juries

Question 1

Juries are only used in which court?

Answer 1

The Crown Court

Question 2

Juries are only used when..

Answer 2

The defendant pleads not guilty

Question 3

What percentage of criminal trials involve the jury?

Answer 3

2% - less than 30,000 cases a year

Question 4

How many juries are used?

Answer 4

12

Question 5

What is direct aquittal?

Answer 5

When the judge directs the jury to acquit the defendant as they believe the prosecution’s evidence is too weak

Question 6

Where do the jury discuss the verdict?

Answer 6

In the jury room (in secret)

Question 7

When the judge direct towards a majority verdict?

Answer 7

When an unanimous verdict has not been reached after 2 hours

Question 8

Which law makes it illegal to disclose what happened in the jury room, unless it is in the interest of justice e.g. reporting jury misconduct

Answer 8

Criminal Courts and Justice Act 2015

Question 9

Under which law must the foreman announce the numbers agreeing and disagreeing with the verdict in open court?

Answer 9

s.17(3) of the Juries Act 1874

Question 10

What percent of convictions are by legal majority each year?

Answer 10

20%

Question 11

To qualify for jury service, a person must be..

Answer 11

Aged 18 - 75, on the electoral register, and lived in the UK for at least 5 years since their 13th birthday

Question 12

Who is ineligible for jury service under the Criminal Justice Act 2003?

Answer 12

• A resident in a hospital/similar institution for their condition or regularly attend for treatment
• Under guardianship under s.7 of the Mental Health Act 1983
• Declared incapable by a judge

Question 13

Can a person who has served a prison sentence of 5+ years do jury service?

Answer 13

No - they are permanently disqualified

Question 14

Can someone who has served a prison sentence of less than 5 years/community service do jury service?

Answer 14

They are disqualified for 10 years - however, if 10 years have passed, then yes, they can do jury service

Question 15

What happens if someone fails to disclose that they are disqualified and turns up to jury service?

Answer 15

They are fined

Question 16

Why may a person be discharged from a trial?

Answer 16

They are considered incapable of doing jury service - this can include a person who does not understand English well, a blind person (can’t see the evidence), or a deaf person that needs an interpreter (mistranslations can happen, and only 12 people are allowed in the jury room)

Question 17

Who can be granted an excusal at the court’s discretion?

Answer 17

Armed forces, doctors, pharmacists

Question 18

What happens if you want to defer your jury service?

Answer 18

Make an application to the Jury Central Summons Bureau, however you must do jury service within 12 months of the original summons.

Question 19

How are jurors selected?

Answer 19

People are selected randomly from the electoral registers for a court area at the central office every fortnight using a computer

Question 20

Why is it necessary to summon more than 12 jurors?

Answer 20

Why is it necessary to summon more than 12 jurors?

Question 21

How long do juries have to stay at the court for?

Answer 21

2 weeks - but if the trial is longer they will be asked to stay

Question 22

Who has the right to see the list of potential jurors?

Answer 22

Prosecution and defence

Question 23

What are the two types of jury vetting?

Answer 23

Police checks - checks the criminal record
Juror’s background - checks the background and political affiliations, only for exceptional cases

Question 24

Before the juries are sworn in, what do both sides have the right to do?

Answer 24

Challenge 1 or more of the jurors

Question 25

What is challenging the array and where is it mentioned?

Answer 25

s.5 Juries Act 1974 - the right to challenge the whole jury on the basis that is has been selected in an unrepresentative or biased way

Question 26

What is challenging for cause?

Answer 26

Challenging the right to remove an individual juror to sit on the jury - this could be because they are not qualified to serve, or because there is a possibility of bias

Question 27

What is the right to ‘stand by’ jurors and who has this right?

Answer 27

The prosecution only - this is the ability to put someone’s name to the end of the list so that they will not be picked unless it is a last resort. The prosecution does not have to give a reason for their decision but the Attorney General states that this right must only be used sparingly