Chapter 10 Self-test Questions

The power of the jury to acquit a defendant in defiance of the law and evidence indicating a guilty verdict is known as ____ ______.

According to s.69 of the Senior Courts Act 1981, as amended by the Defamation Act 2013, which cases are suitable for jury trial in the High Court?
Please select all that apply.

Libel and slander.

Fraud.

Private nuisance.

False Imprisonment.

Section 17 of the Juries Act 1974 permits majority verdicts. Assuming a normal Crown Court jury of 12 people, what is the minimum number of jurors needed to agree on a guilty verdict?

11

10

9

8

If a juror uses the internet or other "extraneous" sources to research the case in which they are sitting, then what the potential legal implications?
Please select all that apply.

The juror may be prosecuted

If the juror's conduct is discovered during the trial, the trial judge may declare a mistrial, discharge the original jury and order a retrial with a new jury

If the juror's conduct is discovered during the trial, the trial judge may declare a mistrial, discharge the original jury and continue the case with the judge sitting alone

If the juror's conduct is discovered after the trial has finished and where the accused was convicted, the Court of Appeal may quash the conviction

The rules on jury eligibility are set out in the ______ ___ ____ as amended by the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

Which of the following are ineligible for jury service?

Members of Parliament.

Those with a mental disorder.

Police officers.

Judges.

Which of the following are criteria for jury service?
Please select all that apply.

Must be aged at least 18.

Must be a British national.

Must be ordinarily resident in the UK.

Must be registered to vote.

What is the maximum age for jury service?

65

79

75

80.

Which side can bring a challenge 'for cause' to a juror before a Crown Court trial?

Prosecution only

Defence only

Either side

Neither side - challenge for cause has been abolished

Section 118 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 abolished _________ ________.

When should the Crown exercise its power to 'stand by' a juror?
Please select all that apply.

In any case - there are no limits on its power

Where a juror is manifestly unsuitable

Following a jury check

Never - the power was abolished in 1988

The US system of openly questioning the jury panel on a range of subjects is called ____ ____.

Other than checking to see whether a jury is disqualified on the basis of a criminal record, when might jury vetting be appropriate?
Please select all that apply.

In any case

National security cases

Terrorism cases

Never

When a defendant in a Crown Court trial is from an ethnic minority, they can insist that three members of the jury are also from an ethnic minority.

True

False

In his Review of the Criminal Courts of England and Wales, Sir Robin Auld recommended that provision should be made to enable ethnic minority representation on juries …

where race is likely to be relevant to an important issue in the case

where race is likely to be relevant to any aspect of the case

In any case

Never

Which Act of Parliament introduced the possibility of judge-only trials following evidence of jury tampering?

The Criminal Justice Act 1988

The Juries Act 1974

The Criminal Justice Act 2003

The Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

What conditions must be met before a judge-only trial following jury tampering can be ordered?

None - it is at the discretion of the trial judge

evidence of a 'real and present danger' that jury tampering would take place

'necessary in the interests of justice'

'desirable in the interests of fairness'

When a trial judge decides that the conditions for a judge-only trial exist, he or she cannot then continue as the judge in that case.

True

False

In order to justify a judge-only trial, the charges faced by the defendant(s) and the intimidation faced by the juror(s) must both be 'serious'

True

False

The name given to judge-only courts in Northern Ireland from 1973 to 2007 was _______ ______.

Under s.43 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, what were the condition(s) for a judge-only trial in serious fraud cases?
Please select all that apply.

Expense

Complexity

Length

There were no pre-conditions

The possibility of judge-only trials in serious fraud cases under s.43 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 still exists, although it has never been used

True

False

In those jurisdictions where it is available, in which type of case might an accused opt for jury waiver?
Please select all that apply.

Case with adverse pre-trial publicity

Cases involving sexual abuse

Cases where the evidence is particularly gruesome and shocking

Cases involving children

Jury waiver…
Please select all that apply.

describes the situation where the defendant can request trial without a jury.

is widely available in many Commonwealth countries, such as Australia and Canada.

is available in England & Wales, on request by the defendant.

is available in England & Wales, but only where the trial judge gives their approval.

When it is deemed 'necessary or expedient in the interests of justice, s.15A of the Juries Act 1974 allows a judge to order jurors to surrender their…

Passports

Electronic communication devices

Credit cards

Driving licences

It is potentially a criminal offence for a juror to conduct their own research into an ongoing trial

True

False

It is potentially a criminal offence for a juror to share any of their research into an ongoing trial with another juror

True

False

It is potentially a criminal offence for a juror to comment about an ongoing trial on social media

True

False

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