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Original poster

Jury Service Selection

59 replies

GinJeanie · 21/10/2023 07:24

My DH has just received a letter to do jury service - it's the third time! The first was when he was a mature student and around exams so he was excused, the second time he turned up and wasn't needed and now he's had the call again. He feels it's important to take part so has no problem with this.
I'm not unusual in that I've never been summoned. I'm not sure if I'd like to do it or not (DH's second time was coroner's court which would likely be tough to hear). I was wondering how many times others have been selected? I read online of a man who served five times!

OP posts:
MurielThrockmorton · 21/10/2023 07:27

I did a case once in the early 1990s, then I was selected again about 12 years ago, but I got off because I was a single parent and wouldn't have been able to get a DD to school and get there as it was a bit of a journey away.

BillStickersIsInnocent · 21/10/2023 07:28

I’ve been called up once, and I only know one other person in my extended family who has been called.

I’d do it again - I valued the experience and learnt a lot, it was a short case over in 3 days, but then I was on recall for the other 7 days. I’m not sure how I’d feel if it was a more serious offence.

Candleabra · 21/10/2023 07:31

I’ve never been selected. I also know people who have been asked more than once.

Thebigblueballoon · 21/10/2023 07:32

I’ve been called up for service at the high court once, a couple of months ago, but was excused for health reasons.

LemonLymanDotCom · 21/10/2023 07:32

Been called up twice. But I do love relatively near a big court which am sure has something to do with it. I think I’m in a catchment area or something!

LemonLymanDotCom · 21/10/2023 07:33

*live, not love obviously

Ohnoitsfinallyhappened · 21/10/2023 07:34

My ds got called straight after his 18th birthday. Neither myself or DH have had the call up!!

CrispsnDips · 21/10/2023 07:36

Called up twice…but I was pregnant the second time and had two other children, including an eight month old, so they let me off…

mimbleandlittlemy · 21/10/2023 08:17

Been called up three times - once as a student at a critical point in the year so was released, then twice as an adult. First of those was at the Old Bailey, second at much more local courts in London suburb. I was on more juries at the local court than at the Old Bailey which calls a huge number of people as there are so many courts there, so I did one case and was released as soon as that finished. Served full two weeks at the local court.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 21/10/2023 08:30

Called up twice, about 35 years in between them.
Dh has never been called, nor had my MiL, who’d have loved to do it.
It’s supposed to be entirely random, but then so are Premium Bonds, but some people often win, while others with the same holding hardly ever do.

sorrynotathome · 21/10/2023 08:31

I've never been called and I'm 59. I've never won on my premium bond (which was bought for me when I was born) either!!

Ilovewillow · 21/10/2023 08:44

Three times here, I was excused the first time due to type of employment making me exempt. Second time heard two cases over the two weeks. Third time heard two cases over two weeks.

Lulu1919 · 21/10/2023 09:02

I did it twice in 5 Years !

MattDamon · 21/10/2023 09:21

I was requested 4 times in 5 years. I had valid excuses to decline all of them. With the final request, I sent in a GP note evidencing mental health issues. They wrote back that I would no longer be called and they never have. That was over 10 years ago.

I think the rules have since changed and mental health issues no longer preclude you.

AliMonkey · 21/10/2023 09:32

Called up once, spent most of 10 days waiting around, got into court twice but never actually heard a case (once the case was deferred as key person ill, once was one of the 15 not selected for the 12). So did my duty but no responsibility!

JobMatch3000 · 21/10/2023 09:41

I lived in Aberdeen for 15 years. Never called up. I moved to Edinburgh and was called up within 2 years. Excused as I was on maternity leave. Called up again but I was excused due to childcare commitments. Called up again and I attended but was not selected and I was called up again this year but was excused as I had a pre-booked holiday. It seems to me I'm on "a list" that they call up every 3 years. My colleague says the same.

NigelHarmansNewWife · 21/10/2023 09:47

If he did jury service within the last two years he can be excused this time.

HurdyGurdy19 · 21/10/2023 09:51

I've never been called up, nor has my husband. Only one friend has.

But the mention of The Old Bailey by a previous poster has got me wondering - are you only called to be a juror at your local court? Or could anyone in the country be required to travel to a case being heard at The Old Bailey?

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 21/10/2023 09:58

sorrynotathome · 21/10/2023 08:31

I've never been called and I'm 59. I've never won on my premium bond (which was bought for me when I was born) either!!

Are you sure you exist @sorrynotathome Grin

viques · 21/10/2023 10:07

Only called up once, to Southwark Crown Court which is a big court which hears complicated cases. We must have been an intimidating looking pool of jurors because only one lot was called in for selection on day one. On the second day ( of a two week call up window) they called us together and said there were no more cases, apparently ALL the defendants in all the cases bar one had changed their pleas to guilty! Shame really, they had a very good jurors cafe which made delicious curry . They said we could stay for lunch on the second day, I suppose because they had already started cooking it.

Never called again. My DD has never been called, nor to my knowledge have any other members of my family!

Morph22010 · 21/10/2023 10:18

Check if he still gets paid when he’s on jury duty, people don’t realise but outside the public sector a lot of employers especially smaller employers don’t pay for your time off and the amount you can claim from court is limited not the full amount you’ve lost

CrunchyCarrot · 21/10/2023 10:26

Latter end of my 60s, never called. DP latter end of 50s, also never called.

ohtowinthelottery · 21/10/2023 10:36

I've been called up once but wasn't needed and was stood down completely by day 2.
DH has never been called up. We are both late 50's/early 60's.

OnlyFlans1 · 21/10/2023 10:39

I’ve never been called up and I really want to be! DH has done it twice.

Original poster
GinJeanie · 21/10/2023 11:40

Really interesting that some people are getting called up more than once.

@Morph22010 - that's a good point, I've no idea how people are supposed to manage with the associated loss of earnings where their employer doesn't pay. Thankfully, DH's company do continue to pay as they see it as an important civic duty.

OP posts: