Jury Selection

Question 1

Qualifications

Answer 1

18 years old, Canadian citizen, part of the AB registries database (voter list, hold a license, etc)

Question 2

Random Selection

Answer 2

Your name gets chosen at random from the AB registries list, receive a Juror selection (a court order), every month approx 50-300 people are summoned to the courthouse for that months trial.

Question 3

Exemptions for jury duty

Answer 3

Health reasons, full-time students, extreme hardship (nursing mothers), limited ability to speak English or French, firm travel or vacation plans conflict with trial date.

Question 4

Challenges for cause

Answer 4

A request that a prospective juror be dismissed because there is a specific reason to believe that the person lacks impartiality.

Question 5

Peremptory challenge

Answer 5

A request to dismiss a juror without assigning or being required to assign a reason for the challenge (banned by Supreme Court in 2019)

Question 6

How many jurors for criminal trial?

Answer 6

12 (vote must be unanimous)

Question 7

How many jurors for civil trial?

Answer 7

6 (majority may rule for verdict)