Juries

Question 1

When are juries used?

Answer 1

Crown court where D pleas not guilty.
Some high profile civil cases.

Question 2

How many jurors are there?

Answer 2

12

Question 3

What type of cases are jurors used?

Answer 3

Indictable or triable either way - burglary or manslaughter……..

Question 4

Jury’s job?

Answer 4

Determine guilt.

Question 5

What is directed acquittal?

Answer 5

The judge instructs jury to find not guilty if there’s not enough evidence.

Question 6

What is it called when the judge instructs jury to find not guilty if there’s not enough evidence.

Answer 6

Directed acquittal

Question 7

Anything jurors say cannot be repeated. What act is this under?

Answer 7

Contempt of Court Act 1981

Question 8

How many jurors need to agree on the verdict?

Answer 8

Normally unanimous however majority’s like 11-1 or 10-2 can be accepted.

Question 9

Why do we have majority verdicts?

Answer 9

To prevent jury nobbling.

Question 10

What are the requirements a juror has to meet?

Answer 10

18 - 70
On electoral register
Lived in uk for 5 years since 13th

Question 11

What disqualifies you from jury duty?

Answer 11

5 + years in prison
Life imprisonment
Public protection
( served under 5 banned for 10
Suspend sentence banned for 10)

Question 12

What makes you ineligible for jury service?

Answer 12

Mental illness
Blind, deaf or not enough English

Question 13

Who is excused from jury duty?

Answer 13

Members of the armed forces submit application to Central Summoning Bureau

Question 14

What gets a discretionary excusal?

Answer 14

Mother with baby
Pre booked holiday
Exams

Question 15

How do juries get selected?

Answer 15

Every 2 weeks random from electoral register - far more than 12

Question 16

How long do juries serve?

Answer 16

2 weeks.

Question 17

What are the 2 types of vetting?

Answer 17

DBS - standard criminal check
Authorised jury checks - wider check used if cases of national security - political affiliations

Question 18

3 ways P and D both challenge the jury?

Answer 18

Challenge to the array
Challenge for cause
Prosecution right to stand by.

Question 19

Challenge to the array ?

Answer 19

Whole jury can be challenged if they had been selected in a biased way.
Romford jury - all lived in Romford 👍
R v ford - As long as it’s random cannot be challenged if it’s not multiracial.

Question 20

Challenge for cause?

Answer 20

Challenging right of single juror with valid reason - if they know someone in the case.
R v Wilson and Sprason - wife of a prison officer chosen for service and both Ds had been remanded where husband worked. Convicted but COA quashed.

Question 21

Right to stand by?

Answer 21

Prosecution can “stand by” a potential juror so they are picked last. Used sparingly.

Question 22

Adv of juries.

Answer 22

Public confidence - tried by one’s peers is democratic. Impartial and fair.
Secrecy - jury is free from pressure and can ignore Letter of law and public.
Open system - more open as members of the public are key role and whole process is public.

Question 23

Disadv of juries?

Answer 23

Lack qualifications - selection based on 3 points in act, no minimum education requirement
Jury bias - some may not like police, other race or too many people = no time
Secrecy - no way of knowing why or if they understood the case. Makes appeals difficult as don’t even know why convicted.