Juries

Question 1

What case established the independence of the jury?

Answer 1

Bushell’s case - established that the jury were the sole arbiters of fact and the judge could not challenge their decision

Question 2

age, residence, elector

How can a person qualify to do jury service?

Answer 2

• Must be aged between 18-75
• Registered as a parliamentary or local government elector
• Ordinarily a resident in the United Kingdom

Question 3

How can you be disqualified from doing jury duty?

Answer 3

• Imprisonment/custody for life
• An extended sentence
• A person who suffers from mental illness/psychopathic disorder
• Deaf persons

Question 4

Public confidence, equity, impartiality

Outline 3 advantages of a jury trial

Answer 4

• Trials are fair, fundamental part of democratic society
• Juries are not bound to follow precedent of past cases - enables fairness
• Juries are not connected to the case, hence they are ‘impartial’ and unbiased in their decision making

Question 5

Outline 3 disadvantages of a jury trial?

Answer 5

• Perverse decisions; juries can reach an unjust decison, refuse to convict clear cut cases such as R v Randle and Pottle
• Racial bias; may have prejudices which can impact the verdict