Juries Act 1974

2 Summoning. E+W

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Lord Chancellor shall be responsible for the summoning of jurors to attend for service in the Crown Court, the High Court and county courts and for determining the occasions on which they are to attend when so summoned, and the number to be summoned.

(2) In making arrangements to discharge his duty under subsection (1) above the Lord Chancellor shall have regard to the convenience of the persons summoned and to their respective places of residence, and in particular to the desirability of selecting jurors within reasonable daily travelling distance of the place where they are to attend.

(3) Subject to subsection (2) above, there shall be no restriction on the places in England and Wales at which a person may be required to attend or serve on a jury under this Act.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, jurors shall be so summoned by notice in writing sent by post, or delivered by hand.

For the purposes of [F1 section 7 of the Interpretation Act M1 1978] (presumption as to receipt of letter properly addressed and sent by post) the notice shall be regarded as properly addressed if the address is that shown in the electoral register, and a notice so addressed, and delivered by hand to that address, shall be deemed to have been delivered personally to the person to whom it is addressed unless the contrary is proved.

(5) A written summons sent or delivered to any person under subsection (4) above shall be accompanied by a notice informing him—

(a) of the effect of sections 1, F2 . . . 10 and 20(5) of this Act; and

(b) that he may make representations to the appropriate officer with a view to obtaining the withdrawal of the summons, if for any reason he is not qualified for jury service, or wishes or is entitled to be excused;

and where a person [F3 is summoned under subsection (4) above or] under section 6 of this Act, the appropriate officer may [F4 at any time] put or cause to be put to him such questions as the officer thinks fit in order to establish whether or not the person is qualified for jury service.

(6) A certificate signed by the appropriate officer and stating that a written summons under this Act, properly addressed and prepaid, was posted by him shall be admissible as evidence in any proceedings, and shall be so admissible without proof of his signature or official character.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words substituted by virtue of Interpretation Act 1978 (c. 30), s. 17(2)

F2 Word in s. 2(5)(a) repealed (5.4.2004) by Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c. 44), ss. 332, 336, Sch. 37 Pt. 10; S.I. 2004/829, art. 2(1)(2)(l)(iv)

F3 Words substituted by Administration of Justice Act 1982 (c. 53, SIF 37), s. 61(a)

F4 Words inserted by Administration of Justice Act 1982 (c. 53, SIF 37), s. 61(b)

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 2: reference to the register of parliamentary and local government electors to be construed as mentioned in Representation of the People Act 1983 (c. 2, SIF 42), ss. 205, 206, Sch. 7 para. 10

C2 S. 2 modified (31.8.1999) by S.I. 1999/2128, art. 3(2).

Marginal Citations

M1 1978 c. 30.