Failure to Attend Jury Service: What Happens if You Miss It

Who can be called for jury service

Jury service is a civic duty that applies to most adults living in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you receive a summons, you are legally required to attend unless you have a valid reason to be excused or can defer to a later date.

You may be called for jury service if you meet all of the following conditions: you are between 18 and 75 years old, your name appears on the electoral register, and you have been resident in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for at least five years since turning 13.

The legal framework for jury service comes from the Juries Act 1974. The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 extended the upper age limit from 70 to 75, bringing more people into the pool of potential jurors.

Certain people are not eligible to serve. This includes anyone who lacks the mental capacity to take part in a trial, people who are currently on bail, and those who have received particular criminal sentences. A custodial sentence of five years or more results in permanent disqualification. Shorter prison terms or community orders can disqualify you for a defined period, depending on the sentence.

The rules changed in 2004 to allow people in certain professions to serve who were previously exempt. Police officers, solicitors, barristers, judges, and members of the clergy can now all be summoned. Serving members of the armed forces are not automatically exempt, but may apply to be excused if their commanding officer provides a certificate stating that their absence would affect operational efficiency. Each application is assessed individually.

For the full eligibility criteria and current rules, check the official guidance on GOV.UK.

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Valid reasons for not attending

If you cannot attend on the dates stated in your summons, you have two main options: ask to defer your service to a later time, or apply to be excused altogether. Deferral requests are often considered more favourably than requests for full excusal, depending on circumstances.

Courts will consider moving your service dates if you have a reasonable explanation. Common grounds include:

• A pre-booked holiday that cannot be changed or refunded
• Significant work commitments, such as exams or a major project deadline
• Medical appointments or ongoing treatment that would be disrupted
• Caring responsibilities for a child or dependent adult
• Religious observances that fall during the service period

You will usually need to provide evidence to support your request. This might be a booking confirmation, a letter from your employer, or a note from your GP. The court staff will assess each application on its own merits.

Being self-employed or running a small business is not an automatic reason to be excused, though it may support a deferral request if you can show genuine hardship. Employers cannot legally stop you from attending, and you are entitled to time off work for jury service.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

What happens if you fail to attend

Ignoring a jury summons without proper reason is a criminal offence. If you simply do not turn up and have not been granted a deferral or excusal, you may face serious consequences.

The court can issue a fine for failing to attend without reasonable cause. Fines of up to £1,000 are possible, though the specific amount and any additional penalties can vary based on the situation and jurisdiction. In some cases, the court may also hold you in contempt of court, which can carry further penalties.

If you realise you cannot attend after receiving your summons, contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau as soon as possible by phone, post, or through the GOV.UK website. Acting quickly gives you the best chance of having your request granted. Leaving it until the last minute, or simply not showing up, will make things much harder to resolve.

Courts account for genuine emergencies that prevent attendance. If something unexpected occurs on the day, such as sudden illness or a family crisis, contact the court immediately. Providing an honest explanation and supporting evidence where possible will usually be taken into account.

Getting help and further information

If you are unsure whether you qualify for excusal or deferral, the Jury Central Summoning Bureau can answer questions about your specific situation. You can reply to your summons online, by post, or by phone.

The GOV.UK website has detailed guidance on jury service, including forms and instructions for requesting deferrals or excusals, information about expenses you can claim, what to expect during a trial, and how long service typically lasts. Most jury service lasts around two weeks, though some trials run longer.

Jury service can feel inconvenient, but it plays a central role in the justice system. Courts will try to accommodate genuine difficulties where they can. The key is to respond promptly and honestly to your summons rather than ignoring it.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Court Form Finder lets you find the right court form for your situation. Family, civil, criminal and tribunal forms. Try it now →