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?

I'm 46 and never been called for it. DH was called for it once before we met, I think it was during his early 20s. It was a case about a stolen gold man's necklace that DH says got rather more interesting when it became apparent (though it was never actually said) that the guy it had been stolen from was obviously dead in violent circumstances since the theft. 😱

I got called then never did duty. Complete pain in the ass

Been called 3 times. First time I had to phone the evening before court date to find out if I needed to attend. My number wasn't in the numbers needed so didn't go to court and wasn't asked to phone again.The other 2 times my line manager wrote a letter to exempt me as I couldn't be off work indefinitely ( high court ).

Never. I'm 39.

I've been called three times - served twice, and the third time it was cancelled a couple of weeks before had as they had called too more than enough people.

I'm 54 and have been called once but then COVID happened and courts were closed.

I would have liked to do it.

It's just pot luck. I'm 58, never been called - just as well as I really don't want to it to be honest (think that's because I had a friend who did it and all the local problem families were in Court, also it's in a location that'd be a real pain to get to). DH, 59, he was called last year - he cancelled arrangements with people who really needed support through work and spent time transferring essential work to his colleagues - I had a call the day before to say he wasn't needed, he was so angry.

Just once. A few months later the case was on 24 Hours in Police Custody which was interesting.

Never.Im 44 and would love to do it.

Three times, twice local, once Old Bailey.
aged 55

Never. Ironically DP has been called twice but has never served as he has epilepsy so is exempt.

Never, and I'm 57. Maybe I'm dodgy 😆

I bet that was fascinating to see the build up to Court!

Some parts of the country you are more likely/frequently called. I think in England and Wales it's 35% but in Scotland it's something like 95%

I'm 49 and was called this year, I didn't want to do it so said I wouldn't be impartial and they excused me.

3 times.

I was in my early 20's when I first got called but was actually living down south (as opposed to the east midlands) when I was called so after being told off for not changing my address (I was working and living in a hotel so had never bothered) I was excused.

The second time was probably around 10 years ago. I was all set to start on the Monday when I got a phone call on the Friday to say that they had a big case that was over running and I wouldn't be needed.

The third time I did attend. It was during (or inbetween the two) lockdowns and instead of going to crown court I went to a local magistrates court that was being used as a Nightingale Court.

We only had two cases in the end - other cases were settled out of court at the last minute. The first case I wasnt called as a juror, the second case I was. We were then excused after 6 days as it was all over.

It was very boring!

Oh and the last two times I was called I knew half a dozen other people local to me that had been called around the same time so they must do it in batches of certain postcodes.

I’m ineligible because of my job but I would love to do it!

What is your job?

First time this year, age 53.

@Funnywonder I am a bit confused, as I thought that people were no longer eligible after the age of 70? Perhaps they had your mum's age down wrong.

I think it may have been a mistake tbh. But things were so stressful at the time I just sent the form back with the information without thinking about it too much, as I knew there was no way she could do it anyway.

Actually, just checked and apparently there is no upper age limit, but you can ask to be excused after 70.

Interesting. Where did you get those figures from?

Once when I was 27. I'm a teacher and it was one week during school time and the second week fell over the school holiday so I missed having that break.

I ended up on the jury for 2 horrible cases and I hated it! Hope I never get called up again.

@PossumintheHouse the BBC here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-36140259.amp which is using MOJ statistics