# The Criminal Procedure Rules 2025, Rule 26.1: Appeal against officer’s refusal to excuse or postpone jury service

Extent: E+W

(1) This rule applies where a person summoned for jury service in the Crown Court, the High Court or the county court wants to appeal against a refusal by an officer on the Lord Chancellor’s behalf—
(a) to excuse that person from such service; or
(b) to postpone the date on which that person is required to attend for such service.
(2) The appellant must appeal to the court to which the appellant has been summoned.
(3) The appellant must—
(a) apply in writing, as soon as reasonably practicable; and
(b) serve the application on the court officer.
(4) The application must—
(a) attach a copy of—
(i) the jury summons, and
(ii) the refusal to excuse or postpone which is under appeal; and
(b) explain why the court should excuse the appellant from jury service, or postpone its date, as appropriate.
(5) The court to which the appeal is made—
(a) may extend the time for appealing, and may allow the appeal to be made orally;
(b) may determine the appeal at a hearing in public or in private, or without a hearing;
(c) may adjourn any hearing of the appeal; but
(d) must not determine an appeal unless the appellant has had a reasonable opportunity to make representations in person.
[Note. See sections 9 and 9A of the Juries Act 1974.
Where a person summoned for jury service—
(a) fails to attend as required; or
(b) after attending as required, when selected under rule 25.6—
(i) is not available, or
(ii) is unfit for jury service by reason of drink or drugs
that conduct may be punished as if it were a contempt of court. See section 20 of the Juries Act 1974 and rules 48.5 to 48.8 (contempt of court). The maximum penalty which the court can impose is a fine of £1,000.]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/909/rule/26.1 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/criminal-procedure-rules-2025/rule-26.1
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.