You may receive a jury summons while studying at university. This is a letter from the Jury Central Summoning Bureau summoning you to take part in ‘Jury Service’, sometimes also called ‘Jury Duty’.
When you’re called to Jury Service you’ll sit in on a trial as a juror. Typically, you’ll serve for 10 working days.
What happens if you are summoned during your studies?
- Students are not given special exemption from Jury Service if summoned. You are expected to take part in your civic duty.
- You can however defer your jury service; this means if the dates you have been summoned for will disrupt term-time or an exam period, you can defer to a later time.
When to defer to
You are best to provide the dates when you are not studying or taking exams, i.e. official holiday time or after the end of your studies.
Important to know:
- Deferrals can only be for up to 12 months. This means you need to provide your availability for the next 12 months. So, if you are due to complete your studies within 12 months, you need to include this. If not, then only holiday time.
- The Jury Summoning Bureau will summon only for a time within the availability dates given.
How to defer
You need to complete the form supplied by the Bureau in their Summons letter requesting a Deferral.
Important to know:
- A summons can only be deferred once. This means you must attend the next summons. As such it's very important the information you supply is accurate.
- You should respond to a Summons letter as soon as possible.
If you have any further questions about this or how to complete the form and what is needed, you are best to contact the Jury Central Summoning Bureau directly; the quickest and easiest way is to give them a phone call.
The Bureau are very helpful and happy to answer questions. Contact information can be found at Reply to a jury summons.