Jury Summons
It is an offence to disobey a jury summons or directions given in accordance with the summons. The maximum penalty is $5,000. Failure to attend jury service may result in an $800 infringement.
This means you must attend at the place and time stated on the summons as directed until you have been discharged unless you have been granted a deferral or excusal prior to your summons attendance date.
A jury summons is posted to your current enrolled address as recorded by the WA Electoral Commission (WAEC).
If you move to another residence and do not notify the WAEC of your new address then you may not realise you have been summoned. The consequences are that you could receive an infringement for failing to obey the summons sent to your enrolled address.
It is your responsibility to ensure you maintain your current address details with the WAEC. Visit the WAEC website to update or confirm your enrolment details.
If an infringement is not dealt with, or a final demand is unpaid, it will automatically be referred to the Fines Enforcement Registry for enforcement. This may result in a suspension of a driver’s license or other sanctions if left outstanding.
Employers
Under the Juries Act 1957 it is an offence to act in any way prejudicial to an employee if they have received a summons for jury service and you threaten to take action against the employee as a result of the summons.
There is a penalty of $10,000 for individual employers and $50,000 for corporations if as an employer you:
a) terminate the employee’s employment
b) cease remunerating the employee
c) reduce the employee’s remuneration
d) otherwise act so as to prejudice the employee in relation to his or her employment with the employer
e) threaten to take an action described in any of paragraphs (a) to (d).
