Attending Jury Service

What is jury service?

Jury service is one of the ways individuals participate in the justice system. If you are called to serve, you will sit in court and help decide the outcome of a trial. It is a legal obligation.

In England and Wales, you can be summoned if you are between 18 and 75 years old and registered to vote. In Scotland, the upper age limit is 71. Names are selected at random from the electoral register. When a summons arrives, you must attend unless you have been granted permission to defer or are excused.

In England and Wales, a jury has 12 members. Scottish criminal trials use 15 jurors. Coroner's inquests that require a jury will have between 7 and 11 members, depending on the type of case.

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Types of cases heard by juries

Most jury trials take place in Crown Courts and involve serious criminal charges. These include:

• Murder and manslaughter
• Serious assault
• Rape and sexual offences
• Robbery and burglary
• Fraud
• Drug trafficking

As a juror, you will evaluate evidence alongside your fellow jurors to reach a verdict of guilty or not guilty. The judge will provide legal instructions, but the decision of verdict remains with the jury.

Coroner's juries serve a different purpose. Rather than deciding guilt, you will help establish the facts about a death: who the person was, when and where they died, and the cause of death. These inquests may be held when someone dies in custody, at work, or in circumstances that need public examination.

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Receiving your summons

Your jury summons will arrive by post. You will need to return part of it to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau (in England and Wales) within seven days. Keep the remaining pages with you, as you will need them when you attend court.

The summons will tell you which court to go to and when to arrive. Most jury service lasts around two weeks, though some trials run longer. If you are selected for a lengthy case, you will usually be told at the start.

If you cannot attend on the dates given, you can ask to defer your service to a more suitable time. Deferral is not guaranteed, and typically only one deferral is permitted. You will need a genuine reason, such as a pre-booked holiday, medical treatment, or exams. Requests should be made promptly.

Some people can be excused from jury service altogether. This may apply if you have a serious illness or disability that would make serving very difficult. Members of the armed forces on active duty can also apply, though their commanding officer must support the application. The decision is made on a case by case basis. Failing to attend without a valid excuse can result in a fine.

What to expect when you attend

On your first day, you will go through security and be shown to a waiting area with other potential jurors. Court staff will explain what happens next. You may be selected for a trial that day, or you may wait to be called.

Before being assigned to a case, you must inform the court of any conflicts of interest or prior knowledge that could affect your impartiality. Once assigned, you must not discuss the case with anyone outside the jury room. This includes family, friends, and anyone online. You must also avoid media coverage of the trial and not conduct your own research. Breaking these rules is a criminal offence.

Reasonable adjustments are available for jurors with disabilities. Your employer must give you time off for jury service. You can claim for loss of earnings up to a capped amount, as well as travel costs and meals. Claim forms are available at court, and current rates are listed on GOV.UK.

The Next Step

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