Jury Service Summons anyone ?

I have been called twice and empanelled once. I got a historic sexual abuse case. What had happened was at the very minor end of the range of sexual abuse offences, and had happened only once and I can say, that in conversations outside the jury room, we were very puzzled that such a minor offence should end up in court 25 years after the event. I am in no way defending sexual abuse, or diminishing the effect on the victim.

However we reached our verdict strictly by the evidence. What the sentence was, I do not know as this was reserved for a later date.

I'm 72 and hoped that I was too old, as I am uncomfortable with me making such an important judgement, potentially wrongly.
My daughter was called days after her eighteenth birthday. Subsequent things she has said about her time in the jury box led me to conclude that teenagers, straight from school, with limited life experience might not be the most insightful jurors

I was called 7 yrs ago to Crown Court, I was bored stiff in the waiting area for 4 days ( I took a book and iPad) served on a jury for assault for 2 days he was guilty. Then on day 2 of the second week we were told we wouldn’t be needed anymore. We had lunch vouchers and travel expenses reimbursed although I’d used my freedom pass. I did enjoy the experience but it was mostly boring. My husband in contrast served on a fraud case for 14 wks he was ecstatic no work and paid to sit and just listen he loved it.

I’ve served on a Crown Court Jury twice, the first time we had just been sworn in and had heard a part of the Prosecution evidence when we were all asked to leave the court, we went into a side room, after about half an hour we were taken back into court and were told that as the defendant had been charged with the wrong crime we were excused.
We sat around for another few days but weren’t chosen again.

The second time was only a few years ago, a very interesting case, he was obviously guilty, so it didn’t take long to convict him, he had 2 witnesses and the prosecution had 2 , one was a little lad who saw everything from his bedroom window. After he was found guilty we were told that he had a whole raft of charges pending so we weren’t there for his sentencing.

I enjoyed the experience, the worse part was getting into Oxford on time through the traffic.

I’ve also had to appear in a Crown Court as a witness for the prosecution, I’d rather do the Jury duty!

I think the cut off age is 75 for Jury Duty?

I have never been called either..........holiday planned for June and what are the chances of a call to service then.......would be just my luck.

Curtaintwitcher I totally agree with you I ve always dreaded the thought and hoped I never got summoned as it is something I ve known I wouldn’t want to do and I never have thankfully
I may disagree with the verdict wholeheartedly but be in the minority and would have to watch and be part of what I consider the wrong verdict ! How awful is that
I couldn’t sit through the acting of the prosecutor or defended if I didn’t believe in the show he/ she was giving
I don’t think I am able to make more than an armchair verdict and that s NOT good enough
I could be trapped there for hours and days doing something I don’t want to do

I believe the right way to go is to have paid trained jurors as they do in some other countries it is not a waged full time job I think they mostly do a year but they are given some training and it wouldn’t be forced on reluctant or untrained people

Imagine having a person on the jury who has little education or maybe common sense or who is mentally wired to be sympathetic towards some kind of crimes although never been caught as a criminal themselves and not be able to do anything about it I don’t agree with the system we use I think it’s all too sloppy and open to the wrong verdicts Guilty people can get off and good people can get charged

I got called about 20 years ago.
Man pleaded guilty before the case actually started.
I was a bit disappointed.
I was told then that I wouldnt get called again for another 3 years, as I had been called already.

Never got called since.

This was something I always dreaded, so I'm glad I've reached the age where I'm no longer eligible.
Apart from the fact that I have agorophobia, I don't agree with the system. It's too easy for clever lawyers to dupe the public. I think it would be much better to have professional jurors, who are there because they want to be, not because they have to.

When I was 21 I had to have a week off work unpaid for jury service at my local crown court. Had to attend every day and only got picked to serve on one jury. The case was a farce and should never had come to court and was just one day. We where given luncheon vouchers for £2.

The year my husband died was summoned again by then I was 46 as it was after my birthday. My daughter helped me write a letter excusing me from it due to bereavement but mainly because my health had gotten worse when I was 29 and couldn't have travelled and sat all day without causing excessive pain . Had a nice letter back saying I would never be called again as they had taken me off the eligible register.

My daughter has always wanted to be called but so far hasn't.

I understand your ambivalence, I was called to the sheriffs court but I wasn’t needed. I was gutted and relieved in equal measure.
I was summoned again about a year later and did sit on a trial. It was fascinating but quite grim. No one wanted to be spokesman so I said “guilty” and they took him straight to jail.,
I think the coroners court will definitely be a bit grim but it’s all about helping people find closure. You might get called again, it’s the luck of the draw.

I was called twice, despite being excused on medical grounds. My GP was raging.
I then received an apology for the error.

I was so relieved, I couldn't have sat for any length of time, my pain levels are very high, my concentration poor and my COPD means I cough constantly.