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05/12/2003
Jury service 'excuse' to be removed
Under new government proposals, the pool of eligible people for jury service will be substantially increased, as almost all of the existing groups of people currently excused from jury service will be deemed eligible.
This will include those people disqualified from, ineligible for, or otherwise entitled by right to be excused from jury service such as members of the armed forces, members of the medical profession, and members of parliament.
Under new legislation from April 2004 everyone called for jury service should serve unless there are compelling reasons to be deferred or excused.
The government say that expanding the pool of potential jurors will help to ensure that juries "better reflect the communities from which they are drawn" and that the move will increase "public confidence in the justice system as a whole".
Announcing a consultation on the new guidelines for jury excusal and deferral, Courts Minister Chris Leslie said: "The draft guidance set out in the consultation paper is intended to strike a balance between the needs of society to have a representative jury to hear cases, and the needs of the person summoned to undertake jury service.
"Most people understand that it is an important civic duty to serve on a jury when summoned. Nevertheless, I believe the guidance recognises and takes account of how jury service can affect the lives of people already subject to a multitude of conflicting demands. It is essential that all requests for excusal or deferral are dealt with fairly and consistently across the country and we want to hear from anyone who has a view on this."
All registered electors aged between 18 and 70 years of age, except certain individuals with a mental illness or convicted of a criminal offence, will be eligible for jury service and it will be necessary for anyone else seeking to be excused jury service to show 'good reason' why they should not do their civic duty.
The government intends that the legislation should establish a general approach for the Jury Central Summoning Bureau to apply a "fair and consistent approach".
Every year almost half a million people are summoned to sit as jurors, usually in criminal cases.
(SP)
This will include those people disqualified from, ineligible for, or otherwise entitled by right to be excused from jury service such as members of the armed forces, members of the medical profession, and members of parliament.
Under new legislation from April 2004 everyone called for jury service should serve unless there are compelling reasons to be deferred or excused.
The government say that expanding the pool of potential jurors will help to ensure that juries "better reflect the communities from which they are drawn" and that the move will increase "public confidence in the justice system as a whole".
Announcing a consultation on the new guidelines for jury excusal and deferral, Courts Minister Chris Leslie said: "The draft guidance set out in the consultation paper is intended to strike a balance between the needs of society to have a representative jury to hear cases, and the needs of the person summoned to undertake jury service.
"Most people understand that it is an important civic duty to serve on a jury when summoned. Nevertheless, I believe the guidance recognises and takes account of how jury service can affect the lives of people already subject to a multitude of conflicting demands. It is essential that all requests for excusal or deferral are dealt with fairly and consistently across the country and we want to hear from anyone who has a view on this."
All registered electors aged between 18 and 70 years of age, except certain individuals with a mental illness or convicted of a criminal offence, will be eligible for jury service and it will be necessary for anyone else seeking to be excused jury service to show 'good reason' why they should not do their civic duty.
The government intends that the legislation should establish a general approach for the Jury Central Summoning Bureau to apply a "fair and consistent approach".
Every year almost half a million people are summoned to sit as jurors, usually in criminal cases.
(SP)
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