What kind of court cases use juries

Under current public health restrictions , court business has been reduced. You can access the latest announcements on court sittings on the Courts Service website. If you have a question about this topic you can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 07 Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm.

You can also contact your local Citizens Information Centre or Request a call back from an information officer. Information The jury fulfils a very important function in the legal system. The verdict At the conclusion of the trial, the jurors are given an issue paper, which states the issues that the jury must consider in reaching its verdict.

Rules Jurors must: Decide the facts of the case only. Remain impartial and independent. Remain uninfluenced by any person.

It is an offence for any person who is not a member of the jury to attempt to influence a juror in any way. Keep statements made in the jury room confidential. Jurors should not discuss the case with any person other than members of the jury. They don't speak in court except when the jury is being selected. There are many types of witnesses that can be called during a case.

Witnesses may include forensic scientists, police officers, medical experts, eyewitnesses and others. Some evidence is very detailed and specialised.

Listen carefully to all the evidence and pay attention to any exhibits, as this will be the basis on which you must decide your verdict. The Crown Court is a court of record. All proceedings are accurately recorded by a digital recording system operated by the court clerk, or by a shorthand writer or stenographer.

If there is a stenographer or shorthand writer, they usually sit beside the court clerk and records everything that is said in court. This record may be used if the case goes to appeal.

The case follows a set pattern. The court clerk reads out the charges against the accused person. The prosecution begins by outlining details of the case, calling and questioning witnesses. When the prosecution has finished questioning each witness, it is the defence counsel's turn to question the same witnesses.

This is cross-examination. When the prosecution case is complete, the defence follows a similar procedure by calling the witnesses who can be cross-examined by the prosecution. In a few cases, such as cases involving vulnerable adult or child witnesses, the witness may sit in a separate room in the courthouse and give evidence to the court using video-link equipment.

A vulnerable adult or child may have an intermediary present to help them in giving their evidence to the court. There may be times when the legal professionals and the judge need time to discuss a point of law. The judge will ask the jury to leave the court for a short time. Once the matter has been resolved, the jury will be asked back to the courtroom.

When all the evidence has been given, the prosecution and then the defence will make their closing speeches when they will try to convince the jury of their respective cases.

Finally, the judge sums up. This means they will go over the facts of the case and tell you, the jury, about the relevant law. The judge will also give you advice before you retire to the jury room to discuss the case. Think about their comments carefully as judges are lawyers with years of experience.

Inside the jury room jurors discuss the case by carefully considering the evidence presented in court by:. It is an offence, punishable with a fine or imprisonment, for a juror to tell anyone about any statements, opinions, arguments or votes made by jury members while they are considering the case.

The jury will decide upon the facts of the case to find out whether the claimant has proved his case or not. If they conclude that the claimant has won, they will then decide what damages are awarded and on what scale.

The County Courts Act sets out the following guidelines on when a jury should be used for a civil trial.

Where the case involves:. A case involving the above matters may still be refused a trial by jury if the judge believes the case, evidence or other matters are too complicated for a trial by jury.

Home Legal System When are juries used in criminal and civil cases? Juries in criminal and civil cases The development and independence of the jury The notion of trials by jury has developed substantially over the years. Modern day use of the jury The Criminal Law Act made a number of minor offences and driving offences summary only, thus removing the right to jury trial.

Unfortunately for defendants, the Supreme Court has held that the jury-trial right doesn't apply in this circumstance. In one case before the Court, the defendant had been charged with two counts of obstructing the mail, each count providing a maximum of six months in jail. The Court found that the defendant had no jury-trial right. Lewis v. The Supreme Court's determination of what constitutes a serious offense and thereby entitles one to a jury trial sets a minimum standard.

In other words, states must provide jury trials if an offense is serious under the Court's standard. But they are free to guarantee jury trials to defendants when the crimes aren't sufficiently serious under the federal standard. Benitez v. Dunevant , Ariz. It's possible that the decision as to whether to go to trial will rest largely on whether a judge or a jury will be the fact finder. To learn about the applicable law in your jurisdiction, consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Such a lawyer can also inform you of any other relevant considerations.

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