✔️Juries 8 markers✅

What’s the 1st paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (basics)

Jury service is a public duty and has been used in the english legal system for 1000 years. Usually 12 jurors sit in the crown court and hear all indictable and some TEW offences where the D has pleaded ‘not guity’

What’s the 2nd paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (3 factors for eligibility)

s.1 Juries Act 1974 establishes that people eligible for jury service must have 3 basic qualifications; be aged 17-75 (amended by Criminal Justice Act 2015), on the electoral register (registered to vote) and have lived in the UK for atleast 5 consecutive years from the age of 13

What’s the 3rd paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (factors for ineligibility- 3)

There’s limited criteria for people who aren’t electable for jury service. A person summoned is disqualified if there currently on bail, has certain mental health problems or judge believes they’re not able to carry out jury duties because of physical disability (under. s.9B Juries Act 1974; deaf or blind or under s.10 where there’s an insufficient understanding of english)

What’s the 4th paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (permanent/ temporary disqualification)

Permanent disqualification will occur for those who’ve been sentenced to life imprisonment, or have served a sentence of 5 years or more. Whereas there’s temporary disqualification (10 years) for those who’ve served any prison sentence in past 10 years or received community service order.

What’s the 5th paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (excusals- deferred and fully excused reasons)

Whereas it’s difficult for people to perform their jury service, due to impending exams, pre booked holiday, pregnant or hospital appointments, they may ask for their period of service to be deferred to a later date within the next 12 months. Only in extreme circumstances, should a person be fully excused from jury service, eg if they’ve performed jury service in past 2 years, served on distressing case (Soham murder trial) or are full time members of armed forces.

What’s the 6th paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (selection- JCSB)

The selection of juries procedure includes Jury central summoning bureau randomly selecting names by computer from the electoral register. A jury summons is sent out with details of time and date a person is required to attend court. The summons must be completed and returned to JCSB within 7 days.

What’s the 7th paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (vetting)

Vetting occurs to check jurors before they sit on a particular case. A list of potential jurors will be sent to prosecution and defence who can remove unsuitable jurors. This can be done through routine police checks to ensure no one has a criminal record. Wider background checks on a jurors social beliefs and political affiliations may occur in rare cases (terrorism and national security) but the AGs express permission must be given.

What’s the final paragraph for “outline the qualifications and selection of juries”? (final jury selection)

Those summoned wait in the jury waiting area until a court official calls 15 jurors who will be allocated to a court. Selection in court will then take place. As per S.11 Juries Act 1974, the court clerk will randomly selecting names of 12 by ballot in open court- these people will then form the jury.

What’s the 1st paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (basics)

Jury service is public duty and has been used in the English legal system for over 1000 years. Usually, 12 jurors sit in crown Court and hear all indictable and some TEW offences. Jurors are selected from all walks of life, they do not need to be legally qualified and will typically serve for two weeks in 3% of criminal cases.

What’s the 2nd paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (their overall role in fact)

A jurors basic role requires them to be arbiters of fact which means they decide on the matters of fact and leave relevant legal matters for the judge to determine. A juror is sworn into their role after selection and must promise to listen to the case and reach a fair verdict.

What’s the 3rd paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (order of prosecution/defence putting arguments forward)

Following this, jurors are required to sit in court and observe the criminal trial. The case for the prosecution is put to the jury first (evidence in chief). Any witnesses the prosecution calls can be cross-examined by the defence. The case for the defence is presented next; again the prosecution now has the right to cross examine any defence witnesses.

What’s the 4th paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (questions)

if the jury needs any further information they can put questions to the judge in writing. The jury are encouraged to take notes during the trial, but they can’t take any written information out of the court at any time during or after the trial.

What’s the 5th paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (judge sum up)

After the defence and prosecution have summed up their arguments in closing speeches, the judge will sum up the facts of the case for the jurors benefit and direct them on matters of law.

What’s the 6th paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (discussion room/verdict)

next, the jury will retire to a private room to discuss the case and reach a verdict based only on evidence heard and argued in court, they shouldn’t for example use anything they’ve heard in the media if the case was high profile. The Juries Act 1974 sets out the law on verdicts. Initially, jury must come to a unanimous decision (12-0) whether to find the D guilty/not guilty. If after two hours of verdict hasn’t been reached, the judge may direct the jury that a majority verdict (10-12/11-1) would be accepted. About 20% of jury verdicts are now reached by majority decision. If a majority cannot be reached, then it may result in a hung jury.

What’s the 7th paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (independence of jury)

The jury is wholly independent and can’t be forced, pressured or hurried into making a decision as shown in the bushel’s case. what is said in the jurors deliberation room must be kept totally the secret, if it’s not then under S.8 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 this will be contempt of court which is a criminal offence.

What’s the 8th paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (jury foreman)

Once the jury have made their decision, the jury foreman (who’s selected by the 12 jurors) will stand up in court and deliver the verdict. The jury don’t have to give any reasons their verdict.

What’s the 9th paragraph for “describe the role/work of juries”? (jury dismissed)

once the jury has delivered its verdict, the jury is dismissed and they return to the waiting area where they may be selected for a new trial