Juries - Jury Qualifications

Question 1

Eligibility

Answer 1

S1 Juries Act 1974 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 outlines who is eligible for jury service:

• You must be between 18 - 75 years old.
• Must have been a UK resident for at least five years consecutively since 13th birthday.
• Be on the Electoral Register.

Question 2

Disqualification

Answer 2

The Juries Act 1974, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 disqualifies those with certain criminal convictions from doing jury service.

Permanently:

• Life Imprisonment
• They have been sentenced to a prison sentence of 5 years or more at ant time in their life

Temporarily:

• If they have been subject to a prison term or suspended in the past 10 years
• Served a community order in the past 10 years
• Are on bail

Question 3

Ineligibility

Answer 3

Other people may be considered ineligible for jury service. Examples of qualities which would make you ineligible are:

• Any mental health disorder under the Mental Health Act 1983
• Suffering from a psychopathic disorder e.g. Psychopathy
• If one is resident of an institution or hospital
• If one is attending a medical practitioner for treatment

Question 4

Excusal

Answer 4

S9 Juries Act 1974: People who do not wish to do jury service must apply to the court for a discretionary excusal which will excuse a person permanently from jury service.
There would need to be a reason why, these might include:
- Long term illness
- Cannot understand English
- Member of the armed forces
- Doctor

Question 5

Deferral

Answer 5

S9 Juries Act 1974 also allows for a temporary deferral which means a person might have their jury service deferred for a later time. A good reason must be given for this, these might include:

• Religious holidays
• Exams
• Work or childcare commitments
• Pre - booked holiday

Question 6

Criminal Justice Act 2003

Answer 6

Before the Criminal Justice Act 2003, people such as judges, lawyers of police officers COULD NOT sit on a jury because some thought their decisions might be biased as they know a lot more about the law. Now they have an obligation to carry out this civic duty.