1. Law 12

2.  A jury consists of 12 people (criminal jury) or 7 people (civil jury) who are selected to hear the evidence in a trial.  In Nova Scotia, anyone can be a juror if they are a Canadian citizen and 18 years or older UNLESS:  Anyone who has been convicted of a crime and sentenced to two or more years in prison  Anyone who has attended or is attending a law school  Anyone who works in the administration of justice (for example, a police officer or an employee of the provincial or federal departments of Justice)  A Member of the House of Commons, the Senate, the House of Assembly or the Lieutenant Governor  An officer or non-commissioned member of the reserve Armed Forces on active service or an officer and non-commissioned member of the regular Armed Forces and special Armed Forces.  Doctors, dentists and clergy are no longer automatically exempt. They may apply to be excused.

3.  The Jury Coordinator has increased authority to excuse people, without them having to appear, on the basis of hardship or illness. The Jury Coordinator can also defer someone to the next jury panel on the basis of inconvenience.  If the Jury Coordinator does not excuse or defer someone as requested, then the file is automatically forwarded to a judge to review.

4.  $0.20/km both ways for travel if over 100km  If selected $40.00/day

5.  Your name was selected at random from names taken from the Health Registration List. Every year in Nova Scotia, approximately 25,000 names are selected. Being selected means that you have to report for jury duty- it does not mean that you will necessarily sit on a jury.

6.  Jury Panel is a pool of potential jurors  Step for Selection  1. Names are drawn randomly form a box  2. When chosen they go to front of the court and face the accused  3. Both Crown and defence may object to a potential juror by challenging this individual  4. Either counsel may make a challenge for cause

7.  Potential Juror is removed  Has already formed an opinion on the case  Is physically unable to perform the duties of a juror  Has been convicted of a serious offence

8.  5.A peremptory challenge is the right of the counsel to exclude someone from a jury without cause.  Depending on the severity of the charge counsel may have from 12 – 20 challenges  6. Juror’s Oath  “ I swear to well and truly try and true Deliverance make between our sovereign lady the Queen and the accused at the bar, whom I have in charge, and a true verdict give, according to the evidence, so help me God”

9.  Jury duty is responsibility that must be taken seriously. If you do not send in the Juror Information Form, or if you do not show up for jury duty without being excused, you may be arrested and fined up to $1000.