Lay people- juries

Question 1

What are the qualifications for being a jury?

Answer 1

-Jury Act 1975
-Lived in the UK for 5 years since their 13th birthday
-Registered on the electoral register
-Aged 18-75

Question 2

What are the disqualifications for being a jury?

Answer 2

-been imprisoned for 5 or more years
-been imprisoned in the last 10 years, recieved a community sentence or suspended sentence in the last 10 years
-currently on bail
-has a mental illness
-someone who lacks capacity eg. deaf or blind
-recently served
-in the armed forces
-have a pre booked holiday

Question 3

What is the selection process for juries?

Answer 3

1. Names are called out at random from electoral roll
2. 15 selected, any disqualified will be removed
3. Jurors must then notify the court if there’s any reason they cannot attend
4. Expected to serve for 2 weeks
5. THey go to the jury waiting room where they become ‘jurors in waiting’
6. Court clerk will select 12 jurors out of the 15 in the jury in waiting
7. 3 unchosen will go back and wait to be called again

Question 4

What are the challenges of the jury?

Answer 4

-To the array: the whole jury will be challenged

-For cause: an individual juror can be challenged but there must be a reason such as they are disqualified

-Prosecution right to stand by jurors: the prosecution can decide a juror is ‘manifestly unsuitable’

Question 5

What is the role of a juror?

Answer 5

-hear all evidence and decide facts
-can be directed to acquit by the judge if there is no case to answer, otherwide the judge will support them and explain all points of law
-retire to a private room to deliberate
-must reach a decision or a majority verdict
-the foreman of the jury will read out their decision on return to the courtroom
-the judge will then sentence