How often have you been called for Jury Service?

[Dryplate]

I've never been called, neither has DH, but DS has just received his second notice, having first served less than 2.5 years ago. He's only 23 now.

He'll do his duty, but is quite disruptive for him in his early career. Whilst you'd hope the employer understands it's not his fault, they still don't like it.

Why do some people get called repeatedly and others not at all?

@Pemba

you can ask for exemption due to age from 70 but there is no restriction on age alone

Never been called and nobody in my family ever has been. Was PP who said they’d been called roughly once a year having a joke?

I was called for the first time at the beginning of May this year. I’m 52. I only two other people who have been called, one my age one older. In the jury assembly there were far more middle aged/older people than younger and far more women than men. As they called each jury for the individual courts they all looked like a good mix - all of the younger people and majority of the men were used and those sent back up were pretty much all women my age or older, I know the jury is chosen at random but that’s the way it worked out. I wondered how they choose who to call for service in the first place - I’m not sure if that is also random?
One younger guy was on his third calling, he was happy to do it though. As it turned out I didn’t actually get to sit as one trial after another I was due to sit in was ‘cracked’ - maybe I’m a jinx 🤷‍♀️. I went from feeling like I didn’t want to do it to being sad that I didn’t get the chance to sit.

@clockdoc oh really! So I've been wrong about that all these years.

I've turned 60 and I was thinking oh, I probably won't get to do it again and I'll age out of it in 10 years anyway, shame in a way, but I won't then!

Never. Maybe I'm blacklisted??

Actually looking online there seems to be contradictory information out there about the upper age limit for jury service. Maybe the rules changed since I did it? (2001)

I’ve been called to jury service twice, excused on 1 and served on the jury on the other.

DP called for jury service same week as me as was my BIL. Same BIL was called for coroners court for a very high profile case.

DD called for jury when she had just turned 19 and during lockdown and was extremely stressed about it, we were seeking an exemption when it was postponed.

Twice. The first time clashed with the biggest work event of the year so I requested deferral. When they realised I was also pregnant they excused me.

the 2nd time was at the start of this year. I got a phone call a couple of weeks before to say they were over subscribed (is that even the right word to use) so was excused.

I was called once when I was about 25 - but at the time my profession could be exempt as vital healthcare if no- one could be found to replace you. My boss did not even try as the “ backfill “ money would not have covered the cost of my cover. Never called since and now 60, and disappointed as I would have been interested to experience it.

Me, once 30 years ago.
DH, never.
2 DCs in their 20s, never.

I've never been called and I'm in my 40s, nor has DH who is 12 years older. My parents never got called and I can't think of any friends who have been.

Twice but neither time did I actually sit on a jury.

One of my parents has been called twice and sat on the jury both times.

Noone else in my family has been called.

Twice. First time I ended up on a four week Crown Court case. Second time was only four years later and I had an operation upcoming just after my scheduled fortnight; I sat down and had a chat with the juror wrangler (same one as first time) to ask if it was possible to ensure I wasn't on any extended cases, and she said "leave it with me". The court sent me an official email next day saying "Thanks, your jury duty is complete, don't need to come in again" which was kind of her :)

I've never been called and I am 57. To my knowledge neither of my parents were ever called either, and nor have I heard about it from my sister so my guess is that she hasn't either.

My DDs have never been called as yet (all now in their twenties). DH was called once about 5 years ago.

It's very random. I can't say I particularly want to be called, but I would cooperate of course and probably find it interesting too.

I got called and had a slight panic when I finally got the letter as due to me having moved half way across the country and my Dad have recently moved also the letter had gone to his old address and I only got it the week before I should have been in court. Luckily I just had to differe it to my new address and I was called six months later.

Boy was I glad I'd moved house my original court date had been to Preston Crown Court the week they started the Harold Shipman case. While I found serving jury duty interesting I feel like I had a lucky escape on that one.

3 times. And no way of getting out of it - even though 2 were within 3 years

They have to call up masses of people because of all the possible deferrals, but also because it was explained to us that many defendants only decide to plead guilty when their case finally gets to the Crown Court. I suppose some of them hope the trial will collapse before it starts and some of them just can't bring themselves to admit it till it's unavoidable. Scheduling nightmare, putting aside all thoughts about the rights and wrongs of jury trials.

I've done it once and loved it. My mum has done it twice now.

Once, shortly after I moved. I explained this expecting to either be excused or get it moved to my local court but they moved it to the old Bailey ( not totally daft as I do live in London). Was worried about getting a really long case as was pregnant at the time but they took that into account and ended up with a case that only lasted a week then told I didn't need to do the next week.

Never, thankfully. I don't think I could cope with the other jurors, from friends' experiences!

I use to be barred from doing it due to my profession. Sadly that bar was lifted!

I wonder if the likelihood of being called up varies depending how many crimes your area sees then? I can see there is a massive variation in likelihood and I don't think I, my parents, my brother or to the best of my knowledge my extended family have ever been called.
Colleagues in London seem much more likely to have been called up.

I was very lucky and found myself part of a very good jury. Everybody took it extremely seriously and we spent a long time on our deliberations, benefiting from very good written guidance from the judge. That's probably as much as I can say about that.

I’ve been called once, it was a coroner’s case, someone dying in custody, that was about 20 years ago.

I’m in my 40s and have never been called up. I’d love to do it though!

Am 56 and never been called.

Mum was called in her 70s, but they then said they had enough so it was optional- so she didn't do it.