Applications

How do I apply for deferral or to be excused?

If you wish to apply to be excused from Jury Service, or for your service to be deferred, you must inform the Jury Central Summoning Bureau, who will provide you with a form to complete.

If you are applying for your service to be deferred, you should indicate any dates within the next year on which you would not be able to attend. You will then receive confirmation of your deferral and a new dates for your jury service. You can only defer once, you must attend on the second occassion.

If the Juries Officer excuses you from service, you will receive a letter confirming that this is the case. This applies only to this summons, and you may be selected again at random for jury service. If you are called again, you will have to go through the same process of accepting, deferring or applying to be excused.

If the Juries Office decides your reasons for being excused are not appropriate, you will receive a letter telling you this, and you will be expected to turn up at court on the date originally provided. If you wish to appeal, you can do so before a judge.