Jury Duty

[moa999]

The big issue for me is being called for jury duty while travelling. We have a

Online you can put in two periods when you won't be available.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Oh dear, the letter from the NSW office of the Sheriff arrived this week that I have been included on the jury roll for Sydney, run for one year till March 2025
I have read all the posts in this thread to see if I would be able to claim any exemption, and it did not appear there was any for me. I was going to claim on the age ground, but there appears to be no age limit in NSW. The big issue for me is being called for jury duty while travelling. We have a few overseas trips booked this year - one long and two short, plus a few domestic driving trips (short and long trips but no set dates yet). So, I guess when they call me and I am not in Sydney, I will have to tell them that I am travelling? PS - hubby said he worries that he may get the letter as well!

For overseas travel already booked, yes, tell them to avoid a fine.
Guess you have to wait till you are specifically called up, ie, when you are definitely called up for a specific case.
As of now, I believe you on the list available for them to use to call up.
Some criminal cases can be very gruesome, maybe you can ask to be excused if you are squimish or woozy, or faint, explain you faint at the mention of blood or see bloody pixs.
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Might have to consult your GP as well, all the better if your GP "agrees" with this view on bloody pixs, not being weird, mind you.
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Welcome onboard AFF Airlines, JeffM1.

 

[Myrna]

For overseas travel already booked, yes, tell them to avoid a fine.
Guess you have to wait till you are specifically called up, ie, when you are definitely called up for a specific case.
As of now, I believe you on the list available for them to use to call up.
Some criminal cases can be very gruesome, maybe you can ask to be excused if you are squimish or woozy, or faint, explain you faint at the mention of blood or see bloody pixs.
---
Might have to consult your GP as well, all the better if your GP "agrees" with this view on bloody pixs, not being weird, mind you.
===

Thanks, AustraliaPoochie.
I don't cope with 'blood and gut' at all. My blood pressures always shot up when I was admitted to the hospital for ops - nurses always asked why? My GP always have had to take my blood pressures 3 times when I was in his office. When I had blood taken for tests, I closed my eyes and looked away. If I get called for JD, I will have to tell them these. I can sit in fraud cases, but not murder.

 

[moa999]

My blood pressures always shot up when I was admitted to the hospital for ops

White-coat syndrome

 

[Happy Dude]

I can sit in fraud cases, but not murder.

It depends on what level of court you've been called up to in your JD notice, but I doubt these would be heard in the same "level" of court.

When I did jury duty in QLD as a student circa 1990, the level of court was described in the JD notice as "criminal sittings of the District Court", and I sat on fraud, rape and child molesting juries. Whereas murder would be tried in a higher (Supreme) court. There may also be differences between states, but perhaps one of legal members might shed some light.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Guess the only way is to show the ereceipt/booking invoice, if and when you get called, that you have to fly overseas.
Better if you can work as a "consultant" who has to go overseas every 3 months, like clockwork.
Would say that IRL, there are people here in Aus that do actually do this, ie, go overseas for work like clockwork every 3 months.
Main point is, if you want to avoid JD, would it work if you book to go to NZ every 3 months, and say, you have to go for "work", going to NZ on JQi is not very expensive.

 

[Myrna]

Guess the only way is to show the ereceipt/booking invoice, if and when you get called, that you have to fly overseas.
Better if you can work as a "consultant" who has to go overseas every 3 months, like clockwork.
Would say that IRL, there are people here in Aus that do actually do this, ie, go overseas for work like clockwork every 3 months.
Main point is, if you want to avoid JD, would it work if you book to go to NZ every 3 months, and say, you have to go for "work", going to NZ on JQi is not very expensive.

Thanks, AustraliaPoochie. But, I have retired moons ago

 

[cove]

A retirement consultant business card @Myrna? Relax about JD you probably will get a corruption case seeing it is NSW.
We are back in Perth after a footy weekend in Melbourne. This retirement gig is growing legs and we only have 17 months of consulting to go.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Well, wink wink, you can now book an annual trip to NZ, I think you or a potential jury pick, goes around in a circle of once per 3 years.

 

[Myrna]

A retirement consultant business card @Myrna? Relax about JD you probably will get a corruption case seeing it is NSW.
We are back in Perth after a footy weekend in Melbourne. This retirement gig is growing legs and we only have 17 months of consulting to go.

Yeah, I may be in luck with a corruption case (and not the blood and gut one). I can deal with that ...
Glad that you and Mrs cove have become 'wanderlusters' again. You both deserve great long travels - river cruises and Paris Olympics , after the stresses of selling the business last year.

 

[cove]

I gained an exemption years ago when I was a CPA and Chartered Secretary for several ASX listed companies.That part of my life finished over forty years ago but neither of us have ever been contacted. Flying to multiple locations each year would have made JD quite difficult in the second part of our lives as manufacturers, importers and wholesalers covering the next 40 years.
Now we are flying quite a lot so JD would be inconvenient.

