Disaster - Jury Service

Is getting married not an acceptable reason to decline? I've no idea but I would have thought so!!

You will be able to defer it im sure. Try not to worry.

Yup, think the above is correct, it works as a substantial reason to defer it xx

The official guidelines are suitably vague (I guess not to give people ideas of creative ways to get out of it) but they say

"Asking to do jury service at a later date

In some circumstances, you may be able to delay ('defer') your jury service - for example, you have a holiday booked.

You must state the reason on the jury summons form.

You must also state when you’re available for jury service during the next 12 months.

You can only defer jury service once in the next 12 months."

So you should be able to defer it but you won't be able to avoid it forever. As you don't always know how long the trial is going to be (some go on for weeks or months) I'd say a fixed unmoveable thing like a wedding should be an acceptable reason for a deferral.

I'm sure you'll be fine. They will always call more jurors than are needed to allow for those unable to make it.

I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about. Even the courts wouldn't make you cancel your wedding for jury service with 8 weeks to go.

As others have said, you can defer it once. OH did last year as we had a holiday booked, and they moved it to a month or so later. Just give them a call

My OH had to defer his twice about 18 months ago. The first time it was deferred was because he was on standby at work to go out to Afghanistan at short notice. The second time it was defered because my due date with my little boy was slap bang in the middle of the jusry service dates. As long as you have a genuine reason they are fine, they only get awkward if you are just trying to be difficult & wiggle out of doing it. My OH actually really enjoyed doing it when he was eventually called to do it & sat in on quite a high profile case at Bristol Crown Court.

Nothing to worry about you can defer it, as long as you haven't deferred previously. I did mine in November and were two people excused for far less reasons in my group.

I'm guessing the area you work and area of the court is different?

I've wanted to be picked for years and I finally got my wish about 4 years ago at Leeds Crown Court. After 2 days of sitting around reading and boring waiting time, I finally got my name called. I was sworn in and actually managed to get inside the court room and saw the dastardly couple who were on trial. Then out of the blue, one of the barristers went over to the judge and lo and behold, we were dismissed because one of the accused knew one of the jurors! Utterly disappointed after all that waiting too! I still got paid for the week though so not all bad news. Anyway back to your query, I am pretty sure it would be deferred for you because even if you are called for service, you may not actually get to be a juror so they wouldn't make you cancel your wedding just in case that happened to you.

They'll defer it bdef. i defered mine due to a holiday. you'll get a new letter pretty soon after you reply with a new date x

I want a go!!! I doubt I will ever get picked though, I'm not that lucky...

I did mine last year, it was soooooooo dull. My deputy just finshed a 4 month trial as well- she is excused for the next 10 years.

You will be able to defer it- dont worry.

I got called up some years ago. Thoroughly unpleasant experience, horrendous charges but the guy was completely innocent.

@AJ- if they have a really awful trial- is there any counselling etc offered afterwards?

I often wonder- those in the industry are predisposed to deal with the awful things they must see on a day to day basis but Jurys are "normal" people- it must be hard to deal with the stuff that you have to look at/hear etc.

Mine was very non offenseive to the point of funny

We weren't offered anything.

Thankfully it became fairly clear that there was no actual evidence against the guy, just "his word against theirs" and it was actually all manufactured by a spiteful ex using their children to get revenge on him.

In fact, the whole thing was such a farce that the Judge at the end of it said that the case should never have got to court on the evidence, and he would be recommending a review of the case as to why it did.