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Chapter 10.  ‘Trial by Peers’ – opportunity for community participation in the legal process and for law to be applied according to community standards.

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Presentation on theme: "Chapter 10.  ‘Trial by Peers’ – opportunity for community participation in the legal process and for law to be applied according to community standards."— Presentation transcript:

1 Chapter 10

2  ‘Trial by Peers’ – opportunity for community participation in the legal process and for law to be applied according to community standards.  Do not have to give reason – decide on their conscience.  ‘independent decision maker’.  Jury - ‘Decider of facts’ – Judge makes the decision about points of law.

3  Listen to all the evidence  Understand the evidence put forward  Not lose concentration  Remember the evidence  Make sense of the evidence  Understand points of law as explained by the judge  Put aside any prejudices or preconceived ideas  Form an opinion on which party is right  Take part in deliberation  Make a decision on the facts of the case

4 CRIMINAL TRIAL 1. A jury must make a decision Beyond Reasonable Doubt - be sure the accused is guilty before reach guilty verdict 2. Try to reach unanimous verdict (all agree) but if not possible after 6 hours a majority verdict (11/12) except in cases of murder, trafficking or cultivating commercial quantities of drugs and Commonwealth offences

5 3.The judge can direct the jury to acquit the accused if the judge believes that the evidence does not support a conviction – jury does not have to follow 4.Jury can find an accused guilty of one offence but guilty of a lesser offence e.g. Not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter 5. Used in more serious criminal cases (County and Supreme court) – not Magistrates court

6 CIVIL TRIAL 1.A jury must make a decision on the Balance of probability – which party is most probably in the right 2.Decides on the amount of damages 3.Decision can be majority decision (5/6) 4.Juries optional in civil cases – either party in County or Supreme court can request a jury (person requesting jury will bear cost)

7  Registered voters – called for jury duty  Juries commissioner notifies electoral commissioner of the estimated jurors required in a particular district (same as electoral district – Legislative Assembly).  Juries commissioner randomly selection from electoral roll  List then sent to juries commissioner  Juries commissioner send questionnaire to each person on list (to ascertain whether person is qualified to serve)  Must be answered and returned to the sheriff within 7 days – fine 30 penalty units if not returned or given false information

8 The questionnaire states the following:  Liable for jury duty  Disqualified  Ineligible  Excused for good reason Offence not to attend when called – punishable by a fine of 30 penalty units or imprisonment for 3 months Juries commissioner will summon jurors who are liable when the court needs them (10 days before expected to appear)

9  Aged over 18 and is enrolled as an elector of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council Except:  Any person referred to schedule 1 as being disqualified  Any person referred to i schedule 2 and ineligible  Any person the juries commissioner has excused for good reason

10  Something they did in their past that makes them unsuitable E.g. Criminal record or bankrupt – may be seen as unreliable or biased Q14page 505 See schedule 1 on page 496

11  Due to their occupation or inability to comprehend the task of juror E.g. Member of legal profession – their opinion might carry too much weight - People who cannot read or understand English, visually impaired, deaf or intellectually disabled See schedule 2 page 496

12  How many jurors can be empanelled in each?  What information is known about each jury member  How many challenges are allowed?  Are juries used in each trial or hearing?  What is a majority verdict in criminal and civil trial?  What does a jury decide in criminal and civil trials?

13 Complete Questions 1 to 15 page 504 -505 Read and summarise pages 506 to 514 (advantages and disadvantages)


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