Juries Act 1974
 | |
| 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. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1974 c. 23 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 9 July 1974 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Juries Act 1974 (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 the UK, 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:
- they are registered as a parliamentary or local government elector,
- they are between the ages of 18 and 75,
- 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
- they are not otherwise ineligible or disqualified.[2]
The following persons are ineligible from jury service:
- The judiciary
- Those concerned with administration of justice, e.g. policemen, solicitors, barristers, forensic scientists or prison wardens
- The clergy, e.g. men in holy orders or regular ministers of any religious denomination
- The mentally ill[3]
The following persons are disqualified from jury service:
- Those sentenced to more than five years in prison
- Those who have been in prison within the previous 10 years
- Those who have been on probation within the previous 5 years
- Those on probation[3]
The following persons may be excused from jury service:
- Those over 76
- Members of the Houses of Parliament
- Members of the European Parliament
- Members of the Welsh Assembly
- Serving members of the naval, military or air forces
- Members of the medical profession, e.g. registered and practising doctors, nurses, dentists or vets
- Members of religious orders whose beliefs are incompatible with jury service
- Those who have previously served on a jury within the past two years[3]
The Act also states that personation of a juror may result in the trial in which the juror sat being voided.[4]
See also
References
- ^ The citation of this Act by this short title is authorised by section 23(1) Archived 28 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine of this Act.
- ^ Section 1 Archived 27 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Schedule 1 Archived 27 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Section 18(3) Archived 29 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine
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