Aspergers/ASD - am I allowed to serve on a jury?

Question

As yet I do not have a diagnosis, but I have a referral to see a psychologist and I am on a waiting list. I had been receiving counselling and medication for anxiety, but I am now off the medication and have been discharged. I have now been requested to do jury service, which I would love to do and I feel more than capable of doing. I live in N.Ireland, which is important because the rules are slightly different from the rest of the UK. My question is twofold - am I legally obliged to disclose a condition for which I do not have a diagnosis but for which I have been sent for a referral, and what is a mental disorder anyway, the N.Irish definition seems a bit ambiguous? Their definition '...includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning'. I have an IQ of 110, but I do, however have some trouble making friends, but in my interpretation this is not 'significant'. On writing this I have just noticed the word 'and' in there, and perhaps I am answering my own question here, but surely I would have to satisfy both conditions to be considered mentally handicapped?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I think a person who would vote based on your logic and the facts (high IQ), instead of voting based on what you think is "cool" to the rest of the group, is actually a very valuable Juror to have on the Jury. I don't think that you should disclose the condition. Legally speaking you were never diagnosed with it, so they obviously wouldn't prosecute you. If you disclose it and say it like "I have this", they will probably just disqualify you out of protocol. But it isn't something major. At the end of the day you are clearly able to function.

Also, Aspergers is not "significant"- medically speaking it is known as a MILD form of autism. Mild and significant are antonyms, opposites. So you are good.

And means "both" in my opinion. And again, you weren't actually diagnosed. A lot of people have Aspergers

Also, Aspergers is not "significant"- medically speaking it is known as a MILD form of autism. Mild and significant are antonyms, opposites. So you are good.

And means "both" in my opinion. And again, you weren't actually diagnosed. A lot of people have Aspergers

J M · Answer

Yes, you have no diagnosis.

Michael E · Answer

Describe your situation, including the upcoming referral. The courts will decide if you are fit to be on a jury.

Anonymous · Answer

I think you qualify for service. Lots of people suffer from anxiety and have trouble making friends. In your case nothing is established so you would not be withholding anything. Incidentally, you may not get picked anyway as both legal teams may reject prospective jurors without giving any reason.

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Aspergers/ASD - am I allowed to serve on a jury?

4 Answers