Some jobs may serve as an excusal from this important public duty. Is yours on the list?

Jury service is an important public duty in the UK. In Scotland, the rules can differ from those in England and the rest of the country.

As explained by The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service: “The role of the jury is to reach a verdict in the case, having heard and considered the facts according to the evidence and the instructions given by the judge.

“There are 15 people in a criminal jury trial and 12 in a civil jury trial. Jurors are selected at random from the electoral register and can be cited for criminal trials (in the sheriff court or the High Court) or for civil cases in the Court of Session or the All Scotland Sheriff Personal Injury Court.”

If you get a letter through the door, you don’t always need to attend, as some people may be able to apply for an exemption. But these rules are pretty strict.

Who is qualified for jury service in Scotland?

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The Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service confirms that you are qualified for jury service if:

• you will be at least 18 years old on the date that you start your jury service;
• you are registered as a parliamentary or local government elector; AND
• you have lived in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for any period of at least 5 years since you were 13 years old.

Who can be disqualified from jury service?

LIST A

You can be disqualified from jury service if:

• you are on bail in or in connection with criminal proceedings in any part of the United Kingdom.
• you have been sentenced, at any time, in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man To a period of imprisonment for life or for a term of more than 48 months; or To be detained during His Majesty’s pleasure, during the pleasure of the Secretary of State or the Governor of Northern Ireland (i.e. sentenced for murder while under the age of 18)
• you have in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man served any part of a custodial sentence: where you have been sentenced to imprisonment/detention of at least 3 months but not more than 12 months, and the full period of the sentence of imprisonment/detention plus 2 years has not passed (or the full period of the sentence of imprisonment/detention plus 1 year has not passed if you were under 18 on the date of conviction) where you have been sentenced to imprisonment/detention of at least 12 months but not more than 30 months, and the full period of the sentence of imprisonment/detention plus 4 years has not passed (or the full period of the sentence of imprisonment/detention plus 2 years has not passed if you were under 18 on the date of conviction) where you have been sentenced to imprisonment/detention of at least 30 months but not more than 48 months, and the full period of the sentence of imprisonment/detention plus 6 years has not passed (or the full period of the sentence of imprisonment/detention plus 3 years has not passed if under 18 on the date of conviction)
• you were convicted of an offence and one or more of the following disposals was made under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995: a probation order a community service order a drug treatment and testing order a restriction of liberty order a community payback order

and a period of 12 months has not passed from the date of conviction (or 6 months if you were under 18 on the date of conviction) or if any requirement of the order is still in force

• you were convicted of an offence and sentenced to: a community order under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 a youth community order under section 33 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 a community order under the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1996

• a drug treatment and testing order under the Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 1998

in the last 12 months (or 6 months if you were under 18 on the date of conviction) or where any requirement of the order is still in place

List of people ineligible for jury service

LIST B

Group A: Judiciary

• Justices of the Supreme Court or the President or Deputy President of that Court
• Senators of the College of Justice
• Sheriffs
• Summary sheriffs
• Justices of the Peace
• The chairman or president, the vice-chairman or vice-president and the registrar or assistant registrar of any tribunal
• People who have, at any time within the 10 years immediately preceding the date at which their eligibility for jury service is being considered, come under any description listed above

Group B: Others concerned with the administration of justice

• Advocates or solicitors, whether or not in actual practice as suchAdvocate’s clerks
• Apprentices of, and legal trainees employed by, solicitors
• Officers and staff of any court if their work is wholly or mainly concerned with the day-to-day administration of the court
• People employed as shorthand writers in any court
• Clerks of the Peace and their deputies
• Members and staff of the Scottish Police Authority
• Inspectors of Constabulary appointed by His Majesty
• Assistant inspectors of constabulary appointed by the Secretary of State
• Constables of the Police Service of Scotland (including constables engaged on temporary service within the meaning of section 15 of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012
• Constables of any constabulary maintained under statute
• People employed in any capacity by virtue of which they have the powers and privileges of police constables
• Special constables
• Police cadets
• People appointed under section 26(1) of the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012
• Members of the National Criminal Intelligence Service
• Members of the Service Authority for the National Criminal Intelligence Service and persons employed by that Authority under section 13 of the Police Act 1997
• National Crime Agency officers
• Officers of prisons, detention centres and young offenders institutions
• Prison monitoring co-ordinators appointed under section 7A(2) of the Prisons (Scotland) Act 1989 and independent prison monitors appointed under section 7B(2)(a) of that Act
• Prisoner custody officers within the meaning of section 114(1) of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
• Procurators fiscal within the meaning of section 307(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995, and people employed as clerks and assistants to such procurators fiscal
• Messengers at arms and sheriff officers
• Members of children’s panels
• Reporters appointed under section 36 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 and members of their staff
• Directors of social work appointed under section 3 of the said Act of 1968 and people employed to assist such directors in the performance of such of their functions as relate to probation schemes within the meaning of section 27 of that Act
• Members of the Parole Board for Scotland
• People who at any time within the 5 years immediately preceding the date at which their eligibility for jury service is being considered, have come within any description listed above in group B
• People who at any time within the 5 years immediately preceding the date at which their eligibility for jury service is being considered were members or employees of the Scottish Police Services Authority
• Members and employees of the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission
• Chief officers of community justice authorities established under section 3 of the Management of Offenders etc. (Scotland) Act 2005