 

[Lat34]

Oh dear, the letter from the NSW office of the Sheriff arrived this week that I have been included on the jury roll for Sydney, run for one year till March 2025
I have read all the posts in this thread to see if I would be able to claim any exemption, and it did not appear there was any for me. I was going to claim on the age ground, but there appears to be no age limit in NSW. The big issue for me is being called for jury duty while travelling. We have a few overseas trips booked this year - one long and two short, plus a few domestic driving trips (short and long trips but no set dates yet). So, I guess when they call me and I am not in Sydney, I will have to tell them that I am travelling? PS - hubby said he worries that he may get the letter as well!

Some relatively recent experience. I was on the NSW jury roll from May 2022 through May 2023.

At the outset, I had some definite orthopaedic surgery planned but not yet booked together with various travel plans with partial booking confirmations eg mix of some accom and some flights and also compiled a Travel Schedule. The longest confirmed unavailable duration was mid-Jan thru mid-Mar 2023.

As each summons was received, an Application to be Excused was submitted with the Travel Schedule updated as necessary together with relevant supporting docs as evidence. One reward booking was made for a period not covered by definite travel plans then cancelled when actual dates & destinations confirmed.

In total 5 Summons notices were received over the 12-month period. Two periods of unavailable time (two weeks each?) can be entered.

Jury summons are sent by mail (think this is the only option?) so missed the final notice in Feb 2023 as we were overseas then received a "please explain" SMS due to non-attendance plus penalty notice by mail. Final travel documents submitted on return to AUS and explanation for absence accepted.

Hope this helps.

 

[dairyfloss]

What's the penalty for not responding or showing up worth? And is it monetary only? I got out of all of mine about a decade ago due to frequent and confirmed o/s business travel... but these days I wouldn't have that. I'd be happy to pay a fine to avoid it though

 

[Lat34]

What's the penalty for not responding or showing up worth? And is it monetary only? I got out of all of mine about a decade ago due to frequent and confirmed o/s business travel... but these days I wouldn't have that. I'd be happy to pay a fine to avoid it though

"If your reason for failing to attend court is not accepted a fine of up to $2,200 may be imposed." according to courts.nsw.gov.au

 

[kelvedon]

In the 50’s my father was on a jury in ( colonial ) Nigeria. They found the man guilty. He was sentenced to Death. Something he thought about for decades after.

 

[dairyfloss]

"If your reason for failing to attend court is not accepted a fine of up to $2,200 may be imposed." according to courts.nsw.gov.au

OK, thanks. If it's just a fine, then to be honest, it wouldn't take much of a case for my time not to be worth more than the 'up to' amount... Will have to keep it in mind

 

[Myrna]

So today i went to the website to activate sms notification. Lo and behold, they immediately told me that I have been randomly selected for JD in a months time They said the case would be expected to go for 2 months! I have already booked and paid 3 nights away on a driving trip for BiL's 70th birthday during this 2 months. Hubby said if it came to it and I could not go, he would travel by himself as we have already paid for the accommodation. I hope that they would not select me for the case

 

[Myrna]

Some relatively recent experience. I was on the NSW jury roll from May 2022 through May 2023.

At the outset, I had some definite orthopaedic surgery planned but not yet booked together with various travel plans with partial booking confirmations eg mix of some accom and some flights and also compiled a Travel Schedule. The longest confirmed unavailable duration was mid-Jan thru mid-Mar 2023.

As each summons was received, an Application to be Excused was submitted with the Travel Schedule updated as necessary together with relevant supporting docs as evidence. One reward booking was made for a period not covered by definite travel plans then cancelled when actual dates & destinations confirmed.

In total 5 Summons notices were received over the 12-month period. Two periods of unavailable time (two weeks each?) can be entered.

Jury summons are sent by mail (think this is the only option?) so missed the final notice in Feb 2023 as we were overseas then received a "please explain" SMS due to non-attendance plus penalty notice by mail. Final travel documents submitted on return to AUS and explanation for absence accepted.

Hope this helps.

I have entered into the website the max 2 x 2 weeks periods which we would be overseas.
I wondered if I should seek an excuse for accommodation booked for BiL's birthday? Or, should I wait until the day when I go to the court for selection process, and tell the court?

 

[Seat0B]

I hope that they would not select me for the case

There are ways to avoid being selected. Express some extreme points of view. Say out loud that you love true crime and can't wait to research the case. Say that the defendant must be guilty, or else it wouldn't have made it to court etc .... These tips were given to me by a barrister I know....

 

[Lat34]

I have entered into the website the max 2 x 2 weeks periods which we would be overseas.
I wondered if I should seek an excuse for accommodation booked for BiL's birthday? Or, should I wait until the day when I go to the court for selection process, and tell the court?

Keep it simple, submit evidence now of accom already booked as reason to be excused.

This may be your first rodeo but admin will not be phased.

EDIT: plus try not to get anxious and over-think the situation. Although no insider knowledge, approach each summons in a matter-of-fact way is my experience. Happy for you to PM me