Presented by Robert Clark MP		www.robertclark.net

Jury duty to be made more representative

Changes to the Juries Act will reduce the number of classes of persons automatically excused from jury service and many other persons will now have to provide good reason when seeking to be excused.

Under current provisions, persons on the electoral roll who live more than 32 kilometres from the court could be excused from jury service. The proposed amendments will extend this limit to 50 kilometres in Melbourne and 60 kilometres elsewhere.

The proposed amendments also included the introduction of majority verdicts in murder and treason trials.

This follows the introduction of majority verdicts for all offences other than murder and treason in 1993.

The Bill contains several new offences and increased penalties. The new offences include intentionally making a false statement at any stage of the jury selection process.

New offences will protect employees against employers who terminate or prejudice the employment of an employee because of an employee’s performance of jury service.

The courts will have the power to order an employer to re-instate an employee in such circumstances.

In addition to the review, a survey of former jurors from both the Supreme and County Courts was conducted.

The survey concluded that the vast majority of jurors found their jury service to be a rewarding experience.

The Bill will also allow for jurors confronted with disturbing facts and circumstances to receive counselling or treatment from a medical practitioner or psychologist.

(News Release, Office of the Attorney-General, May 27, 1999)