Group C: Mental Ill Health

People who are receiving medical treatment and are either:

• for the purposes of that treatment detained in hospital under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment)(Scotland) Act 2003 or the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995; or
• for the time being subject to guardianship under the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000

People excusable as of right

LIST C

Parliament

• Peers and peeresses entitled to receive writs of summons to attend the House of Lords
• Members of the House of Commons
• Officers of the House of Lords
• Officers of the House of Commons
• Members of the Scottish Parliament
• Members of the Scottish Executive
• Junior Scottish ministers
• Representatives to the European Parliament
• Members of the National Assembly for Wales (Senedd Cymru)

Other professions

• The Auditor General for Scotland
• The following, if actually practising their profession and registered (whether fully or otherwise), enrolled or certified under the enactments relating to that profession: Medical practitioners Dentists Nurses Midwives Pharmaceutical chemists Veterinary surgeons and veterinary practitioners

Religion

• In criminal proceedings, practising members of religious societies or orders the tenets or beliefs of which are incompatible with jury service
• Persons in holy orders
• Regular ministers of any religious denomination
• Vowed members of any religious order living in a monastery, convent or other religious community

Previous jury service

• People who have served as a juror in the last 5 years
• People who have confirmed their availability over the phone to be entered into a ballot to serve on a jury in the last 2 years, but were not picked to serve on the jury
• People who have been excused by the direction of any court from jury service for a period which has not yet expired

Armed Forces

• members of The Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the regular army or the Royal Air Force. Please note: If your commanding officer certifies that it would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the force of which you are a member if you were required to attend for jury service, you may apply for excusal as of right up until the day you are cited to attend court.

Applications for excusal on the grounds of ill health or disability

Officials state: “If you wish to apply for excusal on the basis of ill health or disability then you must include a medical certificate along with your response. This can normally be obtained free of charge from your GP, in terms of Article 4 of Schedule 4 and regulation 25 of The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (2018/66).”

If your doctor considers your condition to be long-term or unlikely to change, please ask your doctor to include this information in your medical certificate.

You may be committing an offence

Officials confirm: “You are not qualified for jury service if you do not meet all of these criteria, or if anything in list A applies to you, and you should email the address provided on your citation as soon as possible.

“You are ineligible if anything in list B applies to you, and you should email the address provided on your citation as soon as possible, providing information as to why you are ineligible.”

In addition, you may be able to apply for excusal as of right if you are aged 71 or over or if the information in list C applies to you. If you want to apply, officials note that you should email the address provided on your citation as soon as possible, including supporting documentation as to why you are seeking an excusal.

It warns: “It is an offence to serve on a jury knowing that you are not qualified for jury service or are ineligible or disqualified from jury service.”

I have a holiday coming up – do I need to cancel?

There may be other reasons why you wish to be excused from jury service, such as work commitments, pre-booked holidays, studies or examinations, or family responsibilities. If you would like to apply for excusal on any of these grounds, you should email the address provided on your citation as soon as possible and include any relevant supporting evidence.

Citizens Advice states: “You must respond to the jury citation by going to the Scottish Courts and Tribunals website. You must provide your contact phone number and date of birth. If you don’t have internet access, you can phone the court that cited you. You may be fined if you don’t respond to the citation.”

You can read more on jury duty in Scotland here, such as accessibility for jurors and how balloting for jurors works. You should also take time to read what you need to do and ensure you respond to your citation.

This simple mix adds a delicious tanginess, improves texture, and makes for a lighter, healthier meal

Sandwiches remain the quintessential lunchtime choice, and while there’s an extensive selection of fillings available, eggs have consistently been a popular option. When paired with mayonnaise to add texture and flavour, the combination creates a fulfilling meal; this simple dish can be further enhanced with a single straightforward ingredient.

According to culinary specialists, incorporating Greek yoghurt into the mixture helps balance the heaviness of mayonnaise and adds a pleasant sharpness, creating a considerably smoother, airier result.

