correspondent

MrsE wrote: »

Its because I don't have much in the way of public transport, as I live in a village, not because I want to drive.

I just don't want to have to get up before dawn to have to get there an hour before I need to because I can't get a conection if I leave it till the next bus.

And because coming home, I will have the same problems, hanging about for ages waiting for a hourly or worse bus.

Mine was a pain for that, I had to drive for almost an hour then get a park and ride across town, so I spent a lot of time travelling. However, on the first day I met quite a frail elderly lady who had walked to the train station a mile from her house, done a similar length of journey on the train, then got lost at the courts end, so had a long walk, trying to find the place. I felt quite bad about feeling sorry for myself and got a reality check!
Its not that bad really is it?

foreign_correspondent

generally after the frst day you don't have to be there till 10am anyway

kr15snw

Thanks guys! I have a horrible feeling this could seriously muck things up

And even if they defer it I HAVE to do it the second time, what if this is when Im on holiday? (No dates yet as waiting for them to be announced (we go away on a football tour)) Great way to wreck my entire summer, ALL my mates and boyfriend go away while I sit at home on my own missing out Plus no refund on bookings etc meaning I lose out on hard saved cash!!

dmg24

MrsE wrote: »

Its because I don't have much in the way of public transport, as I live in a village, not because I want to drive.

I just don't want to have to get up before dawn to have to get there an hour before I need to because I can't get a conection if I leave it till the next bus.

And because coming home, I will have the same problems, hanging about for ages waiting for a hourly or worse bus.

I'm guessing with your suggestion that night workers have lots of free time during the day you don't work do you?

Tell a nurse how much free time she has during the day, after doing a 13 hour night shift.

Or maybe I'm a night worker?

What do you think people without cars do?

'Oh god, I've got no car. How am I ever going to work/ live/ socialise?'

Maybe they should introduce a new benefit for those poor people with no car and poor transport links? :rolleyes:

MrsE_2

tigtag02 wrote: »

Are all you reasons for not wanting to perform what is in all essence your civil duty selfish ones?

Yes:o

Compounded by the fact that I've been having bad headaches on & off the past week, that I think I have some sort of kidney/bladder type of infection that I have pains & pins & needles in my bum & thighs (very painful) & I'm feeling very under the weather this week. Its painful sitting & standing & I;m feeling soory for myself imagining myself stuck on a hard bench in this pain & discomfort.
I managed to get a doctors appointment for 5 pm tomorrow after work.

I think perhaps I am feeling very browned off about it all & very sorry for myself.

If I'm feeling better it won't be too bad I suspose.

foreign_correspondent

kr15snw wrote: »

Thanks guys! I have a horrible feeling this could seriously muck things up

And even if they defer it I HAVE to do it the second time, what if this is when Im on holiday? (No dates yet as waiting for them to be announced (we go away on a football tour)) Great way to wreck my entire summer, ALL my mates and boyfriend go away while I sit at home on my own missing out Plus no refund on bookings etc meaning I lose out on hard saved cash!!

yep, cos of the work I was missing out on I seriously considered deferring, then realised if they called me again and I had a holiday booked, or anything else, I would have to go, no choice, so I decided to get it over with. Most of us spent a lot of time sitting about so I took my laptop in and got some work done there!
I would advise you not to defer unless absolutely necessary. Lots of people were finished after 7 or 8 days when I was there. If they are starting a case likely to last longer than 2 weeks they will ask you if you can do it - if not generally they will let you go and keep people who are able to stay longer.

dmg24

kr15snw wrote: »

Thanks guys! I have a horrible feeling this could seriously muck things up

And even if they defer it I HAVE to do it the second time, what if this is when Im on holiday? (No dates yet as waiting for them to be announced (we go away on a football tour)) Great way to wreck my entire summer, ALL my mates and boyfriend go away while I sit at home on my own missing out Plus no refund on bookings etc meaning I lose out on hard saved cash!!

Strictly speaking, they don't let you cancel a second time. However, if the holiday was actually booked, there may be some leeway. I would definitely take out travel insurance (and ensure jury service is covered) just in case. It would be a terrible coincidence if it was bad timing again! x

MrsE_2

dmg24 wrote: »

Or maybe I'm a night worker?

What do you think people without cars do?

'Oh god, I've got no car. How am I ever going to work/ live/ socialise?'

Maybe they should introduce a new benefit for those poor people with no car and poor transport links? :rolleyes:

If I didn't drive I wouldn't be able to do 36 hours per week at my work.

By the time I would get there in the morning, I woouldn't be able to do a full day & still get the last bus home.

My line manager lives in the town I would need to get to, to get to the town we work in & he can't do it. Had to prove it once for a parking space or something. We I'm further out that he is.

MrsE_2

emsywoo123 wrote: »

Am I allowed to say I am thinking the word "troll?"

Is it me you are accusing of being a troll

homer_j_3

I did jury service last year and I had deferred it for a year, which I was led to believe was an option if you have genuine reasons for not being able to attend (mine was that I had training courses that I needed to be there and they would put me about 3 weeks out of pocket if I had to wait to do them later.

When I got there, I could claim parking back with proof of a receipt and I got a card which allowed me to get lunch from the canteen without having to spend money. The great thing about it was that what ever you didnt use, you got added to your allowances so it worked out about an extra £6 on top as I took my own food in.

The actual jury service, we had one person who turned up drunk because he didn't want to be there and the judge furiously just sent him home and had to delay the trial as we were 1 down as such. So out of 3 trials, I only saw one right through to the end.

On the last day, I was in a panic because I was flying to portugal the following day and I was in deliberation. I was 1 of 2 jurors who thought this person was guilty and I was not going to change my mind just to get out of jury service early so we passed a note to the judge and said we couldn't all agree but 1 person had a holiday booked the next day so they took a 11/12 vote and the other person changed their mind so I was home for 3:30 on the friday.

Generally you will find the start about 10:30 after the first day so don't get too stressed about getting up early - its only for one day and the judges where I am liked to finish at 4:30 so were never out later than this. Its only on deliberation time, you could be longer than this.

You will be sent home some days earlier and I was even told I wasn't needed for 2 days because of the court schedule.

All in all, don't get a perception of the jury service being an inconvenience, you have a duty to do it and you will realise how much money is wasted in the legal system but you will appreciate the time you have been there afterwards.