Jury Duty

[Smiley]

My friend has been called for Jury Duty the two weeks that she's moving out and starting University. She will miss Freshers week, getting to know everyone and getting settled in, as well as her first week of lectures. Is there any chance of her not doing it?

[Wraith]

My wife was called up for jury duty once and due to certain factors found it impractical to attend. We called the courts that had issued the jury duty and explained the circumstances. They were only too happy to help and removed my wife from the jury list.
I'm not suggesting that this is possible in all cases, but would advise her to contact the courts and explain her situation to them.

[LeMarchand]

I've done it twice recently(!) - I'm pretty sure that you can ask to do it at a later date (but as it got me of work the first time and I was unemployed the second time...)

[WoWo]

You can rearrange it if you have a good reason. I'm sure if you explain the reason they will be OK with that. Not sure however that full time students are required to do jury service. Check this link for a bit more info.
http://www.courtservice.gov.uk/using_courts/jury/faq.htm

[GuavaHalf]

I think its OK if you ask to do it on an alternative date but you would have a hard job of getting out of it compltetely. The rules were changed recently as it became apparent that juries were made up of housewives and the unemployed only.

[BenDToy]

GuavaHalf confirms what I would say. You would probably be able to defer it once, but not get out of it completely. And who is to say how convenient it would be next time.

[WaldoMcFroog]

ansteyg is talking rot. This would not automatically get one removed from jury service, unless a critical element of the case about about political belief. In which case, turning up well presented in a suit and wearing a Vote Howard rossette would equally get one banned.

If she confessed to (for example) a hatred of black people or homophobia or similar before the case was announced however, they would remove her. You'd have to be a right bellend to do that though!

[bluedolphin]

Plead that she is a chain smoker..... or is taking medication that would dull her abililty to think critically.... smoking is probably best bet ....say she becomes irritable and nervous in between ciggies...

[Gandy]

In the words of Homer Simpson claim that you are biased against all religions.