Juries

• 18-70
• on electoral register
• resident in UK for at least 5 yrs since 13th birthday

EXCLUDED PERMANENTLY:

• imprisoned for life
• imprisoned for protection of the public
• serving an extended sentence
• serving a term of imprisonment of 5yrs or more.
• at any time in the last 10 years: served a prison sentence, had a suspended prison sentence, had a community order or on bail. 

Criminal Justice Act 2003- ineligable if suffering from a mental illness.

The service can be postponed:

• if already served in the last 2 years
• new mothers
• exams
• pre-booked holidays

• names picked at random from electoral register bt Central Jury Summoning Bureau
• 20 of these are chosen randomly by jury usher
• 'jury in waiting' told name of D
• if they know him/her they return to the jury pool
• at court, final random selection and 12 are chose

Vetting:

• prosecution and D see list of jurors, may decide to vet the list
• R v Mason (1980)- police can lawfully check criminal backgrounds of potential jurors- criminal offence to serve if unqualified.
  
• process of jury vetting is done by the prosecution with written permission of the Attorney General

Challenging a juror:

• prosecution can use 'Stand by for the Crown' without giving reason.--- this is only used to remove a 'manifestly unsuitable juror/to remove a juror in a terrorist trial where vetting has been authorised. Names moved to the bottom of the list.
• defence can challenge 'for cause'- challenge individual juror, valid reason must be given (R V Wilson (1995).
• both prosecution and defence may challenge the whole jury- challenge 'to the array'- jury challeneged if unrepresentative (R V Fraser (1987)- D was of ethnic minority with all white jury, just empanelled another jury.

• used in all criminal cases tried in Crown Court (where D pleads not guilty)
• weigh up evidence
• decide true facts of the case
• judge directs them to relevant law- jury apply that law to the facts and reach verdict
• partnership between judge ('master of the law') and the jury ('master of the facts').
• jury have sole responsibility for determining guilt
• in courtroom- jury listen to evidence and take notes and can question witnesses through judge
• in private jury room- jury choose foreperson (present verdict)
• not returned with unanimous verdict after 2 hrs- judge recall and advise a majority verdict
• Crim. Justice Act (1967)- majority verdicts are possible (10:2)
• discussion in jury room are secret
• under Contempt of Court Act 1981- jurors who reveal info about a case risk imprisonment
• return to courtroom-foreperson announces verdict
• jury have no role in sentencing