Jury duty and mental illness

Hey, I have been selected for jury service for the first time.

According to citizens advice, a person is not eligible if:

"Have, or had, a mental illness or mental disability and because of this are staying in a hospital or similar institution, or regularly attend treatment with a medical practitioner"

I have a psychiatric illness and attend a psychiatrist regularly. So if I communicate this to the court I will be dismissed?

Stanford

You will probably have to produce a letter from your Consultant certifying you as unfit for jury duty.

Claw Hammer

If you tell the court on the first day you are called about it they won't be bothered looking for letters. If you want to avoid turning up you would have to submit some evidence.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118621049#Comment_118621049

But is it a case of being unfit or simply excluded because of my status?

The law seems to consider me "persons ineligible".

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of this.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118621093#Comment_118621093

Thanks

Claw Hammer

Do you intend to go to the court or are you trying to be excused without going at all? The whole thing is casual. If people say they have any kind of a problem the judge just excuses them on the day without further ado. They have far more important things to worry about when empanelling a jury than enquiring microscopically into excuses from a potential juror. If you try to avoid turning up you will be dealing with a court clerk who might take a harder line.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118621144#Comment_118621144

Sorry, I just have zero experience of the whole thing. It seems that turning up and explaining is the best thing.

Thanks.

sibersha

Ring / email the court office that submitted the letter and explain your situation and they will exclude you from selection.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118621327#Comment_118621327

On closer inspection of the letter I received I'm actually obligated to tell them of any reasons I might be excluded by email/post. I probably should have studied that in detail first, but I was out and about today.

I thought I'd provide an update for future people. I emailed the address provided in the letter and explained the situation. I was told I was excused from jury service.

No need to turn up or provide documentation.

Amouar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118646914#Comment_118646914

Did you have to complete the form and attach it to your email or did you just email them asking to be excused and referencing your juror id?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118653306#Comment_118653306

The latter.

Amouar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118653638#Comment_118653638

How long did it take them to reply to your email?

boardlady

This comes up often. There is really seldom a problem getting excused from jury duty. The courts do not want someone on a jury panel who does not want to be there. A phonecall or letter with even a tenuous excuse usually does the trick. Busy milking this time of year, caring for elderly parent, recovering from etc...

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118654370#Comment_118654370

They replied by post. It was about a week.