Juries -Roles/Qualifications AO1
- Created by: H4f5ah
- Created on: 21-12-21 11:04
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- Juries AO1
- Role
- Only used at CC where D pleads not guilty
- Only used for 2% of all criminal cases
- 12 jurors sit in the CC - hear trials on indictment
- They listen to evidence and judges summing up.
- Responsibility to make decisions based on facts not law
- Judge can give a directed acquittal
- Directs jury to acquit D - evidence isn't strong enough
- Usually jury decide if D is guilty or not
- Do not give reasons for their decision
- Deliberate in secret in the jury room
- Criminal Courts and Justice Act 2015
- Criminal offence to intentionally disclose or ask about what happened in the jury room
- Must come to a unanimous verdict
- Over 2 hours - judge direct a majority verdict
- Under s.17(3) of Juries Act 1974
- Foreman must announce the numbers of both agreeing and disagreeing with the verdict in open court.
- Qualifications
- Basic requirements outlines in the Juries Act 1974
- To qualify a person must be:
- 18-75 yrs old
- Electoral register
- Live in UK 5yrs
- Ineligible
- People who are mentally disordered are disqualified
- Under the Criminal Justice Act 2003
- People who are mentally disordered are disqualified
- Disqualified
- Criminals with a prison sentence of 5 years or more are permanently disqualified
- Shorter custodial sentence banned for 10 years
- Those on bail are disqualified
- Incapable
- Person may be discharged for a lack of capacity to cope with a trial
- e.g those who cannot speak English, blind as they cannot see evidence
- Excused
- Since Criminal Justice Act 2003
- Judges, lawyers, police etc now must serve.
- Armed forces, doctors, pharmacists can be granted an excusal
- Judges, lawyers, police etc now must serve.
- Since Criminal Justice Act 2003
- Deferred
- 'Any person with problems that would make it difficult to be a juror'
- Must undertake jury service within 12 months of the original summons
- Mother with a new born baby, operation booked, exams, pre-booked holiday
- Must undertake jury service within 12 months of the original summons
- 'Any person with problems that would make it difficult to be a juror'
- Role
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