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Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Jury service

32 replies

Rooma · 11/04/2022 09:26

How many times have you been called for jury service in last 5-6 years?

I've been called up what I believe to be an unreasonable amount of times. Once I was exempt due to holiday. The rest I did what was required. I've not actually been selected for a jury yet so keep getting called up. Will wait for some responses before I say how many times it's been.

OP posts:
CuddlyCactus · 11/04/2022 09:44

0
And DH 0

Awrite · 11/04/2022 09:47

Once, and it was this year. Stressed a lot about work but wasn't called up.

The only other time was when I was 19 or 20. I was exempt as I was away at uni.

Dh has been called a couple of times but not chosen.

angelopal · 11/04/2022 09:51

Got called 3 times but got exemptiond the first 2 times due to pregnancy and babies. Got selected 3rd time which means exemption for 5 years.

Seems to be pot luck as DH never been called.

readsalotgirl63 · 11/04/2022 10:10

Only ever been called once and wasn't selected as a juror. Dh been called once also. Both of these in last 5-6 years. DD was also called recently but was exempted as she is going on holiday

Sandinyourshoes · 11/04/2022 10:24

I’ve been called once recently (and once many years ago) and served so exempt for five years, DH called once but didn’t serve so could be called again by now.
When I was called we didn’t have to turn up unless serving on jury because covid, not sure if that is still the case, its bad enough hanging around waiting for phone calls, but less intrusive than actually having to go to the place, just to wait around. So why go back to that if it’s not necessary.

WeAllHaveWings · 11/04/2022 10:55

I am 53 years old and have never been called

dh, my 4 siblings and my late parents have never been called either. Not sure if it is less likely we will be called because locally we only have a sheriff court.

Rooma · 11/04/2022 10:58

Thanks for the replies. I've just been called for my 5th time!!! The last one wasn't too bad as during Covid so stayed at home and there wasn't a need for me to go in at all. Sadly the rules have changed again so there's a need to appear to be selected now.

I've got a busy job and even though I've not actually been selected for a jury i am still feeling the burden of this because of the frequency it keeps happening at. Also I've just started a new job which doesn't help things- the citation I received two citations ago was the same, within 3 months of starting a new job (that was 3 years ago) and was just as cruel.

OP posts:
Rooma · 11/04/2022 11:00

I should clarify this is 5th time in 5 years. I only joined the electoral role about 6 years ago so I'm almost averaging one per year.

OP posts:
CuddlyCactus · 11/04/2022 11:21

Oh crikey @Rooma
That's a ridiculous amount of times to be calledConfused

I'm early 50s and only called once in my entire life!
DH similar age and been called 3 or 4 times in his life

Humbold · 11/04/2022 11:32

I got called a similar amount of times as did my DH. Had to keep writing letters requesting excusal for being self-employed, still breastfeeding etc... It would stop for 6 months/a year and then we'd get another one. In the end both DH and I just had to go through with it. I got dismissed on the first day after having a chat with the jury assistant (can't remember official title) They scheduled me right in the middle of the Easter Holidays and I had school-aged kids. My DH ended up hanging around for 4 days at his.

I'd already done jury service in another city in my 20s. We think we must have just lived in a targeted postcode.

Rooma · 11/04/2022 12:21

@Humbold

I got called a similar amount of times as did my DH. Had to keep writing letters requesting excusal for being self-employed, still breastfeeding etc... It would stop for 6 months/a year and then we'd get another one. In the end both DH and I just had to go through with it. I got dismissed on the first day after having a chat with the jury assistant (can't remember official title) They scheduled me right in the middle of the Easter Holidays and I had school-aged kids. My DH ended up hanging around for 4 days at his.

I'd already done jury service in another city in my 20s. We think we must have just lived in a targeted postcode.

