Lay People - Juries

In the Crown Court when a defendant pleads not guilty a jury is then sworn in to hear the case and decide whether he / she is guilty or not. Juries are only used in about 1% of criminal trials; the majority of criminal cases are heard in the Magistrate Court where Magistrates judge the defendant.

To be eligible for jury service a person must:

• Be aged between 18 and 70
• Be registered to vote on the electoral register and
• Have lived in the United Kingdom or Isle of Man for at least five years since reaching the age of 13

Dead easy, however some people who meet the above requirements still would be not be allowed to serve on a jury, because they are disqualified, ineligible or excused.