Jury Service (again!)

[SystemSeven]

I’ve been called for Jury service again, I last served starting 31st May 2021. My letter summons date was 22nd May 2023, asking me to serve 17th July 2023. The letter says you will not need to do jury service if you have done jury service in the last two years. Does anyone know if that applies to the date of the summons (if so I am exempt) or to the dates of the proposed trial start (if so I am not exempt). I had a really horrible case last time and would rather not serve again if I don’t have to.

You have a right to be excused from jury service if you have served as a juror, or attended to serve on a jury, during the two years prior to being summoned. It looks like you benefit from that by 9 days, but personally I'd contact the Jury Office at the court and ask them to confirm.

I've got the exact same dates too. Ring them and ask I guess. I was told I have to do it this time its at the big court and last time it was at the magistrates court. I asked for an exemption as I did it May 2014 or 15 but I have to go. You need to tell them.by Friday I think so.call yhem tomorrow

I hope you are right @CharlottenBurger.
Yes, will try calling tomorrow@Greensleevevssnotnose.

I'd love to do jury service but have never been called. Why do some people get it repeatedly?

Same. My dad has done it three times now, I’d love to do it and not once.

For exactly the same reason that some people win lottery or Premium Bond prizes more than once, and others never do.

I've done it three times!!

So I phoned and they said they had never heard of anyone being asked so close to the 2 years. They said as I had previously served the full two weeks on a traumatic case and so recently, leniency may be shown but they said they really didn’t know and were quite interested themselves as to what decision their leaders would make! They advised me to tick the ‘cannot serve’ box and the reasons above and wait and see what the decision is. So I have done that.

If I have to serve then I will, of course!

I’ve done it, I didn’t mind the actual jury service but financially it’s a nightmare and would be even worse now as my salary has gone up since. Most employers outside the public sector don’t pay you when you are on jury service, you can claim loss of earnings from the court but it’s capped at 64.95 a day, I think it goes up if you get on a longer trial but that’s what it is for the standard two weeks

I don't know why people are saying they want to do jury service. It's an awful responsibility, your case could be boring or traumatic, you don't get paid properly, you don't know how long it might last. It's not like the "fun" American cases you see on TV.

I found jury service really interesting but I was put on a case on the first day so didn't have all of the sitting around that can happen.

However I was lucky that my employer continued to pay me.

With service that recently I'd hope you can be let off.

Update - I had an email saying that I have been relieved from jury service. Hoorah!

Hoorah!

I know, it’s supposed to be random but there are so many people who have done it multiple times that I really can’t believe it is.

Random doesn't mean 'never repeating'. If you threw a dice 6 times, there wouldn't be anything wrong if you got 6,6,6,6,6,6, or 1,1,1,1,1,1.

Should have written 'a fair dice'. I wanted to write 'a die' but, well...

Well done OP. Pleased for you.

I've done it twice. I don't recommend. It actually cost me money the second time.

They have stupid rules about what you can claim transport wise with no regards for rural areas. I had to travel 30 miles with no direct public transport route from my town. Plus childcare claims didn't cover what I actually needed for the day given the amount of time I needed to get there on multiple buses and trains.

Then there's all the waiting around with people you have absolutely nothing in common with. Even if you do get a case there's so much waiting.

I get that it's a civic duty etc but you'd think they would properly compensate people.

I’d like to do it as well. I’ve been called twice- first time I was heavily pregnant (so excused). Second time I had a tiny baby (duty discharged!)

Has it occurred to you that some people may want to do things for reasons other than because they might find them fun? I’ve just been called and I am pleased and willing to serve because about a decade ago a jury convicted the thug who murdered my relative (I sat through every day of the 2 week trial so know exactly what it entails as well). I feel it is important to do my civic duty. I’m sure others feel that way too, even without the personal motivation that I have.

Was called once, forty years ago, but was legally barred from serving as I was, at the time employed in the Lord Chancellor's Dept. Some years after that the criteria were amended and anyway I was made redundant ten years ago.

Never called since. I'd like to do it just for the experience.

That has occurred to me yes, but read some jury service threads on here and you'll see that 99% of people who say they want to do it are saying so because they think it's like on the telly.
You're the first person I've seen say that you want to do your civic duty and probably the last I will see for a long time.

I haev never been called. Lawyers (I am one) in the UK used to be forbidden but now they can be called up but even so never had the call (thankfully as I work for myself so every hour not working is a big financial loss that £64 a day would not begin to touch)