Operation of Jury Trials
By Runi Latham
What is a jury?
The jury is the tribunal of fact, made up of 12 adult citizens whom are selected randomly from the electoral role in accord with the requirements of the Jury Act 1977 (NSW). This process is called empanelling.
The role of the jury is to consider the evidence presented during an indictable trial and then determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty based upon the evidence presented at trial. The jury’s decision may be challenged in two ways: pre-emptory (no reason needs to be given) or cause (a reason must be given). Juries do not play a role in determining a sentence.
What stage of the trial process does this issue occur?
Juries for criminal cases are available in the District …show more content…
The jury act made every person enrolled as an elector in New South Wales responsible to serve as a juror, and reduced the grounds of exclusion.
The jury act has been reformed since 1977. The Jury (Amendment) Act 1987 made adjustments such as reducing the number of peremptory challenges available to the defence and prosecution in criminal proceedings and making it an offence to solicit information from a juror/former juror about the deliberations of a jury. In 2004, The Jury Amendment Act 2004
Made amendments prohibiting jurors from making inquiries about the accused or issues in the trial, except in the proper exercise of juror …show more content…
Gittany pleaded guilty and the case was heard in the Supreme Court. However on application, it was ordered that the trial be heard by judge alone. This raised questions as to why a high-profile defendant facing a murder charge was to be tried without a jury. Trials without jury are usually held when excessive media coverage may influence juror’s opinion and cause an unfair trial. However when a trial is expected to be lengthy and evidence is extremely complex an application for a trial by judge alone may be made. This is an example of how access to technology is leading to less reliance on jury
By Runi Latham
What is a jury?
The jury is the tribunal of fact, made up of 12 adult citizens whom are selected randomly from the electoral role in accord with the requirements of the Jury Act 1977 (NSW). This process is called empanelling.
The role of the jury is to consider the evidence presented during an indictable trial and then determine whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty based upon the evidence presented at trial. The jury’s decision may be challenged in two ways: pre-emptory (no reason needs to be given) or cause (a reason must be given). Juries do not play a role in determining a sentence.
What stage of the trial process does this issue occur?
Juries for criminal cases are available in the District …show more content…
The jury act made every person enrolled as an elector in New South Wales responsible to serve as a juror, and reduced the grounds of exclusion.
The jury act has been reformed since 1977. The Jury (Amendment) Act 1987 made adjustments such as reducing the number of peremptory challenges available to the defence and prosecution in criminal proceedings and making it an offence to solicit information from a juror/former juror about the deliberations of a jury. In 2004, The Jury Amendment Act 2004
Made amendments prohibiting jurors from making inquiries about the accused or issues in the trial, except in the proper exercise of juror …show more content…
Gittany pleaded guilty and the case was heard in the Supreme Court. However on application, it was ordered that the trial be heard by judge alone. This raised questions as to why a high-profile defendant facing a murder charge was to be tried without a jury. Trials without jury are usually held when excessive media coverage may influence juror’s opinion and cause an unfair trial. However when a trial is expected to be lengthy and evidence is extremely complex an application for a trial by judge alone may be made. This is an example of how access to technology is leading to less reliance on jury