Jury Service Selection

[GinJeanie]

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!

Surely if your employer doesn't pay you have a reason to be excused. Appreciate dodgy companies would take advantage but in this current cost of living crisis most people couldnt go without pay for two weeks.

6 times in 12 years. Excused 3 times, not picked twice. Due to do the 6th in a few weeks time. Was called in the summer but had a holiday booked, got another citation a month later.
Husband once also received a citation within a day of me. I think it may be because we haven't moved for years.

I’ve been called 3 times! I served the first time on two short trials, was not selected the second time and was selected the third time but excused for child care reasons as it was due to be a 3 month trial and I work part time so had no child care on certain week days. I fully expect to be called again! 🤣

Wow! Surely that's not random?

My DH has done two in the last three years. No one in my family has ever been called.

DD and I both got letters in the same week, to attend at the same time, at different courts. Several of my fellow jurors also lived in the same small town.
I don't believe that jury selection is random.

I’ve never been called and neither have either of my sisters (we’d all love to be). My DH was discharged on day 2 of waiting last year and my DF did a short shop lifting trial about 5 years. I think it would be good if you could register your interest so they could come to you when they need your demographic rather than say your neighbour who has serviced three times and doesn’t want to do it.

I’ve been called once, coroners court. Most family members have been called once.

I'm not sure that's a reason accepted by the courts unfortunately. I do some some self-employed sole traders who have been excused on those grounds, though.

You could argue though, that if the courts are excusing people who are self-employed or who won't get paid, then it's not a fair cross-section of society in the first place.