Jury duty

Guidance on applying for jury service excusal in Scotland states:

If it’s not possible for you to do jury service in the next 12 months, you can ask to be excused. You’ll only be allowed to do this in exceptional circumstances, for example:

• you have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from doing jury service
• you’re a full time carer of someone with an illness or disability
• you’re a new parent and will not be able to serve at any other time in the next 12 months

You can also ask to be excused from jury service if you’ve done it in the last 2 years.

If you do not do jury service this time, you could still receive a summons in the future.

To ask to be excused, reply to your jury summons explaining your reasons in detail.

You might need to give proof, for example, if you’re ill you might be asked for a letter from your doctor.

“If you wish to apply to be excluded on the basis of ill health or physical disability then you must enclose a medical certificate along with your response.

In writing such letters the doctor must be satisfied that the patient is unable to attend court.