Urgent inquiry into jury system
October 1, 2006
MORE than half the people called up to become jurors in NSW talk their way out of it, sparking an urgent inquiry aimed at revolutionising the jury system.
NSW Attorney-General Bob Debus has asked the Law Reform Commission to explore options that would expand the state's pool of potential jurors, including scrapping a range of career categories that allow people the right to claim exemption.
The inquiry will also research other matters adopted or considered by overseas jurisdictions in an effort to update and improve the Jury Act, which is almost 30 years old.
The review could spark significant changes including juries having to explain dubious verdicts to trial judges and greater effort being made to involve ethnic minorities on relevant panels.
"In the last financial year 102,400 jurors were summoned but almost 40 per cent of those were granted exemptions before attending court and a further 11 per cent were excused on the day they turned up to court," Mr Debus said.
The figures do not take into account the many thousands of people who tried to avoid jury duty - and failed.
Neither do they include more than 4000 people who were fined between $1100 and $2200 for failing to attend.[...]
Full Article - The Sydney Morning Herald
