"Most people know that jury service is, in fact, a privilege and that a jury notice is a legal notice, " says David Bookstaver, spokesman for the Unified Court System of New York.

WSJ: Psst! You Want to Duck Jury Duty?

But spokesman said a return to the old system "would guarantee the widest possible consensus" for a new pope.

BBC: Pope Benedict (file image)

Unison spokesman Simon Newell said there was a 40% rise in emergency calls in the first weekend that the new system was introduced.

BBC: NHS Wiltshire considers leaving helpline contract