This information only relates to the "Jury Notice" stage of jury service. If you have received a "Jury Summons" and require more information please go here.

Click on the links in the following list to quickly navigate down the page to where you can view the answer to the question:

1. What does receiving a Jury Notice mean?
2. How did you get my details?
3. But I was excused from jury service before?
4. I only just completed jury service?
5. Why do I need to complete the "Form of Return?"
6. But you should know about my personal circumstances?
7. Can I be excused from jury service because of my job or circumstances?
8. What if the individual on the jury notice has died?
9. But I am too ill to do jury service?
10. I have a criminal conviction does that excuse me?
11. I have moved address what do I do
12. What if I have lost my jury notice?

1. What does receiving a Jury Notice mean?

By receiving a jury notice the Juries Officer is letting you know that you could be called for jury service at any time during an 11 month period from the beginning of September this year to the end of July next year.

Should you be called for jury service during this period of time, you will receive a "Jury Summons" with further information including where and when you are required to attend to meet your obligations.

The jury summons will usually give you 3-5 weeks notice to enable you to make arrangements to attend.

2. How did you get my details?

Approximately 25,000 names and addresses are taken at random from the electoral register every year.

3. But I was excused from jury service before?

Regrettably the random process of obtaining names from the electoral register can cause situations like this to arise. This cannot be avoided without interfering with random selection.

You should complete your Form of Return and send it to the Juries Officer (using the prepaid envelope) to consider together with an accompanying letter. In this letter you should explain the situation including when and why you were excused etc.

Depending on the circumstances the Juries Officer may require you to submit additional documentation.

4. I only just completed jury service?

Regrettably the random process of obtaining names from the electoral register can cause situations like this to arise. This cannot be avoided without interfering with the random selection process.

You should complete your Form of Return and send it to the Juries Officer (using the prepaid envelope) to consider together with an accompanying letter. In this letter you should include when and where you recently attended for jury service.

5. Why do I need to complete the "Form of Return?"

The electoral office does not hold additional information which the Juries Officer or Court needs. This information includes if you are retired; your occupation; or if you have any criminal convictions.

The only way the court can find this information out is by asking you to provide it.

6. But you should know about my personal circumstances?

Neither the Juries Officer nor the Electoral Office has access to information about your personal circumstances held by other government departments.

We will only know about your circumstances if you tell us.

7. Can I be excused from jury service because of my job or  circumstances?

Unless your occupation or circumstances fall within Sections A, B or C of your jury notice, then you cannot be automatically excused.

You may, if you wish, make an application to defer your service or to be excused for a period of time but not at this stage, only if you receive a jury summons.

8. What if the individual on the jury notice has died?

Due to the electoral list being compiled some time prior to the jury notice process commencing, regrettably this can occur.

In such circumstances please return the form of return to the Juries Officer at the address on the pre-paid envelope and we will ensure that you do not receive any further correspondence.

9. But I am too ill to do jury service?

Because you may not be called for jury service until at least September this year, or at the very latest July next year, you may have recovered sufficiently by the time you receive a jury summons  to enable you to do jury service.

If you are unlikely to recover sufficiently then you should speak to your General Practitioner who may certify you unfit for jury service. You should send any medical certificate with your Form of Return to the Juries Officer in the prepaid envelope.

Your General Practitioner should not charge you for this service. We cannot reimburse you if they do, or make these enquiries on your behalf.

10. I have a criminal conviction does that excuse me?

A criminal conviction does not automatically exclude you from jury service.

Section A of your Jury Notice explains the circumstances which must arise before you can be excused for this reason. You must inform of us if section A relates to you.

If you are seeking excusal under Section A, you must also provide us with details of the conviction date, and the sentence you received.

11. I have moved address what do I do?

If you have moved address then you must let us know.

You should attach a letter to your Jury Notice advising the Juries Officer of your new address, and post it back using the pre-paid envelope.

12.  What if I have lost my jury notice?

• If this happens you can do one of two things.
  You can either wait for a final reminder to be issued, or you can contact the Customer Service Centre and request duplicate documentation to be issued to you:-
  Email : customerservicecentre@courtsni.gov.uk
  Telephone:  028 7126 1329
• Wait for a final reminder to be issued to you, which will contain duplicate documentation.