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Flashcards in Juries - Jury Qualifications Deck (6)
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1
Q

Eligibility

A

S1 Juries Act 1974 as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 outlines who is eligible for jury service:

  • You must be between 18 - 75 years old.
  • Must have been a UK resident for at least five years consecutively since 13th birthday.
  • Be on the Electoral Register.
2
Q

Disqualification

A

The Juries Act 1974, as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003 disqualifies those with certain criminal convictions from doing jury service.

Permanently:

  • Life Imprisonment
  • They have been sentenced to a prison sentence of 5 years or more at ant time in their life

Temporarily:

  • If they have been subject to a prison term or suspended in the past 10 years
  • Served a community order in the past 10 years
  • Are on bail
3
Q

Ineligibility

A

Other people may be considered ineligible for jury service. Examples of qualities which would make you ineligible are:

  • Any mental health disorder under the Mental Health Act 1983
  • Suffering from a psychopathic disorder e.g. Psychopathy
  • If one is resident of an institution or hospital
  • If one is attending a medical practitioner for treatment
4
Q

Excusal

A

S9 Juries Act 1974: People who do not wish to do jury service must apply to the court for a discretionary excusal which will excuse a person permanently from jury service.
There would need to be a reason why, these might include:
- Long term illness
- Cannot understand English
- Member of the armed forces
- Doctor

5
Q

Deferral

A

S9 Juries Act 1974 also allows for a temporary deferral which means a person might have their jury service deferred for a later time. A good reason must be given for this, these might include:

  • Religious holidays
  • Exams
  • Work or childcare commitments
  • Pre - booked holiday
6
Q

Criminal Justice Act 2003

A

Before the Criminal Justice Act 2003, people such as judges, lawyers of police officers COULD NOT sit on a jury because some thought their decisions might be biased as they know a lot more about the law. Now they have an obligation to carry out this civic duty.