MORE PEOPLE TO DO JURY SERVICE

5 Apr 2004 04:00 AM

Judges, politicians, vicars, bishops, doctors and Lords will, from today, be able to sit on a jury.

Major changes to the Criminal Justice Act, which come into effect today, will greatly increase the pool of potential jurors. All registered electors in England and Wales aged between 18 and 70, except people with a mental illness and those convicted of a criminal offence, must now serve on a jury if summoned.

Courts Minister Christopher Leslie said only those who can prove they have compelling reasons can defer jury service or be excused.

"The legislative changes significantly increase the number of people who can now do jury service.

"Expanding the pool of potential jurors ensures that juries better reflect the communities from which they are drawn. This in turn should improve public confidence in the criminal justice system.

"Jury service is an extremely important civic duty. For too long a large number of people have been excused from serving on a jury because of their profession or position in society. The changes that come into effect today send a clear message that serving the community as a juror is the responsibility of everyone."

Around 480,000 people are summoned for jury service annually. Previously, less than half (about 200,000) were eligible.

Most jurors serve on criminal cases in the Crown Court but a small number serve on civil cases in the County Court.

The Government recognises that not everyone will be able to serve on the date they are summoned. However, guidance issued today following public consultation will help the Jury Central Summoning Bureau in London to strike a balance between the needs of society and those of the individual.

If a person is unable to sit at the time they have been summoned they will be offered deferral to another, more convenient, time. Only those who prove they cannot serve at any time in the 12 months from the date they are summoned will be excused, and then only in exceptional circumstances.

Jury service - which usually lasts for up to 10 working days - is compulsory for anyone summoned who is on the electoral register, between the ages of 18 and 70 and has lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for a continuous period of at least 5 years since the age of 13.

Note to Editors
1. Compelling reasons why eligible people could defer include: death or illness of a close relative, health reasons, pre-booked holiday, full time serving members of the armed forces where the commanding officer certifies that the person's absence would be detrimental and religious festivals.

2. Compelling reasons why eligible people could be excused include: insufficient understanding of English, certain care responsibilities and being a member of a religious order or society whose beliefs are incompatible with jury service (evidence must be provided).

3. A juror may appeal against a decision by the Head of the Jury Central Summoning Bureau to refuse an application for excusal but the appeal must be heard by a judge.

4. Section 321 of Schedule 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 abolishes the categories of ineligibility and excusal as of right contained in schedule 1 of the Juries Act 1974.

5. The Act also places a statutory duty on the Lord Chancellor to publish guidance about the way in which the Jury Central Summoning Bureau will exercise its function on discretionary deferrals and excusal under sections 9 and 9A of the 1974 Act.

6. The guidance was the subject of a consultation paper, Jury Summoning Guidance. The consultation period ended on 27 February 2004. The guidance is available on the Court Service website, www.courtservice.gov.uk.

7. Under the new legislation anyone who does not wish to serve as a juror will be required to show "good reason" why he or she should not serve as summoned. It will then be for the Jury Central Summoning Bureau, taking account of the guidance issued by the Lord Chancellor, to consider whether or not to grant the application for excusal or deferral.

ENDS

Selborne House, 54-60 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QW www.dca.gov.uk