Beyond being an excellent protein source, Greek yoghurt typically contains less fat and fewer calories than mayonnaise, making it a more nutritious choice that maintains full flavour.

BBC Good Food explains: “Greek yoghurt is made from cow’s milk that is strained to remove the whey, this results in a thicker consistency compared to natural yoghurt. It also has a tangier flavour and can often be used as a healthier substitute to mayonnaise, sour cream or crème fraîche.”

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Culinary specialists suggest using equal measures of mayonnaise and Greek yoghurt in an egg sandwich, as substituting mayonnaise entirely with yoghurt can make the dish somewhat too sharp, reports the Express.

Greek yoghurt by itself may also cause your bread to become rather soggy owing to its moisture content, so combining equal amounts of both ingredients offers the ideal equilibrium of taste and consistency.

Describing how to improve the taste of an egg salad sandwich using Greek yoghurt, cook and recipe developer Shayma Saadat explained: “Egg salad can be rich, sometimes too rich. That’s where yoghurt comes in, offering tang and contrast.

“It cuts through the heaviness of mayo, which, on its own, can make egg salad feel dense. Yoghurt not only lightens the egg salad, but also improves the texture, making the salad smoother. That’s why I mix the two; I let them work together for the best balance.

“How much yoghurt you use depends on what results you want. If you’re just easing into the idea, start with a 3:1 ratio – three parts mayo to one part yoghurt.

“If you’re ready for this upgrade and prefer lighter and tangier egg salads, like I do, go for a 1:1 ratio. It makes the egg salad feel brighter and more balanced.”

When incorporating yoghurt into your egg salad, Shayma suggests choosing a full-fat Greek-style variety instead of a low-fat alternative, which tends to be somewhat runnier.

She added: “Not all yoghurts are created equal, and this isn’t the place for low-fat or runny ones. If you’re using yoghurt in egg salad (and I will die on this hill), it has to be thick, full-fat, and preferably Greek-style.

“Anything thinner will make your salad loose, and you definitely don’t want to use anything sweet or flavoured. Greek yoghurt also works because it’s thick and creamy without being gluey.

“As for using goat or sheep’s milk yoghurt? Well, maybe, but if there’s a hint of grassiness, it won’t enhance your egg salad. Stick to full-fat, Greek-style yoghurt, and your egg salad will thank you.”

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — In an unprecedented move, the embattled chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court was suspended from his duties late Monday, after the court’s oversight body referred British barrister Karim Khan for disciplinary proceedings.

The 56-year-old is facing allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide, in a scandal that has dragged on for more than two years. He has steadfastly denied any wrongdoing.

A final decision on Khan’s fate is now up to the Assembly of States Parties, the body that oversees the ICC, which will hold a special session to decide if Khan can remain in his job at the global court.

The Bureau of the Assembly of States parties — the executive committee of the court’s oversight body — said in a statement that it based its decision “on the report of an investigation undertaken by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), the underlying evidence, the advice of an ad hoc Panel of judicial experts, and written submissions.”

It added that Khan’s suspension pending the assembly meeting “is not an indication of the final outcome.”

The U.N. investigation found evidence that Khan had “nonconsensual sexual contact with (the aide) in his office, at his private residence, and whilst on mission,” according to a copy of its report seen by The Associated Press. However, a three-judge panel selected by the executive committee for a legal assessment of the findings found that the investigation was not conclusive enough.

When contacted for comment, Khan’s legal team said a statement would be issued Tuesday.

Khan had already temporarily stepped down in May 2025 pending the outcome of the investigation. The process is unprecedented for the ICC, and the Assembly of States Parties has had to repeatedly create new rules to accommodate the situation.

The allegations against Khan were first reported to the court’s independent watchdog more than two years ago. An AP investigation revealed that Khan was alleged to have seen the woman working in another ICC department and moved her into his office. She later became a regular presence on official trips, according to whistleblower documents.

On one foreign trip, Khan allegedly asked her to rest with him on a hotel bed and then “sexually touched her,” the documents said. Other alleged nonconsensual behavior cited in the documents included locking the door of his office and sticking his hand in her pocket. He also allegedly asked her several times to accompany him on a vacation.

Day one at Scotland HQ, east of uptown Charlotte, and there’s a bunfight brewing – or to be more accurate, angry Norwegians are taking potshots at Steve Clarke, who, we can only surmise, couldn’t care less what the Norwegians think.

Stale Solbakken, the Norway head coach, and Brede Hangeland, the team manager, have let fly in the media about a training game between the reserve players from the two countries that Clarke cancelled.

