Juries Selection and Appointment A01

Question 1

Who administers the jury summoning process?

Answer 1

The Jury Central Summoning Bureau.

Question 2

How are potential jurors selected for jury service?

Answer 2

Computers produce a random list from the electoral register, and potential jurors receive a jury summons by post.

Question 3

What is “Jury Vetting”?

Answer 3

Jury vetting is the process where police check the background of potential jurors to ensure they are eligible to serve.

Question 4

What are the two types of jury vetting?

Answer 4

1. Routine police checks (for disqualification, e.g., a criminal conviction).
2. Wider background checks (e.g., for cases involving national security or terrorism).

Question 5

What does routine police vetting check for?

Answer 5

It checks for disqualified jurors, such as those with a criminal conviction (e.g., R v Mason, 1980).

Question 6

When are wider background checks carried out on jurors?

Answer 6

Wider background checks may be made in cases involving national security or terrorism (e.g., ABC Trial, 1978).

Question 7

What happens when jurors arrive at court?

Answer 7

Jurors assemble in the jury assembly area, and 15 jurors are randomly selected to be taken into court. From these 15, 12 jurors are randomly selected to form the jury.

Question 8

What is the “Stand by for the Crown” challenge?

Answer 8

The prosecution can use this challenge to ask that a juror not be used unless there are not enough other jurors.

Question 9

What is the “Challenge for Cause” used by the defence?

Answer 9

The defence can challenge a juror’s right to sit if there is a valid reason (e.g., disqualification, knowing a witness or the defendant). Example: R v Abdroikof (2007).

Question 10

What is a “Challenge to the Array”?

Answer 10

Both parties can challenge the whole jury panel if it is believed the jury has been selected in an unrepresentative or biased way.