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…

Both my dad and my uncle were separately called many years ago, and I believe my uncle was on quite a serious case which is a bit worrying, knowing what my uncle was like. My brother was also called but was objected to by the prosecution, presumably because they didn't look like someone who would be impartial.

Me neither. I'd love to though

I, my parents and my brother have all done jury service in the past 10 years. My brother has been called three times since turning 18 (he's only 33 now) which strikes me as particularly unlucky - doubly so as one of the cases he sat on was particularly upsetting.

Mum was the only person I knew who's had the call across all family and friends I know, just the once and she was a 'spare' the whole week and didn't get to sit in a trial.

I don't think it's that unusual. My sister and mum have never been called. Mum is 60's sister is 40's. I only got called this yr at 38.

I also know quite a few folk that just bin the letters! They aren't sent registered post so they can't prove you got them. I'd be a bit scared to do that though if they kept sending them.

I used to be one of those who thought 'I'd love to' but my mil ended up on the jury of an absolutely horrible murder case, it went on for ages, she was absolutely traumatised by it. Then a friend of mine was in the 'I'd love to camp' and got the case of a child who died through cruelty and neglect, it really impacted her too. So I think saying 'I'd love to' is naive and a bit stupid in all honesty.

You’ll probably get called this week 😝

I’d never been called, a few months ago was chatting to a friend who had been called and said I had never been called, guess what I got a citation next day 😂

I am ineligible however due to my profession so I was excused. Seems a lot of the neighbours were all called around the same
time so they maybe do it by area in batches.

This article was quite an interesting read - apparently the lifetime chances of being asked to serve (in England and Wales) is around 40%, so more people won't be than will. If you are summoned, it's around a 50/50 chance as to whether you'll actually sit.

I don't know if the stats are very different in Scotland?

My FIL was called for jury duty and I have been.
A friend was called for duty at the coroners court and declined due it being too close to her.
No one else I know though. Or maybe people just don't mention it.

I quite liked the "school lunch" catering at court.

Very interested to know which profession you're in which got you excused! I had assumed that being a solicitor would be grounds for excusal but it was not (in England - if I were back in Scotland I'd have been free and clear...)

I was called but the timing coincided with me giving birth so I was excused and haven’t been called again which was all disappointing! I’ve also not heard of anyone else I know being called, not friends or family.

Oh my husband was cited just a few weeks before I was this year, he had to phone up the court a few times but didn’t have to go

My dad has sat on a jury back in the 80s. My mum got called but similar to a PP, was moving out of the court jurisdiction by the time of the court sitting so was excused.

I only know one person who has ever been called and she was called twice!

Correct on both counts. ;)

I've never been called, I'm 45.

My mum, dad, husband, mother in law and several colleagues have been called.

I know several colleagues from all around London commuter belt and some parents from DD's primary school, we live in SE London.

The only person i know who was excused was a friend of ours who worked at that time for a large international solicitor company (contract law, not criminal). Despite not a lawyer himself, it was too close to comfort it seemed.

DH and I are late 50s and have never been called. I’d be worried if we were because we’re both self employed (different fields), and would need to cancel work.

The exemption pool is definitely much bigger in Scotland - maybe that's why they keep getting my poor brother in to do it 😂

That article is really interesting, so at around 40% chance over a lifetime it’s not so surprising that the people I know haven’t been called on!
Seems so unlucky to get called more than once though. Given those figures I’m surprised they don’t make the exemption time longer. Or maybe if you go along once, they ‘know’ you’re able and willing, so you get bumped up the rankings somehow (I’m being daft, but it’s interesting).
Off down a rabbit hole now to find out what factors might make you more likely!

I’ve never been called and I’m in my 40s, nor has DH or my parents or anyone I know for that matter.

This happened to me in my 20s. I'm nearly 70 now and never been called since. My husband was on the jury at a Coroner's Court a few years ago.

I have been called twice but over 40 years apart.😁. First time I was the youngest juror but last year was the eldest.😂

In the late 70's I found it really interesting and the jurors were treated really well. Last year - same court - I absolutely hated it. We were sat around, on really uncomfortable chairs, for hours on end and weren't even offered a cup of coffee - only lukewarm tap water.
God forbid I am called again but if so I would ask to be excused as I now have degenerative discs in my back and genuinely can't sit still for very long periods without being in considerable pain.

I was called up about 8 years ago, and was excused as DD was very young and DH works in Oil so couldn't guarantee he'd be around.

DD is 17 now, and I'd LOVE to do it and would take it very seriously.

Been called a couple of times but haven't had to serve. I'm in Scotland though, and most people I know have been called at least once (though comparatively few have actually sat on a jury - they call far more people than are actually required, just in case).