A jury is a group of people who are selected to hear evidence and determine the facts in a legal case. In the United Kingdom, juries are used in some coroners’ inquests, civil cases in the High Court, and serious criminal cases in the Crown Court.
Key Facts
- Types of Cases: Juries are used in some coroners’ inquests, civil cases in the High Court, and serious criminal cases in the Crown Court.
- Criminal Juries: Juries are summoned for criminal trials in the Crown Court when the offense is an indictable offense or an offense triable either way. Magistrates have the power to send any offense triable either way to the Crown Court, but the accused retains the right to elect for a Crown Court trial with a jury.
- Civil Juries: All common law civil cases were tried by jury until the introduction of juryless trials in the new county courts in 1846. The use of juries in civil cases has steadily declined over the years.
- Number of Jurors: The number of jurors varies depending on the court. In the Crown Court and High Court, there are typically 12 jurors. In the County Court, there are 8 jurors. In the Coroner’s Court, there can be between 7 and 11 jurors.
- Verdicts: In the Crown Court and High Court, a verdict can be reached with no fewer than 11 jurors in certain circumstances. With 9 jurors, the verdict must be unanimous.
Types of Cases
Criminal Juries
Juries are summoned for criminal trials in the Crown Court when the offense is an indictable offense or an offense triable either way. Magistrates have the power to send any offense triable either way to the Crown Court, but the accused retains the right to elect for a Crown Court trial with a jury.
Civil Juries
All common law civil cases were tried by jury until the introduction of juryless trials in the new county courts in 1846. The use of juries in civil cases has steadily declined over the years.
Number of Jurors
The number of jurors varies depending on the court. In the Crown Court and High Court, there are typically 12 jurors. In the County Court, there are 8 jurors. In the Coroner’s Court, there can be between 7 and 11 jurors.
Verdicts
In the Crown Court and High Court, a verdict can be reached with no fewer than 11 jurors in certain circumstances. With 9 jurors, the verdict must be unanimous.
Sources
FAQs
What is a jury?
A jury is a group of people who are selected to hear evidence and determine the facts in a legal case.
What types of cases are tried by juries in the UK?
Juries are used in some coroners’ inquests, civil cases in the High Court, and serious criminal cases in the Crown Court.
How many jurors are there in a jury?
The number of jurors varies depending on the court. In the Crown Court and High Court, there are typically 12 jurors. In the County Court, there are 8 jurors. In the Coroner’s Court, there can be between 7 and 11 jurors.
How are jurors selected?
Jurors are selected randomly from the electoral register.
What is the role of a jury?
The role of a jury is to listen to the evidence presented in court and to determine the facts of the case. The jury then reaches a verdict, which is the decision of the court.
Can a jury reach a verdict without being unanimous?
In the Crown Court and High Court, a verdict can be reached with no fewer than 11 jurors in certain circumstances. With 9 jurors, the verdict must be unanimous.
What happens if a juror is unable to continue serving?
If a juror is unable to continue serving, they can be replaced by an alternate juror.