Attending Jury Service

Around half a million people are selected to serve on juries across England and Wales. It is a legal requirement for you to sit on a jury if you are called, but it’s also everyone’s civic duty as the jury is one of the cornerstones of our legal system.

What is a Jury?

A jury is made up of 12 people who have been chosen at random from the electoral register. Scotland uses 15 people when criminal trials are taking place. If you are called to sit on a coroner’s jury, you will be one of between 7 and 11 jury members.

What are Juries for?

The jury is used to decide the guilt or innocence of anyone accused of a serious crime. Cases that can involve a jury can range from fraud to murder. Most juries sit in the Crown Court where cases of serious crimes are heard. You may also be asked to sit on a jury in a coroner’s court to decide how someone died.

The Jury Summoning Form

When your name came up for jury selection you will have been sent the Jury Summons. This is a form that you must complete pages 3 and 4 and return these to the summons bureau that sent you the form. Make sure you keep pages 1 and 2 safe, as you will need to bring these with you on your first day of jury duty. If you don’t you could face a fine of up to £1,000.

Time Off Work

Generally any employee has the right to take time off to perform their jury duty if they are called. Most employers understand this and support this part of our judicial system. However, if your jury duties will be over a lengthy period of time your employer will need to be consulted. It is against the law to be treated unfairly by your employer as a consequence of your jury duty.

However, bear in mind that if you are dismissed as a consequence of your jury service but failed to tell your employer, you may not have a strong case for unfair dismissal. Also, if your employer told you that your jury duty could have a damaging affect on your job, and you failed to request a deferment of your jury duty until a more convenient time; again you may not be able to claim for unfair dismissal.

Claiming Expenses

Your employer doesn’t have to pay you while you’re on jury duty, but you can claim for the money you have lost. You can also claim for travelling and food expenses. Your employer needs to complete a Certificate of Loss of Earnings so you can claim your money back. Bring this form with you on your first day at court. You can also claim for costs relating to carers or child-minders if you have children. You must have a letter from them stating how much they are charging you.

If you are self employed and wish to claim for loss of earnings, you need to provide some form of documentary proof that you have lost money as a consequence of being a juror. This could be a letter from your accountant. If you have to pay for this evidence, contact the court for advice first before requesting it.

At the Courthouse

When your first day as a juror arrives make sure you arrive at the court at the allotted time. Courts normally operate between 10.30am and 4.30pm. This information will be on the paperwork you were sent by the Jury Central Summoning Bureau. You will be asked for pages 1 and 2 of your summon form, plus one other piece of identification, so make sure you have this with you.

Coroner’s Courts

The coroner’s court operates differently to other courts in that the jury is not asked to return a verdict of guilty or not guilty. You are on a coroner’s jury to confirm two things: The first is the identity of the person that has died, and secondly how, when and where the person died.

Getting Help and Further Information

If you have a query about your jury service you can contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau by telephoning: 08453 555 567, but only until a week before your jury service is due to start. After this time, you should ask the Jury Manager of the court where your case is being heard.

If you live in Northern Ireland you can contact the Jury Management Team on: 028 7126 1329. If you live in Scotland you can contact civil jurors court of session on: 0131 240 6772 or for criminal jurors at the high court of justiciary on: 0131 240 6907.