Criminal Courts and Lay People

Under the Juries Act 1974

There are 3 main criteria;

• 18-70
• Lived in the UK for 5 years since the age 13
• Registered on the Electoral Register

You are disqualified if:

• You're on bail
• Had a prison sentence less than 5 years in the past 10 years
• Had a sentence of more than 5 years (disqualified for life)

Deferral: It pospones jury duty for a period in the next 12 moths.

You can deffer if:

• A holiday is booked
• Hospital appointment
• Examinations

Excusal: Takes you offf the list for a year

You can apply if:

• Previously done jury duty
• Over 65 years old
• Religious beliefs
• In the armed forces full time

Police checks: Eliminate people who have criminal convictions. They are legitimate

Political vetting: Check political affiliations by the Attorney General in order to protect national security

Under the Attorney General Guidelines 1990:

For cause: Challange an individual juror

To the array: Challanges the whole jury. R V FORD (1989) in 1993 9/12 jurors were from Romford

Prosecutions right to stand by: Put a juror to the bottom of the pile. This is used in exeptional circumstances

Duties of the jury last 2 weeks (10 days) The jury must decide whether the defendant is quilty or not. They must be beyond all resonable doubt

Advantages:

• Public Confidence: Judging by peers,blend of logic and sense
• Jury equity: No legal expertise or trained. They decide based on fairness
• Public process: The whole process is public, they deliberate in private, no one can inquire what happened in the jury room
• Secrecy room: Decide the verdict out of pressure and they dont have to justify the verdict
• Impartiality: Random selection process. Bias and prejudice is cancelled out

Disadvantages:

• Lack of understanding: May be illiterate, long trials are hard to follow
• High acquital: They are not case hardened
• Media Influence: Influence a jurors decisions
• Secrecy room: No reason to announce the verdict. No way of knowing if they understand the case
• Slow and expensive: Each point is explained for the juries benefit so that they understand