Magistrates

• Juries


  In criminal cases, 12 jurors sit on a panel to listen to the facts of the case and the judge's summary, then decide the verdict (guilty or not guilty)
• Types of cases juries hear

  • Some triable either way
  • All indictable
• What juries do in criminal cases

  1. Listen to the facts of the case and the judge's summary

  2. Decide the verdict (guilty or not guilty)

  3. Retire to a private room called a jury deliberation room to make the decision in secret

  4. No reason is given for the decision
• Initially a jury must come to a unanimous verdict


  After two hours a majority verdict of 11-1 or 10-2 will be accepted
• Role of the judge in relation to the jury

  • Explain any relevant points of law to the jury
  • Can direct the jury to find the defendant not guilty if not enough evidence has been produced by the prosecution (directed acquittal)
  • Must accept the jury verdict even if the judge does not agree with it
• Funny jury stories


  • The star gazing juror
  • The rude juror
  • The swearing juror
• Advantages of juries


  • Juries give the public confidence in our legal system
  • Trial by peers is a fundamental part of a democratic society
  • Juries can decide cases on the basis of what they believe is fair (jury equity)
  • Juries are chosen randomly and should therefore represent a good cross-section of society
  • Any prejudices should be cancelled out with 12 jurors on the panel
  • Jury members should be impartial
  • Come to a decision in private
• Disadvantages of juries


  • Some cases may be too complicated for jurors to understand
  • Juries sometimes refuse to follow the law (perverse verdict)
  • No one can inquire into what happened in the jury room
  • Do not have to give reasons for their decision, therefore there is no way of knowing if jury understood case
  • Research shows doubts about 5% of jury convictions
  • There is no requirement that a jury must be multi-racial, prejudices may still exist
  • Media coverage may influence jurors, especially in high profile cases
  • Juries are often criticised on the grounds that they acquit too many defendants
  • The compulsory nature of juries is unpopular
  • The use of juries makes trials slow and expensive - each point has to be carefully explained to the jury and this takes longer