Juries, the role of the Jury.pptx
Juries – The role of the jury in Criminal Trials
By Jayne Harding LL.B(Hons)LLM DipEd QTLS.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.
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Juries – The role of the jury in Criminal Trials
By Jayne Harding LL.B(Hons)LLM DipEd QTLS.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.
Learning objectives:
Explain what is the role of the jury in relation to Criminal Trials and how juries are created.
Explain the function of juries including the deliberations, deciding the verdict and the issue of perverse verdicts.
Analyse how jury members perceive eye witness testimonies i.e personal factors in influencing their decisions.
Evaluate the problems with using trial by jury.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-ND.
What is the role of the jury?
The jury members consist of 12 ordinary men and women who have been selected at random from the electoral roll (register to vote).
Their role is to listen to the evidence given in the trial, weigh up the evidence and decide whether the defendant is "guilty or not guilty."
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What is the role of the jury?
Watch the following video and make notes ready for class discussions.
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How are Juries selected?
Juries Act 1974.
Jury members are selected at random from the electoral register (voting register). Ages 18-75 are the age groups.
Once selected the Jury panel is formed. Once your panel number is called then you have to go to the jury box.
Jury vetting is then performed on the members to make sure that they are suitable enough to serve on the Jury.
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Activity 1 – Research the reasons why jury members are disqualified from serving? (15 mins)
List the criteria why someone may be disqualified from serving?
List the criteria why someone may be excused from serving?
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Jury deliberations and secrecy of the jury room.
Juries Act 1974 – section 20D makes it an offence for any jury member to disclose their deliberations (when discussing the evidence during the jury room).
Prohibited conduct – section C.
This makes it an offence for a juror member to engage in any action which
may be classed as unreasonable/prohibited conduct.
Attorney General v Davey and Attorney General v Beard [2013] EWHC 2317.
A juror was held in contempt of court for posting a message on Facebook.
Jury deliberations and secrecy of the jury room.
Section 20A makes it an offence for a juror member to research or share information about the case.
The “trial period” begins when the person is sworn to try the issue and ends when the judge discharges the jury or, if earlier, when the judge discharges the person (s.20A(5).
R v Harwood [2012] EW Misc 27 – Internet research.
R v Mirza (Shabbir Ali) (2004) - There was a racial element which affected their research.
Activity 2 – Read the article on Stephen Young
The jury members had used a Ouija board to contact the deceased.
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How juries are perceive eye witness testimonies?
Do you know what you saw?
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