County Court Advice

[Vern LCFC]

I am due in court on Monday.It`s very important that I attend,however I will be working out of town and I cant take time off as had too much off recently.At short notice can i inform the court to suspend the hearing? Any help please.

[Scarlett]

I don't think they would take too kindly to you not turning up- best thing is to phone up tomorrow first thing, and ask if there is anyway the date could be changed. You could always say a crisis has come up, like you have to take your ill mother to hospital or something!! If it's easy for them to change, all well and good. If not, maybe you could explain to your boss that you tried really hard to get out of it, but they won't let you. Assure your boss that you will make up the time. Maybe even try and get into work after your appointment, and work late that day. You can't please everyone, unfortunately!!

[New Forester]

I'd be very careful about making up reasons you can't go -- I'm not sure if that isn't contempt of court, which could fetch you in very serious trouble. Not a good start for an honest witness, anyway... Explain to the clerk the real reason, and ask them whether they can help -- perhaps by talking to your boss for you. Anyway, surely your boss has a civic duty as well, and should let you go?

[gerry]

All i know is something similar to this happened to a friend of mine about 4 months ago when he was meant to attend court but he was having trouble trying to get the time off.The court told him that he had to turn up that day.Basically it's a case of if the court say you have to turn up & you don't you'll just get yourself into bother with them.Plus as far as i'm aware you boss can't refuse you if you have to go to court.It's like when you get the letter in saying that you have been chosen for Jury Duty no boss can refuse you not to let you go.It's the LAW

[stoo_pid]

Actually, even with Jury service, your employer is notlegally obliged to give you time off to attend court. Which means you could theoretically find yourself in a position where you are legally required to attend court but then find your boss won't let you go.