Juries

• How many people make up a jury?

  12 ordinary people
• What court do juries sit in?

  Crown Court
• What is the role of juries?

  Decide the verdict only of the defendant

  Decide the facts of the case

  Listen to the judge who will direct the jury on points of law

  Act independent and act without fear of pressure from the judge to either convict or decide a verdict quickly
• What case states that jurors cannot be punished for their verdict?

  Bushell's case
• What are advantages of using juries in criminal courts?

  Public confidence instilled

  Jury equity

  Open system of justice

  Privacy of decision-making process

  Random selection process

  Neutrality
• Why is public confidence instilled an advantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Respects the traditional idea of being judged by your peers
• Why is jury equity an advantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Democracy upheld (R v Ponting)
• Why is an open system of justice an advantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Decision is based on facts and not biased
• Why is privacy of decision-making process an advantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Juries can decide their verdicts without outside pressures
• Why is the random selection process an advantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Allows a cross-selection of community to be picked from
• Why is neutrality an advantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Individual prejudices should be cancelled out
• What are disadvantages of using juries in criminal courts?

  Slow and expensive

  Unpopular

  Outside influences

  No explanation of verdict

  Failure to understand the case

  Lack of neutrality
• Why is slow and expensive a disadvantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Having to explain points of law increases the time taken and the cost of judges and legal personnel
• Why is unpopular a disadvantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Many jurors would rather not serve
• Why is outside influences a disadvantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Media and social media can influence jurors, or jurors can be 'nobbled' (R v Twomey)
• Why is no explanation of verdict a disadvantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  No reason is given for the decision or bizarre methods are used to reach the decision (R v Young)
• Why is failure to understand the case a disadvantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  Possible juries do not follow the issues clearly
• Why is lack of neutrality a disadvantage of using juries in criminal courts?

  A complete cancelling of bias is impossible (Sander v UK)