This is everything you need to know about jury service at crown court.
At any point during our adult lives any one of us could be summoned to carry out jury service. When people are accused of serious offences, they generally have a right to be tried by 12 members of the public.
In a trial involving a jury, the judge is responsible for ensuring the trial is conducted fairly and explains the relevant law to the jury. The jury is responsible for deciding whether the defendant is guilty.
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For ordinary people, entering crown court can be confusing and intimidating, with its wigs, gowns and its occasional use of Latin. That's why we have put together everything you need to know, so if you are summoned to crown court you know what to expect.
How are you chosen for jury service and how will I know?
Your name will be chosen at random from the electoral register. If you get a jury summons in the post, you must respond within seven days and confirm if you can attend.
The chosen court will be as close as possible to where you live and the dates will have already been decided for you.
The form must be completed and returned within seven days of receiving it. A fine of up to £1,000 is payable if you don’t return the form or don’t turn up for jury service.
You may be able to turn down jury service if you have already booked a holiday, you’re having an operation or your employer won’t give you time off work. However you can only do this once.
How long does jury service last?
Jury service usually lasts up to 10 working days. If the trial is likely to last longer than 10 days, jury staff will let you know and if the trial is shorter than 10 days, you may be asked to be a juror on other trials.
You’ll usually need to be at court from 10am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday, but times can vary. You’ll need to arrive at court earlier on your first day. Check your summons letter for the exact time.
Do you need to bring anything with you to court?
According to gov.uk, on your first day, you should bring:
- your jury summons form or your jury service confirmation letter
- some identification, such as your passport, photo driving licence or Home Office documents showing your UK immigration status
If you do not have identification, you can bring any two documents from the following:
- your birth certificate
- your credit card with three statements and proof of signature
- your cheque book and bank card with 3 statements and proof of signature
- three utility bills showing your name and address
What should you wear?
There is no strict dress code for jury service and you can wear clothes you’re comfortable in, such as jeans and a t-shirt. You cannot wear very casual clothing, such as beachwear or anything on your head, unless it is for religious reasons.
What happens when you get to court?
Jurors are to arrive promptly for 10am. There is a separate entrance for jurors to enter a court, and all jurors are searched and have to go through scanners.
You have to sign in with your ID and unique juror number, which you are given. You can bring your mobile phone, tablet or laptop into the court building and use it in the jury assembly area.
You cannot take your phone, laptop or tablet into the deliberation room. All courts have lockers or somewhere you can safely store your personal items.
Waiting room
Jurors are taken up to a waiting room which looks almost like an airport lounge. There can be as many as 150 jurors waiting.
You are then given a form with a list of occupations and you need to declare if you know or are related to anyone in that profession (e.g police officer, judge).
You also need to declare if you know anyone in the waiting room. You are then left waiting round until around 11am when a DVD is played informing you about the court and how it works etc.
You are also given a juror’s handbook which explains the process and what you are allowed and aren’t allowed to do.
Taking time off work
Give a copy of your jury summons to your employer. Your employer must let you have time off work, but can ask you to delay your jury service if your absence will have a serious effect on their business.
Your employer can choose whether or not to pay you during your service. If they do not pay you, you can claim for loss of earnings from the court.
Do you get paid for jury service?
The court won’t pay you to do jury service, but you can claim expenses such as food, drink and travel. Your employer can choose whether or not to pay you during your service.
For the first 10 days of jury service, you can claim up to:
- £64.95 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court
- £32.47 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court
If your jury service lasts longer than 10 working days, the amount you can claim increases. You’ll be able to claim up to:
- £129.91 a day if you spend more than 4 hours at court
- £64.95 a day if you spend 4 hours or less at court
You’ll be told how to claim expenses after your jury service has ended. There is a canteen and you are given £5.71 for dinner each day up to and including 10 hours a day. If this goes over 10 hours a day the court will pay you £12.17 per day.
This may increase if your time on jury service is extended. All expenses incurred are paid into your bank account after your jury service has finished.
If you're on benefits show your jury summons to your benefit office or work coach as soon as you get it. You’ll continue to get financial support and benefits (such as Universal Credit) for the first eight weeks.
After that, the court will give you a loss of earnings form to give to your benefit office or work coach.
Jurors are not allowed to discuss the trail with anyone until its finished
Jurors are not allowed to discuss the trial with anyone until it’s finished, except with other jury members in the deliberation room.
After the trial you mustn’t talk about what happened in the deliberation room, even with family members. You can talk about what happened in the courtroom.
Don’t post comments about the trial on social media such as Facebook or Twitter – even after the trial’s finished.
*This is contempt of court and you can be fined or sent to prison*. If anyone approaches you about the trial in the court tell a court officer. If you’re approached outside court, tell a police officer.
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