Juries 1A Flashcards
Which Act outlines who is eligible for Jury service?
The Juries Act 1974
What age do you need to be to do jury service?
Between 18-75
How long do you have to be a UK resident for to be eligible for Jury service?
At least 5 consecutive years since the age of 13
On what register do you need to be to be eligible for Jury service?
The electoral register
What are the four ways to not do jury service?
- Mentally disordered
- Disqualified
- Incapable
- Excusals and deferals
Give an example of a mental disorder that would prevent someone from doing jury service.
Multiple personality disorder
Bipolar disorder
Being a resident of an institution or hospital attending a medical practitioner for treatment.
What are the two types of disqualification?
Permanent
Temporary (10Yrs)
What sentences get a permanent disqualification?
Custodial over 5 years
What sentences get a temporary disqualification?
Any sentence kind (of under 5 years for custodial) for the duration of the sentence.
Those on bail for the duration.
Give an example of where someone may be incapable of jury service.
Not able to understand english
Blind
Deaf
Wheelchair users in certain courtrooms
What are the reasons for excusals and deferrals?
Your own wedding (deferred)
Exams (deferred)
Work commitments (deferred or excused if self employed)
Childcare commitments (excused)
Pre- booked holiday (deferred)
Where are the names selected from?
The electoral register
What is the name of the papers sent to those selected?
Summons
If you are unable to attend you should contact the court. What happens if you don’t tell them that you can’t attend?
You will get an inexcusable £1000 fine.
How long do you have to work for when selected?
At least 10 working days or 2 weeks
What are the two types of vetting?
Police checks
Wider background checks
Why does the court do police checks?
To ensure no criminals with disqualification have slipped through the system.
When would the court do wider background checks?
It is only allowed in exceptional circumstances where the case is that of terrorism or national security.
What must the Attorney General do in order for a wider background check to take place?
They must show express permission.
Who’s responsible for summoning the jury?
The Central Jury Summoning Bureau
What are the two types of challenging of the jury?
Challenge to the array (whole jury)
Challenge for cause (individual juror)
Why would the prosecution challenge the array?
If the jury was unrepresentative or selected biasedly.
What are two case examples where a challenge to the array took place?
R v Fraser (D ethnic minority, jury entirely white)
Romford jury (9/12 jurors lived in same neighbourhood two of which were next door)
When would the prosecution challenge for cause?
If a juror is disqualified (not detected previously)
If the juror knows someone in the case.
Give a case example of when a challenge for cause took place.
R v Wilson and Sprason
Wife of prison officer dealing with both Ds (chance she knew more than allowed)
What does stand-by for the crown mean?
Juror would be asked to go the the bottom of the list of jurors and only be used with no other choice. Prosecution do not have to give reason.
How many times can the prosecution ask a juror to stand-by for the crown?
3 times
The clerk will swear the jury in using what?
An Oath or an Affirmation
Oath is religious
Affirmation is not
What does the swearing in mean?
That the juror must give a true verdict according to the evidence given.
What is the sequence of steps the jury take in a case?
- Hear TEW or I Offences
- Listen to evidence
- Ask Qs through notes to judge
- Listen to summing up
- Be directed by judge on PoL
- Secret discussion
- Foreman gives verdict
What Act included the solution to the Internet issue?
The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015
What points are made in the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015?
Judge can take electronic device at any point.
Jury officer has power to search juror.
It is a criminal offence to use an electronic device in court.
It is a criminal offence to share the information with another juror.
