Jury Service - never called?

[Idontevenknowmyname]

Random chat with some friends last night, and none of us had ever been called for jury service. All late 40s, have been on the electoral roll since 18, lived in the UK all our lives. I mentioned it to DF on the phone this morning and he’s never been called either, he’s 78, always been registered to vote. He said he didn’t think my brother or his wife had ever been called either. DM been called once but was dismissed after a few hours of waiting on day one, and never needed to go back in. DH was called once when he was a student living away but registered to vote at his family address, they deferred him but he was never contacted after that.

Is this unusual? I read about people being called repeatedly and it being a major disruption with work/kids/traumatic cases. I like to think I would be a good juror and would do my best in the role, but it seems so random as to if you get picked.

Disclaimer: will probably get a letter tomorrow now…

I got called in my late 20s but I would have been 30 something weeks pregnant so they deferred me. I did have to do it about a year later - it was very boring. First case for dismissed before they picked the jurors the second case they had technical difficulties so had to come back the next day by which time it had been withdrawn and dismissed. Finally got on to a case but it wasnt too exciting drugs/robbery and it didn't take long to reach a verdict

I'm the only person I know who's been called. Wouldn't say it's unusual not to have done it.

No I never have. My husband has once but he was excused. He was working in nursing in a medium secure unit and many of the patients were involved in the criminal justice system and there was a chance one of his patients may have been in the dock.

I've been called twice. One murder case and an inquest. I don't want to be called again.

My Mum got called and said she enjoyed it very much. She was a SAHM.. .
I got called once but l was recovering from my very serious trauma and just come out of my coma.. so obviously couldn't go..

Two thirds of people never get called up. I'd like to do it too.

I got all the way to 53 before being called, and I only know one other person who has been called. However, we all got talking in the jury waiting room and discovered three people who had been called multiple times. Supposedly random but people have theories. Interesting article from a while back....

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/aug/20/jury-service-repeated-summons

My mum was called, but spent about if time waiting around, and didn't actually go into court. She found it a fascinating experience. I know someone who was called for a coroners jury. Apart from that. I do t know anyone else. I'd love to do it.

I was called when I was pregnant so couldn’t go. I have such bad anxiety that I couldn’t do it anyway!

My DP has been called twice! First time was a two week stint, the second time the trial lasted six months and he was off work all that time!

I'd love to do it and have never been called.

Other than that I know two people who have been called. My Mum in the 90s and managed to get herself excused, and a friend.

I was called to do jury service ten years ago and then again three years ago. Someone did tell me once that if you get called once then you are likely to be called again. I didn’t enjoy it and hope to never be called again.

My parents are in their 70's, my Dad was called about 25 years ago but asked for an exemption as he was self employed and the sole breadwinner. My mum did it about 30 years ago.

Don't think it's unusual.
DH was called last year for the first time, I've never been called, we're both 43 and been on the electoral role since 18.
My mum has been called once in the 80s but couldn't do it as my brother was a newborn. My dad has done it once when he was in his early 20s.

I have been called up once but am a dv survivor so have been permanently excused as they couldn't guarantee the case wouldn't include vawg.
But no one in my family has been selected

I was called twice.

The first time I had just handed in my notice at work to move to a new area and would be living there on the dates given. About 35 years ago. With evidence of this (new job offer, house being bought) they stopped it.

The second time I had another different reason and they were happy to postpone it, but I was never called again (this was over 25 years ago).

My husband has never been called. I don't think my Dad or brother has. My children who are in their 20s havent.

My Mum was, once, and she had to not attend the case because she knew someone and so she was sent home and that was that.

My mum has done it twice. No one else I know has.

You have nailed it in your OP when you said "it seems so random". It literally is a random selection, from the electoral roll. That means some people will get called more than once, and some never. It's as simple as that.

If you live somewhere with a lot of serious criminal court cases, it might be more likely - e.g. in London you are liable to be called as a juror to the Old Bailey as well as to the Crown court in your borough.

Me and DH both 61 and never been called. BiL seems to be called every verse end. Our neighbour over the road was called twice literally back to back - she came off one trial lasting 3 weeks, then a week later was on another one. She protested but no joy, she had to do it. Friend’s DD got called twice before the age of 21!

I've been called once, but got excused as wouldn't be able to do it due to a disability.

I’m the only one out of my whole extended family and my DHs, I was 40 when I was called. There were people there in their early 70s who were called for the first time. It’s totally random and the lists are generated by a computer from the electoral roll. You’ll find some people have been called multiple times and others have gone their whole lives and never been called.

Speaking as someone who has done it, I never EVER want to be called again. I sat on two cases, both incredibly harrowing, and I cried for about 4 weeks straight after hearing the details and seeing the victims faces.

I've been called 4 times first time I went to the court but didn't get picked for the jury, the second I had to call back every day for a week, the 3rd was exempt as too close to the 2nd and the 4th I was breastfeeding a 3 month old. I'm just waiting now for the 5th. It's so odd me my husband and my mil all got called arounf the same time once. They have both done it a few times now too but no one on my side of the family has.

@Idontevenknowmyname i've been called 3/4 times, my husband twice and adult son once

Not been called but with all the child sexual assaults, stabbings and shootings and terror cases I think i would hate it and be traumatised. I could cope with the odd shoplifter but the bigger cases would be a no from me. Don't get me wrong, I watch real crime shows and find them interesting, but even them don't go all the gory details

Ha ha - I reckon you've definitely jinxed it now OP!

I've never been called - 45 years old. I've lived in different areas, so not sure if that would improve or reduce my chances (or no effect at all) of being called.

My DM got called once and got out of it due to being a full time carer. My uncle got called multiple times, even though he was a police officer.

A family friend was called years ago, but other than that I don't know of anyone either.

My family friend sat on the Dennis Nilsen trial! When they did the drama series about it recently, he said they'd obviously tried to mock up the jury as per the court drawings as he recognised the jury member that was supposed to be him, by the clothes he was wearing!

I, DC, DM, DD, DGP, aunts and 10 cousins, FIL, BIL, SIL, nieces and nephews - none of us have been called. DH and MIL called once each.
However I have two friends who have both been called twice, one had quite young children and had to arrange extra childcare.