Juries Act 1974 Explained

Short Title:Juries Act 1974[1]
Type:Act
Parliament:Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long Title:An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to juries, jurors and jury service with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949.
Year:1974
Statute Book Chapter:1974 c. 23
Territorial Extent:England and Wales
Royal Assent:9 July 1974
Status:Amended
Original Text:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/23/contents/enacted
Revised Text:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/23/contents

The Juries Act 1974[1] (c. 23) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. According to its long title, the purpose of the act is "to consolidate certain enactments relating to juries, jurors and jury service with corrections and improvements made under the Consolidation of Enactments (Procedure) Act 1949." Among others, the act states who is eligible for jury service in England and Wales, who is disqualified, and who may be excused.

Under the provisions of the act, any individual is qualified to serve as a juror or be called upon for jury duty in the Crown Court, High Court or county courts if:

  1. they are registered as a parliamentary or local government elector,
  2. they are between the ages of 18 and 75,
  3. they have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for any period of at least five years since the age of 13, and
  4. they are not otherwise ineligible or disqualified.[2]

Section 17 of the act re-enacts with modifications the provisions of section 13 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967,[3] allowing majority verdicts in England and Wales: in the Crown Court or High Court, one juror may dissent without resulting in a hung jury if the jury consists of at least ten persons, or two if there are at least eleven; and at least seven must agree in the County Court regardless of size.[4] Normally there are twelve, and the minimum size is eight.

Eligibility and excusal

A person is liable for jury service if that person:

The following persons are disqualified from jury service:

A person who has served on a jury, other than in a coroner's court, within the last two years is entitled to be excused. The court also has power to excuse any person who has good reason to be excused, in particular a serving member of the armed forces whose commanding officer certifies that it would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the service for them to be absent from duty. Service may be deferred rather than excused at the court's discretion.

Disqualification before 2004

Until the coming into force of Schedule 33 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 on 5 April 2004, the following were disqualified:

Additionally, the following persons could be excused from jury service as of right:

The act also states that personation of a juror may result in the trial in which the juror sat being voided; but other irregularities will not, unless the irregularity was objected to as soon as practicable.[6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. The citation of this act by this short title is authorised by section 23(1) of this act.
  2. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/23/section/1 Section 1
  3. Web site: Criminal Justice Act 1967 (1967 c. 80), section 13: Majority verdicts of juries in criminal proceedings. (as enacted) . 27 July 1967 . . . 10 May 2024.
  4. act . 1974 . 23 . Juries Act 1974 . 17 . 9 July 1974 . 10 May 2024.
  5. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/23/schedule/1 Schedule 1
  6. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/23/section/18 Section 18(3)

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