Juries- paper 1

Question 1

who qualifies for jury service

Answer 1

• 18-75 years olds
• on the electoral register
• been a UK resident for 5 years consecutively since 13th birthday

Question 2

2 examples of mental disorders make someone unfit to serve

Answer 2

• psychopathic disorder
• resident of an institution or hospital

Question 3

2 examples of what could permanently disqualify someone from service

Answer 3

• life imprisonment
• served prison sentence of 5 years +

Question 4

2 examples of what could temporarily disqualify someone from service

Answer 4

• on bail
• subject to prison term or suspended sentence of below 5 years

Question 5

2 physical disabilities that make someone unable to serve

Answer 5

• hearing impaired
• visually impaired
  (both depend on severity)

Question 6

what acts allows excusals or deferrals of jury duty

Answer 6

• S9 Juries Act 1974

Question 7

reasons a person can defer jury duty

Answer 7

• religious holidays
• exams
• childcare commitment
• work commitments
• lack of capacity to cope with trial, e.g. poor english

Question 8

act allowing judges, lawyers and police offers to sit jury duty

Answer 8

• CJA ‘03

Question 9

how are people selected and notified for jury duty

Answer 9

• random from the electoral register
• summons are sent to them

Question 10

how long are jurors expected to serve for

Answer 10

• minimum of 10 working days
• if it’s expected to be longer then they are asked if they can serve

Question 11

what is the fee for non-attendance to jury service

Answer 11

• £1000

Question 12

2 types of vetting (checking)

Answer 12

• police checks to ensure no potential juror is disqualified
• wider background checks into jurors political affiliations; only allowed in exceptional circumstances and attorney general must give permission, e.g. terrorism cases

Question 13

how many jurors are selected in court

Answer 13

• clerk selects 12 from a total of15 at random
• prosecution and defence both have the right to challenge the jury

Question 14

types of challenges to the jury

Answer 14

• challenge to the whole jury
• challenge to an individual juror

Question 15

challenging the whole jury

Answer 15

• known as a challenge to the array
• suggests the jury is unrepresentative and bias
• E.G. R v Fraser where D was from an ethnic minority so the all white jury was changed

Question 16

challenging an individual juror

Answer 16

• known as a challenge for cause
• juror may be disqualified or may know someone in the case
• E.G. R v Wilson where the wife of a prison officer knew the prisoner from him being on remand

Question 17

what’s meant by the prosecution being able to ‘stand by the crown’

Answer 17

• a juror can be put to the bottom of the list and only used if there is no other option; no reason needed for this to be done

Question 18

what do the jury members promise in an oath

Answer 18

• to give the verdict according to the evidence