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 did it once years ago. I had to travel a 3 hour round trip every day and spent most of three weeks bored witless. Did one case which lasted a day.

DS was called in 2020. He really wanted to do it but had just started his first job on a grad scheme 70 miles away during lockdown. They let him off and never called him again.

Never been called and cannot think of anyone I know having been called up for it either.

My dh has done it and my sister. I don’t know of anyone else. I have been called three times! Twice I got excused with a gp letter and once because I had an ebf newborn. I would hate to have to do it. I don’t understand why anyone wants to be called at all.

DM has been called in twice. Both times were for incidents involving children. One for really horrific sexual abuse and another for double filicide.

Both absolutely horrific cases which involved seeing disturbing images, footage and hearing the worst possible accounts of the crimes.

She's the only person I know who's been called in, and I am grateful.

I don't know anybody who's been called

I'm 70, and have never been called.

I only got called when I moved to wales! The odds are better I guess 😅
I always wanted to do it but really struggled with it tbh and don't wish to do it again!

My dad died aged 77 having never been called. My DM got called once. Brother is 63 and never been called. I had always wanted to do it and finally got summonsed in my late 50s. I had just started a new job and was in training so I requested to delay 6 months, which was accepted. When the time came round they had too many prospective jurors and asked if I wanted to step down. As my job was still in the early stages I agreed. I'm now 60 and not so keen now as I have a very weak bladder and bad back, so couldn't sit for ages. I also have a very clingy and needy little dog who I wouldn't want to leave.

I've never been called, but there's almost no crime here. My dad and my brother who live in big cities have done it.

My dad served on a rape case that upset him a lot. There was video evidence they had to view. I was proud of him though. I think it was an important thing to do, and so did he. The guy went down for it thank goodness. The case my brother served on was much less serious.

I wouldn't mind doing it. I think it's valuable. We should take part in our own civil society.

I would love to do it but have never been called. My mum has been called twice, Dad never, husband once.

I think I had lower odds of being called because I was exempt for many years (worked at the Legal Aid Board, then trained as a solicitor) though lawyers are no longer an exempt category. My boss was called and found her knowledge of law and evidence quite distracting as she wasn't considering things as an "ordinary" member of the public. Her fellow jurors asked her to be the Foreman (is that the right word?) and she refused as she was terrified that she might "lead" them inadvertently.

Both my mum's cases were drug smuggling ones (she lives near Dover, so a lot of those) and she found them really interesting. My neighbour had to deal with a rape/incest case though and found it upsetting for weeks afterwards.

Called three times. It was hugely dull each time, lots of waiting around. Watching Homes under the Hammer and other mind-numbing TV as there was nothing else to do.

My DD was called whilst a student and 21, she could select a different date within the year but had to complete her service. She really enjoyed it.

I've never been called.

Be careful what you wish for. My case was upsetting, demanding, a massive learning curve and very time-consuming. The outcome wasn’t satisfactory either and we felt helpless. I felt unsafe and intimidated. There are places I’d never go to again, they’ve just lost their appeal. Even the paperwork side was complicated and I was paid wrongly by both court and work. A tiny point in the scheme of things but it completely messed up my work sharesave. However, I did my duty and my absolute best. The jury members have been excused for 15 years.

A close friend of mine with small children had to sit on a Jury for serious sexual abuse of children a similar age. She was pretty traumatised anyway but once when getting into her car after an awful day The Accused was getting into his car parked next to hers. He looked at her and smiled and said Hello, she ended up sobbing in her car until her H could go and get her.
She did report it but as he only said "hello" it wasn't deemed to be a problem

Myself and my husband were called for the same date this coming December, two of my colleagues were also called for the week before me! Before being called I would have said the same. I sent my exemption letter and still haven't heard back which is worrying me 🙈

This. Plus you're at the mercy of the absolute shambles that is the court service. Utterly dreadful organisation with no respect for or accommodation of the jurors' comfort or acknowledgement that they've given up their time to be there. Shoved in a room with minimal facilities, not enough seating for everyone and little information about what's going to happen when. You just have to sit and wait, potentially for hours every day.

Plus having to try and influence other jurors who don't understand directions from the judge so will say things like 'well he definitely did it, you can tell by looking at him' or will come in on day two of a case talking about what they now know about the defendant having gone home and Googled them....

I’m glad you completely understand without me having to say too much… sorry you had to go through this too. Spot on about the jurors.

My mums been called 3 times! granted once she was dismissed as too many people but surely 3 times being called is excessive.

I was called once about 3 years ago, but never left my house. I got a text every day for 3 days saying I wasn't needed, then was stood down completely. What a waste of 2 weeks' contingency planning. DH has never been called - he's 63.
I remember my DF getting called once but when he attended it was a case linked to his job so he had to step aside.

I've been called once.
My Aunty 3 times !

DH has been called and was chosen. He was involved in approx 3 cases over one week. Once those had been completed that was it.
No-one else in my family has been called as far as I am aware. However my late DF was a solicitor which made him exempt at the time.

I've never been called.

DH has been called twice!

We had a solicitors clerk in our group who was excused at the initial call into court room for selection. Which meant it had wasted a couple of her life.

I got called once but didn’t have to do it as I’m a carer for disabled family member. I was relieved, I’d hate to do it.

My mother is the only person I know who ever did it about 15 years ago, it was a horrific case of child abuse and the baby had been left with life changing injuries.
My mother said the evidence and crime was harrowing enough but the worst thing was the fellow jurors who seemed to think they knew better than multiple expert paediatricians giving evidence and having their own “theories” on what could have happened and saying the accused looked like a nice man and was dressed smartly so surely he wouldn’t do a thing like that.
He was found not guilty 😔