juries

Question 1

basic qualification of a juror

Answer 1

aged between 18-75 inclusive
registered as a parlimentary or local government elector
ordinarily resident in the UK

Question 2

disqulification o a juror

Answer 2

imprisonment for life
detention over her majesty’s pleasure
an extended sentence
a term of imprisonment of five years or more

Question 3

mental disorder

Answer 3

cannot sit on jury

criminal justice act 2003 schedule 1

Question 4

discretionary excuses

Answer 4

where there is a good reason why person cannot sit

Question 5

what is vetting

Answer 5

checks for suitability

Question 6

how many types or vetting exist

Answer 6

2

Question 7

what are the types of vetting

Answer 7

police check

wider background check

Question 8

what is a police check

Answer 8

routine police checks are made on prospective jurors to eliminate those disqualified

Question 9

what is wider backround check

Answer 9

a wider check is made on a juror’s background and political affiliation

Question 10

when political vetting should take place

Answer 10

exceptional cases :national security ;terrorist cases

Question 11

what is challenging

Answer 11

the prosecution and defence have the right to challenge one or more of the jurors

Question 12

how many types of challenging exist

Answer 12

3

Question 13

which are the types of the challenging

Answer 13

to the array
for cause
prosecution right to stand by (put to one aside) jurors

Question 14

what is a challenge to the array

Answer 14

a challenge to the whole jury on the basis that it has been chosen in an unrepresentative way

Question 15

what is the challenge for cause

Answer 15

this involves challenging the right of an individual juror to sit on the jury

Question 16

what is the challenge of prosecution right to stand by jurors

Answer 16

it allows the juror who has been stood by to be put to the end of the list of potential jurors , so that they will not be used on the jury unless there are not enough jurors

Question 17

whar are the function of the jury in the criminal cases

Answer 17

jury decides points of the law

decide the verdict only of the defendant

Question 18

what is a directed acquittal

Answer 18

where a judge decides there is insufficient prosecution evidence to allow the case to continue . the jury is directed to find the defendant not guilty

Question 19

verdict

Answer 19

must try for an unanimous verdict but if cannot reach an unanimous verdict then a majority verdict of 10:2 or 11:1 can be accepted

Question 20

advantages of jury trial

Answer 20

public confidence 
jury equity 
open system of justice 
secrecy of the jury room 
impartiality

Question 21

disadvantages of jury

Answer 21

perverse decision 
secrecy
exceptions
jurors and the internet 
racial bias 
media influence 
lack of understanding 
fraud trial 
jury tampering 
high acquittal rates

Question 22

comparision between jury and lay magistrates

Answer 22

cross section of society -both
local knowledge -jury
cost-lay magistrates are cheaper
training -lay magistrates are not amateur

Question 23

alternatives to jury trial

Answer 23

trial by a single judge
a panel of judges
a judge plus lay assessors
a mini jury