FND and Jury Service: Adjustments, Deferral and Excusal

Start with one decision: serve with help, change the date, or ask to be excused?

A diagnosis name does not answer this. Think about what jury service requires and what your current pattern allows. In England and Wales, jury service usually lasts up to 10 working days, commonly with court hours from about 10am to 5:30pm, although times and trial length can vary.

Use these three routes as a starting point:

• Serve with adjustments if you may be able to attend, listen, understand and take part safely when agreed help is in place.
• Ask to change the date if the problem is likely to be temporary or a different period within the next year would be more manageable.
• Ask to be excused if your illness or disability means service would not be realistic even on another date. The court service decides whether the reason and evidence are sufficient.

Wanting to contribute does not mean you must push through an unsafe day. Equally, needing adjustments does not mean you are incapable of serving. The practical question is whether you can follow the evidence and participate reliably with the arrangements the court can actually provide.

Reply to the summons; do not ignore it

For England and Wales, the official reply service lets you confirm attendance, request a date change, ask to be excused, or request adjustments and other help. You need the juror number and the name and address shown on the letter. You can save your answers at the end.

GOV.UK warns that failing to reply, or lying to avoid service, can lead to a fine of up to £1,000. Reply even if you are waiting for a medical letter. State what you have requested, what evidence is available and when you expect to provide anything outstanding.

Reasonable adjustments: ask about the barrier, not a generic list

GOV.UK says courts can make reasonable adjustments for a disability or physical or mental health condition. Its examples include ramps, accessible toilets, hearing loops and guidance in alternative formats. You should request help when replying; you can also ask to discuss your needs or arrange a court visit.

FND-related questions you might raise include:

• step-free access, an accessible toilet, suitable seating or a route that reduces walking and standing;
• whether a quieter waiting area is available if noise, crowds or visual load worsen symptoms;
• how to manage prescribed medication, water, food or mobility equipment within security rules;
• whether planned breaks or a way to alert the jury officer could be discussed if fatigue, pain, speech symptoms or concentration deteriorate;
• what the court would want others to do if you have a familiar functional seizure or collapse;
• whether a pre-visit would help you understand the route, seating, toilets and security process.

These are requests to discuss, not guaranteed arrangements. A jury cannot independently pause proceedings, leave the courtroom, use a phone, bring someone into the jury room or change court procedure. Ask early, get the agreed plan in writing where possible, and follow the jury officer's and judge's instructions.

A friend or carer may help with travel and waiting, but do not assume they can stay with you during jury business. Ask the court exactly where a supporter may accompany you and what happens after you enter a restricted area.

How to explain fluctuating FND clearly

“My FND is bad” gives the decision-maker very little to act on. A better account connects the symptom to jury service:

1. What happens: use observable language such as leg weakness, loss of awareness, speech stopping or cognitive blanks.
2. How often: give an honest usual pattern and recent change, not only the best or worst day.
3. Warning: say whether you normally have time to sit down, alert someone or use a plan.
4. Safety: explain falls, injury risk, medication effects or inability to stay aware.
5. Recovery: say how long it usually takes before you can listen, speak, travel or function again.
6. What helps: identify the adjustment and why it reduces the barrier.

Do not copy an example that is not true for you. If your main difficulty is functional seizures, our functional seizures guide may help you describe warning, awareness, safety and recovery. For cognitive symptoms, see our brain fog guide.

If you need a different date or excusal in England and Wales

GOV.UK's current guidance says you can ask to move service to another date within the next 12 months if you have a good reason. You can make this request once and suggest three dates that work.

If service would not be possible at any point in the next 12 months, you can ask to be excused. GOV.UK describes this as an exceptional route, including where a serious illness or disability prevents service. You may be asked for proof, such as a doctor's letter. If excusal is refused, you can still ask to change the date.

The published guidance for summoning officers says applications should be considered individually and sympathetically. It also says physical-disability excusal requests should normally be considered without a medical certificate, although one can be requested when needed. Do not assume that sentence removes the need for evidence in every FND case: respond to the request you actually receive.

Evidence that helps without asking a clinician to decide the legal question

A useful medical letter is factual. It can confirm the diagnosis, symptoms assessed, current functional effect, expected duration and relevant risk. The clinician does not need to decide whether the court should excuse you.

Other useful records may include an occupational therapy or physiotherapy letter, a medication list, a seizure or symptom summary, and an existing care or safety plan. Send copies rather than irreplaceable originals unless the instructions specifically require otherwise.

Scotland: use your citation and Scottish Courts guidance

Scotland has a separate jury system. The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service juror hub links the online citation response, excusal information, accessibility guidance and attendance update line.

Scottish accessibility guidance says to contact the court as soon as you receive the citation to discuss support. If illness or disability means you could not follow the evidence, it says to apply for exemption or excusal before the stated date and include a medical certificate. It also says a GP certificate requested for jury service should be free; tell the practice what it is for.

Follow the contact details and deadline on your citation. Do not send an England-and-Wales form to a Scottish court.

Northern Ireland: notice and summons stages are different

Northern Ireland also uses a separate process. The nidirect jury service hub links the current notice, summons, exemption and attendance pages.

The Department of Justice jury FAQ explains that a general deferral or excusal request is normally made at summons stage, in writing, with supporting evidence. If the request is within seven days of attendance, it should go directly to the court office. Applying does not mean it has been granted; if you have no confirmation, the official guidance says you must attend as summoned.

The same FAQ says a medical certificate supporting excusal or deferral should be free under Northern Ireland regulations. Use the address on your summons and keep a copy of what you send.

A practical court-day plan if you are serving

• Re-read the court's written confirmation of adjustments.
• Plan accessible travel, drop-off, parking and security time.
• Bring the summons, allowed medication and any agreed equipment.
• Wear or bring layers if temperature changes affect your symptoms.
• Tell the jury officer promptly if the agreed arrangement is missing.
• Use the agreed signal or process if symptoms begin.
• Do not leave, use a device or change the plan without instruction.
• Keep the evening after court as light as you realistically can.
• Check the official expenses rules for your nation and keep receipts.

If you work, tell your employer when you receive the summons. England-and-Wales guidance says jury service is unpaid by the court, although some loss of earnings and expenses can be claimed. Employer duties and payment arrangements are a separate issue; our FND and work guide covers wider adjustment conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Does FND automatically excuse me from jury service?

No. A diagnosis of FND does not create an automatic excusal. The relevant court service considers your individual circumstances, whether adjustments could make service possible, and the evidence required for a deferral or excusal request.

Can I ask for breaks or a quiet waiting space?

You can ask the court to discuss breaks, seating, a quieter waiting place or other help linked to your symptoms, but these are requests rather than promises. The court must confirm what can be arranged, and jurors must follow the jury officer's and judge's instructions during a trial.

Do I need a doctor's letter?

The answer depends on the nation and request. In England and Wales you might be asked for proof. Scottish guidance requires a medical certificate for illness or disability excusal, while Northern Ireland requires supporting evidence for excusal or deferral applications and may require medical evidence.

Can functional seizures mean I should be excused?

Not automatically. Explain the frequency, warning, awareness, injury risk, recovery time and whether you could follow evidence safely and reliably. The court decides whether adjustments, a different date or excusal is appropriate.

What if my request is refused in England or Wales?

GOV.UK says you can appeal a refusal by writing to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau with your reasons and summons details. If excusal is refused, you can still ask to change the date.