A jury should represent a cross-section of society, and each member will attend court to hear the evidence against the individual on trial. The judge decides whether evidence is relevant to the case and explains the process to jurors.

The jury’s job is to listen to the evidence and remain impartial throughout the proceedings. In some cases, the jury might be removed from the courtroom during legal arguments to prevent prejudice.

Once the arguments are over, the jury will retire to a private room to discuss the case and decide on a guilty or not guilty verdict.

If jury members can’t agree on the verdict, the court might declare a hung jury. They’ll then need to begin the process again with a new panel.

Jury members are selected randomly from the electoral register and then narrowed down to a panel of 12. If chosen, you will receive a jury summons informing you of your requirement to attend and the date and time your service will begin.

You must complete and return the form included with the jury summons within seven days. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don’t return the form or turn up for jury service.

You will not receive any details of the case or those involved until you begin jury service, around nine weeks after the initial jury summons.

Jury service is an obligation on qualifying UK citizens to serve on panel of 12 jury members who are tasked with reaching a fair verdict in a civil or criminal court case. Trial by jury is considered the foundation of a democratic legal system as the appointed jury panel is supposed to represent a cross-section of society.

If you meet the following criteria, you might be called up for jury service:

• Age: The minimum age for jury service is 18 years old.
• Mental Health: Jurors can’t be detained under the Mental Health Act (1983) or Mental Capacity Act (2005).
• Electoral Register: People not registered to vote cannot serve on a jury.
• UK Resident: All jurors must have been residents of the UK, Isle of Man and Channel Islands for at least five years since their 13th birthday.
• Convictions: If you’ve served a prison sentence in the past ten years or are currently on bail, you won’t be able to serve as a juror.

Aside from having a mental disorder and previous convictions, there are some exemptions for jury service. They include:

• Age: Jury service has no upper age limit, but you can ask to be excused if you’re over 75 in some cases.
• Previous Jury Service: People who attended court but weren’t selected for the panel can ask to be excused from jury service up to two years after the first summons. Individuals who served on a jury can be exempt for up to five years.
• Occupations: Some professions are exempt from jury service, including people who work in the legal sector, advocates, police constables and court officers. If you’re in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, it’s important to check whether you’re exempt, as some countries have different rules.

Most people don’t want to receive a jury summons, and it’s natural to try and evade it. In some cases, it’s possible to defer jury service if you have a valid reason. Potential reasons include:

• Work: National Health Service employees and other key workers might be able to avoid jury service if it would impact their job or they can’t get time off from their employer.
• Hardship: If being a juror means you’ll lose earnings, have a serious medical condition or physical disability, or care for someone else, you can ask to be excused from service.
• Self-Employed: Self-employed people might get out of jury service if they prove their business will suffer.
• Previous Commitments: If you’re preparing for an exam, having an operation or having a holiday booked, you can defer jury service.
• Language Issues: Being unable to speak English fluently also makes people ineligible.

Anyone who wants to be excused from jury service must write to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau and explain why they can’t attend. You’ll need to provide evidence, including hospital dates, proof of prior engagements and proof that you care for someone else.

If you have a physical condition, provide a medical certificate and a doctor’s letter. The Bureau will assess the evidence and decide whether to defer your service.

Even if you don’t have to serve immediately, you might be called up again within 12 months. You can only defer your case once.

Write to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau.

No, you can’t. While you can ask for your duty to be deferred to a later date, there must be a valid reason. It’s also important to remember that not everyone is selected for a jury. You might answer the summons and attend court, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be picked to serve as a juror.

There could be legal repercussions if you don’t have a good reason for refusing your duty.

Failing to reply to your summons carries a £1,000 fine, and not turning up means you’ll be held in contempt of court. If you don’t pay this fine, there could be consequences, including being issued a Community Service Order.

You are usually expected to attend jury service during your regular working hours. Your employer must release you to attend jury service, or you can be found in contempt of court.

It is illegal to punish someone for their involvement in jury service. If you have been mistreated (such as denied promotion or dismissed), you can challenge this at an employment tribunal.

You should inform your employer that you have received a jury summons as soon as possible and make arrangements for your expected absence from work. This will help avoid any problems for both you and your employer.

Your employer is not legally obliged to pay you while you are on jury duty. However, you can claim expenses incurred during jury duty, such as travel and food costs, and accommodation where necessary.

You can also ask your employer to complete a Certificate for Loss of Earnings form to compensate for any lost earnings. There is a limit on how much you can claim in this way.

The types of cases jurors are involved in vary, including civil lawsuits and criminal trials. You might serve at a criminal trial for theft, fraud, and assault in a county or sheriff’s court. The most serious cases, such as rape and murder, often go to the High Court.

Some cases are more complex than others, but jurors have the duty to hear all the evidence and decide whether to issue a criminal conviction or find in the defendant’s or complainant’s favour in civil court.

How long jury service lasts depends on the case you’re hearing and how much evidence there is. Some cases last around ten days, but a criminal offence trial might take longer. Some court trials can take months to solve, with one jury serving 20 months (Independent).

During this time, you can only discuss the case in the jury room, and it’s illegal to share details with anyone outside of court.

You aren’t paid for jury service, but the court will cover some expenses and issue meal vouchers. If you don’t receive any earnings while attending court, you might be able to receive up to £64.95 daily for the first ten working days.

Trials that last longer pay more expenses, gradually increasing to a maximum of £228.06.

You are usually expected to attend jury service during your normal working hours. Your employer must release you to attend jury service or they can be found in contempt of court.

It is illegal to punish someone for their involvement in jury service. If you have been treated unfairly (such as denied promotion or dismissed) you can challenge this at employment tribunal.

You should inform your employer that you have received a jury summons as soon as possible and make arrangements for your expected absence from work. This will help avoid any problems for both you and your employer.

If you are summoned for jury service, you are legally obliged to attend unless you have a good excuse.

You may request that your jury service be deferred to a more convenient time. However, this can only be done once, and for no more than 12 months from the original date of summons. You’ll need to provide evidence to the Jury Central Summoning Bureau of why you can’t attend (eg, a letter from your doctor or employer or proof that you’ve booked a holiday).

If you are unable to serve as a juror for any of the next 12 months from the date of your summons, you must clearly state your reasons on the form accompanying your jury summons. You may be asked to provide evidence to back up your claim.

You are also exempt from jury service if you have served on a jury within two years prior to the date of a jury summons.

Some cases are easy to deal with, while others can cause extensive stress. When jury service lasts more than ten days, many people find adjusting to their daily routines challenging.

It’s also important to remember that cases involving sexual assault, murder and child abuse can be complex to deal with. Unfortunately, there’s not much psychological support for jurors, but taking time for yourself and processing the case can help you adjust outside of the courts.

Jury service is a part of a democratic society, and everyone has the right to be judged by their peers. Even if you don’t think you’ll be able to serve as a juror, respond when you’ve been summoned and prepare for the possibility that you’ll need to attend the trial.