When is a Jury used?

The idea behind using a Jury rather than a Judge to decide on legal cases is to help ensure that a cross-section of ordinary people understand and agree on the outcome. Therefore, a Jury tends to be used in some of the highest courts in the country, from Crown Courts which try more serious criminal cases, to the High Court which hear non-criminal cases such as libel. Lesser offences are often dealt with in a Magistrates Court, where the magistrates decide the outcome.

How many people site on a Jury?

Crown and High Court juries will consist of 12 people; a County Court jury will usually have only 8 members.  Jury members are chosen randomly from all the individuals called to do their Jury Service on the day the case starts.

How does a Jury come to a decision?

Jury members will sit in the court room while all the legal arguments are made and any evidence is presented by all the parties involved in the case.  Although jury members cannot ask questions themselves, they can ask for clarification on points of law from the Judge who is over-seeing the trial. Once all the arguments are heard, the Jury is then asked to go into a private room to consider their verdict. For some particularly serious cases, the Judge may ask that the Jury’s verdict is unanimous and that all members of the Jury agree the same outcome. However, sometimes, the Judge may be happy with a majority decision. The Jury can take as long as it needs to come to a decision.

How long does Jury service take?

People are usually called to take part in Jury Service for two weeks (or ten working days), but how long you actually sit in court can vary. Sometimes people take part in a case that only lasts a few days and are then not required for the rest of the time.  Other times, a court hearing can last for several weeks, and the same Jury is required to attend the whole time.  If a case is expected to last for a long period, the potential Jury members are informed at the beginning so they can make necessary arrangements.

Are you paid to be a Jury member?

Yes! Technically, individuals or their employers are compensated for the time they spend away from work or can claim compensation for their loss of earnings.  Jury members can usually also claim travelling expenses and something towards food, too.  Although you won’t get rich sitting on a Jury, the idea is that the money needs to be a fair compensation in order to ensure a cross-section of citizens feel able to take part in the process.

Do I have to take part if I am called?

According to statistics, there is about a 35% chance that you will be called for Jury Service in England and Wales it’s higher in Scotland. There are some jobs which are not eligible such as serving police personnel or solicitors and people who have been convicted of a crime will not be eligible.  If you are called, under some circumstances you can ask to delay doing your Jury service; for example, if you have a major work commitment or are a student with exams coming up, you can ask to be excused.  However, it is unlikely that you can put Jury Service off for more than a year and even more unlikely that you will be excused more than once.

Jury Service can actually be a fascinating insight into how our justice system and courts work. Although it can feel really formal, you are given lots of guidance by the Judge and court teams. And, of course, you are not alone; your fellow Jury members will be with you throughout the experience.

Read more at: https://www.gov.uk/jury-service