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?

Whilst I understand that it should be 12 of your peers in the jury I think that we are now past that in terms of depth of understanding required for some of the evidence. The model needs looking at with perhaps a mix of professional jurors and peers.

It is your duty as a citizen. It isn’t like choosing whether or not to go to the cinema. Do it.

@Topofthemountain I find it quite weird that they just pick people totally at random. You’d think it would make more sense for there to be some kind of screening to make sure people have enough intelligence to understand what’s going on, and aren’t a massive racist/homophobe or whatever.

I have a valid excuse for jury service and I was glad to be able to use it. I don't think there is much respect for jury members, there is no consideration for their financial needs or caring responsibilities and if you can get out of it I would. If you would find a trial interesting you can always go as a member of the public another time. I've done this and it can be interesting, but also pretty boring and chances are you'd be stuck with a boring trial. At least if you're going for fun you can leave when you want

Jury duty can be interesting, but for me it has left me deeply disturbed by the horrible acts of the people on trial. Altogether they got over 110 years, so you can begin to imagine the crimes involved. I wouldn’t want to do that ever again.

Were you excused from ever doing jury service again? I thought judges had the authority to say that after particularly difficult trials.

@onetwothreeee Well fucking done for getting a paedo put down. It must have been deeply disturbing for you to deal with the trial.
My Dad did one for a rapist, and they were found guilty/ jailed.
I've not done it but my friend is a magistrate (ex- solicitor) and it all sounds really heavy. My cousin is a barrister in business litigation so it's not really human emotion involved, just loads of money.
I have utmost respect for those that do it but you shouldn't if you can get out of it to be honest.

I have never been called up, and DH has been called up three times. I would jump at the chance.
A journey of nearly two hours sounds pretty bad though.
Incidentally, DH was allowed to wait at home and not go in on some of the days, because he was not needed. He eventually got a trial which lasted about 4 days I think.

I thought it was really interesting, I'd love to do it again!

I did it just before Christmas, 2 months shy of the upper age limit of 76, only time I have been called. It was a 25 mile journey and because of mobility issues they agreed to pay part of my parking.
One day 1 I was called and sat for the 10 days on the same trial. Others were sent into the court but not selected, if that happened twice they were discharged, some did a 3 day day trial and then discharged, it's the luck of the draw.
If everyone got out of it the system would collapse.

I did jury service about 20 years ago. Didn't get into court at all. Hours and hours of waiting to see if I was needed. I was let go on day 8. The whole system seemed wasteful of people's time. It was a huge inconvenience at the time as I was self employed and short staffed.
If called again now I would probably do it as I'm retired so I have the time.
Friend of mine had a traumatising bestiality case. She is permanently scarred from the experience.

I've done it 4 times. One was at the Old Bailey which lasted 6-7 weeks. They so say before how long the case will be and invite you to present reasons (evidenced if possible) for why you can't sit a case that long. Judge will either agree with you and send you back to the pool of juries waiting or say no.
It is boring in many parts but it's also a really interesting thing to do.

I wore smart casual clothes, although there was no specific dress code as such. Some people wore jeans/ trainers, but majority dressed reasonably smartly.

Being long retired I don't have a working wardrobe but most people were very casual, jeans and sweater or sweatshirt were usual, some were a bit better dressed but for instance never saw a tie!

I have only ever been called once, and I am the only member of my family to EVER be called! I was called to a big London court , though not the Old Bailey.As I understand it they had booked out several of the courts for a couple of big trials due to last several weeks so there were loads of usin the jury pool. the defendants must have seen us arriving and thought we looked a tough crowd as they all changed their pleas so we weren’t needed and got sent home after two days of sitting around. Huh.

It was one of the most interesting and exhilarating experiences of my life, couldn't recommend it enough - I found it enormously rewarding throughout

It says ten days by default for all I believe, as others have said if it looks like it will go beyond the ten days you have the opportunity to opt out - they specifically ask you this when you are there

There is no dress code from what I recall

@Topofthemountain
yes, thankfully the judge signed a letter to each jury member saying that we didn’t have to do another jury service for 99 years.

My letter said 10 days but some people were sent home early and didn't have to come back. It really is the luck of the draw whether your name comes up. I had 3 cases and the last one ran over so it was 11 days for me. I'd absolutely do it again.

Oh but they're supposed to represent a jury of the crim's peers :)

Interesting to hear how it has impacted people after going through traumatic trials, very sorry to hear that. Is there any process or duty of care for the court system to assess whether individual jurors will be at risk of being affected in a way that would be very detrimental for them?

I got the call,sorted everything out with work, had child care in place...
As I remember they sent an email saying I was not needed a couple of days before I was due to go in.
It was during the pandemic though, so things could be different now.
I really wanted to do it.

I guess what I am saying in a roundabout way is that even if you sign up for it, you might not get into a court.

Thanks for all of the opinions, I think I am sold on the idea now. At least I have a few weeks to get things in place to be able to do it. I have friends who live in the city so I could potentially stay some of the nights to avoid the long commute.

I was called last year and due to the nature of my job and being self-employed I would have lost out financially and career-wise hugely (lose clients etc). Luckily (!) I suffer from IBS so a doctor’s line got me out of it. I don’t know what I would have done otherwise.

I would do it - totally up my street and fascinating… but I don’t know any of my friends who’ve done it. One senior colleague and that’s it.

I was called a few years back & got out of it because I was self employed.
I couldnt afford to loose the income- and the clients, since I'd have to shut down for the duration of the service.
I would do it if:
1-I had a company that would pay my salary, ie I'd not lose £
2-It was easy & convenient to get to by public transport since I dont drive