Thing is I am going through with it! I've only asked to be excused once. I'm doing what is asked just not being selected for the jury. Only if you're selected for a jury are you blocked from receiving a citation again for a period.
OP posts:
Minkymandy · 11/04/2022 12:25

I'm similar. Have been called at least 10 times in the last 15 years. Yet my boss who is 20 years older than me has never been called once. It's now a bit of a joke at work when the annual leave calender is filled in, she'll ask me when I want to book in my jury service. Is there a way to complain? I was excused twice last year due to work commitments but have made myself available every other time. My dsis seems to get called a lot too but her dh has never been called.

user10497432 · 11/04/2022 12:32

You can be excused though if:
you have attended court for jury service within the last two years but were not selected by ballot to serve on a jury (this only applies where your previous attendance was on a date on or after 10th January 2011);
ï‚· you have attended at court for jury service and were selected by ballot to serve on a jury, within the last five years;
from www.scotcourts.gov.uk/coming-to-court/jurors/excusal-from-jury-service

YerAWizardHarry · 11/04/2022 12:45

Been called once but was given exemption due to being on university placement. Haven’t been called back again since

BammBamm · 11/04/2022 13:08

This is an interesting article.

www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/blog/life-events/all-you-need-to-know-about-jury-service

I'm in England and don't know many people who have been called upon for jury service but this does explain it.

RaininSummer · 11/04/2022 13:14

Never and am nearly 60

JudgeRindersMinder · 11/04/2022 13:14

I’ve been called once in my life and it was probably about 10 years ago. I’m exempt as I work for the police

Barrawarra · 11/04/2022 14:24

I’ve been called 3 or 4 times in a similar period, and always been granted exemption due to the nature of my work, once due to small breastfeeding baby. Now a sahm so wouldn’t get exemption, watch and I’ll not get asked now! Doesn’t seem right for you to get so many when you have actually been attending.

Rooma · 11/04/2022 16:12

[quote user10497432]You can be excused though if:
you have attended court for jury service within the last two years but were not selected by ballot to serve on a jury (this only applies where your previous attendance was on a date on or after 10th January 2011);
ï‚· you have attended at court for jury service and were selected by ballot to serve on a jury, within the last five years;
from www.scotcourts.gov.uk/coming-to-court/jurors/excusal-from-jury-service[/quote]
Thanks for this advice. I've been calling all day and finally managed to get someone to help me. If you make yourself available then you don't have to go again for two years, even if you don't make it to court. So on the basis of my last citation in 2021 I've been excused. He did say my pattern of citation was really strange (always happens at the same time of year too) and was very kind and understanding!

OP posts:
CuddlyCactus · 11/04/2022 16:30

It almost sounds like your name has somehow got stuck in the system!
Every April up pops @Rooma

Notthisnotthat · 11/04/2022 16:35

I've just served on a jury in Scotland. I've already served on a jury 10 years ago and I've been cited twice in the past 3 years. We stayed at home until selected and then went to a jury centre (local cinema). Our jury clerk was saying that there are now so many cases being heard that even though we've now served we may get selected for a jury pool again before the end of the 5 years.

botanics · 11/04/2022 18:14

If you live within a council with a busy court system you are far more likely to be called frequently. If you live within a Glasgow city postcode, for example, you are likely to get a summons every couple of years. Since moving to a nearby smaller council area nearly 10 years ago I've not been called at all. Doesn't seem particularly fair though!

CharityShopChic · 11/04/2022 19:07

I'm 50 and I've never been called. Not once.

When I was a student I was called as a witness to a fraud case - bloke passing forged/stolen cheques in shops, one of which I'd accepted unknowingly. The Fiscal excused me as I had final exams.

CharityShopChic · 11/04/2022 19:11

I've had a Glasgow postcode for 15 years and haven't been called - although I am East Dunbartonshire rather than Glasgow, not sure that makes any difference?

fantasmasgoria1 · 11/04/2022 19:13

Never been called up for jury duty. I doubt very much I would be selected due to the severity of my mental illness.

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