A Short Guide to Jury System for Canadian Citizens
Origins of the jury system:
There are many origins of the Canadian Jury system; however many may say it to be founded in England by the Norman Kings (1066-1154). Originally, jurors were chosen from the local community and were a source of information. The system was meant to replace barbaric methods of trial.
Later during the reign of King Henry II, (around the 12th century), the jury functioned as both witness and adjudicator.
Throughout the centuries, the jury came to function as a check on the power of the state
It eventually represents the right to be tried in serious case in one’s peer
During the 19th century, the right to be tried by judge and jury in Canada for indictable offences …show more content…
In order to select jurors, a required number of jurors is calculated by 50 Superior Court of Justice locations throughout Ontario. Then they send their estimate number to the Provincial Jury Centre. The process begins in May.
2. To meet estimated jurors, questionnaires are mailed to the people who are selected from the voter’s list. Questionnaires begin from September to November.
The questionnaires include a letter from the Attorney General, an instruction sheet and a prepaid reply envelope.
People who received a questionnaire must complete it and return it in a pre-paid envelope
3. Jury roll is created and certified after questionnaires are sorted for eligibility for jury duty by December.
In order to be jurors, you must need to be a Canadian citizen and must be at least 18 years of age
Citizens with professions (e.g. police officers, doctors) and who has convicted of a wide range of criminal offences are ban from serving
Jury rolls are people who been put on a list of potential jurors. It includes the name, address and occupation.
4. Jury roll is created, it is certified as accurate and complete.
5. Jury Panel Process begins in January to December of the following …show more content…
A jury Panel contains a group of 50-300 people who are summoned to a specific courthouse. The summons indicates the date and court locations to attend.
6. Jury selection begins same time as Jury Panel.
Jury panel members gather at the court location and on the date noted on their summons.
Court Services Officer divides them into different groups for each trial that day
Each panel member has been assigned a number which will appear on a ballot card.
In the courtroom, a court staff will randomly select a ballot card and calls out the number of the panel member.
7. Each panel members are given the opportunity to let the judge knows of any difficulties they may experience in attending court on the date of their summons (e.g. because of school, vacation)
Duties of jurors
To attend on the date, time and location that is shown on the summons sheet
You are required to attend court for minimum one week if you live in the City of Toronto. If you live outside of Toronto you are required to attend on the date shown in the summon sheet. Usually one or two days of the following week
Jury Panel members may be on call around 2-3 weeks. Varies in each court, you may be asked to attend on consecutive days, it depends on the number of trials for which juries must be selected during that time
Origins of the jury system:
There are many origins of the Canadian Jury system; however many may say it to be founded in England by the Norman Kings (1066-1154). Originally, jurors were chosen from the local community and were a source of information. The system was meant to replace barbaric methods of trial.
Later during the reign of King Henry II, (around the 12th century), the jury functioned as both witness and adjudicator.
Throughout the centuries, the jury came to function as a check on the power of the state
It eventually represents the right to be tried in serious case in one’s peer
During the 19th century, the right to be tried by judge and jury in Canada for indictable offences …show more content…
In order to select jurors, a required number of jurors is calculated by 50 Superior Court of Justice locations throughout Ontario. Then they send their estimate number to the Provincial Jury Centre. The process begins in May.
2. To meet estimated jurors, questionnaires are mailed to the people who are selected from the voter’s list. Questionnaires begin from September to November.
The questionnaires include a letter from the Attorney General, an instruction sheet and a prepaid reply envelope.
People who received a questionnaire must complete it and return it in a pre-paid envelope
3. Jury roll is created and certified after questionnaires are sorted for eligibility for jury duty by December.
In order to be jurors, you must need to be a Canadian citizen and must be at least 18 years of age
Citizens with professions (e.g. police officers, doctors) and who has convicted of a wide range of criminal offences are ban from serving
Jury rolls are people who been put on a list of potential jurors. It includes the name, address and occupation.
4. Jury roll is created, it is certified as accurate and complete.
5. Jury Panel Process begins in January to December of the following …show more content…
A jury Panel contains a group of 50-300 people who are summoned to a specific courthouse. The summons indicates the date and court locations to attend.
6. Jury selection begins same time as Jury Panel.
Jury panel members gather at the court location and on the date noted on their summons.
Court Services Officer divides them into different groups for each trial that day
Each panel member has been assigned a number which will appear on a ballot card.
In the courtroom, a court staff will randomly select a ballot card and calls out the number of the panel member.
7. Each panel members are given the opportunity to let the judge knows of any difficulties they may experience in attending court on the date of their summons (e.g. because of school, vacation)
Duties of jurors
To attend on the date, time and location that is shown on the summons sheet
You are required to attend court for minimum one week if you live in the City of Toronto. If you live outside of Toronto you are required to attend on the date shown in the summon sheet. Usually one or two days of the following week
Jury Panel members may be on call around 2-3 weeks. Varies in each court, you may be asked to attend on consecutive days, it depends on the number of trials for which juries must be selected during that time