Who knew that the ditching of a meaningless bounce match could spark such fury.

“Unprofessional,” trumpeted Solbakken of his Scottish counterpart. “Embarrassing” and “weak” whinged Hangeland.

Just before the Scotland news conference at their palatial Charlotte base camp, three Norwegian reporters fetched up in search of Scottish retaliatory thunder.

What they got was a cool response from John McGinn, not just super with the ball at his feet but also pretty nifty with a microphone in front of his face.

“I would say 75% of the [Scotland] squad haven’t seen it,” he said of the Norwegian anger, smiling as he spoke.

“I did see it. Our job is to look after Scotland. Norway’s job is to look after Norway. And if they’ve done their research, we lost a very important part of the squad [in Billy Gilmour] very, very close to this camp.

“It had a huge impact on everyone. We didn’t want to lose another. We had a few niggles, not everyone’s been training.

“So I think it’s a professional way of handling things, to be perfectly honest, and look after number one. I’m sure every single country will be doing the exact same.

“If Norway lost Erling Haaland or Martin Odegaard in one of the games leading up to Saturday, they would cancel the game as well.”

North Yorkshire Council has ruled that Reeth Medical Centre does not qualify for inclusion on its list of assets of community value.

Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh Parish Council applied for the centre to be added to the register after it was announced earlier this year that the facility would close following the departure of operators, Dr Mike Brookes and wife Marie, the practice manager.

The parish council said in its application that the site was purpose-built as a GP surgery in around 1990 and replaced an old and unsuitable building.

It added: “The GP at the time very much intended it to be a community asset and in fact sold it in around 2008 at the same price it cost to build.

“Local tradespeople were involved in its construction.”

According to the parish council, having a local medical centre allowed residents to stay in their homes for much longer.

It added: “There is strong anecdotal evidence that, without this local facility, many residents would be anxious about health provision, resulting in them moving closer to medical care, either because of ill health or because they can no longer drive.

“This would decrease the permanent population of an area already heavy with second homes, further fracturing community spirit.”

As well as GP appointments and a dispensary, the centre fulfils other roles that further social well-being and improve the quality of life for the community, the council said.

The application added: “The building functions as an information exchange, where residents can find information on care provision, available support groups, and other health and well-being initiatives.

“Land belonging to the medical centre is also used as a community garden. Numerous pieces of research evidence the way in which outdoor spaces and quiet activities such as gardening can help to improve mental health and well-being.”

The application was backed by Upper Dales councillor Yvonne Peacock.

She said: “The parish council feel strongly that to ensure that the surgery building is made safe for the community, because the building needs to be available for a practising doctor.

“This is vital for the well-being of the community of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.”

But a North Yorkshire Council report concluded that the centre did not meet the legal criteria to be listed as an asset of community value.

Assessors found insufficient evidence that the building currently had a primary use that directly benefited the social well-being or social interests of the local community.

Any community benefits identified were considered secondary to its main role as a healthcare facility.

The report also found no evidence to show there was a realistic prospect of such a community use continuing or developing in the future.

“The evidence demonstrates that the nomination does not meet the definition of community value as detailed in the Localism Act 2011,” the report concluded.

A listing on the register would have meant that any future attempt to sell the property would trigger a moratorium period.

This would give community groups the opportunity to raise funds and submit a bid.

The medical centre closed on May 31 following the departure of Dr Brookes.

However, it is hoped the facility, which is owned by the Brookes, will be used in the future by Central Dales Practice to operate a branch surgery.

Commencement of the arrangement was expected last week but Central Dales said they were still waiting for access to the building.

Patrick Dorgu was relocated to the wing halfway through Man Utd’s season, and it was a decision that has paid off.

“I need to ask the coach. I don’t know,” said Patrick Dorgu on the final day of the season when asked what his strongest position is.

“I still have a lot to learn on the wing. I lost the ball a few times in the first half today, so I still need to improve. But obviously I’m further forward to the goal, and I can get into positions for the opportunity.

“I still need to work on my finishing. I could have scored a couple more today, but yes, I enjoy playing there, and I can use my speed and my physique a lot in those areas as well.”

If Michael Carrick was undecided about Dorgu’s best position at Manchester United, he may have made up his mind after seeing his stunning goal from outside the box for Denmark against Ukraine on Sunday night.

The game was abandoned after Christian Eriksen collapsed – he walked off the field after regaining consciousness in the second half – so Dorgu’s goal won’t be logged in FIFA’s records, but it was a strike so good that it may influence where his long-term future lies with his club employer.

