Legislation / Legal
ScotGov: The Scottish government has launched a public consultation (closes 11 December 2008) on options for modernising Scotland's jury system. The consultation document outlines Scottish Government plans which include:
* Allowing Scots aged 65-70 to serve on trial juries
* Reducing jury service exemption period from 5 to 2 years for those called to attend court as potential jurors but who are not subsequently balloted to serve on a trial jury
The jury in Scottish criminal trials is distinguished from systems elsewhere in the world by its size (using a panel of 15) and by its mandate to return verdicts by simple majority.
