Jury Service

[Panthro]

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum but thought this was the most apt.

 

Received a notification of jury service (not a citation) informing me that my name has been selected for future selection as a juror in the Sheriff or High Court. I have personal reasons why I do not want to undertake jury service and I am aware that I could write to the Clerk of Court and ask for excusal but this is at their discretion and may not be granted. Therefore, I am looking to use my status as a nurse to be granted an excusal.

 

The Scottish Courts Service website is vague and doesn't specifically mention excusal for occupations. The CAB website mentions occupational excusal but not nurses specifically. Did a search on Google and came upon the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980 which under Part III, Group D mentions nurses. The advice from the RCN is that nurses can't be excused "since changes to legislation in 2004". However, I think this refers to Schedule 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 which does not apply to Scotland and the advice from the RCN applies only to those nurses from England and Wales.

 

I can't see any superseding legislation which has rescinded the provisions in the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980 and indeed came across the Scottish Government's consultation from 2009 titled "The Modern Scottish Jury in Criminal Trials" which was consulting on changes to excusal of occupations from juries.

 

I'd appreciate any confirmation from any of you learned folk that I can apply for excusal due to my status as a nurse.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Panthro

[papasmurf1cx]

"Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Act 1980 which under Part III" seems to cover you "as of right" so I don't see much of a problem as long as you are actually practicing your profession.

[Panthro]

That's my take on it papasmurf as revised Acts on the legislation.gov.uk website are current and applicable.

 

Re: the practicing and registered component, I intend to send a photocopy of my Nursing and Midwifery Council PIN card and a letter from my employer stating I am employed in my capacity as a nurse.

[Sidewinder]

Seems fairly cut and dried according to THIS list

[Panthro]

Seems fairly cut and dried according to THIS list

 

Cheers sidewinder, that was the consultation document I linked to above but that was in 2008. I was wondering if they had gone ahead with any changes to legislation after the consultation ended but it appears not. Thanks anyway.