Dorgu fashioned a pocket of space by accelerating away from his marker before letting rip from distance with his left foot. The shot was at a saveable height, but the power was the reason it beat Ukraine’s goalkeeper.

The 21-year-old would have faced accusations of the goal being a one off if he had scored it last year, but he demonstrated when he was moved to the wing this season that he is capable of scoring superb goals.

Dorgu’s goal against Arsenal at the Emirates was the best strike of his career so far, although that game was bittersweet, as it was in that clash that he picked up a hamstring injury which forced him to miss nine weeks.

The timing of the injury was unfortunate. Dorgu was enjoying his hottest run of form at United since he signed for Lecce, but more importantly, he was performing on the left wing following a position change.

He had the opportunity to audition for a permanent role taken away from him but picked up where he left off on the final day of the campaign against Brighton following his return.

The Dane opened the scoring with an excellent header, moving intelligently in the box from a corner, and he provided an assist for Bruno Fernandes, returning the favour after United’s captain created his goal.

When Dorgu spoke to Manchester-based reporters after the Brighton win, it was typical of him that he played down his performance and humbly said he had more to learn on the wing when discussing his position.

Having that sort of attitude is why Dorgu got better as the season progressed. He is desperate to improve, keen to learn and regularly does extras after training sessions at Carrington to get better.

In January, a source credited Dorgu for working “really hard” and revealed there had been a focus on improving his crosses, with an emphasis on him perfecting his technique during training at Carrington.

United believe Dorgu’s hard work has paid off, but he is aware there is more to do and soak up, particularly if he continues to play on the wing next season, where he will be judged on goals and assists.

In an era when there are fewer goals scored from outside of the box, with teams biding their time to wait for the right moment to pass into the penalty area instead, it’s refreshing to see Dorgu take attempts from distance.

Dorgu’s goal against Ukraine was another example of his quality in the final third, and Carrick should recognise the value of having a player with that tool in his armoury.

In January, when Carrick was asked whether he saw Dorgu as a left-back or a winger in his system, he said: “I think he can do both, to be honest. I think he was immense last week [versus City], his work rate and the way he played the position, but the threat, constant threat. And the goal was the obvious one.

“I think his general play was something we were really pleased about. I wouldn’t want to pin him down [to a position], to be honest. But certainly attacking-wise in that threat, he was pretty impressive last week.”

It will be interesting to see whether Carrick decides to pin Dorgu down to a position next season, because as it stands, he looks like a dangerous winger.

“Apple had to address its shortcomings in AI, and WWDC provided some answers,” said Ben Wood, chief analyst at the industry analyst firm FDM CCS Insight. “The company must now prove that its privacy-led, integration-first approach can translate into a meaningfully better everyday experience, not just parity with rivals.”

The Daily Record joins the Tartan Army in asking The Donald to step in and do the right thing.

Only Trump can make it happen

The United States President is a man who likes to trumpet his Scottish roots. So surely he would be angry to hear that hundreds of Scotland fans are being denied a chance to go the World Cup due to red tape.

They are on the brink of missing out on the World Cup finals altogether, even after spending tens of thousands of pounds on trips. The cancellation of Esta travel waivers has come so late in the day that many fans cannot get full visa applications sorted in time to make their flights.

Tartan Army stalwart Kenny Smith tells his story in the Daily Record today – and has begged Trump to step in. The US and Fifa have crowed about hosting the biggest sports event in world history.

And fans have been in raptures since the night Scotland qualified in a glory night at Hampden last November. That’s why it’s a travesty that travel plans all look like going up in smoke for some unfortunate fans.

Immigration rules are not known for their flexibility. But for the World Cup surely common sense can be applied.

Any fan, holding World Cup tickets and hotel bookings, who was granted an Esta in previous months should have that vital permission restored. The Daily Record joins the Tartan Army in asking The Donald to step in and do the right thing.

Starmer legacy

Sir Keir Starmer’s time as Prime Minister has not been easy – and it could be his party is ready to dump him for a more punter friendly leader. But if he wants to leave a legacy, his promise to force big tech giants into shielding kids from harmful content is a winner.

These mega-corporations make vast sums of cash – some of it from exposing young people to images of sex and violence that they should not be seeing. The Daily Record’s Our Kids… Our Future campaign has long highlighted the terrible damage done from the sharing of violent videos of attacks on teens.

Sexualised images on smartphones can have an equally devastating impact on young minds. Now Starmer has promised that the UK will become the first country in the world to make it impossible for children to take, share or view nude photos on their smartphones.

He wants the social media giants to take measures to make it happen. If they don’t, government will step in to force the issue.

That change can’t come soon enough – and every parent in Scotland will thank Starmer if he makes good on his promise.

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