Should I do jury service?

[Juryorrun]

I’ve been summoned to do jury service. I have good reasons to be excused from it, and those same reasons would make it a right old ballache to do (caring responsibilities etc). And I would also have an almost 2 hour journey to get there, and the same back each day.

It says 10 days service on the letter, but also says it may go on longer. Is that a standard thing it always says, or is it really likely to be around the 10 day mark? If it’s going to be a lot longer than that it definitely wouldn’t be possible.

BUT…I’ve always wanted to do jury service and I’d actually like to do it. I know it probably won’t be as exciting as I’m expecting it to be, but I think it would be interesting.

So AIBU for not getting out of it when I easily could, and it will be a right PITA logistics wise?

You could ask if you can change your jury service to a more convenient location. They usually oblige.

Just get out of it, it is very boring and you will resent doing it, trust me. If you have a good excuse, use it!

Did it years ago (probably 30-years) and hated it but it is a duty that I would do again if required to do so.

In my situation the court was some 25-miles away and travelling was a pain. My company paid my salary so I was never affected financially.
Case lasted 3-days but was so boring and we were constantly being called out so they could discuss "points of law".
After that they said we could be called in to a second case but I explained that I had an appointment at the end of the second week (dentist I seem to recall) and the clerk cheerfully said that was ok and they would remove me from the list.
Not been called again (yet 🤞).

That's not my experience. I enjoyed It!

Do it. It’s a democratic privilege.

I understand you can be excused once if you have good reason for it. I’m 42 and have never been called, and I’d happily do it (assuming I was able to).

I found it a fascinating experience and would love to do it again.

Erm you have to have a huge excuse these days why you cant or you can be fined. My hubby was on jury service but had to travel a long way and lost wages to buy hey it's done now and he enjoyed it.

I got called before Christmas and got 2 x 1 week trials, also got elected foreperson and got to stand up and state the verdict - found it very insightful and interesting. Would do it again. Some jury members did 1 short trial and were then released, so barely did a week. My colleague from work got called for service just after me and got a 7 week trial...😁 It is luck of the draw....

If you don't want to do it, then ask to defer or if you have good reasons then ask to be excused. I was unimpressed by one of the jury members who clearly couldn't be bothered / listen as it was someone's life and livelihood at stake who was on trial ( found guilty...but still important to listen to the evidence!).

2 hours each way to just get there - I can't believe that they have this expectation. That's just crazy.

I’m 100% sure that I have valid reasons to be excused, so that’s not an issue. Some mixed opinions so far…I guess it’s the luck of the draw as to what case you’ll get. It’s in the crown court. I agree that it is a democratic duty that should be fulfilled if possible. The loss of earnings wouldn’t be an issue as I’m not really working much at the moment anyway, due to caring responsibilities.

There is a lot of fannying about with Jury Service. It depends what trials actual go ahead on the day.

First week I went in and didn't get on a trial, so was sent home for the rest of the week. Second week, I was on a trial for two days.

My ex got called into a three week trial on his second week. He was not happy!

I'd say just get out of it. It's long and boring and can be actually really disturbing/upsetting. Once you are there it will be almost impossible to leave as it could collapse the trail. It could go on many weeks. So just say no. I think if you stipulate where you can and can't do it you might be asked again and then they would think it worse to decline twice? If it's curiosity you seek, there is open rooms in courthouses to see the judicial process. Which is very long and onerous.

@Mischance as the crow flies it’s only thirty something miles away, but in a city which is a terrible drive to get to, especially in rush hour. So I’d probably take the train and then a bus but the total journey would be 1hr 50 mins.

For those who have done it, did it say 10 days on your letters too?

I think that where the trial is expected to be a long one, they do check whether jurors will be okay for that before starting - they are aware that it could be particularly problematic for the self-employed, for instance. So I think it's unlikely that you would find it going much over the 10 days without warning.

I did it.... an hours journey each way.

I'd always wanted to do it.... I was happy to do anything, but really didnt want a peadophile.
I got a peadophile.

Quiet honestly it was horrible and I really hope to never be called do it again.

Watching children be interrogated, told they are wrong, and lieing, when they balatently were being brave and telling the truth was horrible, as was watching videos of the actual abuse.

(Yes, he's in jail where he deserves to be)

I did it in around 2017. There was a lot of waiting around (you need a good book) and I also found it slightly stressful as the bathrooms were outside the main waiting room and they kept warning us that we could be in trouble if we were not there when they called us (which happened at random all through the day).

On day 3, I finally got put on a trial and listened to an entire day of very intense evidence. However, then another member of the jury said they'd not understood the evidence - there was a discussion and the judge dismissed the jury! Luckily, I was called for another trial the next day, which did proceed. That took three days in total. I was allowed to return to work the following day, so only did 6 days of the original 10.

My employer didn't pay me so I had to claim it back through the court, which was a faff. The courts would also only pay public transport costs (had to show them the ticket every day to have it added to your expenses claim); I took the bus, which took forever, but others took the financial hit of using their car and paying to park with no money back in return.

Now I've got a child and live further away from the city centre, it would be a right faff to do it. So, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I'm not called again (or at least not for a very long time).

Yes that’s something that does concern me - it may well involve listening too/seeing harrowing stuff. And also it’s a huge responsibility…if someone ultimately ends up in prison if found guilty, that’s quite a thing to live with, even if they did deserve it.

My Mum got called at 75, but it was 4 years ago and as she wouldn't have them been able to do it before her 76th birthday she was excused.

It isn't over until you get that 7 and 6 on your cake.

DH was called a few years back, the two weeks is standard. A few were sent home after the first day, at one point they had a bigger case and they asked which people were happier to volunteer, he didn't and was sent home after the first week.

There was a big case ongoing at the time (which collapsed in the week before) so I'm not sure if not much else was scheduled because that court was unavailable for new trials.

I've just listened to the Your Own Backyard podcast, which featured the murder trial in the US. Hats off to those jurors, it was about 4 months. I'm not sure I would have kept up. The jurors are pretty much free to talk about it afterwards (in that state at least) which came as a surprise.

I did it 2018. It was a complete ball ache with work and childcare responsibilities. But at the same time fascinating, interesting and thought provoking. Enjoy is completely the wrong term as the case was disturbing to say the very least (person on trial got life) but it certainly changed how I saw the world.

Your ‘duty’ is 10 days. If the trial is likely to take longer you can decline.

I got a case within the hour on day 1 which ran daily for 2 weeks (10 working days) exactly. My nephew went and did not get called once.

If you can find a way to do it, you should. Not only because it’s your civil privilege, but because it’s something you should experience in your lifetime.

Just get out of it, it is very boring and you will resent doing it, trust me
I found it fascinating and very worthwhile, worrying that some don't seem to be focused on the task.
My letter said to expect two weeks and my case was actually 6 days.
DH on the other hand was never allocated a case and was sent away after 4 days of waiting.

I would do Jury Service as a full time job. Very fascinating.

Ok I think I will go for it! Fingers crossed I actually get a trial and I’m not just sitting around.

I looked online and it said there isn’t a dress code, but do most people look reasonably smart? I have worked in outdoor jobs or at home for the last 20 years so have a distinct lack of office type clothes!

I've done it twice. While there is a lot of sitting around, it is an interesting process. Mine was two weeks both times. It does depend on whether you are selected for a big case though, I narrowly avoided being on one that went on for a long time.