5.4.5 Jury service

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, serious criminal cases are tried by a jury of 12 members of the public. In Scotland, a jury has 15 members. Jurors are randomly selected from the electoral register. Jury service is a civic duty — if you are called, you are legally required to attend unless you have a valid reason not to. The jury listens to the evidence and decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.