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Questions and Answers
A jury in the Crown Court consists of 10 members.
A jury in the Crown Court consists of 10 members.
False
To qualify for jury service, a person must be aged between 18 and 75 inclusive.
To qualify for jury service, a person must be aged between 18 and 75 inclusive.
True
Only 2% of all criminal trials are conducted with a jury.
Only 2% of all criminal trials are conducted with a jury.
True
People disqualified from jury service can still serve if they have completed their sentence.
People disqualified from jury service can still serve if they have completed their sentence.
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A person who has served a term of imprisonment of five years or more is disqualified from jury service for life.
A person who has served a term of imprisonment of five years or more is disqualified from jury service for life.
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To be eligible for jury service, one must be ordinarily resident in the UK for at least five years since their sixteenth birthday.
To be eligible for jury service, one must be ordinarily resident in the UK for at least five years since their sixteenth birthday.
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Those currently on bail in criminal proceedings are eligible to serve as jurors.
Those currently on bail in criminal proceedings are eligible to serve as jurors.
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A person with a suspended sentence within the last ten years is disqualified from jury service for ten years.
A person with a suspended sentence within the last ten years is disqualified from jury service for ten years.
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A person suffering from a mental handicap can be excused from jury service.
A person suffering from a mental handicap can be excused from jury service.
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Doctors and pharmacists have an automatic right to be excused from jury service after April 2004.
Doctors and pharmacists have an automatic right to be excused from jury service after April 2004.
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Full-time members of the armed forces can skip jury service if their commanding officer certifies it would harm their duty efficiency.
Full-time members of the armed forces can skip jury service if their commanding officer certifies it would harm their duty efficiency.
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Temporary illness is not considered a valid reason for requesting a deferral of jury service.
Temporary illness is not considered a valid reason for requesting a deferral of jury service.
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The court always excused individuals with disabilities from jury service.
The court always excused individuals with disabilities from jury service.
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Examinations that cannot be rescheduled are considered a sufficient reason for a jury service deferral.
Examinations that cannot be rescheduled are considered a sufficient reason for a jury service deferral.
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All summoned individuals are expected to serve at the time for which they are summoned.
All summoned individuals are expected to serve at the time for which they are summoned.
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A mother with a small baby has the right to be completely excused from jury service.
A mother with a small baby has the right to be completely excused from jury service.
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Study Notes
Jury Service in Criminal Courts
- Juries primarily decide guilt or innocence in Crown Court criminal trials.
- Jury trials account for only 2% of all criminal trials. Magistrates' Courts handle 94%. In Crown Court cases, about two-thirds of defendants plead guilty.
- Crown Court juries have 12 members.
Jury Qualifications
- Eligibility is defined by the Juries Act 1974 (amended).
- To qualify, a person must be:
- Aged 18 to 75 (increased from 70 in 2015).
- Registered parliamentary or local government elector.
- Ordinarily resident in the UK, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man for at least 5 years since age 13.
Jury Disqualification
-
Permanent Disqualification:
- Imprisonment for life, detention for life, or custody for life.
- Detention during HM pleasure or SoS pleasure (young offenders).
- Imprisonment or detention for public protection.
- Extended sentences.
- Imprisonment or detention for 5 years or more.
-
10-Year Disqualification:
- Imprisonment sentence in the last 10 years.
- Suspended sentence in the last 10 years.
- Community order or other community sentence in the last 10 years.
-
Current Bail Disqualification:
- People on bail in criminal proceedings.
-
Failing to disclose disqualification results in a fine of up to £5,000.
Mentally Disordered Persons
- Defined by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 as:
- People with mental illness, psychopathy, or mental handicap residing in or regularly attending treatment in a hospital or similar institution.
- People under guardianship under Mental Health Act 1983, section 7.
- People deemed incapable of managing their affairs under Mental Health Act 1983, Part 7.
Right to Excuse Jury Service (Changed)
- Prior to 2004, some essential occupations (doctors, pharmacists) could be excused; this was abolished in 2003.
- Excusal is now discretionary.
Discretionary Excusals
- Those facing significant hardship in fulfilling jury duty can request a deferral or excusal.
- Courts consider the necessity for good reason. Examples include medical issues, disabilities, caring for a small child; or important business, examinations, or previously booked holidays.
- Court aims to defer service instead of complete excusal, preventing high numbers of discretionary requests, as indicated by guidance for summoning officers.
Forces Members
- Full-time serving forces members are exempt if their commanding officer certifies their absence would harm the service's efficiency.
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Description
This quiz covers the key aspects of jury service in criminal courts, including the role of juries in Crown Court trials and the qualifications and disqualifications for jury duty. Understand how jury trials function within the UK legal system, including the statistical significance of their rarity compared to magistrates' courts.
