My epxerience;
1) got the letter in May – service early October
2) phoned asked if I could do the school holidays as it was easier for child/dog care – was rescheduled to mid August.
3) Got a call mid July – did I want to change dates, they had 3 different start dates I could have instead.
I wonder if they struggle to get jurors during the summer (at least where I am)?
The case was domestic violence and rape. Possibly one of the most difficult week and a bit of my life, the evidence, the responsibility, trying to reach consensus in the deliberations.
Would I try and get out of it if called again? No – it was difficult but the victims and accused both deserve a trial by jury and it’s all of our responsibilities to provide that. The ‘state’ doesn’t actually demand much from us bar taxes and this seems a small thing we can each do to provide a justice system we’d want to be tried by.